Is Work a Blessing or a Curse?

William Post won $16.2 million Pennsylvania lottery in 1988 but now live on social security. “I wish it never happened. It was totally a night mare” says Post. It is the same story for most lottery winners. They ended in poverty, debt and destruction. In our country, there is a culture of wealth through luck, raffle draws, cheating and overnight miracles that have come over many people today. The bible says “Wealth quickly got will become less; but he who gets a store by the work of his hands will have it increased” (Pro 13:11 BBE).

God intended that His blessing of wealth should be realized and enjoyed by you through excellent and fruitful labour. Healthy and beneficial prosperity always comes through excellent and fruitful labour. Poverty for individuals, organizations and communities always result when people refuse to work as they should or cheat in the effort they put in to work. The bible says “How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man” (Pro 6:9-11 NIV).

God who worked to create the world and everything in it created man in his image to function just like him. He gave Adam the work of taking care of a whole garden he planted. Adam was to keep the garden and replenish it with quality work that will glorify God, manage creation and provide for the needs of man. Therefore work is not a curse neither was it invented by sin. It is the way that God functions and He intended man to function in that way too. The bible teaches that “…we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Eph 2:10 NIV) Also, “Jesus said… "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working." (Joh 5:17 NIV)

God’s blessings target your work. The land of Canaan was blessed for the children of Israel and it became the land flowing with milk and honey. When the children of Israel obey God, God will cause them to realize his blessings through the work of their hands. Moses said, “The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none.” (Deu 28:12 NIV). Those who refuse to work were to be denied the fruit of labour, the bible says “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.” (2Th 3:10 KJV)

Accordingly, the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ commanded, “Slaves (employees), your job is to obey your human masters, not with the idea of catching their eye or currying favor, but as a sincere expression of your devotion to the Lord. Whatever your task is, put your whole heart and soul into it, as into work done for the Lord and not merely for men— knowing that your real reward will come from Him. You are actually slaves (employees) of the Lord Christ Jesus. But the dishonest man will be paid back for his dishonesty, and no favoritism will be shown.” (Col 3:22-25 Philips).

Work is a ministry that God will reward. Good workers are divine colabourers  in the task of subduing and replenishing the earth. Bad workers are wasters; the bible says “He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.” (Pro 18:9 KJV). God wants to promote you and give you wealth as a reward of your work. It is useless to pray for promotion while you are doing a deceitful work. You come to work late, use work time for your private matters, you lie about the time you came to work in your time book and lie about the where about of your colleagues to cover up for them. Many cheat their costumers, use substandard materials and do substandard work yet they are praying for increase in wealth. You are doing a deceitful work that attracts judgment and not the blessings of God. The bible says “The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.” (Pro 11:18 KJV)

Those who do deceitful work or are waiting for jackpot wins have wasted God given opportunity to discover their abilities, fulfill their purpose in life, experience fulfillment, enjoy rest and bless their community. Many think that hard work is for nonentities. This was the thinking of the Roman world before the birth of Christ. Three quarters of the then Roman world was made up of slaves because nobles refused to work and productivity was very low. But our Lord Jesus Christ changed all of that when he put his hands to work as a carpenter. This was a work that nobles would not do. By this our Lord redeemed the dignity of labour. This made the then Christian world to preach and reward hard work as a Christian virtue. It is this culture of hard work created by Christian civilization that brought about the industrial revolution and economic boom enjoyed in Europe and America today.

Are you a deceitful worker?  Do not excuse your attitude to work on the behavior of your boss, others or the workings of the system. Your reward does not come from them; if you want the blessings of God then it is God that you must obey.  God’s word is clear “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” (Pro 14:23 NIV) “He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored.” (Pro 13:18 NIV)

Make up your mind today not to fit into this present culture of corruption but stand out as an example of believers in Christ. You have to repent of your past attitude to work.  Ask God to forgive you and give you Christ attitude to work. Make effort to obey Jesus in your attitude to work. God will fulfill his word and reward you accordingly.

If you chose to repent, your prayer to God should include the following

-          That you have sinned (Confessed all the sins you can remember to God)

-          That you are turning away from your sin (tell God the kind of change you desire)

-          That you want God to forgive your sins. (Ask God to make you clean in his sight)

-          That you are submitting yourself to Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. (Offer yourself to God to serve him as your master and Lord)