To see why a Christian should work and what traits a Christian worker has.
Introduction
► How should a Christian be different from an unbeliever at work?
The principles of responsibility and honesty provide some ethics for Christians to apply to their work.
► Should a Christian work? Why?
A Christian Perspective on Work
A Christian should work because he has responsibility for himself and others.
For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10).
A person should not expect others to take care of him if he is not willing to do what he can.
Are there many people who truly cannot work? No. Even if a person is unable to work an ordinary job for wages, he probably could do something to help meet the needs of others.
A believer has responsibility for his own family.
But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever (1 Timothy 5:8).
What if a person’s needs are already provided because of his previous work, or what he has been given, or “good fortune”? Is he free to stop working because he personally needs nothing? No, a believer is commanded by scripture to work so that he can meet the needs of others.
Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need (Ephesians 4:28).
Notice the contrast between the one who steals, taking something for nothing; and the one who works so that he can give. A Christian is not just one who does not steal, but one who works in order to give.
So a believer should work to provide for himself and his family, and to be able to give to others who have needs.
Now let’s look at some scripture that tells us how a believer should work.
The Principle of Responsibility
► A student should read Ephesians 6:5-8 for the group. Discuss the meaning of this passage, then look at the list below to add to your observations.
Ephesians 6:5-8,
Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.
The term servants, used in the New Testament, referred to slaves. However, that does not exempt modern employees from these directions. An employee differs from a slave in that he is more free to move to different employment. That freedom makes it possible for him to accept or reject the terms of employment. However, once he has agreed to work for certain benefits, he is required by scripture to apply certain ethics to his work as long as he remains with the employer.
Principles from Ephesians 6:5-8:
1. A worker is to obey his employer, not only when watched, but always. That also means that he should not neglect matters that he knows are unlikely to be inspected. (“…not by the way of eye-service...”)
2. A worker should maintain the quality and diligence of his work as if working for God. (“…as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God …”)
3. A worker will be blessed by God for faithfulness in his work. (“he will receive back from the Lord…”)
The Principle of Honesty
► A student should read Titus 2:9-10 for the group. Discuss the meaning of this passage, then look at the list below to add to your observations.
Titus 2:9-10,
Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative [arguing or responding disrespectfully],
Not pilfering [stealing], but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.
Principles from Titus 2:9-10:
1. A worker should be respectful in his response to his employer’s directions (“...not argumentative...”).
► What are some results when a worker speaks disrespectfully about his employer to other workers?
2. A worker should not steal from his employer, even if he thinks he deserves more pay (“...not pilfering...”).
3. Faithful work is a testimony for the gospel; unfaithfulness is a reproach on the gospel (“...that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God...”).
For Group Sharing
In this lesson, guidance for sharing is provided in the two lists of application points.
A member should examine himself by the points of application, and consider whether or not his conscience is clear.
Ask students to share the changes they commit to make because of applying these passages.
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the ability to work and the privilege of working.
Help me to work well for my employer, showing respect for him, understanding what he needs from my work, and doing well even when my work will not be inspected.
I want to be faithful with what I earn, taking responsibility for my needs and giving to help others.
Help me to remember that I am working for you and that the best reward is from you.
Amen
Study Assignment
Study these verses on the subject of work and laziness:
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