What is a Christian work ethic?

from the old testament

• The first mention of the word "work" in the Bible occurs in Genesis 2 after God created the world and everything in it. Genesis 2:2 says, "And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done." The "work" here can be understood as something that is done or made. The Hebrew word also refers to a ministry or occupation. God Himself engages in work. We also see the pattern of work followed by rest, or cessation, from work.
• A few verses later, using a different Hebrew word for "work," Genesis records, "The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it" (Genesis 2:15). Before sin entered the world, when things were exactly as God designed them to be, humans had work to do. So work is not a punishment—it is not inherently part of the curse—but rather, work is part of God's good design for mankind.
• The Hebrew word for "work" in Genesis 2:15 is the same word for "worship" in Exodus 3:12 (and elsewhere throughout the Old Testament) when God promised Moses, "you shall worship God at this mountain" (NASB) (see Strong's H5647 definition at https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h5647/esv/wlc/0-1/; accessed February 2, 2023). Work, like humans working in the garden exactly as God intended, can actually be a form of worship when we work according to God's will.
• Work brings blessings in many ways. Satan pointed out to God when discussing Job, "You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land" (Job 1:10). Job's work resulted in increased wealth that he used to care for his children and aid those in need (Job 29:12).
• The writer of Proverbs noted that "Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread" (Proverbs 28:19). There are benefits to work. Work provides us with essentials we need to live.
• Isaiah 65:22 describes a time when, "They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands." There is joy in producing good work.
• Another blessing of work is the opportunity to collaborate with others. In Zephaniah 3:9, God promised that His people will "serve Him shoulder to shoulder" (NASB). The Hebrew word for "serve" in this verse is the same one for "work" and "worship" in other passages, so this is a picture of people working, worshiping, and serving God side by side. People working together are often more efficient and productive than those same people would be if they worked independently.
• In Exodus, God told Moses, "See, I have called by name Bezalel … and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship… to work in every craft… And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you" (Exodus 31:2–6). The intelligence, knowledge, skill, and physical ability we use to do our work are all gifts from God. He enables us to work. Hundreds of years later, when Nehemiah and his men had completed building a wall around Jerusalem, the surrounding nations "perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God" (Nehemiah 6:16). It is only by God's grace that we are able to accomplish any work.
• The prophet Jeremiah warned, "Cursed is he who does the work of the LORD with slackness" (Jeremiah 48:10), using the same word for "work" as in Genesis 2:2. The NASB uses the word "negligently" to describe this "slackness." Instead of working with slackness, we should be like the Israelites under Ezra's command. When he sent back a report to king Darius, he said, "This work goes on diligently and prospers in their hands" (Ezra 5:8). The NASB says, "this work is being performed with great care and is succeeding in their hands." Our work should be careful and correct, always with an eye toward glorifying God.
• Working hard is valuable. King Solomon noted, "Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much" (Ecclesiastes 5:12). The NLT puts it more plainly, "People who work hard sleep well." When the Levites worked in the temple, "they were on duty day and night" (1 Chronicles 9:33).
• While working hard and with great care is important, God did warn against forcing ourselves or others to work without also taking time to rest. God commanded the Israelites to rest (Exodus 20:10; Exodus 34:21). This pattern of work and rest was year-round, not just when the workload seemed light.

from the new testament

• Ephesians 4:28 says, "Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need." We are called to work honestly with the abilities God has given us.
• Paul encouraged the Colossians, "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ" (Colossians 3:23–24; cf. Ephesians 6:5–9). Because our work is ultimately in service to our God, we should put forth effort, doing our work with great care.
• Paul wrote to the Thessalonian church that idleness is to be avoided and replaced with consistent, regular, diligent work (2 Thessalonians 3:10–12).

implications for today

The work we do should be done with a motivation toward things of eternal significance. Jesus warned, "Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal" (John 6:27). He elaborated, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent" (John 6:29). Work that increases our own faith in God or inspires others to recognize and trust our Lord is work that endures. The Israelites building a wall when the odds were against them helped the surrounding nations recognize God's hand at work. Craftsmen working skillfully with metal, wood, and yarn to furnish the tabernacle helped God's people worship appropriately. Paul's work of making tents helped financially support his missionary work (Acts 18:3). Builders help provide shelter; farmers help provide food; healthcare workers help restore brokenness in a fallen world; artists point to the beauty of God. Our work need not be limited to the "spiritual" or official "ministry" in order to have eternal significance. We just need to be working in such a way and with such a motivation that God will be glorified. Jesus summed it up by saying, "let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).

When we have this biblical mindset that work is a blessing to be enjoyed as we worship God in our work by glorifying Him to others, we will be able to live out the truth of Ephesians 2:10. "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."