My work philosophy comes from a biblical worldview. The Bible teaches the value of hard work, with planning and diligence. This is what I try to model in my work. Not that I have attained it, I have made many mistakes, but I press on toward this goal.
2 Corinthians 5:21 “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
Isaiah 53:6 “All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him (Christ) the iniquity of us all.”
Isaiah 55:6-7 “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”
It is easy to want to boast and say that I am righteous before God because of the good things I do. But it is not the right way according to His word. Instead, Christ did a work for us to save us.
The Westminster Catechism puts it this way (paraphrased) “What work did Christ do to save you? Christ perfectly kept the Law of God and suffered the punishment due for my sins.”
Our sins are like scarlet. They stain us and cannot be removed. All people are actually born in sin, inheriting it from the first created man, Adam.
The only way to break free from sin and its punishment is to repent, turning from sin and trusting in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us that working hard is not what gets a person to heaven. It says “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
If we are not saved by works, then what is the motivation for doing good works?
Ephesians 2:10 says “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” The purpose of good works, then, is to reflect the glory of Christ. Likewise, Galatians 2:20 says “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” The good works that God’s people do are actually God working in them. God gives His people a new heart, enables them to walk in His ways, and teaches them to work hard for His glory rather than their own.