Work and labor are common themes throughout the Bible. God designed humans to work and find fulfillment through their vocations. Scripture provides wisdom, warnings, and encouragement regarding our attitude toward work.
Here are some key Bible passages about work and working:
Genesis 1-2 – God as a worker
In Genesis 1-2, we find that God himself is a worker. He labored for six days in creating the heavens and the earth, and then rested on the seventh day. This provides the foundation for the Sabbath command for humans to rest from work one day per week.
Genesis 2:2-3 – And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.
Genesis 2:15 – Work before the Fall
God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden to work it and keep it. Work was part of God’s good design for human flourishing even before sin entered the world.
Genesis 2:15 – The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
Exodus 20:9-11 – Sabbath command
The fourth of the Ten Commandments requires resting from work on the Sabbath, following God’s pattern of working for six days and resting on the seventh from creation.
Exodus 20:9-11 – Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
Proverbs 12:11, 14:23 – Hard work brings prosperity
Several Proverbs extol diligent work and warn against laziness and sloth. Hard work and diligence tends to bring prosperity and success.
Proverbs 12:11 – Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.
Proverbs 14:23 – In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.
Proverbs 16:3, 19:17 – God oversees our work
All our work and business affairs are under God’s watch. He calls us to have integrity, honesty, and charity in our vocations.
Proverbs 16:3 – Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.
Proverbs 19:17 – Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.
Ecclesiastes 2:18-26 – Work is good but not ultimate
Ecclesiastes has a somber view of work. The Preacher finds labor to be filled with meaninglessness and striving after wind. Yet he still recognizes the goodness of finding satisfaction in one’s work.
Ecclesiastes 2:18-19 – I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come after me, and who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity.
Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 – There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?
Matthew 5:16 – Do good work for God’s glory
Jesus calls his followers to work and serve in ways that glorify God and point people to him.
Matthew 5:16 – Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Acts 18:3 – Examples of godly workers
The Bible praises certain individuals who exhibited faithful diligence in their work, like the tentmakers Priscilla and Aquila.
Acts 18:3 – And because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade.
2 Thessalonians 3:6-12 – Warn against idleness
Believers who refuse to work should be warned and disciplined, since working diligently for our needs honors God.
2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 – For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.
1 Timothy 5:8 – Provide for your family
Caring for one’s family through daily labor is a basic aspect of honoring God.
1 Timothy 5:8 – But 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.
Titus 3:14 – Learn honest work
Paul instructs believers to be diligent in their work so they can meet the needs of others.
Titus 3:14 – And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.
The Bible gives us many examples of godly men and women working diligently at their vocations. By working heartily and cheerfully, believers honor the Lord and provide for their families. At the same time, our ultimate hope is for rest and reward with God, not just earthly prosperity through labor. In all our striving, we must remember that success comes from the Lord’s blessing, not just human toil and effort.
Some key lessons on work from Scripture include:
- God designed humankind for work and productivity.
- Our work should be honest and provide for our needs and the needs of others.
- Unnecessary idleness should be avoided.
- All honorable work, not just “spiritual” jobs, has dignity and value.
- While hard work and skill brings prosperity, true success comes from God’s blessing.
- Regular rest and proper priorities keep work from becoming idolatrous.
- Everything we do is an opportunity to glorify God and serve others.
In summary, the extensive biblical teachings on work give us balanced principles for stewarding our vocations and responsibilities for God’s glory. Diligent work is honorable, but we must avoid making it the be all and end all in life. Our rest, identity, and satisfaction are ultimately found in Christ, not our jobs. By maintaining biblical priorities and following God’s word, we can have an upright approach to working and living in this world.
Some other key Bible passages about work include:
- Genesis 3:17-19 – Work becomes toilsome after the Fall.
- Exodus 35:30-35 – God equips people with skill for work.
- Deuteronomy 8:18 – God is the source of our work success.
- Ruth 2:2-7 – Examples of diligent workers.
- Psalm 104:23 – We labor until evening.
- Psalm 127:2 – God grants rest and success.
- Proverbs 13:4 – Work brings prosperity.
- Proverbs 21:25-26 – Warnings against laziness.
- Ecclesiastes 3:13 – Finding joy in one’s work.
- Ecclesiastes 5:12 – Work has value, but not ultimate meaning.
- Jeremiah 22:13-16 – Economic justice for workers.
- Matthew 10:10 – Workers deserve to be paid.
- Luke 10:7 – Laborer deserves wages for work.
- John 4:34 – Jesus at work.
- 1 Corinthians 3:8 – Each worker rewarded for effort.
- Ephesians 4:28 – Do honest work.
- Colossians 3:23 – Work wholeheartedly for God.
- 1 Timothy 3:1 – Work has dignity.
- Titus 2:9-10 – Work faithfully to honor doctrine.
- Hebrews 6:10 – God will reward good work.
May we find purpose and fulfillment in our daily labor, striving to work in ways that honor God and serve our neighbors. The Bible gives invaluable instruction so that our work can be used for God’s glory and the good of others.