Topical Bible: Labor: General Scriptures Concerning

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Labor, as depicted in the Bible, is an integral aspect of human existence, ordained by God and imbued with spiritual significance. The Scriptures provide guidance on the nature, purpose, and ethics of labor, emphasizing diligence, integrity, and the divine blessing associated with honest work.

Divine Ordination of Labor

From the beginning, labor is presented as part of God's design for humanity. In Genesis 2:15, God places Adam in the Garden of Eden "to work it and take care of it," indicating that labor is a fundamental aspect of human stewardship over creation. This divine mandate underscores the dignity and purpose inherent in work.

The Fall and the Toil of Labor

The fall of man introduces toil and hardship into labor. Genesis 3:17-19 describes the curse upon the ground, resulting in laborious toil for sustenance: "By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread, until you return to the ground." This passage highlights the challenges and frustrations that accompany work in a fallen world.

Diligence and Reward

The Bible frequently extols the virtues of diligence and industriousness. Proverbs 12:11 states, "He who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies lacks judgment." Similarly, Proverbs 14:23 affirms, "There is profit in all labor, but mere talk leads only to poverty." These verses emphasize the practical benefits and moral value of hard work.

Work as Service to God

Labor is also portrayed as a form of service to God. Colossians 3:23-24 instructs believers, "Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men, because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." This perspective elevates work beyond mere economic necessity to an act of worship and devotion.

Rest and the Sabbath

While the Bible encourages diligent labor, it also prescribes rest. The Sabbath commandment in Exodus 20:9-10 instructs, "Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God." This balance between work and rest reflects God's own pattern in creation and serves as a reminder of human dependence on divine provision.

Warnings Against Idleness

Scripture warns against idleness and laziness. Proverbs 6:6-11 admonishes, "Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways and be wise... A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber." The New Testament echoes this sentiment in 2 Thessalonians 3:10, "If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat."

Ethics and Justice in Labor

The Bible advocates for fairness and justice in labor relations. James 5:4 condemns the exploitation of workers: "Look, the wages you withheld from the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you." This call for justice underscores the moral responsibility of employers and the dignity of workers.

Conclusion

The biblical perspective on labor encompasses a holistic view that integrates work with spiritual, ethical, and communal dimensions. Through diligent and honest labor, believers are called to reflect God's character, serve others, and contribute to the flourishing of creation.

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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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Exodus 20:9-11
Six days shall you labor, and do all your work:
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Exodus 23:12
Six days you shall do your work, and on the seventh day you shall rest: that your ox and your ass may rest, and the son of your handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed.
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Exodus 34:21
Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest: in ripening time and in harvest you shall rest.
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Leviticus 19:13
You shall not defraud your neighbor, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with you all night until the morning.
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Deuteronomy 24:14,15
You shall not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of your brothers, or of your strangers that are in your land within your gates:
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Deuteronomy 25:4
You shall not muzzle the ox when he treads out the corn.
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Ecclesiastes 5:12
The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.
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Jeremiah 22:13
Woe to him that builds his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; that uses his neighbor's service without wages, and gives him not for his work;
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Malachi 3:5
And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, said the LORD of hosts.
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Matthew 20:1-15
For the kingdom of heaven is like to a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard.
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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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Acts 20:35
I have showed you all things, how that so laboring you ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
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1 Corinthians 9:9
For it is written in the law of Moses, You shall not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treads out the corn. Does God take care for oxen?
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Ephesians 4:28
Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needs.
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1 Thessalonians 4:11,12
And that you study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
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2 Thessalonians 3:7-13
For yourselves know how you ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
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1 Timothy 5:18
For the scripture said, You shall not muzzle the ox that treads out the corn. And, The laborer is worthy of his reward.
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James 5:4
Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, cries: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
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Library

The Twenty-First Article they Absolutely Condemn, Because we do ...
... they pray for the Church in general, albeit no ... 28: Come unto Me, all ye that labor,
etc., which ... what example can the adversaries produce from the Scriptures? ...
/.../the apology of the augsburg confession/part 26 the twenty-first article.htm

Peculiarities of Tennessee Synod.
... The farmers and mechanics may labor hard to ... all into] agreement with the Scriptures,
but by the ... meant Planentwurf [constitution of the General Synod] organized ...
/.../bente/american lutheranism/peculiarities of tennessee synod.htm

General Principles of Interpretation. 1 Since the Bible Addresses ...
... students have with reason devoted much labor, since they ... It must suffice to indicate
the general principle by which ... No.6. Not only are the Scriptures in their ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxiv general principles of.htm

The Articles of the Reformed Episcopal Church. AD 1875.
... was amended and adopted at the Third General Council, held in ... and Art.5, of the Holy
Scriptures, are enlarged. ... my work and office to another sphere of labor.'. ...
/.../creeds of christendom with a history and critical notes/ 86 the articles of.htm

The General Conference of 1820
... Thus, after the labor of nearly ... to the task of supplying the community with the sacred
Scriptures, the society recommended to the General Conference to ...
/.../chapter 5 the general conference.htm

The Second Helvetic Confession, AD 1566.
... disease, and continued faithfully to labor for several ... comfort"that God's promises
are general to believers ... out of the Holy Scriptures concerning the mystery ...
/.../ 55 the second helvetic.htm

The General Conference of 1836
... a few thoughts to you, for whom we labor, and for ... obvious, so clearly laid down in
the sacred Scriptures, and so accurately defined in our general rules, as ...
/.../chapter 13 the general conference.htm

General Conference of 1824
... by reading a portion of the Holy Scriptures, singing, and ... "With these fields of labor
in the ... to say quite as much, yet in our present General Conference, which ...
/.../chapter 7 general conference of.htm

The First Delegated General Conference of 1812
... by reading a portion of the Holy Scriptures and prayer ... of the Methodist Magazine,
yet such was the general apathy on ... and it was not without much labor that the ...
/.../chapter 1 the first delegated.htm

From the Close of the General Conference of 1816 to the ...
... his parents to read the Holy Scriptures, the necessity ... which a more expansive field
of labor might be ... strictly within the control of the general superintendency ...
/.../chapter 4 from the close.htm