Christian Work Ethics
by Tan Kian Sing
Bible Witness 9
“Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider
her ways, and be wise: which having
no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth
her meat in the summer, and gathereth
her food in the harvest. How long wilt
thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou
arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep,
a little slumber, a little folding of the
hands to sleep: so shall thy poverty come
as one that travelleth, and thy want
as an armed man” (Proverbs 6:6-11).
“The desire of the slothful killeth
him; for his hands refuse to labour.
He coveteth greedily all the day
long: but the righteous giveth and
spareth not” (Proverbs 21:25-26).
“The way of the slothful man is as an
hedge of thorns: but the way of the
righteous is made plain” (Proverbs 15:19).
“Slothfulness casteth into a deep
sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer
hunger” (Proverbs 19:15).
“The sluggard will not plow by reason of
the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest,
and have nothing” (Proverbs 20:4).
Christians are therefore to be on guard
against being idle and unproductive in
their jobs or businesses. In 2 Thessalonians
3:7-10, the Apostle Paul cites the example
of the apostolic band in order to exhort
Christians to be responsible and diligent
in their work - “For yourselves know how
ye ought to follow us: for we behaved
not ourselves disorderly among you;
neither did we eat any man's bread for
nought; but wrought with labour and
travail night and day, that we might not
be chargeable to any of you: not because
we have not power, but to make ourselves
an ensample unto you to follow us.
For even when we were with you, this
we commanded you, that if any would
not work, neither should he eat.”
Obedience at work
Christian employees are to give due
respect and obedience to their employers.
They are not to cheat, steal company time,
nor take the easy way out in performing
their tasks. They ought to arrive at work
on time and to be given fully to work
during office hours. They must be faithful
workers with good work attitudes,
working as if the Lord Jesus Christ
Himself is our Employer. The Apostle Paul
outlines the importance of obedience
of Christian workers in these passages:
“Servants, be obedient to them that are
your masters according to the flesh, with
fear and trembling, in singleness of your
heart, as unto Christ; not with eyeservice,
as menpleasers; but as the servants of
Christ, doing the will of God from the
heart; with good will doing service, as to
the Lord, and not to men: knowing that
whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the
same shall he receive of the Lord, whether
he be bond or free” (Ephesians 6:5-8).
“Exhort servants to be obedient unto
their own masters, and to please them
well in all things; not answering again; not
purloining, but shewing all good fidelity;
that they may adorn the doctrine of God
our Saviour in all things” (Titus 2:9-10).
Likewise, Christian employers are to
treat their employees fairly and not
to short-change them but to pay and
reward them accordingly. They are not
to impose unreasonable demands or
place undue stress on the employees.
10 Bible Witness
Remember that we are all servants
of the Lord and He is watching and
judging all the things that we have done
or left undone. “And, ye masters, do
the same things unto them, forbearing
threatening: knowing that your Master
also is in heaven; neither is there respect
of persons with him” (Ephesians 6:9).
Responsible
stewardship at work
Believers are to faithfully fulfil their
responsibilities, whether they are in a
subordinate or managerial position at
their workplace. They are expected to be
submissive to higher authority. They need
to be trustworthy and to keep to their
promises and commitments. “Moreover
it is required in stewards, that a man be
found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2). They
are accountable in the way they use
whatever talents they have in order to do
their job well. Remember the parable of
the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) and the
parable of the ten pounds (Luke 19:11-27)
in which the Lord Jesus teaches how we
should be good and faithful servants in
using the talents that we have been given?
Besides, God expects Christian workers
to use their talents diligently not only to
meet the needs of this earthly life but
more importantly, to show forth a good
Christian testimony at their workplace.
A wrong perspective
It is wrong for believers to work with the
goal of becoming wealthy. In Proverbs
23:4-5, we are told, “Labour not to be rich:
cease from thine own wisdom. Wilt thou
set thine eyes upon that which is not? for
riches certainly make themselves wings;
they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.”
It is not money or becoming rich that is
evil but the love of money. A man who
loves money and wants to have more and
more of it will face many troubles and
sorrows. That is the emphatic message
from 1 Timothy 6:9-10, “But they that will
be rich fall into temptation and a snare,
and into many foolish and hurtful lusts,
which drown men in destruction and
perdition. For the love of money is the root
of all evil: which while some coveted after,
they have erred from the faith, and pierced
themselves through with many sorrows.”
The right perspective
God’s will is for us to work to provide for
our needs and that of our loved ones.
He made man to serve Him through his
labours and to enjoy it. It is not for us
to labour with the aim to become rich
lest “thou say in thine heart, My power
and the might of mine hand hath gotten
me this wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:17).
The right attitude and focus towards
working and earning a living is that
“thou shalt remember the LORD thy
God: for it is he that giveth thee power
to get wealth, that he may establish his
covenant which he sware unto thy fathers,
as it is this day” (Deuteronomy 8:18).
Always bear in mind to seek to glorify
God and to have a thankful spirit
in our work and in all that we do.
That is the teaching contained in the
following Pauline instructions:
“And whatsoever ye do, do it
heartily, as to the Lord, and not
unto men” (Colossians 3:23).
“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink,
or whatsoever ye do, do all to the
glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
(Continued on page 14)
14 Bible Witness
“And whatsoever ye do
in word or deed, do all
in the name of the Lord
Jesus, giving thanks to
God and the Father by
him” (Colossians 3:17).
Conclusion
These God-given work
ethics require us to be
committed workers, trusting
in Christ and working
towards excellence in the
earthly tasks that our hands
find to do. Once our time
on earth is up, our earthly
work will cease and eternal
rest will follow for the
Christian. So, “whatsoever
thy hand findeth to do, do
it with thy might; for there
is no work, nor device, nor
knowledge, nor wisdom,
in the grave, whither thou
goest” (Ecclesiastes 9:10).
Christian work ethics
found in the Word of God
are given to us as divine
principles to be faithfully
obeyed so that we may be
found blameless as God’s
stewards wherever the Lord
has ordained us to labour
for Him. May God help us
to abide by these biblical
work ethics by being a
good workman approved
unto God that we may
not be put to shame.
At the end of it all, we must
be guided by the words
of wisdom written in the
Scriptures, “Let us hear the
conclusion of the whole
matter: Fear God, and keep
his commandments: for this
is the whole duty of man.
For God shall bring every
work into judgment, with
every secret thing, whether
it be good, or whether it be
evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).
(Continued from page 10)
Christian Work Ethics
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