I’ve been thinking about work quite a bit recently as I’ve been encouraging my boys (Adam – 18 and Andrew – 17) to get jobs. Many people in the U.S. and around the world dread the thought of work. They live for weekends, holidays, vacations, and generally try to get through work as quickly as possible to get to the “good stuff.” In Africa, I’ve heard from many pastors and leaders that there is a common African worldview that work is the result of sin, and the best life is one free from work. In the US, many long for early retirement so they can pursue their hobbies and interests.

However, as I work with pastors and we walk through Genesis 1-2 (before sin comes into the world), they discover that God “worked” in creation (thus it cannot be linked with sin). Also, God told Adam to do work in the Garden of Eden (Gen.2:15) before sin was present. He also had Adam name all the animals. Thus, work is not a result of sin.Jesus worked as a carpenter, and was without sin. According to Genesis 3:19, one of the results of Adam’s sin is that work will no longer be easy, but “by the sweat of your brow” mankind will now work.

Therefore, we can conclude that work is a blessing from God, and part of how God made us, albeit sin brought pain tied with work. This is part of our purpose for which we were created, to “fill the earth and subdue it” (Gen.1:28). Paul reminds the Thessalonians that “if anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.” (2 Thess.3:10)

I’m thankful that both Adam and Andrew recently began working at jobs. Adam works for a deck-building company, and Andrew works washing dishes at a pizza restaurant. This is good for them and teaches them many important and valuable life lessons. I’m thankful for the work that God has given me. At times it can be consuming, and I must guard against focusing on work to the exclusion of other responsibilities, like to my family. But I praise God for work. After many odd jobs like yardwork and babysitting, I began working at “regular jobs” starting at age 14, and have never looked back. This is part of how many in America were raised, with a strong work ethic, and it is part of the “American ethic.”

A good friend just shared this encouraging quote with me from Whit Hobbs, “Success is waking up in the morning and bounding out of bed because there’s something out there that you love to do, that you believe in, that you are good at – something that’s bigger than you are, and you can hardly wait to get at it again.”

May we praise God for opportunities to work, and do our work “as unto the Lord,” (Col.3:17) to the very best of our ability.

Pressing on in His service, Eric