Work is a major theme throughout the Bible. From the very beginning, God designed humans to work and be productive. After creating Adam, God placed him in the Garden of Eden “to work it and keep it” (Genesis 2:15). This was before sin entered the world, so work itself is not a result of or punishment for sin. God created us to work.
The Bible views work as a gift and calling from God. We glorify God and find meaning and purpose by using our skills and talents to serve him and others through our work. Scripture encourages us to work heartily for the Lord (Colossians 3:23), realizing that even simple tasks have eternal value when done faithfully. God is pleased when we use our abilities to benefit others and society.
At the same time, the Bible recognizes the realities of work after the Fall. Oftentimes work is difficult, exhausting and frustrating. By the sweat of our brows we labor to provide for ourselves and our families (Genesis 3:19). Work sometimes feels meaningless. The Preacher in Ecclesiastes bemoans the vanity of constant, monotonous work that seems fruitless (Ecclesiastes 2:18-23).
Yet even in these harsh realities, God promises to be with us. The same passage that curses work also promises God’s faithful provision: “By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread” (Genesis 3:19). As we walk in obedience to him, God promises to bless the work of our hands (Deuteronomy 28:12). Our work has dignity because we work for God, not merely for human bosses (Colossians 3:23-24).
The goodness of work
As mentioned above, God designed humans to work from the very beginning. After creating Adam, “the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it” (Genesis 2:15). Work was part of God’s perfect design for human flourishing before sin corrupted the world. The ability to responsibly cultivate and create is a good gift from our Creator.
We also work because we are made in God’s image, and God himself is a worker. Jesus said, “My Father is working until now, and I am working” (John 5:17). God the Father and God the Son continuously work to uphold and care for all of creation. As image-bearers, we reflect God’s nature by working faithfully as he does.
Work is a form of worship when we do it for God’s glory. The Bible instructs, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23). Our daily jobs and household tasks have eternal significance when we offer them as a sacrifice of praise to God. The 16th century reformer Martin Luther wrote, “The maid who sweeps her kitchen is doing the will of God just as much as the monk who prays—not because she may sing a Christian hymn as she sweeps but because God loves clean floors. The Christian shoemaker does his Christian duty not by putting little crosses on the shoes, but by making good shoes, because God is interested in good craftsmanship.”
Not only is work good, but God commands it. Scripture condemns laziness and calls us to diligence. “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber” (Proverbs 24:33-34). “For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10). God expects us to use our minds and muscles to provide for ourselves and contribute value to the world.
The effects of sin on work
While work is inherently good, humankind’s rebellion against God corrupted it like everything else. After Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, God banished them from the Garden of Eden where work had been life-giving and enjoyable. He cursed the ground and told Adam, “By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground” (Genesis 3:19). Work became difficult and frustrating because of sin.
We see the effects of the curse very practically today. Work often feels meaningless and monotonous. Many jobs are boring or wearisome. Mistreatment, abuse and injustice add misery to the workplace. Some work deadens our souls or wastes our gifts. Technology like machines and computers was meant to lighten our workload, yet we feel more stressed than ever trying to keep up.
The teacher in Ecclesiastes gives a starkly honest commentary on these futile realities of work. Though he accumulated great wealth, property, and possessions through skillful and ambitious labor, he realized it was all vain in light of death. “So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me, for all is vanity and a striving after wind” (Ecclesiastes 2:17). Work often feels empty because sin infected it.
Scripture also shows that overwork has detrimental effects. It often leads to worry and anxiety. “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?” (Matthew 6:25). Overwork steals time from family, rest, and godly pursuits. It reveals misplaced priorities that value material gain and accomplishment over relationships. Obsession with climbing the career ladder too easily displaces caring for those in need.
God’s provision through work
Despite the thorns and thistles work now brings, God remains faithful to provide for his children through it. After cursing the ground outside Eden, God immediately promises: “By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread” (Genesis 3:19). Though work is difficult, it will still yield sustenance and supply our needs when done in faithfulness to God.
The Old Testament law and wisdom literature repeatedly instruct that diligent work and wise stewardship of resources lead to prosperity. “Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense” (Proverbs 12:11). “The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor” (Proverbs 12:24). Of course, wisdom also warns against loving money or trusting in riches (Proverbs 11:28). The point is that God blesses and multiplies the work of those who obey him.
Jesus teaches that as we seek God’s kingdom, the necessities of life will be added to us: “Do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:31-33). God promises to provide for us, often through work, as we walk in obedience to him.
Work enables us to share with those in need. Rather than stealing to survive, we have the means to give generously when we work diligently. “Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need” (Ephesians 4:28). Honorable work allows us to care for others.
