I know most of the city folk reading this are wondering if I’ve misplaced my meds when I say, “cows do not give milk.”
But the farmers and ranchers out there are nodding their collective heads in agreement. “Cows do not give milk.”
I learned this interesting fact about life when I was 7 or 8. That’s when I was finally old enough and big enough to help grandpa with the cows on the farm. The fact that cows do not give milk was an essential lesson for me to learn—important enough to pass on to you today.
Cows Do Not Give Milk
You see, if you’re on the farm, the process of procuring milk starts in the wee hours of the morning when the dew is still on the ground and the sun is making its first appearance. So, you begin the day by throwing out fresh hay for the cattle and ensuring the water trough is full.
Next, the cows must be led from their pen into the milking parlor, separated, and placed in their individual milking stocks.
Then, dodging cow pies and an angry swishing tail, you grab your three-legged stool and milk bucket, sit down, and begin the 5–10-minute process of milking the cow.
So, while cows provide milk, they do not just give milk. Therefore, the farmer cannot sit back in his lounge chair on the farmhouse veranda and watch as the cows obediently march themselves into the barn and squirt milk into a bucket while the farmer nods approvingly.
No, instead, the farmer must work hard for the milk he or she collects. When the work is done, and the bucket is full, there is a sense of accomplishment in a job well done.
And that, my friends, is what is wrong with some folks today. They think cows give milk. They think they can sit back, do little to nothing, and be rewarded. That’s not how the world works; it is not how we, as Christians, should behave.
The Bible and Quality Work
The Bible has a lot to say (literally dozens of verses) about the benefits of work and the pitfalls of not working. Let’s consider a few, but first, let’s remind ourselves where the idea of work comes from.
God’s Plan Always Included Work
God’s plan always included work. In fact, God worked. He created everything that was created (Genesis 1). We read in Genesis 2:1, “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work (emphasis mine).
So, not only did God work, but in Genesis 2:15, we learn that God’s plan also always included work for man, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” Remember, this plan of God’s for man to work in the garden was before the fall of man!
God worked from the beginning of creation, and His plan was for man to work.
The Requirement to Work
Solomon had a lot to say about the need to work. He frequently spoke with praise about hard workers while speaking derisively about lazy workers.
Solomon begins by saying in Proverbs 12:1, “Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.”
A few verses later, Solomon says, in Proverbs 12:24, “The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor.”
Then in Proverbs 13:4, Solomon said, “The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.” Here, Solomon is saying the lazy man wants the rewards of working but doesn’t get them, while the diligent worker is richly rewarded.
Finally, in Proverbs 14:23, he says, “In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.” So, there is something to be gained from all work, no matter what it is, while people who stand around talking about doing something end up in poverty.
The theme of being a hard worker carried over into the New Testament. The Apostle Paul’s viewpoint was especially harsh. He said if you don’t want to work, you shouldn’t eat! In 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12, he said, “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.”
So, there can be no question, in God’s plan, everyone who can work is expected to work. Next, let’s examine the question of the quality of work expected of us.
The Quality of Your Work
Solomon made a point of calling out the value of highly skilled workers. In Proverbs 22:29, he said, “Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.” Highly skilled workers will stand apart from the rest of the crowd who are content delivering mediocre work.
How We Are to Work
Last, we come to the question of how we are to work and what attitude we should have regarding our work.
The apostle Paul provides some insight into both questions.
In answer to the first question, how we are to work, Paul says in Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” Therefore, no matter what station we have in life or what work we do, we are to be diligent as though the Lord was our boss—because He is!
As to the second question of what attitude we should bring to our work, Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:31, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” So again, it doesn’t matter what kind of work we do; it is essential to do it for God’s glory.
Work is God’s Gift
Imagine God giving you a gift, and you never opened the package to see what it was. Or perhaps you opened it but have yet to use His gift. Or worse yet, maybe you opened the gift and discarded it.
Work is God’s gift to humanity. Therefore, we are to work diligently, doing the best work we can for the glory of God.
Remember, cows provide milk, but they don’t give milk! It takes work to enjoy what the cows provide. God provides work opportunities, but we must approach them with the right attitude and dedication to enjoy the fruits of that labor.
Discussion Questions
These questions can serve as a useful framework for guiding a thoughtful and engaging discussion about the article and how its insights and perspectives apply to our lives today.
- What is the importance of understanding the value of hard work in leadership?
- How can a leader encourage and motivate their employees to be diligent in their work?
- What are some of the benefits of being a skilled worker?
- In what ways can leaders set an example for their employees in regards to their work ethic?
- How can the lessons from this article be applied to different aspects of business, such as management and decision-making?
More Articles
I have written several articles on quality/excellence. You can find them by typing “quality/excellence” in the search bar. Meanwhile, here are some of my favorites.
- #297: The Road to Success is Paved with Mistakes Well-Handled
- #296: Have You Committed Any of the 7 Deadly Sins of Marketing?
- #288: 5 “Be” Habits That Will Supercharge Your Career
- #159: The Temple Moneychangers–A Guide to Biblical Marketing
- #134: Service IS Your Product!
Join the Conversation
As always, questions and comments are welcome. What do you think of the idea that work is a gift from God that can be enjoyed when we approach it with dedication and the right attitude?
I’d love your help. This blog is read primarily because of people like you who share it with friends. Would you be kind enough to share it by pressing the share button?
Skills | Quality Excellence
