teaching our children a strong
work ethic from a biblical perspective. In doing so, we will
deal with four key points that
will prove helpful. In short, we
need to rescue their view point,
encourage their desire, combat
their reluctance, and balance
their approach to work. We will
deal with each of these pursuits.
We need to rescue their viewpoint
of work through the message we
teach (Biblical Perspective)
In his book, “Created for Work”,
Bob Schultz makes the following
observation:
“God didn’t have to put intricate
designs on the wings of moths
and butterflies. He could have
made them all gray. He didn’t
have to paint a frog’s eyes gold.
He could have made them all
black. God adds distinct and
beautiful touches to each thing
He makes. His energy and creativity are without measure.
They overflow into everything
He does. Drudgery and bare
minimums have no part in His
work. Whatever He makes is
not only useful but also beautiful
and fascinating. Some things He
makes are very simple. Yet even
their simplicity is a work of art.
God puts His heart into His work.
He doesn’t finish things just to
get them over with. He commands us to do the same, “And
whatever you do, do it heartily”
(Colossians 3:23)
In essence, Shultz has introduced us to the biblical perspective of work. Far from seeing
work as a dreaded, necessary
evil for which we earnestly await
our delive rance, work, when
viewed accurately, takes on a
whole new meaning. Consider
the words of Colossians 3:23,
a cook, a CEO, a janitor, a store
clerk or a stay at home mom, all
“Whatever you do, work heartily, work has value and not just on a
as for the Lord and not for men.” practical level.
This is of course just a single line
from God’s word and we cannot
build an entire understanding
of work on it alone. However,
we would be greatly amiss if
we did not recognize the fact
that our lives, all aspects, are
to be lived for God. We typically
have no problem with this sentiment when it comes to the more
pious categories of life. However, to suggest that something
as dreadful as a nine to five job
is to be an arena in which we
can bring God glory is at times
far from us. How many of us go
through life in a compartmentalized fashion apportioning a
certain amount to God, some to
family, some to fun and then ever
so reluctantly, some to work! As
alluded to earlier, Colossians
3:23 is a single strand of truth
from God’s Word, but the message reverberates throughout.
Take “for instance 1 Corinthians
10:31, ““So, whether you eat or
drink, or whatever you do, do all
to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31, ESV) Interestingly,
the theme that seems to be presented in Scripture is that God
is worthy of all our praise and all
that we do should in some measure paint a picture of His worth.
This is in essence what it means
to “glorify God”. So what’s the
take away? Simple, the phrase
“whatever you do” includes
work. Rather than relegating our
work to a position of meaninglessness, we need to see it and
communicate about it in a way
that snatches it from the world of
dread. Whether it be work as a
doctor, an actress, a mail carrier,
Sadly, the true value of work is
often missed, even in the minds
and lives of well-meaning parents. In part, this is because we
fail to understand the underpinning of a strong biblical work
ethic. Work does of course have
value for the ends that it accomplishes; money for food, bills
and fun. Yet, far more value is
understood when we recognize
the fact that work is ordained
by God. As mentioned earlier,
the God of the Bible is a working God. Even a cursory understanding of an all-powerful being
would lead one to conclude that
if He were to choose to do so,
God could have simply created
all things, including people, with
a mere thought. However, He
didn’t. We see great intentionality in the process of creation and
we see a God of creativity and
purpose who labors well at all He
does! In fact, far different than
that which resides in the minds
of many, “work” is not a result of
the Fall; not a result of sin. Before
we ever come to Genesis 3
which describes in painful detail
the rebellion of Adam and Eve
and subsequent consequences
which God meted out to them,
we have Genesis chapters 1 and
2. Consider for instance Genesis
2:15 which states, ““The LORD
God took the man and put him
in the garden of Eden to work
it and keep it.” (Genesis 2:15,
ESV) Not to be overlooked is
the reality that work in some way
became more toilsome after the
Fall of Man (Genesis 3:17-19)
but it must still be acknowledged
that it was always part of God’s