WHAT PRINCIPLES DOES GOD GIVE REGARDING OUR WORK?
GOD WANTS CHRISTIANS TO BE CHARACTERIZED BY DILIGENCE IN THEIR WORK (Genesis 31:22-55).
Jacob made it a habit to do more than was expected of him. When his flocks were attacked, he took the losses rather than splitting them with Laban. He worked hard even after several pay cuts. His diligence eventually paid off: his flocks began to multiply. Making a habit of doing more than expected can pay off. It (1) pleases God, (2) earns recognition and advancement, (3) enhances our reputation, (4) builds others’ confidence in us, (5) gives us more experience and knowledge, and (6) develops our spiritual maturity.
THE SAME GOD WHO GIVES US ABILITIES AND WORK ALSO TELLS US TO REST (Exodus 16:13-36).
The Israelites were not to work on the Sabbath-not even to cook food. Why? God knew that the busy routine of daily living could distract people from worshiping him. It is so easy to let work, family responsibilities, and recreation crowd our schedules so tightly that we don’t take time to worship. Carefully guard your time with God. GOD IS THE SOURCE OF ALL OUR SKILLS, AND HE WANTS US TO USE THEM TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY (Exodus 35:4-35).
This passage describes the blending of various artistic and construction skills in the building of the traveling sanctuary. Those who spun cloth made a beautiful contribution to the tabernacle. Good workers take pride in the quality and beauty of their work. God is concerned with the quality and beauty of what you do. Whether you are a corporate executive or a drugstore cashier, your work should reflect the creative abilities God has given you.
OUR WORK, EVEN IF IT ISN’T “SPIRITUAL,” CAN STILL BE DONE TO GOD’S GLORY. It is easy to think that God would provide people with “spiritual” abilities like leadership, preaching, healing. And yet Bezalel was filled with God’s Spirit in such a way that all his artistic and design skills took on an added quality appropriate to the work he was called to do. Whatever place God has designed you to fill in life, ask him to make you skillful as you represent him in the workplace.
GOD WANTS US TO WORK HARD AND DO OUR BEST, EVEN WITH SMALL AND SEEMINGLY INSIGNIFICANT RESPONSIBILITIES (Ruth 2:1-13).
Ruth’s task, though menial, tiring, and perhaps degrading, was done faithfully. What is your attitude when the task you have been given does not require your full potential? The task at hand may be all you can do, or it may be the work God wants you to do. Or, as in Ruth’s case, it may be a test of your character that might open up new doors of opportunity.
REPRESENTING GOD IS NOT ALWAYS SERVING HIM (2 Kings 10:30-36).
As with many of the kings of Israel, Jehu did much of what the Lord told him to, but he did not obey him with all his heart. He had become God’s instrument for carrying out justice, but he had not become God’s servant. As a result, he gave only lip service to God while permitting the worship of the golden calves. We need to check the condition of our heart toward God. We can be very active in our work for God and still not give the wholehearted obedience he desires.
WHEREVER WE GO AND WHATEVER WE DO, OUR WORK OUGHT TO LEAVE BEHIND AN IMPRESSION THAT WE ARE SEEKING TO SERVE GOD RATHER THAN JUST PEOPLE (Luke 19:11-27). This story showed Jesus’ followers what they were to do during the time between Jesus’ departure and his second coming. Because we live in that time period, it applies directly to us. We have been given excellent resources to build and expand God’s kingdom. Jesus expects us to use these talents so that they multiply and the kingdom grows. He asks each of us to account for what we do with his gifts. While awaiting the coming of the kingdom of God in glory, we must do Christ’s work.
GOD GIVES EACH PERSON A SPECIAL JOB TO DO (John 3:22-36). John explained that because God had given him his work, he had to continue it until God called him to do something else. John’s main purpose was to point people to Christ. Even with Jesus beginning his own ministry, John could still turn people to Jesus.
ALL OUR WORK OUGHT TO BE DONE WITH CHRIST IN MIND (Ephesians 6:5-9). Paul’s instructions encourage responsibility and integrity on the job. Christian employees should do their job as if Jesus Christ were their supervisor. And Christian employers should treat their employees fairly and with respect. Can you be trusted to do your best, even when the boss is not around? Do you work hard and with enthusiasm? Do you treat your employees as people, not machines? Remember that no matter whom you work for, and no matter who works for you, the one you ultimately should want to please is your Father in heaven.
GOD’S WORD ON WORK
Our work matters to God. There is immense dignity in all honest human labor, for our work is an opportunity to glorify God.
WHAT KIND OF WORK SHOULD I DO?
• Genesis 3:19 . . . “All your life you will sweat to produce food, until your dying day.”
• Acts 20:34-35 . . . You know that these hands of mine have worked to pay my own way, and I have even supplied the needs of those who were with me. And I have been a constant example of how you can help the poor by working hard.
• 1 Corinthians 4:12 . . . We have worked wearily with our own hands to earn our living.
• Ephesians 4:28 . . . Begin using your hands for honest work, and then give generously to others in need.
• 1 Timothy 5:8 . . . Those who won’t care for their own relatives, especially those living in the same household, have denied what we believe. Such people are worse than unbelievers. Plan on doing work which will enable you to provide for your own and your family’s needs, and to give generously to others.
