These Biblical Readings about Work are compiled as part of "Work in Worship," a collection of material for work-themed services compiled by David Welbourn. For more prayers, songs, readings and sermons, click on the table of contents to the right.

Bible Readings about Work

OLD TESTAMENT

GENESIS 1: 1-end
Creation, the world and its resources are ordered according to God's will.

GENESIS 1:1-10
God transforms chaos into creation.

GENESIS 1:26-28, 2:15
Human beings appointed managers and stewards of creation.

GENESIS 4:3-9
Human beings spoil creation through greed and jealousy.

EXODUS 1:8-14
Work that is experienced as oppressive runs counter to God's will.

EXODUS 18:13-23
The delegation of power is the right use of authority.

EXODUS 31:1-11
Craft skills are the gift of God's Spirit; all work is to be to the glory of God.

EXODUS 35:30-36:1
Human beings are fellow workers with God.

DEUTERONOMY 8:7-21
Spiritual dangers threaten a nation in times of material prosperity.

DEUTERONOMY 26:1-11
Thanks is due to God for all the good things he has given.

1 CHRONICLES 29:1-13
All good things come from God, so natural resources and wealth are to be used to glorify God.

2 CHRONICLES 5:1,13,14
Solomon builds God's temple; all work should be to the glory of God.

NEHEMIAH 4
To build and create is hard; there are always critics and detractors.

JOB 28:3-6, 9-15,20,23-28
The wise use of resources and technology.

PROVERBS 3:1-6
God is to be trusted in all things; self-interest and self-importance have no place in his kingdom.

ISAIAH 5:1-7
The requirement of justice in God's vineyard

ISAIAH 44:6-23
The prophets tell how human beings in their pride make perverted use of God's creation and of their own talents.

ISAIAH 45:1-13
God uses secular agents in his purpose.

ISAIAH 55:1-13
God himself is the real satisfier of human need.

ISAIAH 58:7-10
Work is to be of benefit to the poor and disadvantaged.

JEREMIAH 29:4-7
The prophet instructs God's people to play their full part in the life of the world.

EZEKIEL 37:1-14
The Spirit of God breathes new life into things that are dead.

AMOS 5:6-15
The importance of justice and fairness in society.

AMOS 5:14-24
True religion stresses justice for all.

MICAH 4:1-7
Life is hallowed in the sight of God, and work in all its forms is part of his purpose.

MICAH 6:6-8
God has shown what is good; he requires justice and love, not abundance of material things.

HABAKKUK 2:1-4,9-14
There should be justice for all; those who work only for themselves and use others are condemned by God.

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NEW TESTAMENT

MATTHEW 6:1-6
All must be done in humility.

MATTHEW 6:19-24
Jesus shows the right attitude to earthly things; God's priorities are different from our own.

MATTHEW 6:24-34
Jesus' attitude to wealth and possessions.

MATTHEW 7:1-12
All people are equal before God; petty jealousies are destructive for each has his or her part to play.

MATTHEW 18:21-35
The importance of forgiveness. No party has a monpoly of goodness; in any dispute each party has wronged the other.

MATTHEW 20:1-16
Entry to God's kingdom is through grace; it is not earned.

MATTHEW 25:14-30
Our obligation to use and develop our talents.

MATTHEW 25:31-45
The strong should support the weak.

LUKE 4:14-21
Jesus cares for and loves those whom we would rather not love.

LUKE 10:25-28
Love is the most important priority in living.

LUKE 12:13-24
The poverty of wealth. If business is no more than making money, means are substituted for ends.

LUKE 15: 11-end
The prodigal is accepted because he is his father's son; he does not have to earn his acceptance.

JOHN 1:1-14
God's involvement with his creation is plain to see; the gospel expresses his love and concern for the world.

JOHN 6:1-15
God can increase the yield on what we offer to him.

JOHN 6:25-35
Getting earthly things into perspective.

JOHN 13:3-17
Those in authority are called to serve.

JOHN 14:15-27
The promise of the Holy Spirit is the promise of new life.

JOHN 21:1-14
The divine presence in the commonplace.

ACTS 1:15-26
Important decisions require prayer.

ACTS 20:32-35
Doing a good job requires a group to work together.

ROMANS 8:1-8
The right priorities in life; material things are never an end in themselves.

ROMANS 8:14-17, 38-39
Through God's love men and women are freed from fear.

ROMANS 8:16-23
The role of Christians in God's transformation of chaos into final creation.

ROMANS 12:1-13
The gifts of all are needs in building up the whole.

ROMANS 13:1-10
Obedience is owed to those in legitimate authority.

1 CORINTHIANS 3:3-9 or 3:5-17
We are fellow workers with God and one another.

1 CORINTHIANS 12:4-11
All forms of work are inspired by God and so all are important.

1 CORINTHIANS 12:12-27
All have their part to play; co-operation in all forms of work brings out the best in each.

1 CORINTHIANS 15:49-58
Our work is to be transformed and taken up into the life of heaven.

2 CORINTHIANS 8:1-14
Those without wealth show the wealthy riches in non-material things.

2 CORINTHIANS 9:6-end
To work ungrudgingly is a way of thanking God for his generosity to us.

EPHESIANS 4:17-32
The whole of life is to be lived in the new way of Christ.

EPHESIANS 6:5-12
The right attitude to work and relationships. Attacks should be against social evils rather than against any individual.

PHILIPPIANS 2:1-11
Jesus' example of humility shows a better way to live and work.

COLOSSIANS 1:11-20
All things come from God and are fulfilled in Jesus.

COLOSSIANS 3:1-17
We should stop being motivated by self-interest and put on God's love.

1 THESSALONIANS 5:12-28
Peace and justice are essential to the gospel. Each is to work in a spirit of co-operation not confrontation.

JAMES 4:13-5:12
Self-interest is not acceptable. Affluence and wealth carry a burden of responsibility.

1 PETER 2:4-12
Self-interest has no place in the new life to which Christ has raised us.

1 JOHN 4:7-21
Love for one another is Jesus' command. In this new way all may work in peace and equality.

REVELATION 21:9-27
The New Jerusalem the goal of God's creative purpose; human work and wealth have contributed to its abundance.

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