GOD commands us to WORK?

Work

 

Colossians 3:23 ESV / 735 helpful votes

 

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

Proverbs 16:3 ESV / 509 helpful votes

 

Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.

Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 ESV / 421 helpful votes

 

I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man.

Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 ESV / 414 helpful votes

 

Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.

1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV / 361 helpful votes

 

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Genesis 2:15 ESV / 348 helpful votes

 

The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.

Proverbs 18:9 ESV / 345 helpful votes

 

Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys.

Ephesians 4:28 ESV / 285 helpful votes

 

Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.

2 Thessalonians 3:10 ESV / 253 helpful votes

 

For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.

Colossians 3:22-24 ESV / 235 helpful votes

 

Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Proverbs 14:23 ESV / 195 helpful votes

 

In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.

Luke 1:37 ESV / 153 helpful votes

 

For nothing will be impossible with God.”

John 6:27 ESV / 128 helpful votes

 

Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”

1 Corinthians 15:10 ESV / 123 helpful votes

 

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

1 Thessalonians 4:11 ESV / 120 helpful votes

 

And to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you,

Psalm 90:17 ESV / 117 helpful votes

 

Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!

Proverbs 21:5 ESV / 114 helpful votes

 

The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 ESV / 111 helpful votes

 

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.

1 Corinthians 16:14 ESV / 108 helpful votes

 

Let all that you do be done in love.

Galatians 6:4-5 ESV / 100 helpful votes

 

But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.

Proverbs 12:11 ESV / 94 helpful votes

 

Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.

Colossians 3:17 ESV / 93 helpful votes

 

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

Matthew 11:28 ESV / 93 helpful votes

 

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Colossians 3:23-25 ESV / 86 helpful votes

 

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.

1 Timothy 5:8 ESV / 83 helpful votes

 

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Proverbs 13:4 ESV / 79 helpful votes

 

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.

Proverbs 13:11 ESV / 78 helpful votes

 

Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.

Proverbs 22:7 ESV / 76 helpful votes

 

The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.

Proverbs 12:24 ESV / 76 helpful votes

 

The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor.

Proverbs 24:27 ESV / 74 helpful votes

 

Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house.

Proverbs 24:30-34 ESV / 72 helpful votes

 

I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction. A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.

1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV / 69 helpful votes

 

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Proverbs 10:4 ESV / 65 helpful votes

 

A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.

Proverbs 13:22 ESV / 60 helpful votes

 

A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous.

James 2:26 ESV / 56 helpful votes

 

For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

Acts 20:35 ESV / 51 helpful votes

 

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Colossians 3:23-24 ESV / 49 helpful votes

 

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Ecclesiastes 3:13 ESV / 49 helpful votes

 

Also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man.

James 2:18 ESV / 48 helpful votes

 

But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

Proverbs 22:29 ESV / 48 helpful votes

 

Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 ESV / 45 helpful votes

 

And to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.

John 5:17 ESV / 45 helpful votes

 

But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”

Luke 14:28 ESV / 42 helpful votes

 

For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?

Psalm 128:2 ESV / 42 helpful votes

 

You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.

Philippians 4:13 ESV / 41 helpful votes

 

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Ecclesiastes 3:22 ESV / 41 helpful votes

 

So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot. Who can bring him to see what will be after him?

Luke 10:7 ESV / 38 helpful votes

 

And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house.

Matthew 5:16 ESV / 36 helpful votes

 

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV / 35 helpful votes

 

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 ESV / 35 helpful votes

 

For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.

Job 1:10 ESV / 35 helpful votes

 

Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.

Genesis 1:31 ESV / 33 helpful votes

 

And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

John 17:4 ESV / 32 helpful votes

 

I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.

Ecclesiastes 4:9 ESV / 31 helpful votes

 

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.

Genesis 2:3 ESV / 30 helpful votes

 

So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.

Ephesians 6:5-8 ESV / 27 helpful votes

 

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.

Deuteronomy 8:18 ESV / 27 helpful votes

 

You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

Ephesians 2:10 ESV / 26 helpful votes

 

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Ecclesiastes 2:24 ESV / 26 helpful votes

 

There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God,

Hebrews 6:10-12 ESV / 25 helpful votes

 

For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Deuteronomy 24:14 ESV / 25 helpful votes

 

“You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your brothers or one of the sojourners who are in your land within your towns.

Ephesians 6:7 ESV / 23 helpful votes

 

Rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man,

Proverbs 10:5 ESV / 23 helpful votes

 

He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame.

Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV / 23 helpful votes

 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Titus 3:1 ESV / 22 helpful votes

 

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,

Luke 16:11 ESV / 22 helpful votes

 

If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?

Proverbs 6:6-8 ESV / 22 helpful votes

 

Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.

2 Timothy 2:6 ESV / 21 helpful votes

 

It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-22 ESV / 21 helpful votes

 

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; ...

Proverbs 21:20 ESV / 21 helpful votes

 

Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.

Deuteronomy 15:10 ESV / 21 helpful votes

 

You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake.

