In today’s world, many people don’t want to work. Others will work but complain incessantly about the work being too difficult. Then some rare people want to work, and finally, those that understand that work is a blessing and commandment from God. The vast majority of people are in the second category – they work but complain about how hard it is and will do anything, including lying, to ease their burden. Obviously, they don’t know what God said in scripture concerning work. So, let’s explore what God wants us to do and how God wants us to react to work.
Genesis 2:15
“And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.”[1]
In the beginning, God created a perfect world within a perfect universe occupied by one perfect human male. Then God put Adam to sleep, took a fleshy rib out of Adam, and made Eve.
Genesis 2:23
“And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”[2]
Adam named all the types of animals and the female gender – woman because she was taken from man.
In Genesis chapter 3, the serpent (Satan) beguiles the woman by lying to her. “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:” if you eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. So, instead of obeying God, she ate and gave some to Adam, who was watching all this transpire. That is where sin, death, and hard labor entered the world.
Genesis 3:17-20
“And unto Adam, he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”
Only then did Adam provide Eve with her given name.
“And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.”[3]
Work is a Commandment from God
Sin resulted in hard labor for all humans – we deserve it! We are born sinful and die sinful, but having a Biblical personal relationship with God works a miracle. We do God’s will instead of our own as much as humanly possible. Our work is hard because we have sinned and deserve a hard life. But how does God want you to react to that reality?
1 Thessalonians 4:11
“And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.”[4]
We are to keep our mouths shut, mind our own business, and work to have the necessities of life. That’s what work is all about – not accumulating stuff, getting rich, or having an opulent lifestyle. We work to fulfill our genuine needs.
Proverbs 10:4
“He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.”[5]
Slackers stay poor, and those who diligently work will earn a living, but may also make their boss or themselves rich depending on God’s will.
Proverbs 14:23
“In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.”[6]
Labor will provide for you and your family, but if you’re all talk and no action, you will remain in poverty.
Proverbs 14:1
“Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.”[7]
If you are a wise woman and work diligently, you will build something lasting and good, but foolish women tear down their accomplishments until they are gone. This reality could be through laziness, complaints, strife, or negligence, but God calls these things foolishness.
Work is a Commandment from God – Conclusion
We were designed and created to work. In the beginning, it was light work, but after sin entered the world, our labor became hard. We must embrace this reality! We must work with God’s will as our centerpiece – our core value! We should accomplish this with as little complaining as humanly possible. We should do, not talk about doing. And we shouldn’t cast blame on others if we are at fault. Take responsibility, take action, and work diligently and with a thankful heart. Not just because God commands it but because it’s logical, good, and the right thing to do.
Enjoy your job and strive for excellence in a manner that would honor our Lord Jesus Christ – shining forth as God’s light in this dark world. Amen!!!
References [1] Bible Gateway. (n.d.). BibleGateway.com: A searchable online Bible in over 150 versions and 50 languages. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%202%3A15&version=KJV;ESV [2] Bible Gateway. (n.d.). BibleGateway.com: A searchable online Bible in over 150 versions and 50 languages. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+2%3A23&version=KJV;ESV [3] Bible Gateway. (n.d.). BibleGateway.com: A searchable online Bible in over 150 versions and 50 languages. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+3%3A17-20&version=KJV;ESV [4] Bible Gateway. (n.d.). BibleGateway.com: A searchable online Bible in over 150 versions and 50 languages. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Thessalonians+4%3A11&version=KJV;ESV [5] Bible gateway. (n.d.). BibleGateway.com: A searchable online Bible in over 150 versions and 50 languages. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+10%3A4&version=KJV;ESV [6] Bible gateway. (n.d.). BibleGateway.com: A searchable online Bible in over 150 versions and 50 languages. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+14%3A23&version=KJV;ESV [7] Bible gateway. (n.d.). BibleGateway.com: A searchable online Bible in over 150 versions and 50 languages. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+14%3A1&version=KJV;ESV
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