We don’t speak of it in polite conversation. We don’t think of it as a spiritual topic. No seeker climbs to the top of a mountain in the Himalayas to ask a Guru about it. Wall calendars with photos of sunsets and rainbows will never feature a poetic line on this theme. Yet, Jesus spoke a great deal about this most pedestrian of subjects. What is it? Money.
According to one source, sixteen of the 38 parables concern how to handle money and possessions, one out of every ten verses in the four Gospels deals directly with money (288 verses in all), and the Bible contains a total of over 2,000 verses on money and possessions[1].
Does money matter to your life? Yes. Is money and the pursuit of money important? Absolutely! Money, riches, profit—call it what you will—the seemingly “distasteful” pursuit of “vain” profits makes the world go ‘round. Everyone needs money. Everyone needs to be able to provide for their families, to purchase food, shelter, transportation, education, and more. To be frank, the “shameless” pursuit of profit occupies the attention of nearly every person on earth.
Incidentally, I place the words “distasteful,” “vain,” and “shameless” in quotation marks because there is actually nothing distasteful, vain, or shameless, about working to provide for your family and children.
Those who created the impression that it is in poor taste to talk about work were those who did not work—wealthy lords and ladies who once lived largely on a combination of inherited wealth and wealth generated by the labor of others.
We must think differently. The truth is, our work is a gift from God. We must work. The Bible says “If any man will not work, neither let him eat” 2 Thessalonians 3:10.
Moreover, God put us on earth to work.
But wait, you ask, wasn’t Adam cursed to work the soil in Genesis 3:17-19? Wasn’t his work a punishment?
No. Adam had a job BEFORE he sinned[2]. His work may have changed. But his work remained his purpose. Your work is your purpose.
If work is our purpose what does the Bible really have to say about it? Much more than I can summarize now. But here are a few key points:
The Bible says to trust God. A farmer plants and harvests, but he must depend on God to send the rain.
The Bible says to return a tithe to the Lord; both the Old and New Testament speak about tithing and giving to God’s work.
The Bible says to honor God by working hard: “whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” Ecclesiastes 9:10.
And the Bible says that God will bless our efforts and make our work successful.
Finally, consider this passage from the King James translation:
“I am the Lord thy God, which teacheth thee to profit” Isaiah 48:17.
We need profit. Profit means more jobs. Profit means more money. Profit means more people can be hired. A profit is a signal that a business is meeting a need. A profit is an indication that your efforts are producing something people value.
I learned a great analogy from an economics professor at Hillsdale College: a man might employ tremendous resources, people, and machinery to manufacture mud pies. But he earns no profits, only losses. Those losses indicate his business is not meeting a need. Then at very little expense, he might reconfigure his business and begin manufacturing bricks. Suddenly he reaps a great profit. Why? Because he is now producing something society needs. Profit is a signal that your efforts are making a difference in the lives of others. Profit is confirmation that the work you do matters–because people choose to pay for it. Profit points to purpose.
I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit.
Amen! What a great bit of scripture.
Dear God, guide us toward work that will bless our communities and meet needs, while also providing for our families and for your kingdom. Make us good stewards of the gifts, talents, and energy you give us.
AΩ
[1] https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/1996/december/410.html
[2] Incidentally, Adam’s job before the fall, to name and categorize all the animals, seems to have basically been the job of a naturalist, a job discussed at some length yesterday: https://dadsdailydevotionals.com/2025/04/09/observing-the-idol-worshipper-in-his-native-habitat-isaiah-4412-20/
Household Words: 