Scholars who study that kind of stuff tell us a well-grounded people need a balance of three dimensions in their lives: time for worship, recreation, and work. By "work" is meant some calling or vocation in life in which they can invest themselves with assurance their lives count for something. Work is not defined here as an activity which produces the most sweat. People who work with computers may produce no perspiration, but at the end of the day, they are bushed. What hints does the Bible give about worthwhile work?

• In God's initial instruction to Adam's responsibility for the earth, He clearly imposed dominion (Gen. 1:26-28, 31; 2:15). Adam was to exercise dominion over the fish, fowl, cattle, and "every creeping thing." God authorized man to have the rule over all these forms of life. The fact that God commanded Adam to name all the creatures (v. 19) placed Adam in direct contact with the beings over which he was to rule.

Further, God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden "to dress it and to keep it" (v. 15). Work was a necessary component of Adam's obligation to God and creation. Adam's fall into sin brought sorrow, thorns, and thistles (3:17-18) into humanity, thus making work more difficult and less satisfying.

• As to our attitude toward work, the Bible sets forth the necessity of purposeful diligence (Prov. 6:6-8; 21:5). No matter how hard you work, if the project has no usefulness, all the labor is wasted. The Bible points to an ant colony to illustrate the point. Although an army of ants has no generals, other officers or enlisted ranks, they work ceaselessly to ensure the survival of their society. During the season when food is available, they gather it in and store it for use when the scarcity of winter arrives.

In application on the human level, business owners who plan carefully tend to produce a profit (21:5). The reckless person squanders all available resources and ends up deeper in debt, deprived of a means of livelihood. As we know, too many people blame others, including the government, instead of assuming responsibility for their poor decisions and lack of diligence.

• Believers in God, however, God's beloved, realize their best interests are committed to His care and therefore, rest in unquestioning trust (Psa. 127:2). They have walked with Him long enough to know that unless the Lord "builds the house," they labor in vain in constructing it. Unless He protects the city, watchmen guard it "in vain" (v. 1).

• In owner-workers relationships, the Bible instructs employees to work diligently (Col. 3:22-25). The servants owe "an honest day's work for an honest day's pay," as we say. They do their best because God, the real owner, looks over their shoulders when human supervision is lacking. Even though the employer may not pay a salary equal to the worker's hopes, God keeps His accounts on those who labor in His name.

• Nevertheless, the owner is commanded to deal with his employees in basic fairness (4:1). Political economists strive to reach a balance between higher taxes to care for the poor versus lower taxes to allow business to create more jobs. Christians remember they work under the divine mandate of God's will for a just society. To whom much is given, much is required, but employee families also have financial, social, and spiritual needs. Owners, then, should be stewards of what God has given them.