The Meaning of Work

So often we get to Labor Day and we celebrate because we do not have to work!  Many of us view work with a little bit (or perhaps a lot) of disdain.  If we could have it our way, we might do away with work altogether.  After all the "non-work" fun that we can have seems to be more enjoyable than the paycheck we are attempting to earn.  And were it not for the paycheck, most of us might not work at all!

It might surprise you that the Scriptures have a rather unique and different view of work.  I will not go into the full detail as it would take far too long, but let us suffice to say that it was challenging to me when I started to think about the subject and study it. 

Take for instance the beginning when things were perfect and man walked and talked in perfect harmony with God and creation.  Have you considered that in this Edenic state, Adam had work to do.  There is the command to be fruitful and multiply.  There is the command to subdue the earth.  There was to be a demonstrated rule over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moved along the ground. Admittedly, this work was unhindered by the difficulty of sin, but it was work none-the-less.  There was still the work of picking the ripened fruit to eat and of the harvest.  There was the God-given work of naming the animals.  There was work to do!

Fast forward a bit to the book of Exodus and the giving of the ten commands at the base of Mount Sinai.  Notice verse 9 of chapter 20 of the book of Exodus and realize that part of the law was to do your work within the 6 days of the week and leave the 7th day for rest - the Sabbath Day.  Work was a commanded part of the will of God and then the rest was to be all the more meaningful because of the work that was being done.

Consider the command of Paul in the book of 2 Thessalonians to those who were simply waiting for Jesus to come back by sitting at home and being totally passive.  In verse 10-13 he commands them to work in a quiet fashion and to provide for their own bread. 

I could also talk about the Proverbs, the Gospels and many more, but I will end with the end.  After the consummation of all things, in Revelation 22 we are free from the curse, free from sin, and God will be on the throne and it says that "His bond-servants will serve Him."  Even in the newly created heaven and earth we will have work to do.

The Scriptures are clear that being human involves doing the work that humans are created to do.  Namely this is to bring honor and glory to God.  It is to provide for oneself and ones family.  We must not make work divided into secular work and sacred work.  The missionary and the garbage man are called to the same purpose - to do what they do to the glory of God. 

So when you go to work next, remember you are there not for man, but to bring honor and glory to God in that which He has given you to do!