Thinking Biblically About Work Part 2

While it might be tempting to separate your work life from your spiritual life, the Bible has quite a bit to say about the subject of work. It is enticing to rely on pragmatic maneuvers in the pursuit of career advancement, or to bifurcate your service to the Lord from your job, but the Bible's teaching does not allow us to separate these issue. The primary reason for this is the fact that God has ordained the work that we do. Every responsibility that we have comes from the Lord, and every opportunity that we have must be pursued in a manner that would honor our Creator. Because of this, it is important to understand what the Bible says about the subject of work.

Biblical principles on Work:

• Work is commanded - God expects for you to work at whatever task he providentially provides you (Exod 20:9)

“Six days you shall labor, and do all your work,” (Exodus 20:9, ESV)

• Work is good - There’s honor & dignity in working hard regardless of compensation b/c God ordained it (Gen 2:15) “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” (Genesis 2:15, ESV)

• Work is normal - You should not be taken by surprise by the fact that you have to work hard (Ps 104:14, 23)“Man goes out to his work and to his labor until the evening.” (Psalm 104:23, ESV)

• Work is hard - Work in a fallen world will always be demanding and you should not expect it to be easy (Gen 3:19) “By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” (Gen 3:19)

• Work is spiritual - How you handle work is a direct reflection on your walk with God (Eph 6:5-6)“Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,” (Eph 6:5–6)

• Work is necessary but not primary - God never intended work to be the top priority of life instead of worship“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1, ESV)

• Work is a means - God is the one who provides for our needs he has simply chosen work as a means to provide.“But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” (Matthew 6:30, ESV)

• Work is blessed - When we work faithfully at the responsibilities God gives us we can trust him to bless our labor.“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” (Proverbs 16:3, ESV)

• Work is wise - Working hard is characteristic of a wise person and laziness is characteristic of a fool“Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.” (Proverbs 12:11)

• Work is noble - Working hard not matter what the task or who gets the credit is praiseworthy before God. “Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.” (Proverbs 22:29)

• Work is limited - Working is only one part of our life and God expects for us to protect times when work ceases. “Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates.” (Exodus 20:9–10, ESV)

Some Questions to Consider:

• Which of these principles is the easiest for you to implement in your daily routines? Why?

• Which is these principles is the hardest for you to implement in your daily routines? Why?

• In your own words, how would you summarize what the Bible teaches us about work?