With the rapid rise of robotics & artificial intelligence, fears are mounting that it won’t be long until humans are no longer needed for work. Both blue-collar & white-collar jobs are being replaced by machines & automation. Adapting to a workplace that no longer relies on human employment will be a significant challenge over the next several years. Will this lead to a utopian world of leisure with guaranteed income, or a dystopian disaster filled with misery & mischief?
This goes to the heart of human nature created in the image of the God who works & gave us a cultural mandate to subdue the earth through work (Gen. 1:28, John 5:17). Work not only provides for us & our families, but gives us a sense of fulfillment & satisfaction, contributing to the common good by meeting needs. Humans thrive when they work, but unemployment is linked to higher rates of anxiety, depression, & even suicide as people are left with “nothing to do.”
Scripture condemns laziness—what used to be called “sloth” (1 Thess. 5:14, Prov. 10:4-5, 12:11, 24, 13:4, 14:23). Some work very hard at avoiding work. At the other extreme are workaholics who find their identity & sense of self-worth in their careers. What they do is who they are. These folks are often admired for their hard work ethic, but the pursuit of advancement & materialism often comes with a higher price than reckoned, as they sacrifice their health & families on the altar of business.
Most of all, they tend to neglect God, too busy to spend time alone in prayer & Bible reading. Instead of gathering for church on Sunday, they use the Lord’s Day to sleep in & catch up on projects, have some fun, or earn some double time. Sunday is not the Jewish Sabbath with laws against working. But the principle of a day set aside for worship & rest goes back to Creation. And we’re told not to give up meeting together with other believers on the Lord’s Day (Acts 20:7, 1 Cor. 16:2, Heb. 10:24-25). So, if work is causing you to miss church, what can you do to change that? Could you get Sundays off by simply explaining to your boss how it’s a vital part of your faith? Should you find a different job? What’s really going to matter in the long term?
Work shouldn’t be viewed as drudgery, though it may seem that way more often than not. In the Garden of Eden, God designed work to be completely satisfying, even pleasurable. After the Fall, not so much. The payoff isn’t always equal to the labor. You may feel unappreciated & underpaid. There’s stress, hardship, disappointments, boredom, routine, red tape, maintenance, clean up, & hassle. Work can seem like vanity at times if all you’re doing is working “under the sun,” that is, only for what this world offers (Ecc. 2:17-23).
There’s a well-worn story of a man who approached a laborer who was laying bricks & asked him, ”What are you doing?” The laborer said, “Can’t you see I’m laying bricks!” The man then walked over to another bricklayer & asked, “What are you doing?” He answers with pride, “I’m building a cathedral.” Both were physically doing the same thing, but the first laborer was only occupied with the present task while the other was concerned with the ultimate goal.
“Everyone should…take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man” (Ecc. 3:13, 5:18). God can even use an irritating boss, cantankerous co-workers, & frustrating conditions to help build Christlike character in us. The workplace can be a productive place for spiritual formation.
Your workplace is actually an opportunity to carry out your true calling—to be a witness for Christ. As we live our faith with integrity, we’re reflecting well on Jesus (Matt. 5:16). We stand out brightly in the darkness of jobsites filled with complaining, negativity, gossiping, profanity, & bitterness. A strong work ethic & friendly demeanor earn the right to be heard when it comes to spiritual matters. When co-workers are going through difficulties, they may turn to the person they see as being “the real deal” when it comes to God. Hopefully, that’s you. It’s not always appropriate to share your faith in the workplace, but if you pray for God to provide opportunities, they somehow pop up.
I love the attitude that says, “My job is representing Jesus & sharing Him with everyone I can; I just work at Ford to support myself.” “Yes, being a teacher is my vocation, but being a witness is my commission.” “I’m employed at the hospital, but it’s really my mission field.”
You may daydream of how wonderful it would be to retire to a tropical island & sip fruity drinks in a hammock, but that’s not the goal of life. It’s not even a biblical concept to retire into a life of leisure. Why we hear of so many dying shortly after retiring is partly because they’re no longer doing anything worthwhile. They slip into a self-centered sloth. Yes, even after leaving a job, a person should contribute in some way unless completely immobilized physically or mentally. The time spent may be less, & the rewards no longer come in the form of a paycheck, but you should never retire from doing something that contributes, especially when it comes to working in the Lord’s service.