What is your attitude about work? Is it a proverbial “four-letter word” in your vocabulary? Are you just the opposite – a workaholic who finds it difficult to rest and stop working? Are you one of those rare people who finds satisfaction in your work?
If you’ve been reading (and, hopefully, writing) the verses from this month’s Write the WORD bookmark, you know the Bible has a lot to say on the topic of work. As we wrap up the month, let’s consider the WHO, WHAT, and WHY of work.
The WHO of Work
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart,
as working for the Lord, not for men.
Colossians 3:23
There are lots of “-ings” that fill up our day, claim our energy, and get our attention. Life can become so full and stressful that there’s little room to think much about God’s role in our day-to-day life. We may assume that teaching Sunday School, visiting a sick friend in the hospital, or cooking for the Missions banquet is what really counts as “working for the Lord.”
But then we read Colossians 3:23.
Whatever means whatever. Baking, cooking, shopping. Exercising. Reading. Cleaning. Washing. Mowing. Teaching. Babysitting.
The fact that all tasks are apportioned to us by our Lord means their completion is working for Him.
Let’s pray that our children and grandchildren have a strong work ethic. Let’s model this for them, as we display an “all your heart” attitude. Let’s pray they see us complete our tasks with joy and commitment — not just getting it done, but honoring God as we do it.
The WHAT of Work
All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk
leads only to poverty.
Proverbs 14:23
The Chinese proverb, Talk don’t cook the rice, echoes the truth of Proverbs 14:23. Maybe here in the South we would say, Talk don’t fry the bacon!
At some point, we need to stop talking about doing what needs to be done (cleaning out the garage, weeding the flower beds, purging the closet, scrubbing the sink, etc.) and just engage and DO IT.
It makes me giggle to note how many YouTube videos are out there – with hundreds of thousands of views! – of people cleaning or exercising. Does it make us feel productive to watch other people clean or exercise?
Time to stop talking and start doing!
The WHY of Work
Several verses might offer an answer to the “Why work?” question, but here are three:
1. We work to bring God glory:
I have brought you glory on earth
by completing the work you gave me to do.
John 17:4
Jesus is always our example for all things. He willingly set aside his robe of majesty and took on human flesh to come and live among us. His life models for us the attitude and behavior that honors God. Jesus brought God glory. We were created to bring God glory. We do that by faithfully completing the work He has for us.
2. We work because we need to eat:
If a man will not work, he shall not eat.
II Thessalonians 3:10
There’s a big difference between will not and cannot. Laziness and idleness have no place in the life of a believer. We honor God by stewarding well the gifts He has given us.
3. We work so we can bless others:
He who has been stealing must steal no longer,
but must work, doing something useful with his own hands
that he may have something to share with those in need.
Ephesians 4:28
The ultimate blessing of work is that of giving. The Scripture tells is it is indeed more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). When we lean into working hard, we not only provide for ourselves, but we’re rewarded with the joy of being used by God to bless others.
As we desire to develop a correct attitude about work and have a strong work ethic, let’s pray we lean into the right WHO, WHAT, and WHY. To HIM be all the glory!
In this week’s devotional, video introduces our May Write the WORD bookmark. In the upcoming month, we will be studying verses about the Belt of Truth – one component of the Armor of God. This topic is the first in a series of studies in which we’ll examine pieces of the spiritual armor Paul teaches about in Ephesians 6. We invite you to listen as Laura unpacks this topic for us today. Then, visit our Downloads page for your copy of our May bookmark, the optional S.O.A.P. study pages, and other free resources!
