WISDOM FOR REWARDING WORK

“Go to the ant, you sluggard! CONSIDER HER WAYS and BE WISE” – Proverbs 6:6

The Bible reveals a lot about God’s WISDOM for REWARDING WORK: “Go to the ant, you sluggard! CONSIDER HER WAYS and BE WISE, which, having no captain, overseer or ruler, provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest” (Pro.6: 6-8). These words emphasize the importance of work and guard against the dangers of poor work habits. Studies on the workplace show that: the majority of people are dissatisfied with their jobs, yet many miss out on vacation; there is a high rate of job turnover; and a sizable proportion of people consider work to be a main source of stress.

Despite the accompanying stress, work is universally accepted. Everyone is called to work in one way or another. Work is important in many cultures; and has contributed immensely to several dimensions of development: agriculture, commerce, industrialisation, and infrastructure. While some people give due value to work, others give their work an inordinate amount of power in their lives, while some despise work. Some people work too much; while others do not work enough. What we believe shapes how we live. If we believe right, we’ll live right. What we believe about Work will affect our work-life.

The good news is that God is not silent about Work! The Bible teaches on the purpose of work. We should be able to approach Monday morning with joy instead of dread. Our faith should positively impact our work lives. The fathers of Faith in Church History actually developed a “Protestant Work Ethic” which redefined worldly work as our Christian duty that benefits both the individual and society as a whole. Our Faith should be displayed as a sign of grace. Diligence and frugality are markers of true faith in Christ. Our work is a picture of the grace we have received by Christ.

Work has always been part of God’s world. First God designed work. Then, He cursed work. Finally, He redeemed work! The opening two chapters of Genesis saw God at work in creation and charging Adam and Eve to work to care for His good world (Gen. 1:28). In the parallel account of creation, “there was no man to till the ground,” so “The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it” (Gen.2: 5,15). Work was created and designed by God. Work is good.

Sadly, sin manifested and turned WORK into TOIL, producing thorns, thistles, and sweat. Creation used to cooperate with humanity to bring joy to Man’s hands while he worked the ground, but after Man’s sinful rebellion, his work became cursed (Gen.3: 17-19). It would no longer be easy, but difficult. The ground now works against humanity. The sweat that Adam experienced in the garden is like the Monday morning stress that many feel. The curse brought sweat and stress into work.

By Mercy, God in Christ has redeemed humanity and work from the curse of sin and death, by being cursed for us so “that the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:13-14). He became a curse to reverse the curse. God restored purpose in and promises from our work. We no longer live to serve ourselves in our work, but to serve Him: “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for YOU SERVE the LORD Christ” (Col.3: 23-24). Work is redefined as our Master is redefined!

God’s word gives Purpose to our Work, knowing that whatever our job may be, we are serving Jesus Christ. Every legitimate job has value because it is done for the honour of the Lord. We get to serve Him through our jobs, devoid of stress, toil, thorns, and thistles. Even when we no longer work for wages, we’ll continue to work diligently for the good of family, community, the church, and society. Whatever stage of life we are in; WORK must be viewed through the lens of Scripture and with an eye on eternity!