Genesis 3:17-19 ESV / 21 helpful votes

 

And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

Ezra 10:4 ESV / 20 helpful votes

 

Arise, for it is your task, and we are with you; be strong and do it.”

1 Kings 6:1-38 ESV / 20 helpful votes

 

In the four hundred and eightieth year after the people of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, which is the second month, he began to build the house of the Lord. The house that King Solomon built for the Lord was sixty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high. The vestibule in front of the nave of the house was twenty cubits long, equal to the width of the house, and ten cubits deep in front of the house. And he made for the house windows with recessed frames. He also built a structure against the wall of the house, running around the walls of the house, both the nave and the inner sanctuary. And he made side chambers all around. ...

Deuteronomy 8:1-11:32 ESV / 20 helpful votes

 

“The whole commandment that I command you today you shall be careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land that the Lord swore to give to your fathers. And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Your clothing did not wear out on you and your foot did not swell these forty years. Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the Lord your God disciplines you. ...

Titus 2:9-12 ESV / 19 helpful votes

 

Slaves are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior. For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,

1 Thessalonians 4:12 ESV / 19 helpful votes

 

So that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.

Matthew 25:14-30 ESV / 19 helpful votes

 

“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. ...

Matthew 5:5 ESV / 19 helpful votes

 

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Ecclesiastes 2:10 ESV / 19 helpful votes

 

And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil.

Leviticus 23:22 ESV / 19 helpful votes

 

“And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, nor shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.”

Exodus 35:1-35 ESV / 19 helpful votes

 

Moses assembled all the congregation of the people of Israel and said to them, “These are the things that the Lord has commanded you to do. Six days work shall be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on it shall be put to death. You shall kindle no fire in all your dwelling places on the Sabbath day.” Moses said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, “This is the thing that the Lord has commanded. Take from among you a contribution to the Lord. Whoever is of a generous heart, let him bring the Lord's contribution: gold, silver, and bronze; ...

Genesis 25:29-34 ESV / 19 helpful votes

 

Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore his name was called Edom.) Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.” Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. ...

Genesis 3:19 ESV / 19 helpful votes

 

By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

2 Thessalonians 3:8 ESV / 18 helpful votes

 

Nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you.

2 Thessalonians 2:17 ESV / 18 helpful votes

 

Comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 ESV / 18 helpful votes

 

And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.

Colossians 4:5 ESV / 18 helpful votes

 

Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.

2 Corinthians 8:11 ESV / 18 helpful votes

 

So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have.

1 Corinthians 4:12 ESV / 18 helpful votes

 

And we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;

Matthew 20:1-16 ESV / 18 helpful votes

 

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. ...

Isaiah 1:1-31 ESV / 18 helpful votes

 

The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the Lord has spoken: “Children have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me. The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's crib, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.” Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the Lord, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged. Why will you still be struck down? Why will you continue to rebel? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. ...

Psalm 128:1-6 ESV / 18 helpful votes

 

A Song of Ascents. Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways! You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord. The Lord bless you from Zion! May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life! ...

Psalm 19:1-14 ESV / 18 helpful votes

 

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. ...

2 Kings 22:1-20 ESV / 18 helpful votes

 

Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in all the way of David his father, and he did not turn aside to the right or to the left. In the eighteenth year of King Josiah, the king sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, son of Meshullam, the secretary, to the house of the Lord, saying, “Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may count the money that has been brought into the house of the Lord, which the keepers of the threshold have collected from the people. And let it be given into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the Lord, and let them give it to the workmen who are at the house of the Lord, repairing the house ...

1 Kings 21:1-29 ESV / 18 helpful votes

 

Now Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel, beside the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. And after this Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near my house, and I will give you a better vineyard for it; or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its value in money.” But Naboth said to Ahab, “The Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And Ahab went into his house vexed and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him, for he had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay down on his bed and turned away his face and would eat no food. But Jezebel his wife came to him and said to him, “Why is your spirit so vexed that you eat no food?” ...

Deuteronomy 29:6-13 ESV / 18 helpful votes

 

You have not eaten bread, and you have not drunk wine or strong drink, that you may know that I am the Lord your God. And when you came to this place, Sihon the king of Heshbon and Og the king of Bashan came out against us to battle, but we defeated them. We took their land and gave it for an inheritance to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of the Manassites. Therefore keep the words of this covenant and do them, that you may prosper in all that you do. “You are standing today all of you before the Lord your God: the heads of your tribes, your elders, and your officers, all the men of Israel, ...

Exodus 36:1-2 ESV / 18 helpful votes

 

“Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whom the Lord has put skill and intelligence to know how to do any work in the construction of the sanctuary shall work in accordance with all that the Lord has commanded.” And Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whose mind the Lord had put skill, everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to do the work.

Exodus 20:9 ESV / 18 helpful votes

 

Six days you shall labor, and do all your work,

2 Thessalonians 3:12-14 ESV / 17 helpful votes

 

Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed.