We have been talking about a theology of work, and before we move on, I want to take this discussion just a bit further. I am not sure whether to say we are digging deeper or going broader today, but here is what I hope to cover.
First, I want to reinforce why work is morally good. Then, we will consider how sin has corrupted our labor. After that, we will get into some practical concerns—how to balance work and rest, how to enjoy the fruit of our labors, and how to finish well as we approach retirement.
My prayer is that we will see work through the lens of a biblical worldview, which means cherishing it as a gift from God while resisting our culture’s destructive extremes of either idleness or obsession.
Let’s begin with the moral goodness of work. I have three points.
1. God Commands Us to Work
One of the clearest reasons we affirm the goodness of work is that God commands it. This was true from the very beginning. Before sin entered the world, God placed Adam and Eve in the garden and called them to “work it and keep it” (Ge 2:15). That means labor was not a punishment but part of the created order. Adam’s charge to cultivate, tend, and shape the earth’s resources was God’s way of enabling him (and later Eve, alongside him) to flourish in fellowship with their Creator. Even after the fall, though hardship entered labor, the command to subdue the earth remained.
The New Testament upholds the same principle. Writing to the Thessalonians, Paul reminds them that he and his companions “worked night and day” to avoid being a burden to the church (2Th 3:7–8). He sets himself as an example to keep them from complacency. Then he makes an even stronger statement: “If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat” (2Th 3:10). That might sound harsh to modern ears, but Paul was correcting an attitude that treated labor as unnecessary, which contradicts God’s design.
Likewise, in Colossians 3, believers are urged to “work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (Col 3:23). Our labor is not merely a means to fulfill personal goals or satisfy employers. Ultimately, we work to serve and glorify the Lord himself. Whether behind a desk, in a field, in a shop, in a classroom, or at home, our daily tasks become arenas in which we worship God through our work.
2. We Need to Balance Work and Rest
From the earliest pages of Scripture, God establishes a rhythm for life: six days of labor, one day of rest (Ex 20:9–10). The Lord himself set the pattern by resting after his work of creation. Under the new covenant, believers do not always agree on the specifics of the Sabbath’s application, but we can all affirm that periodic rest is a wise and necessary practice. God never designed us to function like machines, pressing on without pause. He built rest into our design so that we might be refreshed physically, emotionally, and spiritually—a reminder that we depend on him.
It is also worth noting how rest in Scripture is closely tied to delight. After creating the world, God paused to look upon his work and declared it “very good” (Ge 1:31). He finished his work, then took pleasure in what he had made (Ge 2:2–3).
Likewise, we reflect and honor God when we pause from our labor to enjoy what he has given us. Rest fosters gratitude. It cultivates humility as we acknowledge our finiteness. It also protects us from turning work into an idol. Proper rest keeps our focus on the Giver rather than on the work of our own hands.
3. We Should Enjoy the Fruits of Our Labor
Even in a fallen world, where Solomon laments much of life’s vanity, he confidently states, “There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil” (Ecc 2:24). Later, he writes, “Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them … this is the gift of God” (Ecc 5:19). Paul echoes the same idea in 1 Timothy 6:17, reminding us that “God … richly provides us with everything to enjoy.”
Of course, there is an important balance here. On the one hand, we must guard against materialism and greed. On the other hand, we should not dismiss the legitimate delight and fulfillment that come from honest labor. God designed us to find satisfaction in producing value—whether completing a project, shaping raw materials into something useful, or helping others through our work. Taking pleasure in your paycheck (within reason) and blessing your family or community with the fruit of your labor is not only permissible but can bring glory to the One who “richly provides” (1Ti 6:17).
In fact, productivity itself reflects God’s abundant generosity. When we create, earn, and then savor the fruit of our work (always with grateful hearts), we tangibly honor the Lord. Work is not merely a burdensome necessity to be endured until retirement frees us for leisure. It is a channel through which we express our God-given creativity, diligence, and capacity to love our neighbors. Done rightly, work benefits more people than just ourselves.
