19 Bible Verses about Work, As Ordained By God

So that your conduct may be seemly toward those that are without, and that you may not need help from any man.

Let him who stole steal no more, but let him work, and in honest industry toil with his hands, so that he may have something to give to the needy.

You recall, brothers, my labor and toil; how, while working at my trade day and night, so as not to become a burden to any of you, I proclaimed to you the gospel of God.

But if any one fails to provide for his own, and especially for his kindred, he has denied the faith and is worse than an infidel.

And whatever you do, whether in word of in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God our Father through him.

Because whether you are eating or whether you are drinking, you are to do it all for the glory of God.

Slaves, be obedient to those who are your earthly masters, with reverence and humility, in singleness of heart as if to Christ himself; not with eye service, as men-pleasers, but as the slaves of Christ, doing the will of God; slaving with good-will from your heart, as for the Lord and not for men;read more.
because you know that whatever good any man does, the same shall he receive from the Lord, whether he be slave or free man.

Slaves, obey in all things your earthly masters, not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of purpose, out of reverence for your Lord. And whatever you do, do it heartily as for the Lord, and not for men. You know that from the Lord you will receive reward of the inheritance, for you are the Lord Christ's slaves.

Let them want nothing, and "let our people learn to devote themselves to honest work to supply the necessities of their teachers," so that they be not unfruitful.

Also, that you endeavor to live quietly and to mind your own business, and to work with your hands (as I charged you).

For you know well how you must imitate me. For I did not lead an idle or disorderly life among you; I did not eat my food as a gift from any man, but in toil and travail, night and day, I worked, so that I might not be a burden to any of you. Not that I have no right to such support; it was simply to give you an example for you to imitate.read more.
For indeed when I was with you, I used to charge you, "If any man will not work, he shall not eat." But I hear that there are those of your number who are leading idle and disorderly lives, who are not busy, but mere busybodies. Now all such I command and entreat, by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, to work in quietness. and to earn their own living.

"Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? and his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?

Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?"

This too, is the reason why you pay taxes; because the authorities are ministers of God's service, attending continually upon this very thing.

Only whatever be the lot in life to which God has assigned each one??nd whatever the condition in which he was living when God called him??n that let him continue. Such is the rule I give in all the churches.

And whatever you do, do it heartily as for the Lord, and not for men. You know that from the Lord you will receive reward of the inheritance, for you are the Lord Christ's slaves.

"For it is like a man going into another country, who summoned his slaves, and committed his property to their care. "To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another, one??o each according to his individual ability??nd then set out on his travels. "At once the man who had received the five talents went out and traded with them, and made five talents more.read more.
"In the same way the one who got two talents made another two. "But he who had received the one talent went off, and dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master's money. "After a long time the master of those slaves came, and demanded a reckoning with them. "The man who had received the five talents came, bringing five more, and said: "'Master, five talents you entrusted to me; see, I have gained five more.' "'Well done, good and faithful slave,' replied his master; 'You have been faithful over many things. Enter into your master's joy.' "The second, who had received the two talents, came up and said: "'Master, it was two talents that you entrusted to me; see, I have gained two more.' "'Well done, good and faithful slave,' his master replied, 'You have been faithful over many things; enter into your master's joy.' "Then the man who had received the one talent came up and said: "'Master, I knew you were a hard man, reaping where you had not sown, and gathering where you had not scattered; "so I was afraid; I went away and buried your talent in the earth. There, you have what belongs to you!' "'You wicked and lazy slave,' said his master. 'You say you knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not scattered?' Then you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my property with interest. So take away the talent from him, and give it to the man who has ten talents. (For to every one who has, it shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but from him who has not shall be taken away even what he has.) But cast out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; there will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.'

So he said: "A certain nobleman went abroad to receive for himself royal power and to return. "And he summoned ten slaves of his, and gave them ten pounds, and said to them, "'Trade with these until I come.' "But this fellow citizens hated him, and sent a deputation after him to say, 'We do not wish this man to become our king.'read more.
"And upon his return after he had secured the royal power, he ordered the slaves to whom he had given the money to be called in, so that he might know what they had gained by trading. "And the first came before him, saying, 'Master, your pound has made ten pounds.' "And he said to him, 'Well done, good slave! Because you have been faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.' "And the second came and said, 'Master, your pound has made five pounds.' "Then he said to him also, 'You shall be over five cities.' "And the next came to him and said, 'Here master is your pound which I was keeping safe in a napkin. "'For I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take what you did not sow.' "He said to him, "'By your own words I will Judge you, you wicked slave. You knew, did you, that I was a hard man taking up what I did not lay down, reaping what I did not sow. "'Then why did you not put my money into the bank, so that at my coming I might I might have gotten it back with interest?' "Then to those who stood by, he said, 'Take the pounds from him and give it to him who has ten pounds.' "'Master,' they said to him, 'he already has ten pounds.' "'I tell you that to every one who has it shall be given; and from him who has not shall be taken away even what he has. "'Howbeit these enemies of mine who were not willing for me to become their King, bring them here, and slay them in my presence.'"

For indeed when I was with you, I used to charge you, "If any man will not work, he shall not eat." But I hear that there are those of your number who are leading idle and disorderly lives, who are not busy, but mere busybodies.