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The Value of Ordinary Labor in Christian Perspective

Christian theology places significant value on ordinary labor, viewing it not merely as a means of sustenance but as an activity with spiritual implications. This perspective is rooted in biblical teachings and has been articulated across various Christian traditions.

From the earliest accounts, work is presented as an integral part of human existence. God himself is depicted as a worker, creating the world in six days and resting on the seventh [5]. This divine example sets a precedent for human labor. Even after the fall, work, though now accompanied by toil, remains a fundamental aspect of life. The book of Ecclesiastes questions the ultimate profit of human labor "under the sun" [2], asking "What profit has the worker in the work which he does?" [1]. However, this questioning often serves to highlight the transient nature of earthly pursuits when disconnected from divine purpose.

The New Testament further develops the Christian understanding of labor. Jesus himself was an example of diligence [7]. The Apostle Paul, despite his apostolic calling, frequently engaged in manual labor to support himself and avoid being a burden to others [11]. He exhorted believers to "work with your own hands" so that they might "walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing" [14]. This emphasis on honest work ensures that Christians do not bring discredit upon their faith and are not dependent on others [14].

The concept of "good works" is central to Christian thought, though its relationship to salvation is a point of theological distinction. While salvation is understood as a gift of God's grace and not earned by works [12, 4], good works are seen as the fruit of faith and a necessary expression of a transformed life [3]. John Gill, one theologian, interprets "the work of God" in Romans 14:19 as referring to the "good work of grace" or the peace of the church, which is both the will and work of God [13]. Matthew Henry, a Nonconformist commentator, emphasizes that diligence in both worldly business and religious work is essential, stating that "the soul that labours labours for itself" [15]. This suggests that labor, when undertaken with diligence, benefits the individual both physically and spiritually.

The Eastern Orthodox tradition, as exemplified by John Chrysostom, also affirms the value of labor. Chrysostom addresses those who might misinterpret Christ's words, "Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life," as an abolition of working [9]. He clarifies that Christ is not advocating idleness but rather prioritizing spiritual food over earthly concerns. Chrysostom argues that God "worketh even now," and therefore, believers should be zealous for virtue, recognizing that the "labor is but for a season" while the "joy grows not old" [8]. He urges believers to "labor therefore to enter into that rest" [10], connecting earthly effort with eternal reward.

Thus, ordinary labor is valued in Christian perspective as a reflection of God's own creative activity, a means of providing for oneself and others, a demonstration of Christian integrity to the outside world, and an avenue for cultivating diligence and virtue. It is understood as a sphere where believers can glorify God and express their faith through practical service [6, 3].

