--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Work is not optional for those able to do…" description: "\"Work is not optional for those able to do work, and that's most of us. There are to be no shirkers in the Lord's kingdom.\" — Eric Metaxas" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08b/eric-metaxas-1651_kingdom_work-is-not-optional-for-those-able-to-d_629528.png" --- # Work is not optional for those able to do work, and that's… ![“Work is not optional for those able to do work, and that's most of us. There are to be no shirkers in the Lord's kingdom.” quote by Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08b/eric-metaxas-1651_kingdom_work-is-not-optional-for-those-able-to-d_629528.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08b/eric-metaxas-1651_kingdom_work-is-not-optional-for-those-able-to-d_629528.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08b/eric-metaxas-1651_kingdom_work-is-not-optional-for-those-able-to-d_629528.png) > “Work is not optional for those able to do work, and that's most of us. There are to be no shirkers in the Lord's kingdom.” [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Work is a duty for those capable, and diligence is expected in a faithful community. **In simple terms:** Work is required; laziness is not accepted. Key Takeaway Embrace responsibility and avoid shirking. Themes duty faith work ethic Mood encouraging serious Type advice motivational When to use this quote - church service - volunteering - team projects - personal productivity Key Concepts theology responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What motivates you to work diligently? - How can communities support those struggling? A Different Perspective May overlook individual circumstances and burnout risk. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Kingdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kingdom/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [Root out the counterrevolutionaries without mercy, lock up suspicious characters in concentration camps... Shirkers will be shot, regardless of past service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-trotsky/root-out-the-counterrevolutionaries-without-mercy-lock-up-suspicious/) [Leon Trotsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-trotsky/) > [We want to encourage those who are able to work, no question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-schroder/we-want-to-encourage-those-who-are-able-to-work-no-question/) [Gerhard Schroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-schroder/) > [I've always been able to work. I think it's an actor's obligation to keep working if you can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-west/i-ve-always-been-able-to-work-i-think-it-s-an-actor-s-obligation-to/) [Adam West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-west/) > [One reason I think I am able to work with such dark material is the fact I was never really discouraged from making this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-aster/one-reason-i-think-i-am-able-to-work-with-such-dark-material-is-the/) [Ari Aster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-aster/) > [When you’re doing work you care about, you are able to work harder and better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/when-you-re-doing-work-you-care-about-you-are-able-to-work-harder-and/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [For those who are able to work, work has to be seen as the best route out of poverty. For work is not just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-duncan-smith/for-those-who-are-able-to-work-work-has-to-be-seen-as-the-best-route/) [Iain Duncan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-duncan-smith/) > [Ultimately, I'd love to be able to work in film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-der-beek/ultimately-i-d-love-to-be-able-to-work-in-film/) [James Van Der Beek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-der-beek/) > [I'm blessed to be able to work at something that I'm good at, and that I love. It's not something I take for granted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmylou-harris/i-m-blessed-to-be-able-to-work-at-something-that-i-m-good-at-and-that/) [Emmylou Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmylou-harris/) > [We can work with anybody. I mean, we passed the 9/11 health bill with Tom Cotton. Most people would assume I wouldn't be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-gillibrand/we-can-work-with-anybody-i-mean-we-passed-the-9-11-health-bill-with/) [Kirsten Gillibrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-gillibrand/) > [Defense was one thing I was really able to work at and get better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scottie-pippen/defense-was-one-thing-i-was-really-able-to-work-at-and-get-better/) [Scottie Pippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scottie-pippen/) > [You can learn a little bit from everybody, so you should be able to work a bit with everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-wenstrup/you-can-learn-a-little-bit-from-everybody-so-you-should-be-able-to/) [Brad Wenstrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-wenstrup/) > [There is no joy equal to that of being able to work for all humanity and doing what you're doing well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/there-is-no-joy-equal-to-that-of-being-able-to-work-for-all-humanity/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [Everyone in this country should be able to work one job and be able to raise a family on, not have to work two,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-walsh/everyone-in-this-country-should-be-able-to-work-one-job-and-be-able/) [Marty Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-walsh/) > [I think we should be able to work until we want to stop, which is what I'm going to have to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-fox/i-think-we-should-be-able-to-work-until-we-want-to-stop-which-is-what/) [Laurence Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-fox/) > [Life is all about experiences and being able to work with good people is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhumika-chawla/life-is-all-about-experiences-and-being-able-to-work-with-good-people/) [Bhumika Chawla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhumika-chawla/) ## More by Eric Metaxas > [“If we believe miracles cannot happen today but happened to our distant ancestors, what we really seem to be saying is not that miracles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/if-we-believe-miracles-cannot-happen-today-but-happened-to-our/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“(Bonhoeffer's) change was not an ungainly, embarrassing leap from which he would have to retreat slightly when he gained more maturity and perspective. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/bonhoeffer-s-change-was-not-an-ungainly-embarrassing-leap-from-which/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [Religious liberty is the salt and light that has made us the great nation we are in a whole number of ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/religious-liberty-is-the-salt-and-light-that-has-made-us-the-great/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“But we know that true grace comes to us by costly sacrifice. And if God was willing to go to the cross and endure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/but-we-know-that-true-grace-comes-to-us-by-costly-sacrifice-and-if/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [Created in the awesome image of God, men and women know that life has a meaning beyond 'eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/created-in-the-awesome-image-of-god-men-and-women-know-that-life-has/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [I have no doubt, if people are really seeking the big questions, it will lead them to the Lord.