Why work? Why work hard? What does it mean to find meaning in relation to God and working for God? To this question the Bible gives rich answers.

1.  We work to glorify God. Bringing glory to God is the master concept of the Christian life. Work then becomes worship. In our work we have an opportunity to love God and even tell God that we love God. This is fundamental to our posture before God, as Jesus taught (Mark 12:29-34). J. S. Bach wrote over every manuscript what we can write over balance sheets, sermons and shopping lists: “SDG,” which means soli Deo gloria (to God alone be the glory).

2.  We work to be partners with God. We are mandated in Genesis as part of the human vocation to serve God and God’s purposes in unfolding the potential of creation (Gen 1:26-28). The Garden was unfinished. We are God’s partners in bringing to conclusion.

3.  We work to express gifts and talents through our work. And in this we find joy, the joy of making a difference (Gen 2:19). We are also accountable to God for what we do with our gifts and talents (Matt 25:19).

4.  We work to provide for ourselves and families (2 Thess 3:6-13; 1 Thess 4:9-12). If at all possible we are not to be dependent on others for our livelihood.

5.  We work as a witness, showing something of God’s goodness and grace to those who do not yet have faith (1 Thess 4:9-12). Paul says that through our work we win the respect of outsiders. Work then is part of our mission, and means of evangelism, a concrete sharing of faith.

6.  We work to serve our neighbor. Work is a means of loving our fellow human beings in the providing of goods or services. This is the second great commandment Jesus taught (Mark 12:9-24). As both Luther and Mother Teresa have said, if we are motivated by love it does not matter whether we do a great work or a little one.

7.  We work to assist the poor and needy. The surplus of what we actually need and provide through work can be shared with others who are in need (Eph 4:28).

8.  We work to advance the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is both here and coming, now and not yet. But it is the dynamic rule of God in all of life; it is God’s shalom for people and creation. Entrepreneurs can advance the kingdom by evangelism and edification and by providing desirable goods and services to others. . All good work is kingdom work.

9.  We work to grow spiritually in Christlikeness. Work is an arena of spiritual challenges, but it is also the place where the Spirit-fruit is revealed. When we work we have an opportunity to observe ourselves, even to deal with ourselves, our Achilles heel, our need to be needed or our need for status, our need to be in control. Work is an arena for learning patience, for gaining wisdom, even from our mistakes, for learning how to pray as we are often pushed beyond the limits of our own abilities.

10.  We work to experience joy. Joy is more than mere happiness, though it is often confused with it. Happiness is situational. Joy does not depend on the context. Joy is a God-infusion, a God-exhilaration, and a God-gift. Joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22). Nehemiah counseled the Israelites in a difficult situation to find joy in God and be strengthened by that joy (Neh 8:10).