Ephesians Devotionals
Bob Morris
The Holiness of Work (Ephesians 4:28)
Those who have been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
Ari Rocklin is a man with a passion to mobilize people to use their professional gifts and training as a platform for sharing Christ in places where full-time religious professionals (such as those who call themselves missionaries) are not welcome. An essential step toward that mission is recognizing the sanctity of work. In his seminars, Ari likes to ask, “What is the fourth commandment?” Even those who have to look it up (Exodus 20:8) first give the answer, “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy”. Ari suggests that that is only half of it. The other half is “Work for six days”.
Even in Eden, work was an essential part of a perfect world. God put Adam in the Garden of Eden “to work it and take care of it”. Work is neither a curse nor a necessary evil. It is part of what it means to be humans made in the image of God. God himself worked with artistry and creativity in bring the cosmos into existence, “while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy” (Job 38:7). And with the satisfaction of an artist who senses he has captured his subject perfectly, “he saw that it was good”.
For this reason, when Paul outlines virtues of believers, he describes work as useful, having at least two virtues: it is an alternative to stealing and produces something to share with those in need. There are many forms of stealing. Someone commenting on Enron and other corporate scandals suggested they begin with the person who takes a pencil from the office for his own use at home. Others of us borrow and don’t pay back, or accept grants for which we aren’t eligible.
Those of us on student loans must be conscientious in our studies to merit the loan; anything less constitutes theft. Last year the most common theft reported to the US Federal Trade Commission was related to internet fraud. The second most common was identity theft, primarily through credit cards. Whatever sophisticated new technological variations on theft we develop, the injunction is clear and categorical: those who have been stealing must steal no longer. Even manual labour is preferable to taking from others. Christians are to be marked by giving, not taking.
Once again, as we cross cultures and understand how people define theft, we do well to understand before judging. In communal cultures, some property is regarded as commonly held. A friend in East Africa worked hard to plant lemon trees at the front of his property. He watered and tended them faithfully and was naturally upset when he found that passersby would regularly help themselves to a lemon or two. Fortunately his bicultural African neighbour was able to point to Scripture (for example, Ruth 2) where “gleaning” was not only practiced but commanded. So it was in the East African culture. So when is it stealing?
When you bring a bucket and fill it with more lemons than you can consume walking along. Paul’s command still applies. Culturally speaking, he is saying, don’t fill your bucket, but plant and water your own lemon trees.
We know that every good and perfect gift comes from you, Father, as does our ability to generate wealth. May we your children be like you in doing an honest week’s work and share our resources with those in need.
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