Seth Forrestier: Why Work?

In an LCG commentary titled Why Work?, Seth Forrestier has the following:

In the Bible, God has a lot to say about work; in fact, He was the first to do work! In John 1:1-4 we find that God had all power. He had everything. Then, of His own will, He created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). We find that God wanted to work, even when He had no need to. So, what is work? It is a much-underestimated gift from God.

We have been given a small portion of God’s own power. He has not given us the ability to make something from nothing, but He has given us the creative imagination to make much from little! He also intends us to use this gift, and He left us an example of how He uses the power of creation. By His example we find that we should, as He does, take great pride in our work. In Genesis 1, at the end of every day God reflected on his work and “saw that it was good.” Do we do that? Do we, at the end of our workday, look back and ponder the things that we have done? We should!

Some people act as though their jobs are “disposable”—unimportant tasks that require little or no concern. This idea, however, does not fit in with Scripture. Solomon wrote, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10). In Matthew 25:14-30 we read the parable of the talents. Though the “talent” here is a denomination of money, the translation is provocative, and the principle is the same. God gave each of us a measure of abilities, and He expects us to increase it by working. Even the worker with the least must return more than he was given.

All in all, God expects us to be good at what we do, and He wants us to love what we do as much as He does. How much is that? “For God so loved the world [Genesis 1:31 “…all that He had made”] that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Do you want to excel at your work? Do you want your customers to be pleased with your performance? Then meditate on God’s example. Reflect on your work at the end of the day. Take satisfaction in your good work, and be ready to work harder tomorrow to do even better. As an employer, I can assure you that such an attitude does not go unnoticed by employers. Nor does it go unnoticed by God.

To learn more about the value and meaning of work, read our Tomorrow’s World article, “Work: A Blessing or a Curse?”

Love is the ultimate reason we need to work. Work also helps build character, patience, responsibility, etc. It also physically helps support us and our families.

Working and supporting the proper work of others allows us to give love. God wants us to love and obey Him and to love others as ourselves. Work is one way in which that is demonstrated.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

What is the Meaning of Life? Who does God say is happy? What is your ultimate destiny? Do you really know? Does God actually have a plan for YOU personally?
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about?
The Ten Commandments Reflect Love, Breaking them is Evil Some feel that the ten commandments are a burden. Is that what Jesus, Paul, Peter, James, and John taught?