Unfortunately, the concept of a work ethic has been hijacked by the profit motive. Too many vocational decisions are made based on how much money can be earned.

The Christian couple who is committed to the work ethic revealed in scripture understands that they are working not only for the benefit of their marriage and family but also for God. Paul said, “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward and that the Master you are serving is Christ” (Colossians 3:23-24).

There are couples who hear the call of God to invest their lives in Christian ministry. This calling may lead them to work within the church of other Christian organizations.

Almost all these people make the conscious choice to live on less money in order to invest their energies in vocational Christian service. The choice to trust God rather than money as the source of life’s meaning will have huge implications for their marriages.

Take time to reflect:

What work ethic did you see modeled in your home when you were growing up?

How have those models influenced your own work ethic?

Do you feel a sense of fulfillment in your vocation right now? What, if anything, needs to change?

Consider these passages for further study on work:

Genesis 2:15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.

Exodus 35:35 He has filled them with the skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers.

Proverbs 12:14 From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things,
    and the work of their hands brings them a reward.

Exodus 36:8-38

All those who were skilled among the workers made the tabernacle with ten curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, with cherubim woven into them by expert hands. ⁹ All the curtains were the same size—twenty-eight cubits long and four cubits wide.^[a] 10 They joined five of the curtains together and did the same with the other five. ¹¹ Then they made loops of blue material along the edge of the end curtain in one set, and the same was done with the end curtain in the other set. ¹² They also made fifty loops on one curtain and fifty loops on the end curtain of the other set, with the loops opposite each other. ¹³ Then they made fifty gold clasps and used them to fasten the two sets of curtains together so that the tabernacle was a unit.

¹⁴ They made curtains of goat hair for the tent over the tabernacle—eleven altogether. ¹⁵ All eleven curtains were the same size—thirty cubits long and four cubits wide.^[b] 16 They joined five of the curtains into one set and the other six into another set. ¹⁷ Then they made fifty loops along the edge of the end curtain in one set and also along the edge of the end curtain in the other set. ¹⁸ They made fifty bronze clasps to fasten the tent together as a unit. ¹⁹ Then they made for the tent a covering of ram skins dyed red and over that a covering of the other durable leather.^[c]

²⁰ They made upright frames of acacia wood for the tabernacle. ²¹ Each frame was ten cubits long and a cubit and a half wide,^[d] 22 with two projections set parallel to each other. They made all the frames of the tabernacle in this way. ²³ They made twenty frames for the south side of the tabernacle ²⁴ and made forty silver bases to go under them—two bases for each frame, one under each projection. ²⁵ For the other side, the north side of the tabernacle, they made twenty frames ²⁶ and forty silver bases—two under each frame. ²⁷ They made six frames for the far end, that is, the west end of the tabernacle, ²⁸ and two frames were made for the corners of the tabernacle at the far end. ²⁹ At these two corners the frames were double from the bottom all the way to the top and fitted into a single ring; both were made alike. ³⁰ So there were eight frames and sixteen silver bases—two under each frame.

³¹ They also made crossbars of acacia wood: five for the frames on one side of the tabernacle, ³² five for those on the other side, and five for the frames on the west, at the far end of the tabernacle. ³³ They made the center crossbar so that it extended from end to end at the middle of the frames. ³⁴ They overlaid the frames with gold and made gold rings to hold the crossbars. They also overlaid the crossbars with gold.

³⁵ They made the curtain of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen, with cherubim woven into it by a skilled worker. ³⁶ They made four posts of acacia wood for it and overlaid them with gold. They made gold hooks for them and cast their four silver bases. ³⁷ For the entrance to the tent they made a curtain of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen—the work of an embroiderer; ³⁸ and they made five posts with hooks for them. They overlaid the tops of the posts and their bands with gold and made their five bases of bronze.

These are great thoughts of Gary Chapman. When I reflect on my work ethic, I am reminded of how much I am like my dad. We generally have a one-track mind when we are focused on something and don’t stop till it’s accomplished. He is probably why I have 2 successful businesses running simultaneously. Always be learning how to let God use you for the talents you have.