The Bible teaches that a right view and attitude to hard work contributes to a fulfilling and God-honouring life.
Christians will do well to get an understanding of the three reasons why we work:

1. Hard Work is a Major Part of God’s Plan for our Life
Christians often share the wrong belief that work is a result of the curse, but the Bible reveals it has always been part of God’s plan for men to work. In Genesis 1:26, God said, “Let [man] rule…” Even before God created man, He had work for him to do. This is the “dominion mandate” which is part of God’s plan for our life today. God wants us to diligently steward and care for everything He has entrusted to us. A man cannot fully enjoy and experience God’s plan for his life unless he is performing a work that God has entrusted to him.

2. Hard Work Leads to the Good Life
Many Christians are desperately searching for the “good life.” While many bestselling books promise to help readers “join the new rich” by “living more and working less,” the Bible teaches that the good life comes through hard work and diligence.
In Ecclesiastes 3:12–13, King Solomon recognized hard work as a key to a satisfying life. He observed it is good for a man to find satisfaction in his labor because it is a gift of God. Solomon knew that the very experience of reaping the fruits of diligent labor was a blessing from the Lord. It can bring meaning, purpose, and happiness to one’s life.
Hard work also leads to both temporal and eternal reward and success. In Proverbs 6:6–11, Solomon warned, “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and your poverty will come in like a vagabond and your need like an armed man.” Instead, he advises us to be like the hardworking ant who always has plenty in the harvest. If we ever wonder why it seems like we have to work so hard to be successful or achieve something significant, it’s because we do.
Hard work doesn’t just lead to success in this world but it can also lead to eternal rewards in heaven. In 1 Corinthians 3, the Apostle Paul explained that God would evaluate whether our work furthered His purposes and glorified Him or whether our lives were wasted on selfish pursuits. God promises that those who serve Him well will receive an eternal reward. Now, that is true success.

3. Hard Work is an Act of Worship
Finally, hard work is a spiritual act of worship. Romans 12:1 urges us to offer ourselves as living sacrifices to God as true and proper worship. One way to worship God in our daily life is through our work. Colossians 3:23–24 says, “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for people, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.” No matter our job, our role, or our responsibilities, every day presents us with an opportunity to worship the Lord by doing our work unto Him.
It is important to remember, it is the Lord Christ whom we serve. In view of God’s mercy, we need to get to work, and offer our work to the Lord as our spiritual service of worship.

Erick Bouwmeester
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