Work is not a Curse

  Contrary to popular opinion work is not a four letter word nor is it a curse. Work is something that is blessed by God and sanctioned by Him. Work is something God instituted even before sin entered into the world.

Genesis 2:15 – “And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.”

  Work is not man’s curse for sin because God had man doing work before the curse. Work became increasingly harder because God cursed the ground but not the work.

Genesis 3:17-19 – “And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”

  Notice that the ground was cursed and the work of man was made harder for his sake. God knew that mankind left to himself with nothing to do would do nothing but get into trouble. Work is a good thing simply based on the fact it keeps us busy.

  The Bible is so pro work that there are many passages of Scripture that talk about it and its necessity in a person’s life.

II Thessalonians 3:10 – “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.”

I Timothy 5:8 – “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”

  We actually see here that the curse of God comes when we refuse to work. Work itself is blessed by God and has a promise with it in the Scripture.

Proverbs 14:23 – “In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.”

  If you are willing to apply yourself and put your nose to the grindstone there will be profit with such an attitude. You will accomplish things in life. This is something God has promised. If you are lazy and just want to sit around all day; you will miss opportunities you never thought were possible.

  So, a work ethic is something that is healthy and wise for work is not a curse. The curse comes if we refuse to work. So work for Pete’s Sake!!