Work

VERY FEW OF US escape life without the need to work. The lower classes have always known what our ancestor Adam had to learn the hard way. “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.” (Gen. 3:17b) With the divisions of labor that come in the modern age, there is work for all, and each person at every level experiences their own stresses and stressors.

Those born to riches often don’t know these trials; they seem to live prosperously sheltered from the various challenges that go with making a living every day, and are proud in their demeanor. We might wonder if this is not great loss to them, but wonder we must, for we can only observe from afar. Those who by force of will, wit, and energy have carved out riches often attribute their successes solely to their own initiative, and develop a great deal of pride in themselves and in their possessions. Both trust-fund babies and pioneer should take great caution in their paths, for “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Pro. 16:18)

Solomon, one of the richest people to ever live, mused on the positive aspects of work and its necessity for the enjoyment of life. “A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?” (Ecc. 2:24-25) But that reflection is followed with painful personal testimony from his own life. “I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the work into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun.” (Ecc. 2:18)

Jesus spoke about this, responding parabolically to a man intensely concerned about worldly wealth. “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:20-21)

James writes, “The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position.” (James 1:9) Like Jesus, he is comparing the value of the things of this world to the eternal values of the kingdom of heaven. In Jesus’ time it was commonly thought that rich people were blessed, that they were favored by God. Someone working in the vineyard on a hot summer day could sense that distinction clearly in a physical sense when glancing up at the house of the owner of the vineyard, no doubt with an occasional sensation of envy.

The word of God, O.T. and N.T., honors humble labor. It also distinctly warns those whose life is focused only on acquiring the things of this world. Hence James’ warning about the ‘high’ position of lower classes and ‘low’ position of the self-important self-indulgent rich of this life. Jesus drew the sharpest distinction of this in his parable of Lazarus and the rich man. “Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.” (Luke 16:25)

Since ancient times, with the development of civilizations has come a distinction between the poor and the rich, and many of the poor were slaves. Today, in some of the poorest countries, there are still the rich, and the slaves. And, in some of the richest countries, there are people dangerously enslaved by credit cards. Only in these strange and strained times of history can the lower classes buy the trappings of wealth, but the price of their indebtedness is high, and arguably makes the rich only richer. While we would be wise to live within our means—one key to earthly peace, removing the stressors of debt—wiser still is to understand the great gift that God has placed in our labor.

Solomon’s statement about a person finding ‘satisfaction in his work’ extends beyond the capacity to pay bills. It speaks to the satisfaction that a person encounters when he or she unleashes the God-given creativity that he has uniquely placed within us. We are made in the image of God, who was very satisfied with his work. “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” (Gen. 1:31) We are made to be creators. Each of us has tremendous potential power of intuition, vision, and creativity, and in each of us that potential is realized in finding the work we were made to do. Whatever that is will bring us great joy in this life, even as we prepare for eternal life in the time to come.

The time we spend in the here’n’now is brief, and we should fully understand its value. Peter, quoting Isaiah, reminds us, “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.” (1 Pet. 1:24-25) Remember also James’ caution. “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12) Call to memory also Solomon’s thoughts of finality. “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, ‘I find no pleasure in them.’” (Ecc. 12:1)

May the Lord bless the meditations of your heart, the words of your mouth… and the work of your hands. (Psa. 1:2; Deut. 28:12)

Q. Is my work a curse or a blessing—to myself, and to others?