Character is an important quality of a Christian. To the Ephesians, Paul has already talked about speaking the truth and not lying, along with controlling one’s anger. His next component of one’s character is the value of working (Ephesians 4:28).
There are three elements of this characteristic: not stealing, working, and giving to those who are in need. Paul gives a prohibition, a command, and a purpose statement.
Paul is stating two ethical principles. He is telling the Ephesians they are not to steal but rather to labor with their hands. The other principle is that they are to take some of the money they earn from working “with [their] own hands” and “to share it with [someone] who has need.”
Paul is pointing out that instead of taking from someone what is not yours, a person is to take what is theirs and give it to someone who does not have it. This attitude is part of loving someone by sacrificing what is yours to help someone have what they do not have. It is not love when a person takes from another person illegally.
Also, in this statement, Paul is giving his readers a reason why they should labor with their hands. It is more than just making money and occupying one’s time. With this attitude, our jobs become boring and monotonous. A person finds no purpose in working other than that it is what a person is to do so they can live.
But how do we feel when we see part of our wages going to help someone else? It provides a purpose, a drive, a motivation for getting up and going to one’s job; it provides value for working.
When someone steals from another, no one benefits. The victim has lost a possession. The victim must replace, if it is replaceable, the thing stolen, therefore costing them money and possibly heartache over losing something of value. The thief, when caught—and he will eventually get caught because he cannot quit stealing—will face prosecution. He will be separated from his family and them from him.
In the vast majority of society, stealing is never looked upon favorably, but hard work is always valued. Giving one’s money to a needy individual or some charitable organization for distribution to those in need is considered very honorable. Giving is a win-win for everyone.
Having a strong, positive character is the mark of a true Christian. Not only is working a thing of value, but it demonstrates a godly action by an individual. When a Christian sees the value of working and practices Paul’s instructions, they are living God’s way.
Carlton G. McPeak (carlton_mc@msn.com) is an evangelist working in the Florida Gateway region.
Scriptural quotations from the NASB.