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27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
29 And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.
” (Genesis 1:27–29, NKJV)
The Doctrine of Work is important, especially for men. An obvious observation is how many Christians want to be or think they should be in full-time ministry. The question then arises: “is secular work important or relevant in any real way?”
Many people have figured this out in some way or another and there are many so-called marketplace ministries, mostly brilliant and extremely useful.
I want to take a fresh and dare I say SPIRITUAL look at the WORK OF GOD.
Many young men are engineers or teachers, farmers and bankers, and lawyers. Some are pastors and full timers but the majority are not. So how do we work for God?
Questions:
Does God work? What work does He do? Does He prefer leisure?
Obviously, the creator is immensely creative and productive.
The Father is WORKING and so is the Son
17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.” ” (John 5:17, NKJV)
4 I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
” (John 9:4–5, NKJV)
4 I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
” (John 17:4–5, NKJV)
28 Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”
29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”
” (John 6:28–29, NKJV)
The Western Worldview of Work
The Protestant Work Ethic aka the PWE has hugely influenced the West.
In his 1906 book The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, Max Weber, a German sociologist, wrote that capitalism in Northern Europe evolved when the Protestant (particularly Calvinist) work ethic influenced large numbers of people to engage in work as if it was important to God.
The religious values of Protestantism—specifically Puritan values emphasized hard work and spoke against waste and leisure. This contributed enormously to the rise economic success of Protestant nations typically in northern Europe.
Protestants saw success in business as evidence of obedience and blessing of success, and thus put a heavy emphasis on entrepreneurial activity, as opposed to Catholics, who saw wealth as a sign of sin.
PWE Maxims For Everyday Conduct
- Resolve: perform without fail what you resolve
- Frugality: waste nothing
- Industry: lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions
- Sincerity: use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly; and if you speak, speak truthfully
- Be diligent and ever about your lawful business, do not be idle, for time is money
- Cultivate your credit-worthiness and put it to good use for credit is money
- Repay all loans and debts, for to become a person of known credit-worthiness is to be a master of other people’s purses
- Be vigilant in keeping accounts
- Be frugal in consumption and do not waste money on inessentials
- And finally do not let money lie idle, for the smallest sum soundly invested can earn a profit, and the profits reinvested soon multiply in ever-increasing amounts
This is not necessarily correct in every way but those who listen to or read this will probably largely agree and certainly recognize their parent’s worldview.
What you believe about God and salvation influences how and why you work.
Work and Job
There is a difference between a Job and Work, however. The one is a struggle for survival the other a divine vocation.
- Work is not a result of the Fall.
- Work is not a result of the Fall, but it is made harder because of the Fall.
- Work is more than a place to make money to give to the church or a place to evangelize.
- The ministerial calling is not higher than other professions such as business, medicine, law, or carpentry.
- Redemption extends to all of life, including our work.
- There are indications that some of our work will be present in the new heavens and new earth.
- We are called to glorify God in our work.
God Works and Rests
Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. 2 And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.
” (Genesis 2:1–3, NKJV)
Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. 3 For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said:
“So I swore in My wrath,
‘They shall not enter My rest,’ ”
although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
” (Hebrews 4:1–3, NKJV)
God’s Work in Creation
The History of Creation
In the beginning God created (bara) the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
” (Genesis 1:1–2, NKJV)
26 Then God said, “Let Us make (na-ase) man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
” (Genesis 1:26, NKJV)
Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. 2 And on the seventh day God ended His work (mlaka) which He had done (asah – manufacture), and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.
” (Genesis 2:1–3, NKJV)
New Testament Works and Works
Old Creation Groaning
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.
” (Romans 8:18–30, NKJV)
His Workmanship
7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
” (Ephesians 2:7–10, NKJV)
Miracles as Works
3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. 4 I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” ”
(John 9:3–5, NKJV)
Finishing the Work
Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, 2 as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. 4 I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
” (John 17:1–5, NKJV)
Laboring
34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! 36 And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. 37 For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.”
” (John 4:34–38, NKJV)
The Witness of the Works of Christ
36 But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.
” (John 5:36, NKJV)
Christian Works
Scripture Equips The Man of God for good works
But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them,15. and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.16. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,17. that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:14-17
that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;11. strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;
Colossians 1:10-11
What are Greater Works?
19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. 20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.
22 For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23 that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. 25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, 27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. 30 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.
” (John 5:19–30, NKJV)
Christ Gives the Parable of the Ten Minas
11 Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately. 12 Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. 13 So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’ 14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’
15 “And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. 16 Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’ 17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’ 18 And the second came, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.’ 19 Likewise he said to him, ‘You also be over five cities.’
20 “Then another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief. 21 For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ 22 And he said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow. 23 Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’
24 “And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.’ 25 (But they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas.’) 26 ‘For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 27 But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.’ ”
” (Luke 19:11–27, NKJV)
God’s Creative Genius at Work
“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And find out knowledge and discretion. The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate.
Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength.
By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice.
By me princes rule, and nobles, All the judges of the earth.
I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me.
Riches and honor are with me, Enduring riches and righteousness.
My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, And my revenue than choice silver.
I traverse the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice,
That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, That I may fill their treasuries.
“The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old.
I have been established from everlasting, From the beginning, before there was ever an earth.
When there were no depths I was brought forth, When there were no fountains abounding with water.
Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills, I was brought forth;
While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields, Or the primal dust of the world.
When He prepared the heavens, I was there, When He drew a circle on the face of the deep,
When He established the clouds above, When He strengthened the fountains of the deep,
When He assigned to the sea its limit, So that the waters would not transgress His command, When He marked out the foundations of the earth,
Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman; And I was daily His delight, Rejoicing always before Him,
Rejoicing in His inhabited world, And my delight was with the sons of men.
“Now therefore, listen to me, my children, For blessed are those who keep my ways.
Hear instruction and be wise, And do not disdain it.
Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors.
For whoever finds me finds life, And obtains favor from the Lord;
But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; All those who hate me love death.” ”
” (Proverbs 8:12–36, NKJV)
