WORK: A CALLING, NOT A CURSE

Have you ever heard the joke about why some folks skip reading the Book of Job in the Bible? Because it reminds them too much of having a “job”! It is disheartening to witness the negative perception of work in today's society. We groan about Mondays, some dream about early retirement, and sometimes treat our 9-to-5 like it's a punishment straight from God. But what if I told you that work isn't some divine curse handed down after the Fall in the Garden of Eden?

Look all the way back to the very beginning. In Genesis, before Adam and Eve munched on that forbidden fruit, God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden "to work it and take care of it" (Genesis 2:15). Did you catch that?! Work was part of the plan from day one. It wasn't drudgery. It was purposeful stewardship, a way to partner with the Creator in tending to this beautiful world. Adam didn't spend his days eating grapes and waiting for a fish to bite. He was actively involved in cultivating and naming things. Work was a gift, a reflection of God's own creative nature.

Then, fast-forward to the Fall. God tells Adam, "By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food" (Genesis 3:19). This is where some folks get tripped up. They believe that's the curse. But hold on. This wasn't introducing work itself. Work was already in existence. What is being added to work is something called “toil.” The ground would now produce thorns and thistles, making the effort harder, sweatier, and more frustrating. Work got tougher because of sin, but it wasn't invented as a punishment. It's like the difference between gardening in perfect soil versus battling weeds and rocks. The activity is the same, but the resistance that had not been around is now in existence.

I see this precept tying into a bigger biblical principle, which is that obedience leads to blessing in our labors. Look at Deuteronomy 28:1, for instance: "If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth." The chapter goes on to describe prosperity in our work, in abundant crops, and in successful ventures as a reward for faithfulness. It's not about earning salvation but about aligning our efforts with God's design, where work becomes fruitful rather than futile.

Speaking of effort, here's a little rationalization for why we can't just coast through life. If you want to gain something worthwhile, you have to "pay" attention. Get it? It's not just about money. It's about investing focus and energy. Think about threading a needle. That is such a simple task, but it demands precision, patience, and undivided attention. One distraction, and you're starting over. Life's rewards are like that. Skim through the Book of Job without really engaging? If you do, you'll miss the profound lessons on suffering, perseverance, and God's sovereignty. But put in the work by reading it with intent, and you walk away wiser. Don’t wait for something to be handed to you.

In Acts 2:44-45 and 4:32-35, we read that the believers "had everything in common" and "shared everything they had." They sold property and possessions to distribute to anyone in need, making sure that no one lacked. This sounds a bit like communism or socialism, doesn't it? But let's "dig" deeper. Let's put in some work. Was this a mandated system imposed by leaders or a voluntary outpouring of love in a tight-knit community? I'd argue it's neither full-blown communism (government-owned production) nor socialism (state redistribution) as we know them today. This was Spirit-led generosity among believers, not a political ideology. No one was forced. It was from the heart, motivated by faith and unity. And the key is that it worked because of intrinsic motivation, which is an inward love for God and each other, rather than external coercion.

Contrast that with real-world socialist experiments. Folks who lived under those regimes often joked, "The government pretends to pay us, and we pretend to work." It's a biting commentary on how forced equality can kill initiative. When rewards aren't tied to effort, why give anything your best? It's like classical conditioning in psychology. Rewards reinforce behaviors, while punishments (like taking away what you've earned through exorbitant taxes or redistribution) decrease them. If your hard work is diluted into a communal pot, the desire to innovate or excel dries up and fades away. Such behavior makes us less than what we were created to be.

The idea of servers pooling their tips into a communal jar resonates deeply with me. Please understand my perspective. I believe wholeheartedly that teamwork is excellent. However, in my view, it is unjust when a server diligently works, engages with customers, and goes above and beyond, only to have their earnings averaged with those of an individual who is merely shows up but only halfheartedly, at that. It punishes excellence and rewards mediocrity. Who wants to be average, anyway? Average is just the top of the bottom and the bottom of the top, stuck in limbo, living in the land of “Nod.” In a healthy system, tips should reflect individual performance, sparking that intrinsic motivation to do better. Extrinsic rewards (like cash) can kickstart habits, but true drive comes from within: pride in one’s craft and the satisfaction of a job well done.

This leads to the dangers of a welfare state gone overboard. When support becomes entitlement, people start looking for handouts instead of hand-ups. It's the old Confucius bit of wisdom that says, “Give a man (person) a fish, and you feed him (her) for a day; teach him (her) to fish, and you feed him (her) for a lifetime.” Handouts might solve immediate hunger, but they can reduce motivation over time. If a person’s means of life are gained without any personal effort, why work? That mindset erodes the God-given intrinsic fire to grow and contribute.

The Bible echoes this idea, I believe. It promotes work as dignifying and essential when it says, "The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat" (2 Thessalonians 3:10). But it also cares for the vulnerable without fostering dependency. In Leviticus 19:9-10 and 23:22, farmers were told to leave the corners of their fields unharvested and not go back for dropped sheaves. If you ever visit areas like Pennsylvania, you may notice that some of the less progressive farmers intentionally leave their fields without square corners. They follow this command because in biblical days, doing so allowed the poor, the widows, and foreigners to glean for themselves. It wasn't a free lunch dropped at their door. It required effort on their part. They had to show up, work the edges, and gather. It was “back-breaking” work, but it was a respectable means to survive. That's compassion with dignity, a hand up that preserved motivation and self-respect.

God is the God of balance. His principle applies beyond economics. In marriage, satisfaction thrives when both partners feel they're getting an equal return on what they're investing in the relationship. If one person is pouring in enormous effort, emotional support, and time but getting crumbs in return, resentment builds. (You may wish to read about Gottman’s Four Horses of the Apocalypse that destroy marriages.) Marriages would do well to note the concept of classical conditioning again. Positive reinforcement (mutual appreciation) strengthens the bond of matrimony, while imbalance, one giving more and getting less, acts as a punishment, weakening commitment. The Bible calls for mutual submission and love (Ephesians 5:21-33), emphasizing reciprocity in relationships just as in work.

So, back to where we started. Work isn't a curse. It's woven into the very fabric of our design, amplified by effort and blessed through obedience. Whether it's threading that needle of focus, gleaning from life's fields, or hustling for those well-earned tips, the rewards come from putting in the effort. Let's ditch the entitlement mindset, fuel our intrinsic motivations, and aim higher than average. After all, as Deuteronomy reminds us, faithfulness in our labors opens the door to abundance.

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Thanks for reading, folks. Until next time, work while it is yet day, for the night comes when no one can work.