It’s an often alarming fact that we will spend more time at work than at almost any other activity! Work is a necessary part of our lives for economic and practical reasons, but last night we looked at the fact that our work is also part of the offering of our whole lives which we make to God.
Work can mean paid employment, voluntary work, the things we do at home or simply the way we occupy our time. The Bible urges us to ‘Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.’ (Eph 5:15-16) The Message version says ‘Don’t waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren pursuits of darkness,’ going on to say ‘Make the most of every chance you get.’ Everyday work, if it’s happening every day and is occupying such a large proportion of our time, deserves to be considered well.
God works. God is a creative God (Gen 1:1), involved every day in saving, redeeming, restoring, renewing, healing and delivering. He shows us the value and significance of work, and the Genesis account gives us the Biblical order: six days of work and one day of rest (see Ex 20:10-11). God does not need to rest as we do, for He never gets tired (Ps 121:4), but He ordains a cycle of work and rest we do well to heed.
Work is not of itself sinful. The command for us to work came before the Fall. (Gen 2:15) As with all things, sin has corrupted work (see Gen 3:17-19), but life is never going to be one long paradise of sitting around in the Caribbean sipping cocktails, however much we may wistfully think this is the ideal life!
Work is more than a means to economic development or individual self-fulfilment. It is part of God’s plan for mankind, though it was never intended to be a substitute for God. Our worth does not depend on our work; we are loved and accepted by God freely, regardless of our work. Nonetheless, He has prepared good works for us to do (Eph 2:10) and our work has significance and importance not only in providing money for us but in enabling us to contribute to society and to interact with people in a helpful and creative way.