Note: The following article is Part 2 of a two-part article which was developed from an excerpt from my book, Immanuel Labor – God’s Presence in our Profession. Click here to read Part 1.)
One of my favorite Scriptures on work is Col. 3:23-24, where Paul exhorts Christian employees to work in a radically transformed way: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men . . . It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
In discussing this passage, the Theology of Work Bible Commentary instructs,
Paul reminds slaves that their work is to be done in integrity in the presence of God, who is their real master. More than anything else, Paul wants to recalibrate the scales of both slaves and masters so that they weigh things with the recognition of God’s presence in their lives. Slaves are to work ‘fearing the Lord’ (Col. 3:22) because ‘you serve the Lord Christ’ (Col. 3:24).
Here are some other key passages from the New Testament directed to Christian employees.
New Testament teaching on employees
John the Baptist, as he preached a message of repentance in preparing the way for Jesus, mentioned two occupations, one of which I am quite familiar with. In Luke 3:12-14, he addresses tax collectors and soldiers. He said to the first group that the proof of true repentance as believers should be their ethical behavior on the job. To the next group, he said it should be reflected in contentment with their pay.
Jesus illustrated this in conversation with a short tax collector who had climbed up in a sycamore tree in Luke 19:5-9. When Jesus called Zacchaeus to follow Him, the man demonstrated his true repentance and newfound faith by declaring that he would radically change the way that he went about his tax-collecting work.
In 1 Cor. 15:58, Paul exhorts the church that in light of Jesus’s resurrection, we are called to stand firm and give ourselves fully to the work God calls us to do, knowing that our labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Insights on Eph. 6:5-8 given in the Theology of Work Bible Commentary (TOWBC) help us to better understand the situations of slaves in first-century Rome and the employees of today. “The chief similarity is that both ancient slaves and contemporary workers serve under the authority of masters or supervisors. With regard to the work itself, both groups have a duty to meet the expectations of those in authority over their work.” These are timeless principles.
Philippians 2:14-16 asks us to consider doing everything without complaining or arguing so that our behavior will stand out as blameless and pure. This will ensure that our actions match the gospel message we share. Later, in Phil. 4:11-12, Paul states that he had learned to be content in every situation with little or plenty, knowing that God would meet all of his needs. Paul’s teaching expands upon what John the Baptist taught concerning soldiers in the Gospel of Luke.
Paul taught the church how their life-changing, selfless, and sanctified faith in Jesus Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, should influence the way they approach fulfilling their everyday work responsibilities so that the unredeemed all around them would take notice. In Col. 3:17, he taught this principle: Whatever you do, do it in Jesus’s name for God’s glory. Our work should not be for our own glory, the glory of the company that signs our paychecks, or justfor the benefit of our customers.
But we are to do what we do at work with God’s glory in mind. It is our main goal. Paul expands on this idea in the next chapter. As we rub shoulders with unbelievers at work, we are to be wise in how we treat them and make the most of every opportunity. Our speech should be full of grace and point to something better so that we are prepared to answer those who may express interest in learning more about Jesus (Col. 4:5-6). (See also 1 Peter 3:15.)
In 1 Thes. 4:11-12, in the context of some who neglected their earthly responsibilities in light of their belief in Jesus’s imminent return, we see Paul’s command to make it their ambition to lead a quiet life, mind their own business, and work with their hands so that they might earn the respect of nonbelievers and be independent. Later, Paul writes to respect those who work hard among them and warn those who do not work hard (1 Thes. 5:12-14). Along with that idea, in 2 Thes. 3:6-12, Paul exhorts the church to keep away from those who are idle by choice; e.g. the sluggard from Proverbs. If a man is not willing to work, perhaps he should just go hungry.
A few writers have shed some light on this unusual command, which may explain the strong words of exhortation.
The TOWBC provides some background. “Many believe that some of the Thessalonians had stopped working because the end times were at hand … They might have felt that Jesus was coming at any minute, and thus there was no point to work.” They call attention to the fact that these passages warning those who are idle are found “in the context of teaching on the end times.” The commentators exhort, “Responsible Christian living embraces work, even the hard work of a first-century manual laborer … If people can work, they should work.”
Tom Nelson, in Work Matters, indicates, “Paul does not rebuke those who, for various legitimate reasons, cannot work, but he does say that an unwillingness to work is no trivial thing. For anyone to refuse to work is a fundamental violation of God’s creation design for humankind.”
R. Paul Stevens, in his book, Work Matters: Lessons from Scripture states, “The sluggard knows nothing of the creation mandate, that work is good, that work is part of our God-imaging dignity … In short, the idler has no theology of work. Realizing neither the intrinsic value nor the extrinsic value of work, the sluggard refuses to see work as a gift, a calling, and a blessing.”
In 1 Tim. 6:6-10, Paul encourages us to be content with what we have, even if only our basic needs are met. He reminds us of what Jesus had also taught in Matt. 6:24: those who desire to be rich will fall into temptation. It is the love of money that is the root of all kinds of evil. (See also Heb. 13:5).
In Titus 2:9-10, Paul reminds employees to be submissive to their masters with all integrity, demonstrating their faith with actions. He reminds his readers in Titus 3:1-2 to submit to authorities in general, which includes our employers, to be ready to do what is good, slander no one, be considerate, and show true humility to all. In his final remarks in Titus 3:14, he mentions that the church must learn to devote themselves to doing good to provide for their families.
Lastly, the apostle Peter taught clearly that we must submit ourselves to every authority (even employers). We are to show respect to all because God has established them and sent them. We must submit to our employers, even those who are not good (1 Peter 2:18-20).
Challenging conclusion (application)
All of these biblical instructions are for the good of the employee, employer, and the kingdom of God. We would do well to continue to read, remember, and respond to them.
Jesus said in John 17:16-18 that He delivered His disciples out of this world’s value system. As Christians, we strive to keep ourselves apart from the ways of the world. We also have to remember that Jesus sends us back into the world to be salt and light. As we become employees and employees who work in a biblical way, the watching world will notice. They will want to know more about Jesus.
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Russ Gehrlein
Featured Image by Ronald Carreño from Pixabay
