Definition and Context:
Employment, in the biblical context, refers to the act of working or being engaged in labor for the purpose of earning a livelihood. It encompasses various forms of work, including agriculture, craftsmanship, trade, and service. The Bible presents work as an integral part of human life, ordained by God from the beginning of creation.

Biblical Foundations:
The concept of work is introduced in the early chapters of Genesis. God Himself is depicted as a worker, creating the heavens and the earth in six days and resting on the seventh (Genesis 2:2-3). Humanity is created in the image of God and given the mandate to work: "The LORD God took the man and placed him in the Garden of Eden to work it and keep it" (Genesis 2:15). This establishes work as a divine ordinance, intended for the stewardship of creation.

Work as a Blessing and Responsibility:
The Bible portrays work as both a blessing and a responsibility. In Ecclesiastes 3:13, it is written, "And also that every man should eat and drink and find satisfaction in all his labor—this is the gift of God" . Work provides the means to meet one's needs and contribute to the well-being of others. The Apostle Paul emphasizes the importance of work in 2 Thessalonians 3:10: "For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat" .

Diligence and Integrity:
Scripture encourages diligence and integrity in employment. Proverbs 12:24 states, "The hand of the diligent will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor" . Believers are called to work "heartily, as for the Lord and not for men" (Colossians 3:23), reflecting a commitment to excellence and honesty. The Bible warns against slothfulness, as seen in Proverbs 18:9: "Whoever is slothful in his work is a brother to him who destroys" .

Fair Treatment and Justice:
The Bible advocates for fair treatment and justice in employment. Employers are instructed to treat their workers justly and fairly, as seen in Colossians 4:1: "Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven" . The Old Testament law includes provisions for the protection of workers, such as timely payment of wages (Leviticus 19:13).

Rest and Sabbath:
While work is a divine mandate, the Bible also emphasizes the importance of rest. The Sabbath commandment, found in Exodus 20:8-10, instructs believers to rest on the seventh day, reflecting God's rest after creation. This principle underscores the need for balance between labor and rest, recognizing human limitations and the provision of God.

New Testament Perspectives:
In the New Testament, work is seen as a means of serving others and glorifying God. Ephesians 4:28 encourages believers to work so that they "may have something to share with one in need" . The early Christian community is depicted as sharing resources and supporting one another, highlighting the communal aspect of employment and provision (Acts 2:44-45).

Eschatological Hope:
While work is a present reality, the Bible points to an eschatological hope where labor is transformed. Revelation 22:3 speaks of a time when "there will no longer be any curse," suggesting a restoration of work to its original, untainted purpose in the new creation. This hope encourages believers to view their current employment in light of God's ultimate redemption plan.Colossians 3:23
And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men;
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Romans 13:1
Let every soul be subject to the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
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Colossians 3:22
Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God;
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1 Timothy 6:10
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
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Luke 10:7
And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.
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Genesis 3:19
In the sweat of your face shall you eat bread, till you return to the ground; for out of it were you taken: for dust you are, and to dust shall you return.
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1. (n.) The act of employing or using; also, the state of being employed.

2. (n.) That which engages or occupies; that which consumes time or attention; office or post of business; service; as, agricultural employments; mechanical employments; public employments; in the employment of government.

2041. ergon -- work
... Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: ergon Phonetic Spelling: (er'-gon) Short
Definition: work, labor, action, deed Definition: work, task, employment; a deed ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2041.htm - 7k

5540. chresis -- use (as in a sexual sense)
... use. From chraomai; employment, ie (specially), sexual intercourse (as an occupation
of the body) -- use. see GREEK chraomai. (chresin) -- 2 Occurrences. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5540.htm - 6k

5532. chreia -- need, business
... From the base of chraomai or chre; employment, ie An affair; also (by implication)
occasion, demand, requirement or destitution -- business, lack, necessary ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5532.htm - 6k

4981. schole -- leisure, hence disputation (that for which leisure ...
... of echo; properly, loitering (as a withholding of oneself from work) or leisure,
ie (by implication) a "school" (as vacation from physical employment) -- school ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4981.htm - 6k

8548. tamid -- continuity
... 3), regular sacrifice (5), regularly (5). always, continual employment daily,
nevermore, perpetual. From an unused root meaning to ...
/hebrew/8548.htm - 6k

4399. melakah -- occupation, work
... From the same as mal'ak; properly, deputyship, ie Ministry; generally, employment
(never servile) or work (abstractly or concretely); also property (as the ...
/hebrew/4399.htm - 6k