The Distortion of Work: Laziness and Overwork
While Scripture presents work as a good and God-ordained part of life, our experience tells us that labor is not always joyful. The fall introduced hardship, futility, weeds, sweat, and frustration into our efforts. Worse yet, sin corrupts our hearts, leading us toward two opposite but equally dangerous extremes—laziness and overwork. Both reveal a fundamental misunderstanding of God’s purpose for work.
The Danger of Laziness
When we lack a biblical view of work, we may begin to despise it altogether. We see this all around us. Many fail to recognize that productivity is morally good, and instead, they develop a passive mindset that relies on luck or entitlement. They assume that those who prosper do so by mere chance or some unfair advantage. As a result, those who do not prosper see themselves as victims rather than asking whether they need to work harder, develop new skills, or make wiser choices.
This mindset leads to a society where large segments of the population pin their hopes on lotteries, inheritances, overnight Internet fame, or government handouts rather than forging a stable life through diligent effort. When a culture loses its appreciation for honest labor, envy takes root. People begin to grumble, saying things like, “They don’t deserve that profit” or “Why should their skills be rewarded so much?”
Scripture is clear about the dangers of idleness. Proverbs 14:3 warns, “The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.” When we ignore these warnings, we cultivate frustration, resentment, and entitlement.
If a nation or community creates a system that rewards idleness—whether through unchecked handouts or indefinite benefits without accountability—it undermines people’s incentive to work. Worse, it strips them of the dignity that comes from providing for themselves and contributing to society. It fosters a culture of consumption rather than production, robbing people of the joy that comes from reflecting God’s creative image.
The Danger of Overworking
The opposite extreme is just as harmful. Here, the problem is not a refusal to work but an obsession with it—treating labor as an end in itself. We see this in nearly every high-pressure economy. The relentless pursuit of wealth, success, or status devours marriages, stifles friendships, and leaves little room for rest or worship. We push ourselves harder and harder, thinking that our value is measured by our productivity. In doing so, we often lose sight of far more important things. We forget that God is the true source of our blessings. We forget that the best fruit of our labor is meant to be enjoyed humbly, not worshiped.
Solomon warns, “The one who loves silver is never satisfied with silver, and whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with income” (Ecc 5:10). We chase bigger paychecks, longer hours, and higher status, yet in the end, someone else will inherit everything we worked for (Ecc 2:21). Or, perhaps, we burn out long before we reach that point. Without God at the center of our labor, even the best-paying job will eventually feel empty.
Japan provides a striking example of the dangers of overworking. After World War II, their economy soared. Even today, they remain one of the most powerful financial nations in the world, an astonishing feat given their size. But this economic success was built on a secular worldview that effectively turned work into a religion. As their bank accounts grew, so did their rates of depression and suicide. We see this pattern increasingly in the West as well. We build prosperous empires only to destroy our health, our families, and, ultimately, our souls.
The Bible offers a remedy: to love the Lord supremely, trusting him to provide while serving him joyfully and faithfully. When we turn work into a god, it will always betray us. But when we steward it as a gift, it aligns with God’s design and becomes a source of true spiritual blessing.
Whether our struggle is shirking responsibility or idolizing our careers, the call is the same: repent. Reorient our hearts toward God, his Son, and his Word. Cultivate a kingdom-minded perspective that neither despises work nor worships it.
Why Did God Give Us Work?
That brings us to an important question: Why did God create us to work? Why not place Adam and Eve in the garden and tell them to relax forever in a hammock? He certainly could have done that.
But he didn’t. Instead, he commanded them to labor. That tells us God has multiple purposes for work, and I want to highlight six of them.
1. Work Gives Us the Privilege of Imitating God by Creating Something New
From the very first pages of Scripture, God is introduced as the Creator. He speaks the universe into existence, forming oceans and mountains, stars and galaxies (Ge 1:1–31). We cannot create something from nothing as he did, but we do reflect his creativity. Every time we invent, design, compose, build, or engineer, we echo the brilliance of the One who made everything.
