Christian Work Ethics

   It is unfortunate that many believers are deceived into compartmentalizing their lives into two: spiritual and secular.  Many live dichotomous lives that demand that they act, sound and look spiritually correct when around religious settings; and conform to worldly patterns [at least for their survival, they justify] when in secular settings.  Such dichotomous living not only breeds hypocrisy and double-mindedness, but it also restrains the entire fulfillment of God's purposes for our lives.

God is first introduced to us in Genesis chapter one to two as a working God.  The genesis of work is thus God.  Genesis 2:2 states, "By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing, so on the seventh day he rested from all his work."  The creation of the world by the Almighty God was work.  Genesis 1:28 summarizes God's intent for mankind: “Be fruitful and increase in number, fill the earth and subdue it.  Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."  God created man in His own image, and intended that he be fruitful, increase, fill, subdue and rule.  This would to a significant extent be achieved as man worked in the Garden of Eden.  No wonder Genesis 2:15 states, "The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it."

Work is thus God's idea and not man's.  Ephesians 4:28 states, "Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give him that needeth."  Also, Titus 3:14 states, "Our people [believers] must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives."  Work is a blessing and not a curse.  God requires that we uphold godly standards as we work, whether in ‘religious’ settings or ‘secular’ settings.

 When Adam and Eve sinned as depicted in Genesis 3:14-19, they were cursed: "....  Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.  ... By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, ...." The ground was cursed thus tampering with its productivity; painful toil and sweat was part of the curse given to Adam for falling into sin.  Thus whereas work was and is a blessing, sin resulted to a curse of painful toil and sweat.

Work's primary objective is service.  Ephesians 4:11-13 states, “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”  The King James version refers to works of service as 'the work of  the ministry'.  The word 'service' or 'ministry' is translated from the Greek word 'diakonia' which is used to describe both, what in human terms could be said to be,  'spiritual' service and 'manual labor'.

For example, the following are references where 'diakonia' is used in scripture: “ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4); the “ministry of the Spirit” (2nd Corinthians 3:8); and the “ministry of reconciliation” (2nd Corinthians 5:18); dinner “preparation” by Martha (Luke 10:40); daily “distribution” of food for widows ( Acts 6:1); famine relief (Acts 11:29, Acts 12:25, Romans 15:31, 2nd Corinthians 8:4); and support given to Paul by Macedonian believers (2nd Corinthians 11:8).

'Diakonos' refers to “a person who serves.  From it we get the English word “deacon”.  In Philippians 1:1 and 1st Timothy 3:8-13, it denotes an office in the church.  However, in almost everywhere else, the word is used in a more general sense, to refer apostles, preachers and lay members more often than it does to deacons.  1st Peter 4:10-11 states, "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.  If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God.  If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides,…."  Are you a 'diakonos'?  Have you dedicated your entire being and all that God has entrusted to you as a steward, to serving the Lord?

I challenge you to find your gift and give it away in service.  May our gifts be surrendered to the Giver, to serve the body of Christ and the world.  Our calling as believers is to service.  Paul frequently called himself a 'doulos' – a slave or servant of Jesus Christ. In Jewish society, a doulos was usually a servant. In Greek society, he was usually a slave.  This type of service is commanded for all Christians, since our role model, Jesus Christ, took the nature of a servant- Phil 2:7.  What nature have you adopted as a believer?  Is it of a servant or a lord/ boss?

In Christianity, greatness is measured by service. Matthew 20:27-28 states, "And whoever wants to be first must be your slave just as the Son of  Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."  This is contrary to what the world teaches with regard to greatness.  The world exhorts self exaltation; demand for honor; lording it over others; being served and seeking after ones gains.  Scriptures exhort humility; honoring all men despite of their status and loving them unconditionally; taking the form of a servant as we lead; and unreservedly giving ourselves to the gain of those we serve.

When believers serve the body of Christ, the body is built up such that believers reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God; they become mature; and attain to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:12).  When believers serve the world,

Why should it matter how Christians work?  Believers are open letters (2nd Cor 3:2- “You yourselves are our letter,…, known and read by everybody”); we are Ambassadors of Christ (2nd Cor 5:20- “We are Christ’s ambassadors, as though God was making his appeal through us”); we are the salt and the light of the world (Matthew 5:13-16- “… let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds & praise your Father in heaven”).  Believers' work ethics reflect the image of the Christ whom they profess, and thus ought to be a witness of their Lord.  Do your work ethics reflect the true nature of Christ?

Paul in 2nd Corinthians 6:3-6 states, “We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.  Rather, as servants for God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots, in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and sincere love."  Many of us are guilty of putting stumbling blocks in the paths of non-believers by the way we work.  May God help us to be His true representatives whenever He plants us.  May our labor of love in whatever we do demonstrate God's unrelenting and unconditional love, that not only loves in word but also in deed.


Hebrews 6:10-12 states, "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have shown toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.  And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end.  That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises."  God loves diligence and hates slothfulness.  This means that when a primary school teacher reports to work early and diligently delivers her lesson, and even goes an extra mile to mentor her students and to give them personalized attention to address their emotional and spiritual needs, God takes notice.  The government may never raise that teacher's pay; the students' parents may never say thank you; the community may never honor the teacher; but God who sees in secret will never forget that teacher's work and labor of love.  May God help us to always have an eternal perspective that we may never to cease in our work of faith and labor of love (1st Thessalonians 1:2-3).
  
Serving God should never be an excuse for believers to be mediocre in their studies, places of work, and any other aspects of their lives. On the contrary, our salvation should be reason for the light of Christ to shine through all aspects of our lives, by reason of His divine empowerment.  Colossians 3:23-25 states, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.  It is the Lord Christ you are serving.  Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favouritism."  Have you been serving the Lord Christ in your household chores, at your work place, in your community and in your business? 

Behold the Day of the Lord Jesus draws nigh (Revelation 1:7) and on that day, each of us will give an account of himself to God (Romans 14:12).  Please note that believers will not only give an account of their service at church, but rather they will give an account of their entire lives.  Whenever God plants us- whether in our families, neighborhoods, communities, businesses, jobs- may He help us to be intentional in representing His image for the advancement of the Kingdom.  May God help you to utilize every moment of each day gifted to you for His service.  May He help us by His grace not to hold back but to unreservedly labor in love for His purposes.  At the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, may we be found obeying Isaiah 54:2- “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; … .”

Teddy Hodgson, a missionary martyr who served in Belgian Congo, made this profound statement that provides a vivid picture of God's desire for believers' work ethics: “The Lord Jesus illustrated and commended a Christianity that bent its back, soiled its hands and blistered its feet in stooping to help fallen man.  Just as positively He denounced and condemned a professional religion that passes by on the other side when man’s need is at its greatest.  Some are called to be Apostles, but every Christian is called to be an Epistle (a love letter of God, read of men)”.