Bible Perspectives on Work
Chuck Sligh
September 5, 2021
This sermon is adapted from another source, but I have lost the source information. If someone recognizes similarities with another sermon and can provide me the source, I’ll be glad to cite it.
TEXT: 2 Thessalonians 3:10 – “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.”
INTRODUCTION
Tomorrow is Labor Day in the U.S. Labor Day is a strange holiday:
• Nobody this morning wished me, “Happy Labor Day, Pastor.”
• We don’t send out Labor Day cards.
• We don’t decorate the house for Labor Day or give Labor Day gifts.
• The florists and greeting card manufacturers haven’t found a way to capitalize on it.
• It’s a bad weekend for a church because everyone wants to get their last summer traveling in before winter sets in.
• And strangest of all, we celebrate Labor Day by not laboring at all—we get the day off.
Thinking about Labor Day coming up, it occurred to me that in all my years growing up and as an adult, ministering in churches, I don’t think I’ve ever heard a Labor Day sermon. That’s odd because the Bible has a lot to say about our work. So, I did a little study on work and found it very rewarding, and I’d like to share the fruit of my study with you.
We’re all acquainted with the initials TGIF—“Thank God, It’s Friday.” This can be a positive statement—sincere thanks for Saturday’s rest and recreation and Sunday’s worship. More often though, it’s negative—meant to belittle work.
Work can be much more rewarding if you look at work from a biblical perspective. So today, the day before Labor Day, I want us to think about “Bible Perspectives on Work.”
I. THE FIRST PERSPECTIVE IS THAT YOUR DESIRE AND ABILITY TO WORK ARE A REFLECTION OF GOD’S IMAGE IN YOU.
Work was part of God’s original creative plan:
There was to be PHYSICAL work: Genesis 2:15 says, “And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to work it and to keep it.”
God also gave mankind MENTAL work: Genesis 2:20 – “And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found a help meet for him.”
All this, mind you, was before the Fall when work was not toilsome. Usually, we picture paradise as a place of leisure and no work. But that would really not be paradise at all! God meant from the very beginning—back in the Garden of Eden—that people should work and labor in life. And the Bible strongly hints that we will engage in meaningful work in heaven.
We were created to work because we are created in God’s image. The first recorded acts of God in the Bible were to work for six days and to rest the seventh. Now, that doesn’t mean that God’s work in creating the universe involved toil. And His rest was not needed because of how hard it was to work those six other days. God spoke the universe into existence with just His word and instantly it all came into glorious existence. It took absolutely no exertion on God’s part, but it was work, nevertheless. God set an example for us: We are to labor for six days and rest on one.
But even now, much of God’s creative power is manifested in work—our work! On this earth, we are God’s hands, feet, muscles, and minds. Much of His creative activity is completed through us. God does not, by Himself, plow a field, write a poem, build a house, or cook a meal. He chooses to do these things through you and me.
Remember too, that Jesus, the perfect man, worked. He labored with His step-father, Joseph as a carpenter—a difficult work, demanding much exertion and energy. And when Jesus began His ministry, He often worked from dawn to dusk meeting people’s needs, healing the sick, and preaching and teaching. Jesus was a hard worker, and we, created in the image of God, and commanded to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, should see work as a blessing.
II. THE SECOND BIBLE PERSPECTIVE IS THAT WORK IS YOUR DUTY.
The Bible stresses the duty of work.
In Exodus 20:9 God said, “Six days shall you labor, and do all your work.”
Ephesians 4:28 says, “Let him who stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have to give to him who is in need.”
And then in our text we read – “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.” (2 Thessalonians 3:10)
Paul was referring to Christian freeloaders, people praising God for His wonderful care, but living off the largesse of others.
Listen to verse 11: – “For we hear that there are some who walk disorderly among you, not working at all, but are busybodies.”
What was Paul’s instruction for these idle busybodies? Paul says, “Get to work!” in verse 12 – “Now such persons we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and earn their own living.”
So, we see that God commands us to work! It’s our duty.
But are there special cases? – 4 come to mind (some legitimate and some not):
• First are the retired:
The truth is that everyone comes to an age where they no longer have the strength and stamina to work a full-time or even a part-time job. It’s a sad but inevitable reality of life. They have worked their whole lives to earn their retirement. And for some, though they may not be able to work a job, they can work as volunteers to the degree that their strength and endurance allow.
• Second are the independently wealthy:
Though they do not HAVE to work and labor, they have the same duty to work as you and I do. They have no right to be idle. They should make a contribution to society.
Illus. – A few years back I heard an interview on the radio with a man who wrote a book about the two Roosevelt families—the Teddy Roosevelt group and the Franklin Roosevelt group.
This author pointed out how TEDDY Roosevelt exemplified the American ideal of having character and a work ethic. And he successfully trained his children to work hard. He also taught them the importance of making a positive contribution to society, regardless of their financial status or social standing.
FRANKLIN Roosevelt, however, was from a different side of the family. He was wrapped up in the social scene, making a name for himself and self-aggrandizement. In his own children, he failed to impart character, a work ethic, or the importance of contributing to society.
The differences between the two branches of the family tree are striking: Those from TEDDY’S line became lawyers, politicians, industrialists, doctors and clergymen—many serving society with distinction. They made a mark on society in just about every field of endeavor for generations to come. These took what wealth was handed to them and turned it into a means of serving others. On FRANKLIN’S side, however, is a tragic line of failures, alcoholics, crooks who ended up in prison, and even prostitutes and members in organized crime.
One line of the family tree thought, “We have wealth. We have money. We have influence. Let’s WORK and make a mark and make a difference.” The other line is symptomatic of the present generation’s philosophy, “You owe me something. Let me live in leisure and enjoy life.” What a tragic and self-destructive attitude.
