In today’s world, the emphasis on labour is stronger by the day. With the International Labour Organization (ILO) leading the park, there are several national labour organizations and unions which exist in the interest of workers worldwide. These labour unions and organizations are recognized by national and regional governments. This is an indication of the importance of work in today’s world. The scientific and technological breakthroughs and advancements the world has recorded today are as a result of some individuals who decided to put their minds and hands to work. This is indeed the dignity of labour.

The Origin of Labour

Labour originated from God. At creation, the Bible says, “And on the seventh day, God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done” (Genesis 2:2). And it is interesting to note that God is still working until now. This was made known by Christ when He was on earth. He said, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working” (John 5:17). If God who started working at creation has not stopped working, why should we? God instituted work as a key legitimate avenue through which man would earn a living. In the garden of Eden, Adam was charged with the responsibility of caring, tending and working the garden from which he was going to be sustained (Genesis 2:15-17). His commitment to tending the garden would determine the garden’s potential to provide his daily food. While Christ was on earth, He also laboured in ministry. At the healing of a blind man in John 9:1-7, He said, “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work” (John 9:4). While on earth, Jesus was not sustained by manner from heaven, but His needs were voluntarily provided by the ones to whom He ministered as He laboured in ministry (Luke 8:1-3). God has never and will never promote laziness, not even in the name of being a child of God. God is an example of a dignified labourer in every sense, and as His children, we have to take after our Father.

God is an example of a dignified labourer in every sense, and as His children, we have to take after our Father

The Call to Labour in the Old Covenant

In the old covenant, the Israelites laboured. They were mostly given to farming and herding, beginning from the Patriarch, Abraham. The Bible records that Abraham was very rich in livestock, in silver and in gold (Genesis 13:2). Abraham didn’t just sit-down claiming prophecies, he laboured, and God rewarded his labour with wealth. Isaac followed in his father’s footsteps. Even though the heir of his father’s wealth, he still needed to sustain the wealth by labour. He didn’t just sit and feast on his father’s wealth, but embarked on farming in the land of Gerar and reaped a hundred-fold in the year of drought and had great possessions of flocks and herds (Genesis 26:12-14). It takes labour to sustain inherited wealth and pass it on to the next generation. Isaac was indeed a responsible son. Jacob also laboured in Laban’s house until he became exceedingly prosperous with large flocks, female and male servants, and camels and donkeys (Genesis 30:43). These patriarchs were so diligent that they did not just labour but were also large employers of labour with hundreds of servants on their payrolls (Genesis 14:14). Even though the children of Israel were given manna in the wilderness, they were still required to go out each day and gather the ration that was adequate for the day, except the Sabbath day (Exodus 16:4-5). That was indeed labour! God never spoon-fed them because He wouldn’t tolerate any form of laziness, but faithfully played His role and expected them to play theirs. Living under the dispensation of the law alone was hard labour as the people had hundreds of laws to keep on a daily basis. God fully introduced them to the dignity of labour at the conquest of Canaan, the Bible records that “No manna appeared that day, and it was never seen again. So, from that time on the Israelites ate from the crops of Canaan” (Joshua 5:12). This indeed was a sign of weaning, maturity, and responsibility for them.

Labour in the New Covenant

The emphasis on the dignity of labour has been consistent from creation, through the Old Covenant to the New Covenant. In encouraging the Roman Christians, the Apostle Paul charged them to “Never be lazy in your work but serve the Lord enthusiastically” (Romans 12:11). In acknowledgement of the grace of God upon his life, the Apostle Paul still confessed to labouring more abundantly than his peers in ministry (1Corinthians 15:10). This is a clear indication of the fact that God’s grace does not exempt us from labour but eases it. In his letter to the Thessalonian believers, Paul commanded them “to aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you” (1Thessalonians 4:11). Paul’s epistle reveals that the call to labour was a command in the early Church. Paul also charged the Church in Thessalonica to highly esteem those who laboured among them for their work’s sake (1Thessalonians 5:12-13). This implies that labour indeed attracts honour. As an example of what he taught the Church, Paul himself, in addition to being in ministry, also worked as a tentmaker with the couple Aquila and Priscilla (Acts 18:1-3). Even though a preacher of the gospel, he never became an unnecessary burden to the Churches under his Apostolic jurisdiction with regard to his needs. He rather laboured with his hands in order to provide for his needs. To the Corinthian Church, he wrote: “We have worked wearily with our own hands to earn our living. We bless those who curse us. We are patient with those who abuse us” – 1Corinthians 4:12NLT. This, he also confirmed to the Thessalonian brethren, thus: “We didn’t sit around on our hands expecting others to take care of us. In fact, we worked our fingers to the bone, up half the night moonlight so you wouldn’t be burdened taking care of us. And it wasn’t because we didn’t have a right to your support; we did. We simply wanted to provide an example of diligence, hoping it would prove contagious. Don’t you remember the rule we had when we lived with you? “If you don’t work, you don’t eat”” (2Thessalonians 3:8-10MSG). Let me reiterate the aforementioned fact: in the early Church, which is a product of the New Covenant, work wasn’t optional but a command.

The Labour of the Righteous – The Place of Favour

There is the tendency to just get carried away as believers with the extreme faith mantra where we tend to believe God for everything and ‘claim’ everything by ‘faith’ without a consideration for due diligence. Without denying the place of favour, God still commands us to labour. Even nurturing our faith and going to heaven requires labour as we are charged by God’s word to labour to enter into eternal rest (Hebrews 4:11). In genuine and diligent labour is our favour. Favour does not operate independent of labour. It is in the works of our hands that God bestows His favour. Being people of faith shouldn’t provide any ground for laziness and irresponsibility. It is God’s favour that distinguishes the labour of the righteous from that of the unrighteous. The Psalmist confirms this: “For you, O LORD, will bless the righteous; with favour You will surround him as with a shield” (Psalm 5:12). The Bible from the Old to the New Testament is loaded with promises of God’s blessings and favour upon His people, but it is only in answer to our obedience to work. One of such scriptures is in Deuteronomy 28:8,12: “The LORD will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to do and will bless you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you. The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of His bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none” (Emphasis added). Even though they were still receiving manna as at the time of this promise, God was preparing their minds for the era of work, knowing that the manna was a temporary arrangement which was suitable for the wilderness only. The idle life of just sitting and claiming promises without working is like living in a fool’s paradise.

It is God’s favour that distinguishes the labour of the righteous from that of the unrighteous

Finally, in labouring diligently, we enjoy God’s favour —he blesses our labour with wealth (Proverbs 10:4). Secondly, we enjoy increase in the works of our hands (Proverbs 13:11). Thirdly, God gives us rest while in labour (Psalm 127:1-2; Ecclesiastes 5:12). Fourthly, God promised us that we shall long enjoy the works of our hands and eat the fruit of our labour; our labour shall not be in vain (Isaiah 65:21-23). May your labour for the Kingdom and in life never be in vain. Stay blessed!