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Work Is a Noble Endeavor

Work is introduced in the first chapter of the Bible. God said to Adam and Eve, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”14 Not only were they to have children, but they were to work in order to provide for those children. In the second chapter of the book of Genesis, we get a clearer picture of what that work involved: “The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.”15

Please note that working preceded the Fall. Some have implied that work was a part of the Curse after Adam and Eve sinned. This was not the case; God instituted work before man sinned. Work is a gift of God. When we work, we are cooperating with the divine plan.

God created humans with a mind that had great capacity for learning. But they did not start out knowing all the secrets of the universe. God commanded Adam to subdue; that is, to acquire a knowledge and mastery over his material environment and to bring its elements into the service of humankind. Every time I fly in an airplane, I thank God for that mandate. Every time I ride in an automobile, I’m glad someone obeyed God. Every time I turn on a light, I’m glad for someone’s work.

To find our work is to find our place in the world. Work is applied effort. It is expending our energy for the sake of accomplishing or achieving something. The opposite of work is not leisure or play, but idleness—not investing ourselves in anything.

Work is normal. When God gave the Ten Commandments, he included the concept of work. “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God.”16 The emphasis of the command is on the seventh day for rest and worship, but we must not overlook its relationship to working.

Some of our work results in a paycheck, but some of our work has other rewards. The housework of parents is real work, though it brings in no revenue. The homework of children is real work, though the payoff is not in money.

William Bennett, in The Book of Virtues, lists work as one of the ten great virtues. He says, “Those who have missed the joy of work, of a job well done, have missed something very important.”17 Recently I talked to a man who had lost his job. He said, “I enjoy the freedom, but I miss the satisfaction of accomplishment.” He was echoing the ancient Hebrew proverb “A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul.”18 Theologian Carl Henry once said, “When man loses the sacred significance of work, he soon loses the sacred meaning of time and life.”19

A Sacred Calling

For the Christian, work is indeed seen as a sacred calling. The word vocation means “calling.” Each of us has certain interests and abilities. God expects us to use these for the good of humankind and for his ultimate glory. All good work is seen as service to God and, thus, sacred. It is through work that parents provide for the physical needs of their children. Once this is done, they have the opportunity to meet their emotional and spiritual needs. The apostle Paul said, “If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”20 The idea is that those who are walking in fellowship with God will see their work as a sacred responsibility.

We typically say of a person who is unwilling to work that he or she is lazy. Laziness in the Bible is always seen as sinful. In the book of Proverbs, we read, “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.”21

Another proverb reads, “The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.”22 In the writings of the apostle Paul, we find an antidote for laziness. He said to the Christians who lived in the city of Thessalonica, “Even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: ‘If a man will not work, he shall not eat.’ We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.”23

A Normal Part of Life

If we wish to prepare children for adulthood, then we must teach them this truth: Work is a normal part of life. If we do not work, we do not eat. As children get older, we assign them work responsibilities in keeping with their abilities. We let them know that just as Dad works and Mom works, so children also work. Because we work, we get to eat. If we fail to work, we forfeit the privilege of eating.

There is a simple, yet dramatic, way to teach this lesson: You merely assign your children a job and let them know that if they complete the job, they have the privilege of eating dinner that night. If they do not complete the job, they must miss the meal. You need not coax, scold, or intimidate them to complete the job. You simply assign it and explain the consequences. I have yet to meet a child who will miss more than one meal before learning to work. Of course, you must first of all teach the children how to do whatever you expect them to do. Habits of personal hygiene, helping with the laundry, caring for pets, making beds, helping with meals, and other household chores all require learning.

Parents can show their children how to enjoy doing things that have to be done by working with them, by encouraging and expressing appreciation for their efforts, and by modeling for them their own cheerful example. Tasks can be done cheerfully and with pride—or grudgingly and with rebellion. The manner in which we do them is really up to us. It is a matter of choice. There are no menial jobs, only menial attitudes. If children learn to work cheerfully in the home, parents have taught them one of the major ingredients for being successful adults.

The Financial Impact of Nonpaying Jobs

As adults, it is typically our work that brings us income. But do not underestimate the financial impact of nonpaying jobs. The husband or wife who mows the lawn has contributed $30 or more (depending on the size of the lawn) to the family assets. The person who cooks meals, washes clothes, vacuums floors, and cleans commodes is also making a positive impact on the financial well-being of the family. Whether or not we receive a paycheck for it, our work impacts positively the financial assets of the marriage.

The Christian couple who are committed to the work ethic revealed in Scripture understand that they are working not only for the benefit of their marriage and family, but also for God. Paul said, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”24

It is by means of work that we obtain money to provide for our needs and to enrich the lives of others. Whether you and your spouse both work for pay or only one gets paid, you both work for the benefit of the family.

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Putting the Principles into Practice

1. If you are employed for pay, do you sense that the manner in which you are investing your energy is making a contribution to the well-being of others and thus bringing glory to God? If not, would you consider exploring the possibility of changing vocations?

2. If your work does not involve a paycheck, do you recognize the intangible value of what you are doing—the contribution you are making to your family and to others? Is there anything you would like to change about the way you are investing your life?

3. Do you and your spouse agree that providing for the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of your family (which includes the two of you) is a sacred responsibility? If so, are you daily asking for God’s wisdom?

4. Does either of you feel that it is time to explore the possibility of changes in your work—who works for pay, how many hours that person will work outside the home each week, who takes care of various nonpaying jobs, etc.? If so, discuss this idea and find a strategy to execute these changes.