Many people view work as a curse, swearing under their breath every day that they have to go in to their job. But did you know that man was created to work? "Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it" (Gen. 2:15). God worked when He made creation. Work is rooted in God's good creation, and it reflects the glory of God. Work only became a burden through the presence of sin. The curse of sin made work itself more difficult: "Then to Adam He said, 'Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, "You shall not eat from it"; cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; and you will eat the plants of the field; by the sweat of your face you will eat bread, till you return to the ground, because from it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return'" (Gen. 3:17-19). There are three common temptations that you will face at some point in your life in and with your work.
- You will be tempted to worship work.
Has work become your idol? Do you gladly serve it with long hours, bowing down to its demands despite the destruction that it causes to you and your family?
- You will be tempted to reject work.
Working can be stressful and difficult. Deadlines; conflict with co-workers or management; not being compensated well for the work you do. Do you feel tired and defeated? Do you find work too challenging? Do you struggle with laziness? Has rest and leisure become your idol or worship? These may cause you to have a desire to reject work outright?
- You will be tempted to twist work.
Are you tempted to alter numbers on your quotas? Have you been tempted to take money 'under the table' in order to finalize a deal or make a deal go through quicker? No matter the kind of work you do, at some point in your life you will be tempted to twist it with sin.
- Jesus is your boss.
"Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve." —Colossians 3:23-24
- God works through your work.
"Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; and confirm for us the work of our hands; yes, confirm the work of our hands." —Psalm 90:17
- Trust God with your work.
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." —Proverbs 3:5-6
"Commit your works to the LORD and your plans will be established." —Proverbs 16:3
The Lord Jesus is redeeming everything to Himself—including work: "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven" (Col. 1:15-20). It will be as it was intended in the Garden.
Do you have a boss who is similar to the character Bill Lumbergh in the movie Office Space (1999)? If you do, more than likely you feel frustrated, angry, and not compelled to do your job. I have been there a couple times in my own life. If this is the situation you find yourself in, take a moment to pray, seek God's grace in Christ, and remind yourself that it is Jesus Whom you are really working for. Do not try to impress men with your work. Do not even give them a second thought. Do all that you do for the Lord Jesus. As you work, ask yourself if Jesus would be proud of your efforts. It is Him you should be pleasing in all that you do.
What Kind of Work Ethic Ought a Christian to Possess?
Do you have a boss who is similar to the character Bill Lumbergh in the movie Office Space (1999)? If you do, more than likely you feel frustrated, angry, and not compelled to do your job. I have been there a couple times in my own life. If this is the situation you find yourself in, take a moment to pray, seek God's grace in Christ, and remind yourself that it is Jesus Whom you are really working for. Do not try to impress men with your work. Do not even give them a second thought. Do all that you do for the Lord Jesus. As you work, ask yourself if Jesus would be proud of your efforts. It is Him you should be pleasing in all that you do.
What Kind of Work Ethic Ought a Christian to Possess?
"You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your countrymen or one of your aliens who is in your land in your towns." —Deuteronomy 24:14
"Go to the ant, O sluggard, observe her ways and be wise, Which, having no chief, officer or ruler, prepares her food in the summer and gathers her provision in the harvest. How long will you lie down, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? 'A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest'—Your poverty will come in like a vagabond and your need like an armed man." —Proverbs 6:6-11
"Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, but the hand of the diligent makes rich." —Proverbs 10:4
"He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, but he who pursues worthless things lacks sense." —Proverbs 12:11
"The hand of the diligent will rule, but the slack hand will be put to forced labor." —Proverbs 12:24
"The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the soul of the diligent is made fat." —Proverbs 13:4
"In all labor there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty." —Proverbs 14:23
"Commit your works to the LORD and your plans will be established." —Proverbs 16:3
"Laziness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle man will suffer hunger." —Proverbs 19:15
"The sluggard says, 'There is a lion outside; I will be killed in the streets!'" —Proverbs 22:13
"I passed by the field of the sluggard and by the vineyard of the man lacking sense, and behold, it was completely overgrown with thistles; its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. When I saw, I reflected upon it; I looked, and received instruction. 'A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,' then your poverty will come as a robber and your want like an armed man." —Proverbs 24:30-34
"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might;" —Ecclesiastes 9:10a
"He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need." —Ephesians 4:28
"But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." —1 Timothy 5:8"For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies." —2 Thessalonians 3:10-11
Paul's Work Ethic as an Example
"After these things [Paul] left Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. He came to them, and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and they were working, for by trade they were tent-makers." —Acts 18:1-3
"You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to the men who were with me. In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" —Acts 20:34-35"Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you, so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need." —1 Thessalonians 4:9-12
How Ought a Christian to Deal with Work Problems?
"Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, But he who hates reproof is stupid." —Proverbs 12:1
"Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, But counselors of peace have joy." —Proverbs 12:20
"So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." —Matthew 6:34
"But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men." —Luke 6:35
"Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;" —Ephesians 5:11
"But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you, so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need." —1 Thessalonians 4:10b-12
Christians Working in the Church
"And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;" —Ephesians 4:11-12
"So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith." —Galatians 6:10
"But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another." —1 Thessalonians 5:12-13
"It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do." —1 Timothy 3:1
"Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory." —1 Peter 5:1-4