Work

“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might…” –Ecclesiastes 9:10a.

“Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children.  And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us:  and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.” –Psalm 90:16-17 (KJV).

Pride can be of two kinds:  a vain pride when we feel egotistical, superior, conceited and self-important about what we accomplish.   Or pride can be a feeling of self-respect, dignity and self-worth knowing that we have done our best and show good results from our efforts.  I learned early in life the precept taught in Ecclesiastes  9:10:  “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.”  My parents were both very hard workers who took pride in their work—jobs well done on the farm.  They taught their children to work and to be responsible with work.  Moreover, they were role models, setting an example of a good workman.  Work is a privilege and should be approached seriously and with our best efforts.  Later on, as I grew (I hope) in knowledge and understanding, I found there is a “theology of work.”  The Bible teaches us these important theological aspects of work well done:

(1)  Believers work because they are made in God’s image.  Some believe work came about because mankind fell into sin and the curse of work was upon them.  However, man worked before the fall.  It was made more difficult by the fall.  God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and told them to cultivate it—which entailed work.  Work was initiated by God and is a primary commission for mankind.  Although agricultural in the beginning, today work encompasses labor that is physical, mental, social and spiritual.  And we are to do whatever our work and calling “with our might” and make it pleasing in God’s sight.

(2)  Integrity in work reflects God’s character working in and through us.  Christians should be at all times conscientious, honest, productive and thorough in their work.  Our work should be done “as unto the Lord.” 

(3)  Within our work God also made a plan for rest.  He worked six days in creation and on the seventh day rested.  He gave man a day of rest.  Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27, KJV).  Man’s physical, emotional, mental and spiritual limits are aided by a day of rest.

(4)  Christians should see their work, whatever it is, as serving the Lord.  Work is not just earning a living.  Worthwhile work brings a sense of purpose and worth and helps others grow. 

Billy Graham wrote, “Every believer will receive a reward for his works” (Facing Death and the Life After.  Waco, TX: Word, 1987, p. 265).  What better reward than to hear the Lord say to the individual believer:  “Well done, thou good and faithful servant...enter thou into the joy of thy Lord’  (Matthew 25:23. KJV).