Five Basic Principles of Work
Police in Arizona recently arrested a man for falsely reporting that he had been kidnapped in front of his own home by two masked men. These abductors allegedly bound his hands behind his back, stuffed a bandana in his mouth, and knocked him unconscious. According to the victim, these masked men drove him around town before they dumped him on the street.
Once these claims were investigated, the police found no evidence that the man was ever abducted. There was simply no evidence to substantiate his story. Subsequently, the man who filed a false report to the police was arrested on charges of false reporting and was fined for his actions. According to the police he admitted to making up the story during a personal interview.
The reason this man-made such a claim was simple but foolish: he wanted to avoid going to work.[1]
Increasingly, it seems to me we are living in an age that no longer values hard work. We are a nation that would rather be entertained than productive. I understand these statements are generalizations – we can all find examples of individuals who possess a biblical work ethic – but there appears to be a decline in the number of hard workers available. Unfortunately, there are even believers who are not fulfilling their God-given responsibility to work.
According to Scripture, slothfulness is a sin. Those who give in to the temptation to be lazy, are disobeying God’s commandments. As Solomon wisely observes in Ecclesiastes 10:18, “Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through indolence (i.e., inactive or idleness) the house leaks.”
In a recent sermon, I boldly admitted that I love Mondays! As you can probably imagine, I received some input on this statement. Interestingly, no one who contacted me shared my appreciation of Mondays. No surprise there. But in all sincerity, I love the beginning of a new week. Although each new week brings the reality of many long hours of work and challenges, it also provides numerous chances to serve others. A new week also provides us with the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of people for the cause of Christ.
A Christian view of work is an interesting topic to study. As a result, many good books have been written on the topic. And the Scriptures are filled with passages from which we can develop a practical theology of work. In Ecclesiastes 9:10, for instance, Solomon puts it this way: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might.” As people created in the image of God, we are called to be productive, creative, hardworking, and responsible so that humanity can flourish.
Let’s consider five basic principles of work:
1. Work is not a curse resulting from the fall.
Some people erroneously believe that work was a consequence of Adam and Eve’s sin. But from the beginning of creation, Adam was called to work. God created mankind with the propensity to work, and it is His expectation that we put our giftedness into action. Adam didn’t hang around the Garden of Eden popping grapes, swimming in the river, and lying in the sun. Adam was commanded by his Creator to tend to the garden. Admittedly, work was made more difficult by the fall (see Genesis 3:17), but it was not the result of Adam and Eve’s sin. As image-bearers of God, humanity was created to be productive (see Genesis 1:26-28).
2. God is the source of your ability to labor and make money.
No matter how skilled or clever we may be, God is our provider. The strength, ability, and opportunity to work come from God. Certainly, all of us have ample room for improvement. Therefore, we must invest time and energy into developing our skills so that we can more effectively serve Him (see Deuteronomy 8:18).
3. God expects believers to work hard.
As believers in Christ, we are called to be diligent and faithful workers. Slothfulness is condemned in Scripture, but hard work is commanded and commended. Believers in Christ should never be known as lazy people. Christians should always be the hardest workers who take their jobs seriously and perform our responsibilities to the best of our ability (see Colossians 3:23 and Proverbs 22:29).
4. Work is for God’s glory.
The purpose of work is not to build a name for ourselves or to build our own empire. The reason we work hard is to show others the wonders of our Creator. It’s a shame when a person who claims Christ as Savior is known as a slothful person. God’s people should be the hardest and most productive workers they can be for God’s glory (1 Corinthians 10:31).
5. Work is not a god to be worshipped.
Many people find their ultimate meaning and sense of value in their jobs. But our vocation was never intended to be our functional god. Work is more than just a place to make money, receive recognition, or achieve a particular status. Rather than worshipping work and seeking your ultimate meaning in what you do for a living, thank God for the gifts and opportunities He has provided. More particularly, worshipfully praise Him for His gracious provisions (Colossians 3:17).
Clearly, this is just a brief synopsis of a much bigger topic. But use these basic principles to measure your work ethic and motivations. How hard are you working? Why are you working?
As Elisabeth Elliot once said, “Ordinary work, which is what most of us do, most of the time, is ordained by God every bit as much as the extraordinary.”
As followers of Christ, we are called to be productive, creative, hardworking, and responsible so that humanity can flourish. No matter how ordinary or extraordinary your labor may seem, perform it to the best of your ability and always for the glory of Almighty God.
[1] See https://people.com/crime/arizona-man-faked-kidnapping-get-out-work/