Why do cultures the world over produce exhortations to work hard?
Because hard work is, well, hard work.
It don’t come easy, as my elders used to remind me. The reward of it is seldom immediate, so it’s easy to cut corners and imagine that nothing’s been lost in the shortcut. To ‘take it easy’ sounds like great advice right up until it produces poverty or damage.
When it comes to diligent work, biblical wisdom dares to merge sins of omission with sins of commission.
Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys. (Proverbs 18:9 ESV)
What harm does it do?, we learn to ask of our laziness when nobody is watching.
Plenty, the biblical wisdom anthology would answer. A schlock piece of work is morally akin to vandalism, we are here instructed, and it doesn’t take too much deployment of Murphy’s Law before a sloppily tested O-Ring blows up a Space Shuttle. Or something smaller in a neighborhood nearer to you.
The biblical witness will not let us get away with defeatist attitudes towards our own vocation. The work of your hands is not irrelevant, whether or not you see the outcome. It is, without exaggeration, holy activity and a priestly service.
Investment bankers, Walmart greeters, and parish priests who would have their lives shaped by reality must understand this.
Or else become lazy, bored, and sloppy, which is like spraying a subway train with obscene images or breaking a neighbor’s windows for no reason or driving while slightly drunk.
Passive or active, a vandal is a vandal.
So get to work.
And while you’re at it, dare to ask the Master Craftsman for some joy in the labor. Surprisingly often, he agrees to that.
Canter Bridge 
David – thanks for this. Just completed a series on work and faith – the sacred nature of all work. I plan on redoing this series at two camps this summer – I would love to use this post. Trust you are well. Blessings, Scoo
Hi Scott,
Good afternoon from the airport in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where Karen and I are awaiting our flights to Philly and Harrisburg and then our car on to the Burg. It’s great to hear from you. I’d be honored to know that the post you mention would be helpful to you at those camps this summer. GO for it!