The Christian's Workmanship in Christ Jesus

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Although salvation is not by works but salvation ALWAYS results to works.  So what should be the Christian attitude towards work?  One can be working and not be a Christian but can cannot be a Christian and not resulting to works.  First what is work?  Work is any task that needs to be done.  In the Bible, work is being emphasized.  The Christian is created unto good works by God's grace and not their own but His own as a result of salvation (Ephesians 2:10, Titus 2:11-15).  Since they are under God's grace and not by the condemnation of the Law, therefore it is expected that a Christian works because it's a new desire and not only because it is mandatory.

So the Bible really says these verses about the lazy and the diligent.  Here are some verses to observe:

  • Proverbs 10:4- "He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich."
  • Proverbs 12:27- "The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting but the substance of the diligent man is precious."
  • Proverbs 13:4- "The sluggard desirth and hath nothing but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat."
  • Proverbs 20:4- "The sluggard will not plow by the reason of the cold therefore he shall beg in harvest and have nothing."

So what is really the whole deal with this?  God having His justice still requires reward and punishment system among Christians.  Although salvation cannot be forfeited by stumbling in the faith, however rewards can be forfeited.  Christians will work as a result of salvation but some do their work inconsistently.  James 4:17 says, "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin."  

God's purpose of work for the Christians can be seen in Philippians 2:12-13 saying, "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure."  That is through requiring Christians to work in order to gain their rewards, He works through them and by working through them, they work out their salvation in showing their Christianity to people who are misguided by the sinister world system.

And now to go towards how Christians should do their work:

Ephesians 6: 5-8 says, "Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free."

One note is that the word servant here is "doulos" or "slave" which qualifies to when a person voluntary gives himself to be owned by a master, to which the master in return must also treat this servant well.  That is, Christians should be serving their superiors out of love, not out of earning credits for one's personal glory but for the glory of God.  It's always to God be the glory, never to man.  That is, Christians are to do their work for the glory of God.  However if should their superior tell them to do anything NOT in God's Law, then they have to politely refuse and not disrespect their authorities like how Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did before Nebuchadnezzar.