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/i-have-no-doubt-if-people-are-really-seeking-the-big-questions-it/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“human beings were taken from the earth and don’t just consist of thin air and thoughts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/human-beings-were-taken-from-the-earth-and-don-t-just-consist-of-thin/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“If you board the wrong train it is no use running along the corridor in the opposite direction. —DIETRICH BONHOEFFER”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/if-you-board-the-wrong-train-it-is-no-use-running-along-the-corridor/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“Some illustrations of the fine-tuning of our universe deal with the so-called four fundamental forces physicists talk about, and with which most laymen are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/some-illustrations-of-the-fine-tuning-of-our-universe-deal-with-the/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“Many years later, after Niemöller had been imprisoned for eight years in concentration camps as the personal prisoner of Adolf Hitler, he penned these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/many-years-later-after-niem-ller-had-been-imprisoned-for-eight-years/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [Today, Wilberforce University welcomes many of America's poorest and most underserved populations and transforms their educational dreams into realities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/today-wilberforce-university-welcomes-many-of-america-s-poorest-and/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“Although I know full well and hear every day that many people think little of me and say that I only write little pamphlets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/although-i-know-full-well-and-hear-every-day-that-many-people-think/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“The line between courageous faith and foolish idealism is, almost by definition, one angstrom wide.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/the-line-between-courageous-faith-and-foolish-idealism-is-almost-by/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [Part of my life's thesis is that we live in a culture that has bought into the patently silly idea that there is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/part-of-my-life-s-thesis-is-that-we-live-in-a-culture-that-has-bought/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [God designed humans to live in community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/god-designed-humans-to-live-in-community/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) [Explore all 219 Eric Metaxas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) ## More Kingdom quotes > [The only significance of life consists in helping to establish the kingdom of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-only-significance-of-life-consists-in-helping-to-establish-the/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-horse-a-horse-my-kingdom-for-a-horse/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“There is no interaction without God with interaction with men”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/there-is-no-interaction-without-god-with-interaction-with-men/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“My kingdom not for a horse, but for a good piece of advice!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/my-kingdom-not-for-a-horse-but-for-a-good-piece-of-advice/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [If Jesus is king in heaven then the Kingdom of God is in heaven. If Jesus is king, reign on earth then the Kingdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/if-jesus-is-king-in-heaven-then-the-kingdom-of-god-is-in-heaven-if/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [“I have established my throne in heaven, and my kingdom rules over all. The day is mine, and mine also the night; I established…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhang-yun/i-have-established-my-throne-in-heaven-and-my-kingdom-rules-over-all/) [Zhang Yun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhang-yun/) > [“I once knew a man who was heir to the throne of a great kingdom, he lived as a ranger and fought his destiny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c/i-once-knew-a-man-who-was-heir-to-the-throne-of-a-great-kingdom-he/) [C. JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c/) > [“People-based service is God-based service”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/people-based-service-is-god-based-service/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“Worship of God is not restricted to believers alone”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/worship-of-god-is-not-restricted-to-believers-alone/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [Every man carries his kingdom within, and no one knows what is taking place in another's kingdom. 'No one understands me!' Of course they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/every-man-carries-his-kingdom-within-and-no-one-knows-what-is-taking/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“Always put your heart into and show commitment in whatever you do”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/always-put-your-heart-into-and-show-commitment-in-whatever-you-do/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [Small things, little actions, simple faith and minuscule events, when placed in the Master's hands, they become molecules of godly impacts that will transform…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-kang/small-things-little-actions-simple-faith-and-minuscule-events-when/) [Albert Kang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-kang/) > [Mind is a kingdom to the man who gathereth his pleasure from ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/mind-is-a-kingdom-to-the-man-who-gathereth-his-pleasure-from-ideas/) [Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/) > [“KINGDOM OF THE WOMB From her thighs, she gives you life And how you treat she who gives you life Shows how much you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/kingdom-of-the-womb-from-her-thighs-she-gives-you-life-and-how-you/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [“The call to “take the land” ...is not a call to a new political, cultural or geographical dominance. It is Kingdom of God territory.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-baker/the-call-to-take-the-land-is-not-a-call-to-a-new-political-cultural/) Ken Baker [Browse all 1,072 Kingdom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kingdom/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Work is not optional for those able to do work, and that's most of us. 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