Page 75 - Managing Your Resources - Student Syllabus - short combined

Study Section 12: Work Ethics

12.1 Connect

It is extremely important that we get and give a fair share to our employer or employees.
How we treat each other demonstrates how we love the Lord. The Bible says, “By this
everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love for one another.“ (John 13:35
NIV).

Work ethics is how we behave in the job market. It is how we treat others and how we
want to be treated. It also deals with our attitudes toward work. Who is our boss? We know it is
ultimately the Lord. Of course, we derive all of our ethics in the workplace from the Bible. In this
lesson, we will see what the Bible says about how we manage our work in our ministries or jobs.

12.2 Objectives

1. The student should be able to explain that work ethics are derived from God’s Word.

2. The student should be able to preview many of the verses in the Bible that may pertain to
how we should work and relate to others in our ministries or workplaces.

3. The student should be able to describe the guiding principles from Matthew 7:12 regarding how to
treat others among whom we work.

12.3 Earning Your Resources - Work Ethics

God created work for man, for our own good. Work existed before sin entered the world.
However, when Adam and Eve sinned, part of the punishment was work would be more
difficult. The Bible has several references to work. If we do not work, we are not entitled to
eat (2 Thess. 3:10). It is important to realize that God controls all things, including our jobs,
where and when we work, our pay, our promotions, our duties, and who are colleagues are.
The Bible commands us to do our work for the Lord and not for ourselves or what we gain
from it. In this way we honor God with our efforts, and He will bless us richly.

God made work for our good.

Genesis 2:15-16 The LORD God took man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of
it.

It is His will that we work daily fulfilling our assigned duties.

II Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work,
he shall not eat.”

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