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The Bible on unemployment
Author: Phil Wheeler
An article taken from 'The Briefing', issue 226
You might think that the Bible wouldn't have much to say about unemployment. Who loses their job in the Bible? King Saul loses his lucrative CEO position and gets replaced by new talent from the shepherding department, and silversmiths in Ephesus might have put off staff in the economic downturn after Paul's successful mission there (Acts 19), but there aren't many others.
But while there aren't any direct passages on 'unemployment', the Bible gives us broad principles about work which will help us when we don't have a job. God has a very positive view of work. God is a worker and work is important in our lives as Christians. It is part of God's good creation-we are created as workers and instructed by God to work in and rule the world around us. After the Fall, work becomes difficult and toilsome, but it remains part of what we are to do in this world. We are gifted by God and given wisdom to enable us to work and achieve dominion over our world.
However, our society's elevated view of work isn't the Bible's. Work is not the end, nor even the means to the end. Just as the exiles in Jeremiah's day were to settle down, work, have families while awaiting their restoration, so we as 'aliens and exiles' in this passing world are to be at work (Jer 23, I Peter 1). God expects us to work to provide for our families and to be generous to others (I Thes 4:11-12, 2 Thes 3:11-12, Eph 4:28).
Being unemployed can be very hard to handle, but we must see things as completely under God's sovereign rule and control. Understanding the Bible on work helps us get it in perspective and will help us understand unemployment. Here are four points:
- God is sovereign. The first thing to understand is that nothing happens without God's control. It's easy to see unemployment as a complete disaster and be totally negative about it. Being unemployed can be very hard to handle, but we must see things as completely under God's sovereign rule and control. God has not forgotten us. He still cares about us and will look after us. We need to remind ourselves of what God's word says when we face trials in life, in passages such as Job 1-2 (esp 1:20-22), Phil 4:11-13, Rom 5:1-5, 8:28-37, 2 Cor 1:3-11, I Peter 1:3-9).
- Your worth as a person is based on your relationship with God through Jesus.
Our society makes a big deal of what job we do, telling us the lie, which we are inclined to believe, that our value is in our work and what we achieve. God's word tells us work is transitory. Even the greatest achievements in this world are passing (Ecc 2:17-24). What matters is our relationship with God and obedience to his commands (Ecc 12:13-14). No matter what your job or whether you have one, you are loved by God, created in his image, redeemed by the precious blood of his Son. You are valuable and significant and worthwhile in God's sight.
- It is wrong to be idle and lazy. It is not wrong to be unemployed, but it is wrong to be unwilling to work and to take responsibility to provide for yourself and others, as Paul tells the Thessalonians (in 2 Thes 3:6-11). If you are not willing to work, you should not eat. Lazy people should not be allowed to bludge off others.
- An unemployed person has work. Even a person without paid work has plenty to do; we mustn't be idle. There are at least two 'jobs' for an unemployed person:
- Finding a job ought to be your full-time job. Unemployed people are paid a 'job search allowance', and you ought to commit a similar number of hours to it each week as you would put in as an employed person, chasing up work, going to relevant agencies, knocking on doors, writing letters, making calls. Remember, God is in control and will provide for our needs. Be patient and prayerful.
- Keep on with the job of being Christian. It is easy to become discouraged and self focused when you face suffering and hardship. You need to work hard at hearing God's word week by week, at prayer and at staying in Christian fellowship. Even after working at finding a job, you may have some hours free through the week which can be used to serve others.
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