Working Hard or Hardly Working? - August 6

Read Colossians 3:23 (ESV)

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men…

Reflect

What is your attitude towards work? Do you work hard or hardly work?

I was driving around town the other day and I noticed something. It seemed like every other business I passed had a sign in the window that said, “Now Hiring.” A quick internet search confirmed what I had noticed—there are a lot of job openings right now and labor shortage. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 11.3 million job openings in February of this year while the number of unemployed persons was 6 million people. In other words, we had enough jobs available in the states to eliminate unemployment. Now, I know it’s not always that simple. There are a lot of factors that go into determining whether a job is the right fit for someone such as location, education, skills, etc.

But, I still hear a consistent refrain from employers that “No one wants to work anymore” and “It’s hard to find good help these days.” This led me to wonder, as Christians, what should our relationship with work look like? What kind of attitude towards work should we have?

When we go back to the Bible, we see that hard work is valued in God’s Word. In today’s verse, the apostle Paul urged the Colossian church to “work heartily” and to work as if they are working for the Lord and not just for man. In other words, work as if God is your boss.

It is well-known that the apostle Paul was a missionary. Most missionaries are financially supported by the body of believers, which Paul believed was right and good (Galatians 6:6 and 1 Corinthians 9:11). And yet, while Paul did accept contributions to his ministry, he still maintained a day job. In Acts 18:3, we read that Paul was a tentmaker by trade and in 1 Corinthians 4:12 he stated that he and many of the other apostles labored with their own hands. So, on top of his extensive missionary career and his prolific letter writing, Paul did manual labor to support his ministry. He was by no means lazy, and he did not consider hard work to be beneath him.

The whole counsel of Scripture views labor in a positive light and laziness in a negative one. For example, several Proverbs are about the “sluggard” or slacker. See Proverbs 6:6, 10:4, 20:4, 24:30-34, and more. The theme is always the same—the sluggard is foolish and headed for financial ruin but those who work hard are wise and have their needs met. They may even be prosperous and wealthy. But the first mention of work is actually in the book of Genesis when God created man and put him in the garden to “work it.” There’s no getting around it. We were created to work.

But how we work says just as much about us as how much we work. When Paul said to work “heartily” that means put your heart into it. Did you know that your attitude towards work can actually be a witness to others? Do you always do your best work, even when your boss is gone? Do you serve others with a cheerful attitude? Do you do the bare minimum required or go above and beyond? Is your goal to get the job done or get the job done well?

Friends, as believers in Christ, we are His representatives. The way that we work and our attitude towards work has the potential to bring glory to God! So, it doesn't matter what your job is, how much you get paid, or how appreciated you are, seek to do your job well.

Respond

Lord, thank You for work. It isn’t just a means to provide for my needs and the needs of my family. It is also an opportunity to glorify You. Enable and equip me to do the work that You have for me and help me do a job well done. Amen.

Reveal

Look for one opportunity this week to go above and beyond in serving someone at work, at home, or in your community. Let your attitude and effort reflect Christ, showing others that your work is ultimately done for the Lord.