Even the independently wealthy should work.
• Another special case are students and children:
LEARNING is their work. Kids should be taught to work hard on their schoolwork and homework. They should be taught to take school seriously and do their best.
But they should also be assigned chores around the home. They should be taught how to work hard according to their age and development.
When old enough, they should be encouraged to get a job in the summer, preferably one that requires a lot of labor and exertion so that they learn what it is to work hard and then enjoy the fruit of their labor when they get their paycheck.
Illus. – My first job was hauling hay. I was 14 years old at the time. We worked from 7:00 in the morning until 5:00 in the afternoon. I’d come home with dust and dirt over me from my hair to my shoes. It was hard, demanding physical work
The farmer would have the bales of hay ready for us to pick up and we would swap off being the one on the ground to pick up the bales and throw them on the wagon. Then the other worker would grab the bales and stack them on the wagon. Then we went to the barn and unloaded the hay, throwing bales up to the loft and into every square inch in the barn till all the hay was up.
It was good training for me. It taught me the value to hard work and doing my best. And it brought me great joy to buy some of my clothes out of my own paycheck.
• A final special case are the maimed and handicapped:
The command we saw earlier about not eating if one is not working is addressed to those who “WILL not work,” not those who “cannot work.” The Bible clearly commands us to make provision for those who are truly physically handicapped or mentally incapacitated.
Except for these exceptions, work enables us to enjoy the necessities of life, and even some luxuries, with a clear conscience. Unless we’re providentially hindered so that we are unable to work, we all have a duty to work and earn our keep.
III. THE THIRD PERSPECTIVE IS THAT GOD IS YOUR EMPLOYER
The Bible stresses that work is GOD-centered.
Colossians 3:23 says, “And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for men;”
Also, listen in a moment as I read Ephesians 6:5-8. In this passage, Paul is talking about servants. Of course, you are not a servant on our job, but the principles Paul gives are still applicable for those of us who work for others. Paul says, “Servants, be obedient to them that are your earthly masters, with respect and fear, with sincerity of heart, as you would Christ; 6 Not with eyeservice, as people-pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; 7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to man: 8 Knowing that whatever good thing anyone does, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or free.”
Illus. – A good illustration is Joseph who, no matter what the circumstances, worked as a man who was serving God: While a son, a slave, a prisoner, and a ruler. – In each situation, he served heartily and with such distinction, that he always rose to the top.
There are distinct benefits of having this attitude:
• It overcomes disappointment when others don’t acknowledge the worth of our work. – If no one else see it, know that GOD sees it and will reward you for it.
• It gives us pride in what we do well, knowing that God knows and cares about our work.
• And it encourages us to be faithful in work, even when conditions are not exactly to our liking.
IV. THE FOURTH PERSPECTIVE IS THAT WORK MUST NOT OBSCURE THE ULTIMATE PURPOSE OF YOUR LIFE
Think with me about 2 passages of Scripture:
Exodus 20:3 – “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
An idol is anything that keeps us from God. Work can be a form of idolatry. Yes, work is part of being in God’s image and is commanded, but if we exalt work so much that we neglect the things of God, it becomes a form of idolatry, something that takes God’s position of first place in our lives.
A second passage of scripture is Jesus’ parable of the rich fool in Luke 12:13-21. His sin was believing that accumulating goods is the ultimate purpose in life. No, our ultimate purpose in life is to glorify God, and working is for the purpose of having the means to support ourselves and our families, and then to be generous with others.
What I’m trying to say is that, important as work is, it and its results are NOT the supreme purpose of life. We are soul as well as body. We are creatures of eternity. Spiritual hunger is not satisfied by mere possessions.
Jesus said something very important in the context of the rich fool that we just talked about. He said, “…Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of the things which he possesses.” (Luke 12:15)
The very BEST thing in life—salvation—is absolutely free. A well-balanced life strives to meet both material and spiritual needs.
CONCLUSION
What we’ve learned this morning is the nobility of work, and the kind of work we should strive for. Whether you work a job away from home or you work at home as a homemaker, you ought to do your work with all of our heart and do it your best as if it were for the Lord.
Illus. – The U.S.S. Astoria was the first U.S. cruiser ship to engage the Japanese during the Battle of Savo Island in World War II. It was a night action fought August 8th and 9th in 1942.Although the Astor ia scored two hits on the Imperial flagship, Chokai, she was badly damaged and sank shortly after noon on August 9th.
About 2:00 AM, Signalman 3rd Class Elgin Staples, was swept overboard by the blast when one of the ship’s eight-inch gun turrets exploded. Wounded in both legs by shrapnel and in semi-shock, Staples was kept afloat by a narrow life belt that he managed to activate with a simple trigger mechanism. At around 6:00 AM, Staples was rescued by a passing destroyer and returned to the Astoria, whose captain was attempting to save the cruiser by beaching her. The effort failed, and Staples, still wearing the same life belt, found himself back in the water.
Given home leave after his rescue, Staples told his story to his mother who worked for Firestone, the manufacturer of the life belts, and asked her what the purpose of the number on the belt was. She replied that the company insisted on personal responsibility for the war effort, and that the number was unique and assigned to only one inspector. Staples remembered everything about the lifebelt and quoted the number. It was his mother’s personal code and it was affixed to every item she was responsible for approving.
Do you suppose Mrs. Staples was glad that she had performed her work well on the job?
May we do 4 things with regard to work:
• First, work heartily on your job, always doing your dead-level best.
• Second, strive for excellence in your work to bring glory to God in your life.
• Third, work as if God is your employer. – Work as if you are working for God Himself.
• And last, work hard, but always keep work in its proper place in your life. – Don’t let it become an idol in your priorities, replacing time and service that should be reserved for God.