Imagine if Adam could time-travel to the present day. Suppose we hand him a simple plastic water bottle and explain how it was made. He would be astounded. “You mean you pull oil from the ground and transform it into this clear container? That’s amazing!” Or suppose we let him hold a smartphone. “You can see, hear, and talk to someone on the other side of the planet instantly? How is this possible?”
Human ingenuity harnessing God’s creation. Every discovery and invention is a miniature display of God's infinite creativity. Like children imitating their Father, we take the resources he has given us and transform them into something new.
2. Work Gives Us the Privilege of Imitating God by Creating Something of Value
It is one thing to create something new. It is another to create something valuable.
Think of a tailor who buys a few dollars’ worth of fabric, sews it into a shirt, and sells it for twenty dollars. She has added value that did not previously exist. Or consider a craftsman who takes raw wood and shapes it into a fine piece of furniture. The value he adds benefits others.
But value is not limited to tangible products. Many of us create value through the services we provide. A doctor diagnoses an illness and prescribes treatment. A teacher equips children to read. A musician composes a song that stirs the soul. The value we add may not always be something we can hold in our hands, but it is no less real.
In all of this, we image God by bringing goodness and beauty into the world using the resources he has generously provided. And when we allow others to benefit from our work, we echo his generosity.
3. Work Gives Us the Privilege of Imitating God by Supporting Ourselves
There is dignity in providing for ourselves. While we remain finite and utterly dependent on the Lord, he has given us the ability to gather resources, earn a living, and avoid unnecessary reliance on others. Paul writes, “Work with your hands … so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one” (1Th 4:11–12). Honest labor not only sustains us but also serves as a testimony to the world.
Unlike us, God is perfectly self-sufficient, needing nothing. Yet, under his sustaining care, he allows us to stand on our own feet economically. That ability is part of his design for human dignity.
To be clear, there are times when assistance is necessary. Welfare systems can serve a good and compassionate purpose for those who are genuinely unable to work due to disability, crisis, or circumstances beyond their control. However, the biblical ideal is not long-term dependence but the movement from welfare to workfare—from passive reliance to active labor. Each step toward honest work affirms the dignity of a person made in God’s image.
4. Work Gives Us the Privilege of Imitating God by Enjoying the Fruits of Our Labor
On the seventh day of creation, God rested and delighted in the work of his hands (Ge 2:2–3). This divine example reminds us that it is not only right but good to enjoy the results of our labor. Whether harvesting a crop, finishing a project, or even mowing the lawn, there is joy in stepping back and saying, “Thank you, Lord, for letting me share in this.”
Our joy is magnified when we see how our labor blesses others. Think of a mother preparing a meal for her family, a carpenter crafting a sturdy table, or a nurse watching her patient recover. It is a reflection of God looking over his creation and declaring, “It is good.”
Even the simplest tasks, when done with gratitude, can glorify God. Washing dishes may seem mundane, but with the right heart, it becomes an act of thanksgiving—acknowledging the gift of food, the blessing of loved ones, and the opportunity to serve.
5. Work Gives Us the Privilege of Imitating God by Doing Good for Others
We live in a vast network of transactions, from small neighborhood businesses to global industries. In a voluntary exchange—whether at a farmer’s market or a multinational corporation—both parties benefit. The buyer receives the product or service they need, and the seller gains income to support their own family. This mutual benefit is a practical outworking of the command, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mt 22:39).
The same principle applies to employment. A business owner gains valuable labor; the employee earns a living wage. Both walk away blessed. A free and fair market is not a zero-sum game where one person’s gain means another’s loss. Rather, it is a positive-sum system where honest work and fair trade create opportunities for blessing.
In this light, profit itself is not inherently evil. In fact, it can serve as a measure of the value a business or individual contributes to society. Of course, profit can be pursued sinfully—through exploitation, fraud, or greed. But in a godly model, honest profit is a sign that someone is meeting real needs and serving others well.
