Shroro

The Syriac Orthodox Christian Digest - February, 2005

A Christian View of Employment

by Fr. Eldhose Koungampillil

Unemployment is one of the major social issues in the modern times. Work is one of the most essential needs in life because it fulfils the meaning of human life. Though the term ‘Work’ has got a wider sense and deeper meaning usually it denotes ‘toil’ or ‘gainful employment’. In a broad perspective all human activities can be considered as work. Economists suggest that work is the important aspect which controls the balance of economy, but also it is the distinguishing character of human beings from other creations. The pessimistic view of work is always degrading or devalues it as a source of earning money. Labour work is not only the main source of economic gains but it also provides the structure for the whole fabric of society. Basically work/employment contributes directly towards the economic stability and indirectly it endorses the existence of human life - both political and intellectual activity. So according to this idea attaining wealth is the basic aim of the work because it can control all human activities. It is a general assumption that work is a means of human existence in order to meet human needs and wants. That is why now days for some people work is meant to be the gainful employment. This view endorses the fact that work is to be done in order to attain something for the existence of life but on the other hand it ignores the wider aspect and meaning of work.

Actually work is an ambiguous term which can simply be equated with the expenditure of energy, mental or physical without any other significance. For Christians, work is neither to be understood as a punishment nor just as a social and economic subject. Rather through work we would see God’s blessings; His will and His purpose in human creation. The Christian understanding of work disagree the above view of work as just a source of income and human existence, however, it sees the work as a God given/designed human nature and it is a God given talent to humanity. Man is supposed to do work because it is not only the part of human nature but also it is one of his duties. So that work is considered as a God-ordained thing which indicates activity of God and Man.

There are indications in the Bible which may support the view of work can be varies. Work is given to Man as a punishment of God for his sin but on the other hand work is inclusive in God’s decision of Creation. It is a common perception that the former view, work as a result of Sin, is more sensible than latter. For example, “ …in toil you can eat of it all the days of your life…….” (Genesis 3: 17-19). Because of the Fall (Adam’s sin) work acquires the character of burdensome even some people think since the Fall of humanity work became more harder than previously because the work environment became much less co operative. The sweat, the toil and the burdensome are became the aspects of work which resulted by the fall. Since the Fall (Sin), human life changed into a new human life (sinful) and work became burdensome. ‘According to St. Paul, the creation was subjected to futility by God and it will remain under that curse until God remakes it some day ‘(Romans 8:20-23). From the beginning work was God’s purpose for man but when the sin entered work was changed from joy to toil thus this view holds that work has lost its true value and became a burden instead of being a blessing.

By this above pessimistic view we are ignoring the fact that the purpose of God’s creation that is “GOOD”. However the nature of work is considered to be good rather than evil or sinful because God found everything he made is good. Thus, Man continues God’s work as a co-worker. The above view also ignores the fact that work is given before the Fall not after the Fall. Work is to be understood as a blessing rather than a curse and it is the creation not the fall which has made us workers. As we see earlier that work is a common nature of God and Man and it always lead to a self satisfaction which benefits others. Work brings fulfilment to the worker and it benefits the community and finally it glorifies god the creator. According to the book of genesis God himself is a worker and God appointed Man as his Co-Workers; “God saw everything……..very good (His job satisfaction); “God rested from work” (Genesis 2:2); “God appointed Man as the steward of all Creation” (Genesis 1:28).

By doing work we are acting as junior partners in God’s ultimate work. Man is intended to do praising the God or bringing glory to God all through his life. Man should bring glory to God by different ways such as in our personal or spiritual life, in our work and in our community. So we are working for God in order to contribute towards His work and accomplish His work which God wants to be done in this world. We do, however, glorify God ‘by’ work or ‘in’ work. So that, work is to be understood as a way of worshipping and glorifying God; “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor 10: 31)

Work is intended for the fulfilment of the WORKER (God) and it should be done for the benefit of the community. The main concern of work is not for our good rather it always looks forward to the common good. By doing work we fulfil and obey God’s great commandments, “Love God Love your neighbour as yourself”. Through we love God who means we are doing what he wanted to do and at the same time we love ourselves which meet our need and wants in our life. By work, however, we serve our fellowmen or community which is the fundamental duty of a Christian. Work has the potential to supply a sense of human achievement, psychological satisfaction and service to humanity so that work cannot be selfish of done in an isolation rather it is one of the ways in which we live in a community. It contributes to the common good and welfare as an offering service. There is nothing disgraceful in manual work however if it is only aimed to earn money or any other motives will be disgraceful. The Christian should not work only for satisfy there own need but also in order to having something to share with their fellowmen: ‘Work is an offering from one person to another which is the fulfilment of his obligation and duties” (St. Thomas Aquinas). By work human being are not only obeying God’s commandments to love and to serve others, but also fulfil Mans potential by themselves. ‘Not only work is a necessary social activity through which we serve each other and community but also it is an acceptance of Gods demand.

The unemployment should be a problem for economic development so it is a big issue in economics but on the other hand unemployment is not a serious issue in Christian ethics because it cannot affect the centre of Christian ethics. For a Christian, paid work and unpaid work are to be equally valued since ‘Love’ and ‘Service’ are the basic principles of work. In Christian ethics being an unemployed doesn’t mean that he/she can not work rather he can do significant work in the society voluntarily. The significance of work is more important than wage or salary. Voluntary jobs and all kind of service are equally important to a paid job or employment. We serve the Lord by serving our fellowmen which is the important concern for every Christian.