Page 5 - January 2026 - Truth & Tidings

Many people consider work a curse, an and unreasonable masters doubly pleases
unwelcome and unpleasant consequence Him. Although God’s original design was
of the Fall. This is false, although it is true perverted by sin, He will one day relieve
that the Fall altered the character of work. work of the burdens that sin placed on it
Before Adam sinned, he worked in a gar- (Isa 65:17-25; Rev 22:1-11). Meanwhile,
den paradise, God’s special enclosure of Paul writes that work is service to God
order and purity and innocence. After the (Eph 6:6-8; Col 3:22), makes a person
Fall, however, Adam was expelled to the self-sufficient (2Th 3:12), enables him to
field – a wild and unfenced place without provide for his family (1Ti 5:8), presents
any innocence or inhibition. Instead of be- a good testimony to others (1Th 4:12), and
ing helpful, the work environment became enables him to give generously (Eph 4:28).
hostile. In the field, the pleasure of work For the Christian, there is no such thing
was now mixed with pain, and Adam as secular work. All legitimate work is
had to struggle against a resisting earth the Lord’s work. Spiritual life cannot be
to the point of sweaty exhaustion (3:17- confined to some “sacred” space; it is
19). Beside the crops, thorns and thistles everywhere we are, and in every place we
now sprang up, symbolizing frustration work. A.W. Tozer stated, “It is not what
and failure. Things no longer went as a man does that determines whether his
planned, hard labor did not guarantee work is sacred or secular, but why he does
success, and whatever could go wrong it.” William Tyndale said that if we look
did. To work no longer simply meant to externally, “there is a difference betwixt
be joyfully productive; it meant to struggle washing of dishes, and preaching of the
to be productive in the face of opposition Word of God; but as touching to please
and hardship. God, none at all.” Work is worship – a
Not only did the Fall change work, but way to express our devotion to Christ
it also changed the worker. Man’s innate (Eph 6:5-7). Since every work assignment
love for work became infected with self- is from God, then every completed project
ishness. Sluggards and thieves began to is for God. This gives great purpose and
surface. So did tyrannical masters, and joy even to the most menial tasks, and
most of humanity eventually fell into it means an eternal reward, not just an
earthly paycheck.
slavery. Countries that abolished slavery
nevertheless succumbed to industrializa- When God viewed His own work, He
tion. Magnates still regarded human be- pronounced it excellent (Gen 1:31). God
ings as expendable commodities. In many deserves our best, and He expects us to
cases, workers were deprived of the thrill strive for excellence in everything. Excel-
of conceiving projects and the satisfaction lence is not perfection; it is doing the best
of seeing them completed. They were re- we can with the time and resources we
duced instead to dehumanized stiffs who have. As imitators of God, we make sturdy
and attractive furniture, deliver reliable
were expected to insert a certain quota of
pegs into holes hour after hour. reports, write well-argued papers, and
give flawless customer service. We faith-
Despite the effects of the Fall, however, fully keep the home and attentively raise
work still retains its inherent dignity, and the children. We exceed expectations and
still rewards honest workers with satis- leave every place and project better than
faction. Hard work continues to please we found it. We are to be excellent for His
God, and the persistence of His people glory, stay humble, and make sure that the
in the face of onerous work conditions praise flows to Him (1Co 10:31).

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