Financial Discipleship - the Bible on WorkSample

OUR PART IN WORK

Did you know that in our work we actually serve the Lord rather than people? Paul writes: “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord and not for people . . . It is the Lord Christ whom you serve” (Colossians 3:23-24).

Recognizing that we work for the Lord is a big deal. If you could see Jesus as your boss, would you try to be more faithful in your job? The most important question you need to answer every day as you begin your work is this: “Who do I work for?” The Bible makes it clear: The person who signs your paycheck is not your ultimate employer. No matter where you are or what you do, you work for the Lord.

Work hard.

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10, NIV). “The precious possession of a person is diligence” (Proverbs 12:27). Scripture encourages hard work and diligence, while laziness is strongly condemned: “One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys” (Proverbs 18:9, NIV).

Paul’s life was an example of hard work. “. . . with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you . . . in order to offer ourselves as a role model for you, so that you would follow our example” (2 Thessalonians 3:8-9).

Your work should never be at such a level that people will associate laziness with God. Nothing less than hard work and doing a job well pleases Him. He doesn’t require us to be workers who labor around the clock and never make mistakes, but He does expect us to take on our responsibilities — whatever they may be — with diligence and integrity.

But don’t overwork!

Hard work, however, needs to be balanced by the other priorities of life. If your job demands so much of your time and energy that you neglect your relationship with the Lord, friends, or your loved ones, then you’re working too much. This applies to those in secular careers as well as those in ministry. If you tend to be a workaholic, be careful not to shortchange the other priorities of life.

Exodus 34:21 reads, “You shall work six days, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during plowing time and harvest you shall rest.” We believe this Old Testament principle of resting one day out of seven has application today. This has been difficult for me, particularly during “plowing time and harvest,” when a project deadline approaches or I’m under financial pressure.

(excerpt taken from Give, Save & Spend Financial Discipleship Study, Howard Dayton, 2022)