Consider Jesus’s parable of the talents in Matthew 25. The servants who increased their master’s wealth were commended, not condemned. Faithful stewardship that leads to increase is praiseworthy, not shameful. When work is done rightly—with integrity, fairness, and generosity—profit can be a marker of how much value one is adding to the world.
6. Work Gives Us the Privilege of Imitating God by Serving One Another
In John 17:24, Jesus prays to the Father, saying, “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, so that they will see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the world’s foundation.”
This verse reminds us that God has always been a relational being—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in perfect unity from all eternity. And because he created us in his image, he designed us for interdependence. No one is entirely self-sufficient. The farmer grows grain but relies on someone else for clothing. The accountant manages finances but needs to buy food from the grocer. Work fosters humility, cooperation, and stewardship as we use our particular gifts for the benefit of others.
In this way, a free-market system—when functioning rightly—models the unity-in-diversity of God’s Triune nature. Different people play different roles, yet all contribute to the common good. Work is not merely about personal survival; it is a means of serving others and fulfilling God’s design for human flourishing.
Unfortunately, some Christians adopt a truncated view of life. They assume that as long as they believe in Jesus, the rest of human experience doesn’t really matter. Perhaps that is why Paul had to remind the early churches to work and provide for themselves. Some may have thought, Why work? I’m a Christian now. I’ll just sit back and wait for the Lord to return.
Yet Scripture presents a far more comprehensive vision. God desires more for us than mere survival. He calls us to flourish in every sphere of life, including our work. Yes, we must guard against greed and idolatry, but we should also celebrate human innovation, creativity, and productivity as gifts from the Lord.
Paul affirms this in 1 Timothy 4:4: “Everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.” Later, he reminds us that God “richly provides us with everything to enjoy” (1Ti 6:17). If God gives good gifts, why wouldn’t we seek to develop them further? Why wouldn’t we use our talents to bring more value into the world? Our drive to discover, build, and innovate is part of our calling to subdue the earth (Ge 1:28).
And this calling will not end in eternity. When Christ returns and renews the earth, we will not become stagnant or aimless. Scripture tells us, “They will reign forever and ever” (Rev 22:5). Reigning implies governance, stewardship, creativity, and ongoing development. Why, then, would we think we were created merely to survive? God calls us to flourish under his blessing—and to be a blessing to others.
How Do We Flourish?
That leads to an important question: How does a community—or an entire society—flourish in terms of work and productivity?
There are many ways to answer this, but I want to briefly highlight three key factors. These are highly contested topics in the political realm, but they are deeply rooted in biblical principles.
1. Private Ownership of Property
The Bible consistently upholds the legitimacy of private property. God’s law condemns theft: “You shall not steal” (Ex 20:15). It also warns against coveting a neighbor’s house or belongings (Ex 20:17). In Leviticus 25, the Year of Jubilee required that everyone return to his own property. These passages affirm that individual property rights are not merely a human invention but part of God’s moral order.
This stands in contrast to economic systems that deny private ownership. Under communism, for example, all property belongs to the state. In feudal societies, only the ruling class has the right to own land. Historically, nations that have protected private property rights have experienced far greater productivity and prosperity. When individuals have the freedom to own, develop, and steward resources, they are incentivized to invest in and care for what they possess.
Of course, sin can corrupt any system. Greed, exploitation, and injustice exist under capitalism just as they do under other economic models. But both biblical teaching and historical evidence suggest that private ownership aligns with God’s creation mandate to work and subdue the earth (Ge 1:28). When people take responsibility for what they own, they are far more likely to cultivate and improve it—not just for their own benefit, but for the good of their communities as well.
2. The Free Market Encourages Flourishing
Nations with robust free markets—where laws against theft, fraud, and breach of contract are enforced—tend to experience higher living standards, greater innovation, and increased personal liberty.
Consider a simple example: A shop owner tracks which items are selling well and orders more. Manufacturers and shippers respond in real-time to meet consumer demand. No central planner is needed to dictate supply and distribution. When moral virtue is practiced, the free market fosters personal responsibility, community cooperation, and good stewardship.
