What does the Bible say about work?

"The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it" (Genesis 2:15). Sin had not yet entered to disturb the scene of rest, nor had the curse yet been passed on the ground that sentenced it to bring forth thorns and thistles, so that from then on, in labour and toil — by the sweat of his face — man must eat bread… That is to say, labour and toil began with sin. The keeping and dressing of the garden was neither labour nor toil in the language of Scripture.

It was no longer easy and delightful work; instead, in toil and sorrow he had to eat of it all the days of his life… But for children not yet converted, as well as for adults in the same state, occupation is a merciful help against the dangers of idleness and the indulgence of lust and passion. Even for the faithful it is good, just as refusing to work when a person has no means is bad — so much so that the apostle bluntly lays it down that if a man does not want to work, neither should he eat.

A strange group of fanatics, both in early and later days of Christendom, made refusing to work a mark of higher spirituality. They claimed to be men of prayer in a special degree… Their boast was neither to sow nor reap, but they could not escape the reproach that they liked the barn, and liked it well filled. The seed of this selfishness showed itself among the Thessalonian saints. But it did not fail to receive immediate discouragement and a heavy blow from the apostle, who could point to his own work with his hands.

Addressing the slaves at Colossae, the apostle told them to obey their masters in everything, "and whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men" (Colossians 3:23). They were to realise that even the most menial task given by an earthly master was to be undertaken for their heavenly Master. The earthly master might not appreciate the devoted service and might give a very meagre return for their faithfulness, but their heavenly Master would give them a very suitable reward — a reward beyond all human thought, even "the inheritance."

Christianity is a living reality. It is divine life coming out in all the practical details of our daily history. It is not confined to the benches of a meeting room. It has more ways of showing itself than by preaching, praying and singing — as precious as all these are in their place. It must come out in the factory, in the warehouse, in the shop, in the office, in the daily occupation, whatever that may be. How terrible to think of a man singing and praying on the Lord's day, and on Monday morning watering down his bread and selling it as genuine!

I do not question the duty of carrying on my occupation in a Christian manner. This is right, and in its own place most important. It is a bad thing for any man to have nothing to do; such a person is generally in the way. But the Christian who has an occupation by which he lives is called to stick to it and do it thoroughly. In my opinion, a Christian man ought to do his work a great deal better than anyone else — in fact, it would be a real shame to him if he did not, because his carelessness could not help bringing a stigma on the name of Jesus.

Moses said, "You shall not steal." Paul said, "Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labour, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need" (Ephesians 4:28). Here we find that Christianity not only transforms the thief into an honest person, but turns him into a benefactor.

For thirty years He had been in retirement at Nazareth, and men had seen nothing of Him… All we know of that period is this: when He came out, men said, "Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary?" So I conclude that this blessed Son of God, here in human form on earth, worked with His hands. Let no one think, then, that service or toil is a menial thing to be avoided. Toil has been ennobled by the pathway of Christ.