Why on earth did God create work?
Many people think that work is a punishment. God intended it to be a blessing.
Even as children, we may begin to see work as a penalty. If we have done something wrong, our parents may force us to do extra chores. Other experiences and stories may lead us to the same conclusion. In some countries, work for the community can replace time in prison. And we know from wartime that prisoners of war are often forced to work.
But such stories distract us from God's purpose for work. The Bible shows a variety of facets related to work. Taken together, they display how God intended work to be a blessing. Many books have been written on this subject in the last twenty years. This article will highlight only a few essential points. Let us begin the journey.
Work is a blessing
Over the years, I have asked many people what they associate with the word "paradise". Several joyful things are mentioned, such as holidays, beauty, good food, and happy fellowship with others. Almost no one mentions anything to do with work.
However, in the first two chapters of the Bible, we can read about the only paradise that ever existed. In chapter 3, sin enters the world. Before that, we must assume that everything worked as God intended. In this heavenly reality, we can see God at work. Genesis 1 describes how he creates. Genesis 2 makes it even more concrete when it tells us that God "planted a garden in Eden" (v.8). A few verses later, God asks us humans to work and care for the garden he has created (v 15).
I believe God's call to us today is the same as his call to the first human beings. We are called to work and care for the garden He has made and planted for us. Our garden is our environment, and we are called to serve society with the design he has given us. God has given us different skills and interests, and we need each other to make society work.
A key scripture in Tent is found in Colossians 3:23-24: "Whatever you do, do it with all your heart, as if you were working for the Lord and not for human masters, knowing that you will receive a reward from the Lord. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. (NIV) As we can see, the Bible clearly states that we serve Jesus in everything we do. When we gain this perspective, we begin to work with a higher purpose. This can bring new joy to our daily efforts.
Work brings blessings and answers to prayer
At the beginning of Genesis chapter 2, we can read how God lets us co-create with him. The Bible describes how everything was barren and nothing could grow because two things were lacking. One was water and the other was people. Think about this text for a while:
"Now no bush had yet appeared on the earth, and no plant had yet sprung up, because the Lord God had not sent rain on the earth, and there was no one to till the ground. Genesis 2:5 (NIV)
It is as if God is saying that he has given us what we need to create. Now, the work is up to us. He will provide His part, which is the water. Then we must work the soil. Often, we think that God only works in the spiritual realm. But usually, He uses people to accomplish His will and to answer prayers. For example, when we pray for healing, we expect God to intervene supernaturally. He can, of course, do this, and occasionally He does. But most of God's healing ministry in the world is done through doctors and other medical professionals.
Around the world, Jesus' followers regularly pray the Lord's Prayer. One prayer says: "Give us this day our daily bread.” As a father of five, I know how much it takes to feed a family of seven. One day, I was standing on one of the roads leading to Chennai, India, watching cars, trucks, buses, and motorcycles go by. I began to think about all the food that had to be provided for this multi-million city every day and all the people who had to be involved in the process. For most of us, God answers our prayers for daily bread through a chain of people. The bread I ate this morning was available because the farmer, the miller, the transporters, the baker and the shopkeeper had done their jobs.
In our Tent courses, we ask people to see the connection between their professional work and what God wants to do in their societies. Some of us struggle to discover this link and may need help. When we do find it, we’ll see that our work is intended by God and brings blessing to people.
Work shows who God is
Some years ago, I was living in Central Asia. Corruption was rife in our country, and unemployment was high. To help the situation, we decided to start a microfinance institution to provide loans to poor people to start new businesses or expand existing ones. We based our work on biblical principles, with honesty and integrity as core values. Our staff were taught that they would be fired the same day if we caught any of them taking a bribe.
We found that the ethical standards we followed made our work attractive to many people. Rumours spread around the town that we were Christians and that we were doing things the right way. Several fund clients wanted to know more about Jesus.
The societies we live in have different ethical standards. Some of these may align with the Bible, others may not. For followers of Jesus, the Bible must be the authority. If the culture of our society or workplace says something is OK, but the Bible says it's not, we must follow the Bible. This is not easy and can lead to struggle. We must still dare to stand firm on what the Bible says is right. In the long run, this will make our work attractive to people, and it may even bring about a change in the culture of which we are a part. In addition, our actions will point to our just and righteous God.
In the fund, a client once asked me if I could lend him $500. He said he would put $100 in my pocket when he received the loan. I told him I could not do that because I am accountable to my Almighty God for what I do. The client was from a Muslim family, and he immediately acknowledged what I had said and told me I was right.
Work is a meeting place
As we have seen, we can serve God in many ways through our work. Our workplace is also a natural meeting place between those who know Jesus and those who do not. Here, the people around us can discover what it means to follow Jesus daily. When they see the good fruit of our faith in us, some will open the door for us to share more about our faith.
Jesus said, "As the Father has sent me, I send you" (John 20:21 NLT). John 1:14 says, "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (NIV). Just as Jesus came as God's living Word, we are sent to represent him in our neighbourhoods and workplaces. When we give our lives and work to him, his love can flow through us and touch those around us. With the help of the Holy Spirit, people can see "his glory, the glory of the Father's only Son" through us.
A pastor friend once expressed his frustration that his brother in business was leading more people to Jesus than he was as a pastor. Surprised, I looked at him and said, "That's how it should be. A businessman is on the front line, regularly meeting people who do not know Jesus, while a pastor's primary role is to shepherd the flock of believers.
Work in heaven
I began this article by saying that work is a part of the only paradise that exists. The truth is that it is also a part of the Paradise to come. In the last chapter of the Bible, we can read that as God's servants, we will serve Him for all eternity (Rev 22:3). Working in heaven is an unfamiliar idea to most people, but not to God.
You may be one of those who are overworked here on earth and looking forward to eternal rest. I can assure you that God will let you rest as long as you want. When you are fully recovered, you will be allowed to joyfully serve the One who created you with all the abilities He has given you. The curse that has affected work will be taken away (Rev 22:3), so we can once again experience work as God intended. That sounds like heaven to me.
May God bless you as you continue to live and work for Him!
By Steinar Opheim
