The Principle of Hard Work

Hard work is the idea that success and achievement come through dedicated effort and perseverance.

The Bible teaches the value of hard work. In the book of Proverbs, we read, "Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men" (Proverbs 22:29, ESV).

Another well-known passage, Colossians 3:23-24, reads, "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ" (ESV).

Christian entrepreneurs should work hard and be diligent in their efforts (our efforts). Hard work is essential to accomplishing our goals and reaching our full potential as entrepreneurs. We must put in the time and effort necessary to succeed or fulfill our potential.

For years, we were fans of an alleged quote from Martin Luther. "The Christian shoemaker does his Christian duty not by putting little crosses on the shoes, but by making good shoes."

More than a few professors and theology teachers don't believe Luther actually said anything like this since, at its core, it sounds more like a popular American work-ethic parable than it does sound Biblical teaching. However, this would-be quote reminds us that our work ethic reflects our relationship with God.

Earlier in this section, we quoted Colossians 3:23-24. Now, let's go back a few verses and read this.

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:16–17, ESV)"

For us, verse 17 applies to our work life too.

One of the pastors at a reformed church in Boise, Idaho, told us a story about a member who kept getting fired from his job. He came to the pastor complaining that his late employer had essentially fired him because he was a Christian. But after hearing how yet another employer had "persecuted" this fellow, the pastor said, "you're not being persecuted. You're just a bad employee."

A Christian should be one of the very best employees a business has. The  Christian should show up on time and do his best job. The idea that we should work hard is even more true for Christian entrepreneurs trying to build a God-honoring business to provide for their family, church, and community.

The principle of hard work reminds us that success and achievement come through dedicated effort and perseverance. By working hard and relying on God's guidance, we can achieve great things and positively impact the world around us.