• Matthew 25:34-40 . . . Then the King will say to those on the right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.” Then these righteous ones will reply, “Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?” And the King will tell them, “I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!” Whatever you do, work for Christ’s kingdom.
• Matthew 5:16 . . . Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. Do work which will cause other people to praise and glorify God.
• Proverbs 13:11 . . . Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows. Honest, hard work is much better than schemes to get rich quickly.
• Romans 12:8 . . . If your gift is to encourage others, do it! If you have money, share it generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. Do work which is in keeping with your gifts and abilities.
DOES GOD CARE WHAT KIND OF WORK I DO?
• Ecclesiastes 12:14 . . . God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad. God cares about what we do and how well we do it.
• 1 Kings 11:28 . . . Jeroboam was a very capable young man, and when Solomon saw how industrious he was, he put him in charge of the labor force from the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh.
• Ecclesiastes 9:10 . . . Whatever you do, do well. We should be industrious and do the best work we can.
• Proverbs 13:11 . . . Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows. Honest, hard work is much better than schemes to get rich quickly.
• Proverbs 26:13-16 . . . The lazy person is full of excuses, saying, “I can’t go outside because there might be a lion on the road! Yes, I’m sure there’s a lion out there!” As a door turns back and forth on its hinges, so the lazy person turns over in bed. Some people are so lazy that they won’t lift a finger to feed themselves. Lazy people consider themselves smarter than seven wise counselors.
• 2 Thessalonians 3:11-12 . . . We hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and wasting time meddling in other people’s business. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we appeal to such people-no, we command them: Settle down and get to work. Earn your own living. Instead of finding excuses not to work, we should work hard. HOW SHOULD I WORK?
• Proverbs 22:29 . . . Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than ordinary people.
• Ecclesiastes 9:10 . . . Whatever you do, do well. Be industrious and do the best work you can.
• Proverbs 10:5 . . . A wise youth works hard all summer; a youth who sleeps away the hour of opportunity brings shame. Work hard!
• Ecclesiastes 2:21 . . . I do my work with wisdom, knowledge, and skill.
• Ecclesiastes 10:10 . . . Since a dull ax requires great strength, sharpen the blade. That’s the value of wisdom; it helps you succeed. Be smart in how you work.
• Romans 12:11 . . . Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically.
• Ephesians 6:6-7 . . . Work hard, but not just to please your masters when they are watching. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Work with enthusiasm at whatever you do, keeping in mind that you are serving God, not people.
• James 3:13 . . . If you are wise and understand God’s ways, live a life of steady goodness so that only good deeds will pour forth. And if you don’t brag about the good you do, then you will be truly wise! Steadily do good work with an attitude of humility, rather than continually pointing at your own accomplishments.
• Titus 2:9-10 . . . Slaves must obey their masters and do their best to please them. They must not talk back or steal, but they must show themselves to be entirely trustworthy and good. Then they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive in every way. Be trustworthy and faithful in your work.
• Colossians 3:17 . . . Whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through him to God the Father. Your goal should be to work in such a way that you are a good representative of Christ.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 . . . This should be your ambition: to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we commanded you before. As a result, people who are not Christians will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others to meet your financial needs. Our attitude toward work should include the goal of honoring God by the way we work and support ourselves.
WHAT IF MY WORK HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ANYTHING “CHRISTIAN”-HOW CAN GOD BE GLORIFIED IN MY WORK?
• Genesis 2:2-9, 15 . . . Having finished his task, God rested from all his work . . . The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and care for it. Our work is anchored in God’s very character; part of being made in his image is sharing the industrious and creative aspects of his nature.
• 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 . . . We worked hard day and night so that we would not be a burden to any of you. Christians are commanded to work hard at whatever they do.
• Colossians 3:23 . . . Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people. The way we approach work is evidence of our relationship to Christ.
CAN WE WORK TOO HARD?
• Psalm 39:6-7 . . . All our busy rushing ends in nothing. Ecclesiastes 5:3 . . . Just as being too busy gives you nightmares. While we are called to work hard, we must make sure that our work doesn’t so preoccupy us that we endanger our health, our relationships, or our time with God.
• Acts 16:16-21 . . . She was a fortune-teller who earned a lot of money for her masters. We must make sure that we don’t allow our work to compromise our values.
• Exodus 16:23 . . . The Lord has appointed tomorrow as a day of rest.
• Mark 6:31 . . . Then Jesus said, “Let’s get away from the crowds for a while and rest.” There is a time to stop our work in order to rest, to celebrate, and to worship God.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO WORK YOUR WAY INTO HEAVEN?
• Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 . . . As I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless. Although we are to work hard, work by itself does not bring ultimate fulfillment.
• Ephesians 2:8-10 . . . Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done. All our work and good deeds, no matter how impressive, will never save us.
PROMISES FROM GOD:
• Psalm 145:14 . . . The Lord helps the fallen and lifts up those bent beneath their loads. God gives us strength to cope with hard work.
• Proverbs 10:4 . . . Lazy people are soon poor; hard workers get rich.
• Proverbs 12:11 . . . Hard work means prosperity; only fools idle away their time.
• Philippians 1:6 . . . I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again. God works in us to bring about maturity.
• Colossians 3:23-24 . . . Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord and not people . . .the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward.
