Today’s Reading: Proverbs 12
The Biblical work ethic is one of hard work and
diligence. Colossians
3:23-25 says, “Whatever
you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,
since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.
It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Here, we are commanded to put forth
our best efforts, to work from our heart and soul at whatever we do.
Interestingly, it was
God who instituted work at the beginning of creation (prior to the Fall). Genesis 2:15 says, “The Lord God took the man and
put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” Work is
not a burden or an inconvenience in life (as some consider it), it is part of
the overall scope of God’s creative genius. The promise here is that working
hard will result in “plenty of bread.”
Solomon’s writings
contain many wise sayings regarding work. Proverbs 14:23 says, “All hard work brings a profit,
but mere talk leads only to poverty.” Proverbs 6:6-11 says, “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider
its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores
its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.” Ecclesiastes 9:10 says, “Whatever your hand finds to do,
do it with all your might.”
The New Testament
contains another important principle regarding work: “If a man will not
work, he shall not eat.” (2 Thessalonians 3:10) The refusal of an able-bodied person to work should have the
consequence that he lacks food. Paul also says that an “idle” man who refuses
to work should not be part of the church (verse 6). Solomon here calls it
“following worthless pursuits.” The person who spends their time being idle or
slothful, or trying to get out of working simply “lacks sense.”
It is important to note
that the Bible does not condone workaholism. We do not work merely to amass
worldly wealth (in fact, Matthew 6:19-34 warns about this). We work to bring glory to God. We also do not
work ourselves into the ground or to the extent that our health is damaged or
our families suffer.
Christians should work
hard. Work is integral to life, and approaching work as God-given will give us
more pleasure in it. We can work cheerfully and without complaint because we
are working for the Lord who loves us and has redeemed us. A good work ethic
can also be a witness to others (Matthew 5:16). The world takes notice of our efforts and wonders why we do what we
do. Accordingly, the follower of Christ should stand out as the hardest worker
in the firm; demonstrating the highest work ethic of all.