What the Bible Says About Work by Myra Kahn Adams for Town Hall
Thanks for joining us this Labor Day weekend as we study what Scripture says about work. Let’s begin at the beginning with the Creation story — the first time “work” is mentioned in the Bible:
“By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done” (Genesis 2:2-3).
In the process of “creating,” God created work which had to be “very good” as was all of His creation:
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“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day” (Genesis 1:31).
Harvest work prompted the Lord to establish guidelines that could be considered social policy and wealth redistribution.
“‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you. I am the LORD your God’”(Leviticus 23:22). (No one would dare contest that statement.)
The concept of working to plant and raise crops then leaving some behind for the poor was commanded by God. In the following verse, God again instructs us to give to the poor and offers givers a generous, all-encompassing work benefit:
“‘Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to’” (Deuteronomy 15:10).
The Lord also commanded employers to establish humane work practices:
