Biblical Answer

Did God Intend for Us to Work?

The Bible presents a complex and multifaceted view of work and God's intentions for our lives. On one hand, God has made provision for us to do good works, which He prepared in advance for us to do (Eph. 2:8-10). This suggests that God has a purpose for our lives and that He intends for us to be involved in various activities and tasks. Furthermore, Scripture teaches that we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works (Eph. 2:10). This implies that our work is not just a human endeavor, but rather it is something that God has ordained and is involved in.

On the other hand, the Bible also teaches that our salvation is not based on our works, but rather on God's sovereign work in our lives (Eph. 2:8-9). This means that our relationship with God is not based on what we do, but rather on what God has done for us through Jesus Christ. In this sense, our work is not a means of earning God's favor, but rather it is a response to His love and grace. This is seen in the example of Job, who submitted to God's sovereignty without questioning His reasons for allowing suffering in his life. Job's story teaches us that our relationship with God is on a friend-to-friend basis, rather than an employee-to-employer relationship.

In conclusion, while the Bible teaches that God has a purpose for our lives and intends for us to do good works, it also emphasizes that our salvation is not based on our works, but rather on God's sovereign work in our lives. This means that our work is not a means of earning God's favor, but rather it is a response to His love and grace. Ultimately, our relationship with God is one of love and submission, rather than one of duty and obligation. As we seek to understand God's intentions for our lives, we must remember that our work is a gift from God, and that He is the one who enables us to persevere in faithfulness and obedience to the end.