13. Be Industrious and Competent in Thy Calling

13. Be Industrious and Competent in Thy Calling

The Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it (Genesis 2:15).
From the beginning, labour was not a curse but a blessing, until sin made it toilsome.

St Paul commandeth plainly:
“If any would not work, neither should he eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10),
and again,
“Do your own business, and work with your own hands… that ye may walk honestly toward them that are without” (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12).

The holy monks of old (St Benedict †547, St Bernard †1153) made manual labour a pillar of the monastic life, chanting:
“Ora et labora” (pray and work).
They taught that idleness is the enemy of the soul.

Therefore:

• Master thy craft with diligence, whether plough, chisel, pen, or loom.
• Perform every task as unto the Lord, not unto men (Colossians 3:23).
• Seek excellence, for mediocrity dishonoureth the talents given thee (Matthew 25:14-30).

The industrious man eateth bread in peace; the slothful is clothed with rags and tormented by want (Proverbs 13:4).

14. Be Trustworthy and Keep Thy Word

“Let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation” (James 5:12).
The fathers before 1200 condemned oath-breaking as a mortal sin against the Second Commandment.

St Gregory Nazianzen (†390) wrote:
“A single breach of promise is enough to destroy all trust among men.”

Therefore:

• Promise sparingly, but once promised, fulfil even to thy hurt (Psalm 15:4).
• Speak truth in contracts, commerce, and daily converse.
• Restore what thou hast borrowed, pay what thou owest.

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches (Proverbs 22:1).
The trustworthy soul walketh safely and sleepeth sweetly.

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