The Biblical Mandate to Work
Genesis, the first book in the Bible sets out blueprints for how the world in which we live works. Shortly after mankind is created, we learn that there is a twofold giving of purpose: to increase and rule, and to work and have enterprise.
The purpose to increase and rule
28 God blessed them [Adam and Eve] and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
Gensis 1:28
In an earlier verse (v26) there is a sense that as God rules and has dominion universally, and because we are made in His likeness, we are also to replicate this aspect of His character and rule. The only difference being that we are to recognise He is the ultimate authority and that our ruling is to be done according to His instruction and subject to Him. In the post-Eden world, issues of oppression and mismanagement arise where mankind has rebelled against bearing His image. To bear His image involves realising all Creation has been made with meaning and purpose, that we are to love and care for it.
The Lord is good to all,
And His tender mercies are over all His works.
Ps 145:9
and
A righteous man regards the life of his animal,
But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
Proverbs 12:10
The resources of the earth are to be harnessed to bring benefit to all. Nothing in Creation is to be deemed worthless. As Jesus pointed out – “Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will” (Matthew 10:29).
After the Fall of Man, God did not rescind our free will – to willingly choose how we are to live our lives. Our mandate to rule and govern, to have dominion was also not rescinded.
The purpose to work
15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.
Genesis 2:15
Note that even before the Fall of Man (the separation of God and Man), when everything was perfect, mankind was to set to work. Work (enterprise) is God’s best for us and we are commanded to do it.
In working we are also bearing His image in this World:
My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.
John 5:17
From this, the message we receive is that even Almighty God continues His creative nature through work. He is not, as per some human inventions of God, above work, or worst still, using His superiority to impose work on others.
All what we would typically regard as positive aspects of work, including wealth generation, enterprise and innovation are esteemed by God.
The Devine Enablement for Enterprise
18 “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
Deuteronomy 8:18
In the above Bible verse, we learn that God is to be our source of innovation, that he desires to provide us with innovation so that wealth is created that can in turn be used for the benefit of others (establishing His covenant of blessing and protection towards us). In helping us, we help ourselves and others through the process of meaningful work.
Dignity and Purpose in Working
In 1905, the renowned German sociologist Max Weber introduced the world to “The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism”, a work that brought widespread attention to the notion of the “Protestant work ethic.” However, a more nuanced perspective suggests considering a broader framework, such as the “Christian work ethic” or the “Biblical work ethic”. Rooted in Biblical teachings, the concept emphasizes the idea that humans are inherently designed to be creative, finding dignity in their labour, and are called to work (and rest) for the glory of God. It is however important to recognize that the origins of wealth creation are not exclusive to Protestantism but rather trace back to the broader imperative of the Creation mandate discussed above.
These mandates have also been implemented in Jewish societies. Jewish and Israeli approaches to work and enterprise share the same principles. On the whole, those in Jewish cultures consistency punch above their weight in terms of enterprise in many areas including hi-technology, agriculture, and medicine.
Nuanced Worldviews that Affect Enterprise
For those of us who have grown up in the Christian-influenced West it is all too easy to take for granted the worldview that has largely been foundational for our prosperity. To avoid this, it pays to detail some of the nuances of Christian belief and the tangible impact they have had on our economies. In short, the arrival of the Judeo-Christian worldview has given us a sense that the universe is of a cohesive design that is rational and repeatable. Furthermore, we can explore and use these designs of the Universe to our benefit. This has displaced worldviews, pagan or otherwise, that inferred superior gods had their way on Earth and that your fate was determined by them. Direct appeasement of the gods via sacrifice or similar, not recognising and understanding the constitution of the physical laws, was the practice to influence outcomes otherwise. A non-exhaustive list of the elements of the Christian worldview looks something like:
Order and Predictability
We inhabit a rational universe with inherent order. Cause and effect are repeatable. Given that we have been appointed to rule and expand, the mechanisms of how the physical world works are to be investigated and capitalised upon.
Free will to Choose and Create
We have been purposefully created to be the rightful guardians of the earth. We are free to make choices and determine the nature of our existence. We are not inhabiting a clockwork system that is pre-determined. We are not pawns in a cosmic chess game with our fates decided by something or someone else. The Biblical worldview is that time is linear wrapped up in a start and a finish. Time is not considered cyclical, which means planning for the future and making positive changes over time are worthwhile pursuits.
Created by the Creator
We have been created in the image of the Creator. We therefore are to be creators ourselves. Also, we believe the Earth’s resources have been created for our exploration and benefit. It is therefore worthwhile to expend effort in realising their potential.
Human Dignity for All
All are called to work. All can produce meaningful output.
Work as a Vocation
Work should be a vocation that harnesses our skills and interests. Where possible, work should not be merely menial labour. Work is to bring dignity. Work is a means of helping others.
Work as a Means of Provision and Blessing
God gives us power (ideas, innovation, concepts) to get wealth which in turn is to help others. In the arena of health, we believe God wants us well. Our health is not at the whim of a malevolent god. Therefore, as we seek to harness the Earth’s resources, there is a belief that God is on our side to help us uncover the science and capitalise on that. In medicine, this means He is on our side to fathom the root causes of disease and work out solutions.
Consider also that God views poverty as an enemy, something that is certainly not to be embraced. It follows then that by ingenious working we can lift ourselves, our families and our nations out of poverty by enterprise – the creation of goods and services that are of benefit to others in a free economic system.
In Conclusion
Judeo-Christian teaching underscores the profound value of work as articulated by the Biblical worldview. It emphasises that work is not merely a routine task but a purposeful activity involving creativity, innovation, and the generation of wealth and is aimed at benefiting others. The Creation Mandate in Genesis establishes humanity’s dual purpose: to increase and rule, and to work and engage in enterprise, reflecting God’s own creative nature. This mandate encourages stewardship, responsible dominion, and the ethical use of the earth’s resources. Additionally, the Biblical perspective on work champions human dignity, free will, and the pursuit of meaningful, vocation-driven labour. By embracing these principles, individuals can contribute to personal and communal well-being, economic prosperity, and the alleviation of poverty. These deeply ingrained concepts have been foundational to shaping the frameworks of Western economies and the workplace.