More than that, it serves as a safeguard against the kind of oppression described in 1 Samuel 8, where Samuel warns Israel that if they appoint a king, he will abuse his power—seizing their resources, conscripting them into service, and ruling over them unjustly. Systems that concentrate economic power in the hands of a few often lead to exploitation. In contrast, a well-regulated free market distributes economic influence, allowing people to work, trade, and provide for themselves without excessive government interference.
3. Viewing Business as Morally Good
For society to flourish, we must also recognize that business—when conducted ethically—is not merely permissible but can be a noble means of serving God and others.
Opening a bakery, running a consulting firm, or operating a machine shop is a way of subduing the earth’s resources and adding value to the world. This is not necessarily greed; it is love in action. Ethical business meets real needs, creates jobs, and blesses communities.
Of course, we must remain vigilant against exploitation and sin. But under godly stewardship, business can be a large-scale vehicle for “loving your neighbor as yourself” (Mt 22:39). It allows people to provide goods and services that benefit society while also supporting their families and communities.
Even Jesus, in the parable of the talents (Mt 25:14–30), commends wise financial stewardship that leads to increase. He does not rebuke the servants who multiplied their master’s resources—he praises them. This suggests that, when done with integrity, producing value and generating honest profit is not something to be ashamed of but a way to reflect God’s creative and providential nature.
Rethinking Retirement
Now, what about retirement? In our culture, retirement is often presented as the goal—a time to step away from work and dedicate the rest of one’s life to leisure and recreation. But is this a biblical approach to finishing our lives?
A few decades ago, a magazine article told the story of a couple—Bob and Penny—who retired early, moved to Florida, and spent their remaining years collecting seashells and puttering around on a boat. John Piper famously contrasted this with the story of two elderly women who served the poor in Africa until the day they died. One vision of retirement invests in fleeting pleasures, while the other invests in eternal realities, glorifying Christ through service.
Scripture never presents a life of ease as our ultimate goal. Yes, we need rest. But we also remain God’s servants until he calls us home. For many of us, retirement may mean stepping away from paid employment, and our physical endurance may diminish with age. But do we ever retire from serving the kingdom?
Absolutely not. Our final years should be marked by wisdom, generosity, and devotion to building others up. Instead of spending our remaining time “collecting shells” (to borrow from Piper), we should demonstrate to a watching world that our treasure is in Christ. Every year of life is a precious opportunity to be used for his glory.
We often think of life as a simple chronological flow: work hard, save money, retire, and enjoy leisure. But that is not the full picture, is it? As believers, we trust in the promises of Christ. That means the last chapter of life is not retirement—it is eternity with him. At best, retirement is the next-to-last chapter. And when we close our eyes in death, we will open them in the presence of our King. He will ask us to account for how we spent our days, and the only “retirement plan” that truly matters is striving to hear him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Mt 25:21).
Jesus warns us in Matthew 6:
“Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Mt 6:19–21)
This does not mean we cannot enjoy leisure in retirement. It simply challenges us not to make that the pinnacle of our existence.
As with most things, balance is key. I have known people who believe saving for retirement is somehow sinful. But Proverbs 6 teaches us to plan ahead:
“Go to the ant, you slacker! Observe its ways and become wise. Without leader, administrator, or ruler, it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food during harvest.” (Pr 6:6–8)
It is wise to plan for the future. We can save for retirement without making an idol of it. The real question is not should we prepare, but how we will use our retirement and the resources God has given us to serve others, support missions, and bless our communities.
Paul repeatedly describes life and ministry as a race to be run to the finish (1Co 9:24–27, 2Ti 4:7). I have seen videos of races where the lead runner slows down to celebrate before reaching the finish line—only to be overtaken in the last moment. If we treat the last quarter of our lives as a time to disengage completely, we waste a golden opportunity.
Whether you are fifty-five or eighty-five, God has not dismissed you from service. If your health is weak, you can still write letters of encouragement, mentor younger believers, pray fervently, or use your life experience to counsel others. No matter your stage of life, God can and will use you for the good of the church.
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