Sources

  1. Ecclesiastes “Ecclesiastes 3:9 (BBE) — What profit has the worker in the work which he does?”
  2. Ecclesiastes “Ecclesiastes 1:3 (LITV) — What is the profit to a man in all his labor which he labors under the sun?”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Works, Good — Christ, an example of -- Joh 10:32; Ac 10:38. Called Good fruits. -- Jas 3:17. Fruits meet for repentance. -- Mt 3:8. Fruits of righteousness. -- Php 1:11. Works and labours of love. -- Heb 6:10. Are by Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God -- Php 1:11. They alone, who abide in Christ can perform -- Joh 15:4,5. Wrought by God in us -- Isa 26:12; Php 2:13. The Scripture designed to lead us to -- 2Ti 3:16,17; Jas 1:25. To be performed in Christ's name -- Col 3:17. Heavenly wisdom is full of -- Jas 3:17. Justification unattainable by -- Ro 3:20; Ga 2”
  4. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Works, Good — The old objection against the doctrine of salvation by grace, that it does away with the necessity of good works, and lowers the sense of their importance (Rom. 6), although it has been answered a thousand times, is still alleged by many. They say if men are not saved by works, then works are not necessary. If the most moral of men are saved in the same way as the very chief of sinners, then good works are of no moment. And more than this, if the grace of God is most clearly displayed in the salvation of the vilest of men, then the worse men are the bet”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Creation — The formation of things which had no previous existence -- Ro 4:17; Heb 11:3. Effected By God. -- Ge 1:1; 2:4,5; Pr 26:10. By Christ. -- Joh 1:3,10; Col 1:16. By the Holy Spirit. -- Job 26:13; Ps 104:30. By the command of God. -- Ps 33:9; Heb 11:3. In the beginning. -- Ge 1:1; Mt 24:21. In six normal days. -- Ex 20:11; 31:17. According to God's purpose. -- Ps 135:6. For God's pleasure. -- Pr 16:4; Re 4:11. For Christ. -- Col 1:16. By faith we believe, to be God's work -- Heb 11:3. Order of First day, making light and dividing it from darkness. -- Ge 1:3-5;”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Praise — God is worthy of -- 2Sa 22:4. Christ is worthy of -- Re 5:12. God is glorified by -- Ps 22:23; 50:23. Offered to Christ -- Joh 12:13. Acceptable through Christ -- Heb 13:15. Is due to God on account of His majesty. -- Ps 96:1,6; Isa 24:14. His glory. -- Ps 138:5; Eze 3:12. His excellency. -- Ex 15:7; Ps 148:13. His greatness. -- 1Ch 16:25; Ps 145:3. His holiness. -- Ex 15:11; Isa 6:3. His wisdom. -- Da 2:20; Jude 1:25. His power. -- Ps 21:13. His goodness. -- Ps 107:8; 118:1; 136:1; Jer 33:11. His mercy. -- 2Ch 20:21; Ps 89:1; 118:1-4; 136:1-26. His loving-k”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Diligence — Christ, an example -- Mr 1:35; Lu 2:49. Required by God in Seeking him. -- 1Ch 22:19; Heb 11:6. Obeying him. -- De 6:17; 11:13. Hearkening to him. -- Isa 55:2. Striving after perfection. -- Php 3:13,14. Cultivating Christian graces. -- 2Pe 1:5. Keeping the souls. -- De 4:9. Keeping the heart. -- Pr 4:23. Labours of love. -- Heb 6:10-12. Following every good work. -- 1Ti 5:10. Guarding against defilement. -- Heb 12:15. Seeking to be found spotless. -- 2Pe 3:14. Making our call, &c, sure. -- 2Pe 1:10. Self-examination. -- Ps 77:6. Lawful business. -- Pr 27:”
  8. CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on John & Hebrews: works, as God from His” ( Heb. iv. 10 ): not meaning here idleness, but the ceasing from labor. For God worketh even now, 127 as Christ saith, “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.” ( c. v. 17 .) Wherefore I exhort you that, laying aside all carelessness, you be zealous for virtue. For the pleasure of wickedness is short, but the pain lasting; of virtue, on the contrary, the joy grows not old, the labor is but for a season. Virtue even before the crowns are distributed animates 976 976 or, “releases.” her workman, and feeds him with hopes; vice e”
  9. CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on John & Hebrews: at rebukes, but addeth instruction also, saying, “Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life.” “Which the Son of Man giveth 1243 1243 “shall give,” N.T. unto you; for Him hath God the Father sealed.” 156 What He saith, is of this kind: “Make ye no account of this earthly, but of that spiritual food.” But since some of those who desire to live in doing nothing have abused this speech, as though Christ would entirely abolish working, it is seasonable to say somewhat to them. For they slander, so to s”
  10. CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on John & Hebrews: 398 Homily VII. Hebrews iv. 11–13 “Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. For the word of God is quick [i.e. living] and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart, neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight, but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” [1.] Faith is indeed great”
  11. 2 Thessalonians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 2 Thessalonians 3:8: Neither did we eat any man's bread for naught - We paid for what we bought, and worked with our hands that we might have money to buy what was necessary. Labour and travail night and day - We were incessantly employed, either in preaching the Gospel, visiting from house to house, or working at our calling. As it is very evident that the Church at Thessalonica was very pious, and most affectionately attached to the apostle, they must have been very poor, seeing he was obliged to work hard to gain himself the necessaries of life. Had they been able to support ”
  12. Romans (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through--"in" Jesus Christ our Lord--This concluding verse--as pointed as it is brief--contains the marrow, the most fine gold, of the Gospel. As the laborer is worthy of his hire, and feels it to be his due--his own of right--so is death the due of sin, the wages the sinner has well wrought for, his own. But "eternal life" is in no sense or degree the wages of our righteousness; we do nothing whatever to earn or become entitled to it, and never can: it is therefore, in the most absol”
  13. Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 14:19: For meat destroy not the work of God,.... The Syriac reads it, "the works of God"; referring either to righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost, of which the kingdom of God consists; or to the weak brother, who both as a creature, and as a new creature, is the workmanship of God; and to the good work of grace, the work of faith upon his soul, which is the work of God; or rather to his peace, and the peace of the church of Christ, which is both the will and work of God; peace is what he calls his people to, and what he himself is the author of; and may be destr”
  14. 1 Thessalonians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Thessalonians 4:12: honestly--in the Old English sense, "becomingly," as becomes your Christian profession; not bringing discredit on it in the eyes of the outer world, as if Christianity led to sloth and poverty (Rom 13:13; Pe1 2:12). them . . . without--outside the Christian Church (Mar 4:11). have lack of nothing--not have to beg from others for the supply of your wants (compare Eph 4:28). So far from needing to beg from others, we ought to work and get the means of supplying the need of others. Freedom from pecuniary embarrassment is to be desired by the ”
  15. Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 16:26: This is designed to engage us to diligence, and quicken us, what our hand finds to do, to do it with all our might, both in our worldly business and in the work of religion; for in the original it is, The soul that labours labours for itself. It is heart-work which is here intended, the labour of the soul, which is here recommended to us, 1. As that which will be absolutely needful. Our mouth is continually craving it of us; the necessities both of soul and body are pressing, and require constant relief, so that we must either work or starve. Both call for dail”
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