Good evening and Happy Sabbath!  I hope you all enjoyed the sunshine as much as I did this week, although I was grateful for the rain as well, as it brought Mr. Carswell's message from last week to mind!

We will have our next Booklet Discussions in December on the booklet, "The United States and Britain in Bible Prophecy."  Please continue reading this week in chapter four "The Mysterious Scythians Burst Into History."

Freedom of a different sort

In my past few letters, I've been focusing on some of the blessings we have here in the United States.  As we're seeing as we read through "The United States and Britain in Prophecy," these blessings are a special blessing from God that were passed from Abraham to Isaac to Jacob (also named Israel), and through Joseph to his sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.  One blessing we often overlook is the right to work, or more specifically, the right to earn money!

In some countries, work is more a form of slavery than anything else.  Citizens are required to work, only to receive a state mandated pay, which usually barely covers the minimum to provide food and shelter.  Things like a car, video games, or even a kitchen mixer are luxuries few in those countries could ever afford!  

Work for a blessing?

At first, the thought of 'working' for a blessing might seem contradictory.  Most think the idea behind a blessing is basically a gift - something we don't  work for.  And while that's true in some cases, such as a present from a loved one, we must consider that just being able to work in our chosen profession, for the wages we are willing to work for is a blessing!

Now, that's not to say it's easy to get the job you want or earn the money you'd like to have.  It's certainly true that some have easier paths into their chosen field than others, but as a rule, in the United States and Great Britain, most have the opportunity to do the kind of work they want, and earn as much money as they are willing to work for.  It doesn't happen overnight, certainly, but unlike many other countries, the opportunity is there.

A Biblical principle

Several passages in the Bible state the principle that a 'laborer is worthy of their wages' (Lev 19:13, Luke 10:7, 1 Tim 5:18).  In other words, someone who works deserves to be paid a fair wage.  The reason of course this is stated in the Bible is because it's something mankind needs to know we should do.  If we didn't have this principle, human nature would be to rob others by not paying them fairly for their work.

As we've noted, this is exactly what happens in many parts of the world.  And while there are disparities of pay even here in the US, in general, most people are paid a fair wage.  As we continue to think about the blessings we have, let's not forget the blessing and freedom we have to earn a good income!