Work with Integrity
Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his way crooked will be found out. ESV Proverbs 10:9
This past week I’ve heard at least two sermons where physical labor was referred to as God honoring. Each time the speaker went on to say that God honoring work should be a joy rather than a burden. One speaker even said that if a young man came calling on his daughter that the question of work would be the second question he’d ask; coming in right behind questions of faith. And the wrong answer to either would eliminate the suitor!
When you think of it, God has ordained that man work. Adam tended to the Garden even before he fell into sin. So it should follow that man is capable of obedience to what God has commanded with a cheerful heart even though since the fall it has been tiresome.
Many verses come to mind when I think about work. One proverb in the King James Version says that a sluggard doesn’t plow because of the cold and as a result of his slack he “shall beg in harvest and have nothing.” In the book of Colossians we are admonished to honor our employers and to “work as unto the Lord.” As you read the letters of Paul you’ll note that he worked with his hands throughout his ministry so as not to be a burden to his hosts. And how can you ignore the industrious Proverbs 31 woman who is referred to as being “…far more precious than jewels?” So again, work is most certainly a biblically ordained part of our lives both inside and outside the home.
I sat in on a Bible study Tuesday morning where the question was raised, how do we teach these biblical principles of God honoring work to our children? As tough as that question is in our generation, I submit to you that there is one even more difficult. How do we teach our children to work with integrity?
Work is one thing. But God honoring work has to be done with integrity. God honoring work is done with honesty; honesty to clients, honesty to employers and honesty to fellow employees—God honoring work has to be done with integrity. Everyone involved gets a fair shake.
When you work with integrity, you never have to look over your shoulder. You never have to be ashamed or embarrassed by your actions, and you never have to wonder if or when your misdeed might be uncovered to your chagrin.
But watch TV for just a few minutes and you’ll be inundated with examples of crooked deeds in the workplace. Read the headlines on almost any day and you’ll have real life examples of corruption in the workplace.
Let me challenge you consciously work with integrity this week; work as unto the Lord. And don’t be shy about passing on the benefits of working with integrity to the next generation.
-Ken Askew
This past week I’ve heard at least two sermons where physical labor was referred to as God honoring. Each time the speaker went on to say that God honoring work should be a joy rather than a burden. One speaker even said that if a young man came calling on his daughter that the question of work would be the second question he’d ask; coming in right behind questions of faith. And the wrong answer to either would eliminate the suitor!
When you think of it, God has ordained that man work. Adam tended to the Garden even before he fell into sin. So it should follow that man is capable of obedience to what God has commanded with a cheerful heart even though since the fall it has been tiresome.
Many verses come to mind when I think about work. One proverb in the King James Version says that a sluggard doesn’t plow because of the cold and as a result of his slack he “shall beg in harvest and have nothing.” In the book of Colossians we are admonished to honor our employers and to “work as unto the Lord.” As you read the letters of Paul you’ll note that he worked with his hands throughout his ministry so as not to be a burden to his hosts. And how can you ignore the industrious Proverbs 31 woman who is referred to as being “…far more precious than jewels?” So again, work is most certainly a biblically ordained part of our lives both inside and outside the home.
I sat in on a Bible study Tuesday morning where the question was raised, how do we teach these biblical principles of God honoring work to our children? As tough as that question is in our generation, I submit to you that there is one even more difficult. How do we teach our children to work with integrity?
Work is one thing. But God honoring work has to be done with integrity. God honoring work is done with honesty; honesty to clients, honesty to employers and honesty to fellow employees—God honoring work has to be done with integrity. Everyone involved gets a fair shake.
When you work with integrity, you never have to look over your shoulder. You never have to be ashamed or embarrassed by your actions, and you never have to wonder if or when your misdeed might be uncovered to your chagrin.
But watch TV for just a few minutes and you’ll be inundated with examples of crooked deeds in the workplace. Read the headlines on almost any day and you’ll have real life examples of corruption in the workplace.
Let me challenge you consciously work with integrity this week; work as unto the Lord. And don’t be shy about passing on the benefits of working with integrity to the next generation.
-Ken Askew
posted by TBC at
11/12/2008 05:42:00 PM
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