7 Reasons Why God Doesn’t Believe in the 4-Hour Work Week

Do Work That Truly Matters

First off, let’s be clear about something…

I sincerely hope that this article wrinkles your feathers. At least for some of you. I’m secretly plotting…as in holy plotting, that is…that this article will cause you to rethink your current work ethic and begin doing work that truly matters and will be truly blessed by God.

That’s my hope, my goal, and my prayer for you as a Christian entrepreneur.

Before I go any further, please know that this article is–by no means, whatsoever!–to be thought of, or considered in any way, as a bash against or a put down of Tim Ferris. Nor do I have anything in particular against his worldwide best-selling book, The 4-Hour Work Week. In fact, I’ve never read the book for myself. I don’t know Tim Ferris personally and I assume he doesn’t know me. So let’s be clear about that.

However…

And, yes, there has to be a however.

However… I do want to be very upfront about the contemporary online philosophy behind the IDEA of a “short” work week, whether it be 4 hours, 8 hours, 15 hours, or even 30 hours. What I want to do is discuss what God thinks about the quality of your work, the QUANTITY of your work, about entrepreneurship in general, and how long the Bible suggests your work week ought to be.

The reason this is important is because there’s a lot of buzz and noise around the internet regarding the “laptop lifestyle.” Working from a lounge chair on the beach sounds like a nice weekend, but it’s not really something believers should be shooting for.

Your work matters! Your work matters to God and it should be about helping other people.

THEREFORE: You ought to work LONG hours and for MUCH of the week. That is the best way to help and serve other people.

“The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.” (Proverbs 13:4)

Click to Tweet

Why God Doesn’t Believe in a Short Work Week

Here are seven reasons why God may not be a Proponent of a four-hour work week, or any shortened work week for that matter. First I will provide some reasons this might be true and then I will provide some Scriptures to back up my reasoning.

1. God worked six days in his week, not five days or three days, or even four hours.

2. Americans tend to work Monday through Friday, but God suggested work could be done for six days, not five.

3. God worked hard and when he rested on the seventh day, he truly rested!

4. All Christians are expected to work, work hard, and to diligently toil in their work.

5. We do our work as unto the Lord, and not as men-pleasers.

6. The Bible says to not fellowship, hang out with, or socialize with “so-called Christians” who don’t work but, instead, act like busy bodies.

7. Laziness and a slothful lifestyle is condemned in Scripture. It is not something to be pursued.

So, with those thoughts as the foundation for what’s to come, here is some of what God thinks about you and your weekly work schedule.

“The lazy man will not plow because of winter; he will beg during harvest and have nothing.” (Proverbs 20:4)

Click to Tweet

How Long God Worked For

Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.” (Genesis 2:1-3)

1. Notice, first, that God worked.
2. Second, God worked until the job was finished.
3. Third, God worked most of the week. In fact, he worked six out of seven days.
4. Finally, God rested only one day out of seven days, and on that day of rest he did no work, whatsoever.

How Long You’re Expected To Work For

Here is another passage for you to consider about your work week:

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates.” (Exodus 20:8-10)

1. Notice, first, that God set the pattern for our six-day work week. The work week is six days; six days, not five days or two days, or even four hours. A six-day work week.
2. One out of seven days should be a time of rest where you do NO WORK AT ALL.
3. This day of rest is not just for you but is to be a restful day for the people you know, like, love, and trust. You are to spend that day resting, and so should your son and your daughter, the people who work for you, your cattle (and/or any machines you use), and your customers.

Ahh. I can already feel the tension growing between my own ears. That seems like a lot of work and very little rest! Frankly, a four-hour work week sounds like more fun than this!

But…

Yes, there is also a but.

But… Honestly, a four-hour work week would not be more enjoyably for you than a longer work week. You’d be bored, lazy, frustrated, and it would lead you into relationship problems and sinful activity.

But That’s the Old Testament

But that’s the Old Testament, you say? God never changes. He doesn’t have one kind of work ethic in the OT and another in the NT.

Although keeping the Sabbath is the only one of the ten commandments not repeated in the New Testament, this article has to do with the “work week” and our “work ethic.” This is not an article about whether or not you should be keeping the Sabbath.

(PS: There is no Sabbath for Christians. We are to treat all days the same. We tend to worship on Sundays because Jesus rose on Sunday.)

For example, here’s what the apostle Paul wrote about regarding the need to work…and to work hard and toil…night and day.

But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us. For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. (2 Thessalonians 3:6-15).

1. Notice, first, that these are commands. These are not recommendations or suggestions. This work ethic is expected of all Christians everywhere.
2. The expectation is to work with labor and toil night and day, as an example to others!
3. To not work diligently is to walk (this is your lifestyle) in a disorderly manner, acting like a busybody.
4. We are to work in quietness, not making a big deal out of it. (Oh my, do some internet lifestyle marketing people need to read that!)
5. Lastly, to not live according to this requirement should result in EXCLUSION from Christian fellowship. A disorderly work ethic is to be condemned, not praised.

“He who has a slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.” (Proverbs 10:4)

Click to Tweet

The Problem With Laziness

The Bible speaks often about lazy people and sluggards. This needs to be trumpeted today in the Christian entrepreneurial space.

Notice what some of the following verses say about it, from the book of Proverbs, which is God’s book of wisdom to you.

“As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the lazy man to those who send him.” (Proverbs 10:26)

“The desire of the lazy man kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.” (Proverbs 21:25)

“As a door turns on its hinges, so does the lazy man on his bed.” (Proverbs 26:14)

“The lazy man buries his hand in the bowl; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.” (Proverbs 26:15)

——————–

IN SUMMARY:

• Work is a gift from the Lord.
• God gave us work as a pattern after his own schedule.
• God commanded work to be done (tend the field and keep it), even before the Fall of Adam and Eve.
• You are to work hard, diligently, and for the glory the God alone!

If you’re a Christian, a Christian leader, or a Christian entrepreneur, this message just might be for you.

QUESTION FOR COMMENTING BELOW: What thoughts do you have about the work week, entrepreneurship, or the so-called 4-hour work week?