In this world, people work for many different reasons. Maybe because it’s expected of us, or because it’s what everybody else does, or because of the most obvious reason of all – we need to make a living to survive.
The Bible gives clear instructions on work, but of us as Christians are not aware of them and end up following other ideas. This is often true for those of us who feel the call of God upon our lives; Satan will try to use this to derail the callings on our lives by a wrong approach to work.
Every able body Christian is to work. It is the means to provide a livelihood, to care for our families, and to be blessing to others in need. Some people may not have a way to work for reasons of infirmity (age, disability, sickness) or social crises (famine). These individuals are examples and proper subjects that should be supported by the church.
The majority of scriptures in the Bible are about those who refuse to work. The church is instructed to rebuke them, and then have nothing to do with them in order to make them ashamed of their mindset. Sometimes a Christian is deceived and because he or she is wanted to enter into more ministry is only willing to have a “spiritual” job. But all of our labor is to be unto the Lord! God says that work is His will and He will bless it. If someone is waiting for something to happen and refusing to work, it is a sin. Instead, if they are faithful to the Lord in the basic matter of work then God will open doors of provision at the proper time.
Some people hate to do it. Some love to do it. Some go to great lengths to avoid doing it. Some do it too much. While there are many different attitudes toward work, one thing remains constant: work must be done. Since the Garden of Eden everyone has worked or depended on someone else’s work for their survival. Work sets a person’s lifestyle—where you live, when you sleep and eat, the time with family, even your dress. But it’s not all about work – even God rested on the seventh day.
Though God rested, we need to know that work has three purposes: to provide money or resources to supply the necessities of life; to provide for a quality of life in the satisfaction of doing a job well; and to serve God. The Biblical views of work and the biblical purposes of work are:
-To make a living. (2 Thess 3:12)
-To provide for our household (Proverbs 31:27)
-To bless other (Ephesians 4:28)
-To Increase in wealth (Proverbs 13:11)
-Work is ordained by God (Genesis 1:28, 2:15)
-Work is for a lifetime (Genesis 3:19)
-Work is not a punishment (Ecc 2:24-25)
-Work calls for obedience (Colossians 3:22)
-Work should be done with excellence (Ephesians 6:6-7)
– Work is honorable (1 Corinthians 10:31).
-Work provides an opportunity to witness (Matthew 5:16).
This is the Christian way to live! So what are the sins for refusing to work?
-Not providing for your family is worse than living as a heathen. (1 Timothy 5:8).
-It is disobedient. (2 Thess 3:10)
-It leads to other sins (1 Timothy 5:13).
So what is the curse on those who refuse to work?
-Hunger (Proverbs 19:15)
-Forced Labor (Proverbs 12:24)
-Ruin (Ecc. 10:18)
-Destruction (Proverbs 18:9)
Some Christians refuse to work unless the job suits them. The Bible never sanctions this attitude. It is just plain selfishness which is idolatry. It results in a curse – not a blessing.
-It ends in want (Proverbs 28:22)
-It never satisfies (Ecclesiastes 5:10)
-This wealth evaporates (Proverbs 23:4)
What should the church do and what attitude should the church have towards those who refuse to work?
-Admonish Them (1 Thessalonians 5:14)
-Change The Situation (1 Timothy 5:13)
-Warn Them (2 Thess. 3:14)
-Keep away from Them (2 Thessalonians 3:6,7)
What should the Christian attitude be about work?
-Work as unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23)
-Ready and Willing (Titus 3:1)
-Looking after ourselves (1 Thessalonians 4:11)
But it’s not all about work – even God rested on the seventh day.
What are the blessings on work?
-Social Stature (Proverbs 22:29)
-Wealth (Proverbs 12:27)
-Success (Proverbs 16:3)
-Abundance to Bless Others (2 Corinthians 9:8)
Our God is a god of balance. With work comes the need and want to rest – even God rested after working for 6 days only to rest on the 7th (Genesis 2:3). So it’s not all about work – even God rested on the seventh day.
Whatever we do, we need to work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men (Colossians 3:23) and commit our work to the Lord so that our plans will be established (Proverbs 16:3). Whatever we do, we should do all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Man was created to work (Genesis 2:15). While it is important for man to work for the reasons listed above, it should not overpower the labor we put forth so as to eat that food that endures to eternal life (John 6:27). We don’t work because we are able – we work because He is able (1 Corinthians 15:10). God does not want us to be dependent on anyone else in this life except Him (I Thessalonians 4:12).
We have to bear our own load (Galatians 6:4-5) and to mind our own affairs, living quietly and working (1 Thessalonians 4:11). When we work, we must do so in faith that our work is not done in vain (James 2:18, 2:26). God’s gift is that we actually enjoy our work (Ecc 3:13) and that it is established by the work of our hands because of God’s favor upon us (Psalm 90:17). The Lord gives us the ability and the skill to work (Exodus 36: 1-2) We are instructed to make the best use of the time we are given (Colossians 4:5) because God has given us work to do (John 17:4).
We are to work and work well (2 Corinthians 8:11). Even Jesus said: “My father is working until now, and I am working” (John 5:17). We should always be ready to work (Titus 3:1) and to know that the work we do is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58). We can rejoice in what we do (Ecc 3:22)
We are promised that whatever good anyone of us does, we will receive back from the Lord (Ephesians 6:5-8).
God instructs us to come to Him when we are tired from working – it’s a commandment! (Matthew 11:28). The Bible says in Exodus 35:1-2: “Moses assembled all the congregation of the people of Israel and said to them, “These are the things that the Lord has commanded you to do. Six days of work shall be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the Lord.”
Deuteronomy 28:1-14 gives all the blessings that we will receive if we faithfully obey the Lord and are careful to do all His commandments – including resting on the Sabbath day. And if we obey His commandments, the Bible says: “the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God.”
So just remember Hebrews 6:10-12: “For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.
And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”
