Christianity had a major impact on developing a strong work ethic. Pre-Christian perspectives in Greco-Roman and Hebrew societies viewed labor as demeaning and only for slaves, whereas Christianity teaches that labor is honorable, a calling from God, and that laborers deserve fair wages. Key Christian figures like Martin Luther and John Calvin further developed the idea that work has dignity, property rights should be respected, and profit-seeking can be honorable. The Christian perspective is that God designed work and calls people to labor as their vocation, bringing dignity to all jobs and blessing to employers.

2. Christianity’s Impact on Work Ethic

3. Pre-Christian Perspective Christian Perspective
Greco-Roman
-Labor is demeaning -Labor is honorable
(2 Thess. 2:10; Ex. 20:9)
-Labor is only for slaves -Laborer deserves his wages (1 Cor.
9:9; Deut. 25:4)
-Free citizens do not labor -Labor is a calling (vocation)from God
John Tauler (14th
Century)
Martin Luther (16th
Century)
Hebrew
-Labor is honorable
(Ex. 20:9)
-Work ethic enjoined
Martin Luther
John Calvin (16th
Century)
Laborer deserves his wages
(Deut. 25:4)
Dignity of labor produced a middle
class
Property rights enjoined
(Ex. 20:15)
Profit motive is honorable
(Matt. 25:15-30)

4. I. The Design of Work (Gen. 2:1-3)

5. A. The Basis of God’s Work (Gen. 1:3)

6. • God designs His work as a
master artist

7. • God delights in His work with
affection.

8. • God delegates work to us by
assignment

9. B. The Blessing of Work (Eccles.
4:24)

10. C. Life’s Burden is Not Work

11. D. The Balance of All Work
(Exod. 20:9)

12. II. The Dignity of Work (2 Thess. 3:10-11)

13. A. Dignified Examples
• Jesus
• Paul
• The Early Christians
( 2 Thess. 3:10)

14. B. Dignified Edification (Prov. 10:4)

15. • The Development of a Middle
Class

16. • The Development of Paid Wages

17. Max Weber

18. III. The Display of a Christian Work Ethic
(Deut. 6:10-12)

19. IV. The Delight of Work (Col. 3:23-24)

20. “A Christian work ethic seeks to honor
God at work, to see His kingship
represented in the marketplace, it
brings dignity to every job and a
blessing to every employer.”
--Dr. Deron Cobb