Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica, “For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either” (2 Thessalonians 3:10). Those who like to consider heavenly realities and imagine philosophical quandaries, this is an arresting teaching from Paul, mainly because they reflect and realize that they are lazy. That is to say, they love to “wait for Jesus” but they won’t “work for Jesus.”
Why would Paul write this? Doesn’t this seem harsh? Is Paul being a little over the top on this work thing? No, not at all. There is a theology of work in the Bible. It essentially goes like this: God is a worker; you were created to bear His image according to His likeness; therefore, you are to work. Therefore, work has a holy component to it; because of the holy nature of work, that of reflecting the image of God, to refuse to work is a great sin. Greater than many are willing to admit.
From the start we see God working (In Genesis 1-2,). He is working in order to create a world, cosmos, for the Son. This world would be the location of the man and the woman and their offspring. It would eventually become the location of the panorama of redemption. If we were to read Job 38-42, we would see the work that God went through in order to lay the foundations of the earth. His work in the design, creation, and completion of the created universe is spoken of as planned, purposeful, glorious, and skillful. It was not haphazard, menial, nor incompetent work. God’s skills in all that He did continues to shine forth with glory and brilliance.
In fact, although God stopped His creative work on day seven (Genesis 2:1-3), He had to pick up His hands again in labor in Genesis 3. This time, however, it was the work of redemption. God has not stopped working since. Jesus said it like this:
But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.” (John 5:17)
The Jews knew what Jesus meant: God has never taken a Sabbath rest since His original rest in Genesis. This statement was purposefully chosen to be spoken of during a conversation about the Sabbath (V. 16). Therefore, Jesus was assaulting their own self-righteous Sabbath-keeping by saying that not even the Father has observed the Sabbath since the one in creation. So, like a faithful Son, Jesus imitates His Father and He also continues to work.
For us, let’s see 5 important components of working like the Father:
1. Work for His glory: to display His skills, not yours:
Otherwise, you may say in your heart, “My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.” But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. (Deuteronomy 8:17–18)
Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)
Whether you are building the Tabernacle of God, or stocking shelves, everything involves some level of effort and skill. The desire of God’s people must be to acknowledge this fact and seek to portray God as the source of those skills in everything you do.
2. Work in order to imitate God: this drives you to continually study His Word:
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; (Ephesians 5:1)
Paul’s intention here is that as a child imitates his parents, so also should God’s children imitate Him. This requires getting to know God more and more by the study of His Word. As He understood, there is greater conformity to Him.
3. Work with increasing skill: this requires the perfecting of your craft (and generates interest):
For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; (Psalm 139:13–15)
David marveled at the intricacy and skill that it takes to form a child. This incredible performance from God serves as an example for us as well. We must strive to work better, more skillfully, and with understanding. Learning to perform our jobs with this kind of interest keeps us moving forward, and displays God’s handiwork through us. As was said before, every job has a level of skill required. A Christian should strive to be the best he can be at that skill.
4. Work with all your heart: this keeps you from discontentment:
Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. (Colossians 3:22–24)
When a person works like this, he does not have time to think about all that he is missing by working that day. Being content to put your whole heart and soul into your labor is freeing. It frees us from our natural discontentment with where we are and what we are doing.
5. Work with a desire to defeat laziness: laziness is the enemy of productivity:
Through indolence (extreme laziness) the rafters sag, and through slackness the house leaks. (Ecclesiastes 10:18)
and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you, so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need. (1 Thessalonians 4:11–12)
The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have been working. God is a worker. Therefore, laziness, which is the refusal to expend energy to work, is sin. The human body can withstand much. It has the capacity to work hard for many long hours of the day. However, the motivation is often absent. Yet, as a follower of Jesus Christ, our motivations, as listed above, must drive us to work…for His glory.
Concluding Thoughts
Overall, we can tell a lot about what a person thinks about God by his work. Whether it is a vocation in the world for the provision of our families, or the work of managing the home day-in and day-out, the principles above are the same. The glory of God in the purpose, performance, and product of our labor is our aim. The resulting compensation is up to the Lord:
Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. (Colossians 3:22–24)
