The Christian on the Job

The Christian on the Job The Apostle Paul wrote: 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. The Christian lifestyle is more than abstaining from sins such as stealing. True holiness includes positive and productive behavior. We are to work, doing something useful. Not only should we earn an honest living to support our family, but we are also to help others. Let us begin with a Biblical theology of work. According to Genesis 2, man was created to work. His first task was to work God's garden and care for it. Before the fall, there were probably no pests nor noxious weeds to fight. This work gave man fulfillment and a purpose for life. Work is good, a gift from God. However, the fall turned much of our work into labor. Because of sin, we live in a fallen world where even the ground is under a curse according to Genesis 3. Work is exerting effort to produce useful and desirable results. Labor is a struggle to accomplish those results when opposed by the effects of the curse. Work was given to bring fulfillment. Labor results from the fall and brings frustration and weariness. We now experience the consequences of the fall. Adam's sin brought not only sickness and death to our bodies but also a curse on the ground producing thorns and thistles. Work that had been fruitful exercise became painful toil. Mankind now labors just to eat until death ends the toil. We still need meaningful and purposeful work, but the labor frustrates us. In 1 Thessalonians 4 and Ephesians 4, Paul gives us three reasons why Christians should work. First, a good worker wins the respect of outsiders. Our whole lifestyle as Christians will be either a positive or negative witness to Christ our Lord. A reputation of laziness will limit your witness and your career. A reputation for faithful, hard, dependable work will help both witness and career. Second, a good worker will be financially independent. Able bodied people should support their families as the economy allows. Financial dependency by choice is demeaning. Unnecessary dependence is unfair to others. And third, a good worker will have a surplus from which to help others. God makes us productive enough to produce a surplus. There is always near us genuine need due to age, sickness, accidents, disasters, etc. So, be generous in helping those with genuine need. Be cautious with others. Paul also teaches us, in 2 Thessalonians 3, that idleness is sin. Let us define idleness as a person capable of working and having opportunity to work yet choosing to be dependent on others for support. God's verdict in such cases is simple: If a man will not work, he shall not eat. The application is also simple: Do not be idle, and do not enable idleness in others. Paul gives much direction for Christians on the job. The following come from Ephesians 6, Colossians 3, Titus 2, and 1 Timothy 6. Paul speaks in terms of slaves and masters. In our society, the same principles apply to employees and employers or bosses. Christians should be good employees. Obey and respect your superior on the job. Do your best work even when no one is watching you. Work as if you were serving Jesus Himself, because you are. Look to Jesus for your reward, even if your earthly pay is poor. Be subject: obey your boss and company policy unless it is unethical. Try to please your superiors even if they are not nice to you. Do not talk back. Show respect to your boss. Be honest even in little things like copies, pens, etc. Let you purpose be to glorify God and win others to faith in Jesus. When the boss is a Christian, serve them well. You are to give full respect to all superiors but serve believing bosses even better because a brother is benefiting from your work and because they are dear to you and you love them like a brother or sister. Never take advantage of someone because they are a Christian. If you are a Christian boss, you are to act in the same way. Always serve your brother and sister even when you are their boss. Never use threats nor force to pressure any employee. Remember that all of us are equal before our Master, Jesus. Proverbs 13:23 says, All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. God created us to work. Work brings fulfillment and a purpose in life. Within the constraints of age and health, stay productively active. But our work does not bring us salvation. Only faith in Jesus and His work will bring us into right relationship with God. Enter into that relationship and let others see it in your work.