The Bible constantly ties meaningful work with generous giving. “You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you” (Psalm 128:2). “Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread” (Proverbs 12:11). We work to meet our own needs and the needs of our families, with extra to give to the poor and support the work of the church.
Finding purpose and meaning in work
Since God created us to work, and Jesus himself spent years working as a carpenter, Christians should see work as a divine calling rather than a necessary drudgery. The reformers referred to all kinds of occupations as “vocations”—God’s voice calling us to love and serve our neighbors in specific ways.
God made each of us with unique talents, interests and abilities for a reason (Romans 12:6-8). A true understanding of calling involves maximizing those gifts to serve others and bring glory to God, no matter how prominent or humble our work. Christian discipleship includes excellence in our jobs, not just evangelism.
Of course, not all occupations can be pursued with a clear conscience. Jobs that require dishonesty, exploit others, or violate biblical values do not honor God. But most forms of work can be sanctified when done with a heart of service to him. We honor God by doing quality work with integrity, humility and the desire to benefit customers, coworkers, employees, and society.
Sometimes God calls us to seasons of more active ministry like vocational pastoral work or full-time missionary service. But that work carries no higher value than the electrician who serves faithfully in his or her job. As Martin Luther wrote, “The maid who sweeps her kitchen is doing the will of God just as much as the monk who prays.”
God is equally pleased when the laundromat owner does his accounting ethically, the construction worker builds securely, the artist creates beauty, and the teacher nurtures students—all as an act of obedience and for his glory. All lawful occupations that contribute good to the world can honor God.
Working for Christ rather than men
The Bible reminds us that our ultimate boss is Christ, not any human employer or manager. “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people” (Ephesians 6:7 NIV). “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters” (Colossians 3:23 NIV).
Knowing that we work ultimately for God delivers us from the need to impress others or climb ladders of success. We can work diligently without worrying about recognition or promotion. Our value and identity do not depend on our output or achievement in work. God already loves us infinitely because of what Christ accomplished.
This liberates us to rest in God’s love and work from a place of security. We can handle criticism and failure with patience and perspective, because our worth is in Christ. We can manage difficult coworkers and unfair bosses with grace, leaving vengeance to God.
When our work feels insignificant, we remember that God notices and rewards our faithfulness (Hebrews 6:10). The humblest tasks have dignity because we do them for him. Work has eternal impact when done “as for the Lord.” Our labor and toil are never in vain in the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58). Someday he will say to each of his faithful workers, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23).
Balancing work, rest, family, and God
Because we live in a fallen world where work often feels futile and threatening, God commands rhythms of rest as a gift and protection for us. The fourth of the Ten Commandments instructs, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8). God commands this because we need to regularly cease from labor in order to worship him, restore our souls, and enjoy his blessings.
In the Old Testament, God required the Sabbath Year every seventh year when the Israelites let the land rest from planting and harvesting (Leviticus 25:1-7). He also instituted the Year of Jubilee every fiftieth year as an even more radical Sabbath when debts were cancelled, slaves were freed, and property was returned to original owners (Leviticus 25:8-55). These laws prevented inequality and validated that God ultimately owns everything.
Though Christians are no longer under the Sabbath laws, the principles behind them remain. Honoring the Lord’s Day allows vital refreshment and renewal. Extended sabbaticals provide longer seasons of restoration. Rhythms of work and rest keep us from burnout and remind us to trust God’s provision.
God also made the family, not career advancement, our top priority after him. Spouses, parents, and children must not be neglected for the demands of work. “If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Timothy 5:8). Our family responsibilities come before vocational achievements.
Work is a gift, but it should never displace the worship of God. If job requirements conflict with biblical commands, we must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29). There may be a cost for refusing unethical orders, but integrity is worth the price. God promises to honor and provide for those who put obedience to him first, even above promotions or paychecks.
Work in eternity
The Bible teaches that God’s redeemed people will engage in meaningful work in the new heavens and new earth for eternity. After the former things pass away, God declares, “Behold, I am making all things new” (Revelation 21:5). Just as God first created humans to work in the Garden of Eden, redeemed humanity will once again enjoy purposeful work in a renewed, paradise creation.
The Prophet Isaiah looked forward to that coming day: “They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit . . . They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands” (Isaiah 65:21-22).
The book of Revelation gives us a glimpse of God’s people serving and ruling in God’s presence. “His servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever” (Revelation 22:4-5). Work will continue, but stripped of frustration and futility.
Until that glorious day, Christians fight against the effects of the curse by doing all work with excellence as worship unto God. We find purpose in fulfilling our callings, knowing God receives the glory. Though work is often tough, God uses it to develop Christlike character in us. With each task done faithfully, we look ahead to the day when we will worship him through our work for eternity in the new creation.
