MANILA, PHILIPPINES—A while back I posted a blog that included a rant about hard work that was inspired by my observation that some ministers and businessmen seem to believe that hard work is not compatible with the gospel.
Christians with a functioning work ethic today are becoming as rare as Bigfoot sightings.
The 20-hour workweek is the new normal, but when we add 20 hours hanging around coffee shops, and another 20 doing social media, we call it a 60-hour workweek. It is amazing how little is actually accomplish in the modern 60-hour workweek.
Why are we so allergic to work?
Today’s Church has a whole generation of teachers who misunderstand and distort the grace of God, turning it into an excuse for laziness and licentiousness.
The fact that we are not saved by works does not mean we are not supposed to work. Work is a good thing, a blessing from God. Genesis 2:15 tells us, The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden TO WORK IT and take care of it. This was before the fall so work was originally part of the blessing, not the curse.
Paul saw no conflict between grace and work, rather he saw them as working together in harmony. Consider the following:
Ephesians 2:8–10
Verse 8 – saved by grace. . .
Verse 9 – not by works. . .
Verse 10 – to do good works. . .
Is hard work compatible with God’s grace? Paul thought so. I agree with Paul.
1 Corinthians 15:10
But by the GRACE of God I am what I am, and his GRACE to me was not without effect. No, I WORKED HARDER than all of them—yet not I, but the GRACE of God that was with me.