6045. inyan -- occupation, task
... business, travail. From anah; ado, ie (generally) employment or (specifically) an
affair -- business, travail. see HEBREW anah. 6044, 6045. inyan. 6046 . ...
/hebrew/6045.htm - 6k

2912. tachan -- to grind
... grinder. A primitive root; to grind meal; hence, to be a concubine (that being their
employment) -- grind(-er). 2911b, 2912. tachan. 2913 . Strong's Numbers
/hebrew/2912.htm - 6k

On the Trinity. Book i. When I was Seeking an Employment Adequate ...
... On the Trinity. Book I. When I was seeking an employment adequate to the
powers of human life and righteous? 1. When I was seeking ...
/.../hilary/the life and writings of st hilary of poitiers/on the trinity book i.htm

"But Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness," &C.
... Christian. What is the employment of all men out of Christ? ... world. On the other
hand, what should be the exercise and employment of a Christian? ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xv but seek ye.htm

Of the Obligation of the English Benedictines to the Mission...
... The sublime perfection of that employment. Sec. Sec. ... 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. Great
danger of seeking that employment, and false pretences to obtain it, &c. Sec. ...
/.../chapter x of the obligation.htm

Taking it for Granted.
... He had a man in his employment who possessed all the ability necessary to write
the article, and upon whom, for certain reasons, he soon fixed the origin of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arthur/words for the wise/taking it for granted.htm

Upon Our Lord's SermonOn the Mount
... And without question the same purity of intention "which makes our alms and devotions
acceptable must also make our labour or employment a proper offering to ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 28 upon our lords.htm

How Internal Exercises are to be Practised in Times Improper and ...
... the superior's mistaken opinion concerning his sufficiency; yea, he may represent
unto him his just grounds of fear lest such an employment should prove ...
/.../chapter iv how internal exercises.htm

The Sedition of Corah and of the Multitude against Moses, and ...
... than I have with him; for surely it would not be a wise thing for me to expose myself
to the dangers of offending, and to bestow the happy employment on this ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 2 the sedition of.htm

St. Benedict
... is gluttony in the Greeks, but in the Gauls it is nature." Again, the Egyptians
and the Syrians, in their hot climate, did not need active employment in the ...
/.../chapter xxix st benedict.htm

Of Certain Sorts of Mortification which are More General. ...
... affection to our cell, at all times when conventual duties do not require the contrary;
and there admitting no conversation but God's, or no employment but for ...
/.../chapter vi of certain sorts.htm

The Last Smile of the Muse
... Another young man, Trygetius, begged for the same favour. Augustin therefore
did not intend to give up his employment altogether. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bertrand/saint augustin/i the last smile of.htm

Employment (5 Occurrences)
... or attention; office or post of business; service; as, agricultural employments;
mechanical employments; public employments; in the employment of government. ...
/e/employment.htm - 8k

Use (620 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The act of employing anything, or of applying it to one's service; the state
of being so employed or applied; application; employment; conversion to ...
/u/use.htm - 8k

Business (147 Occurrences)
... the time, attention, or labor of any one, as his principal concern or interest,
whether for a longer or shorter time; constant employment; regular occupation ...
/b/business.htm - 42k

Qualify (2 Occurrences)
... or character; to furnish with the knowledge, skill, or other accomplishment necessary
for a purpose; to make capable, as of an employment or privilege; to ...
/q/qualify.htm - 8k

Trade (33 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A track; a trail; a way; a path; also, passage;
travel; resort. 2. (v.) Course; custom; practice; occupation; employment. ...
/t/trade.htm - 40k

Exercise (35 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The act of exercising; a setting in action or practicing; employment in
the proper mode of activity; exertion; application; use; habitual activity ...
/e/exercise.htm - 22k

Employ (6 Occurrences)
... 4. (vt) To have or keep at work; to give employment or occupation to; to entrust
with some duty or behest; as, to employ a hundred workmen; to employ an envoy. ...
/e/employ.htm - 9k

Discharge (30 Occurrences)
... to acquit; to clear. 4. (vt) To relieve of an office or employment; to send
away from service; to dismiss. 5. (vt) To release legally ...
/d/discharge.htm - 18k

Calling (145 Occurrences)
... 6. (n.) One's usual occupation, or employment; vocation; business; trade.
7. (n.) The persons, collectively, engaged in any particular ...
/c/calling.htm - 38k

Call
... 2. (vt) To summon to the discharge of a particular duty; to designate for an office,
or employment, especially of a religious character; -- often used of a ...
/c/call.htm - 11k

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