Paul's Emphasis on Physical Labor

The words of Paul are often at the center of the “grace vs. works” debate as he wrote often about the centrality of Christ’s grace in our salvation.  It is interesting to me, then, that Paul spoke often about the importance of physical works—not just spiritual works (i.e. keeping the commandments, repenting, praying, etc.) but of the importance of physical labor.  For example, he emphasized to the Thessalonians that he worked for his own support while among them: “Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you.”  He suggested that this should be an example for all of them and minced no words in writing about the need to work: “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread” (2 Thessalonians 3:8-12).  Every Saint should seek to provide for their own wants and labor to support themselves. To the Corinthians he wrote that he and other missionaries did “labour, working with our own hands” (1 Corinthians 4:12).  He was adamant that we should work to provide for ourselves and labor with our own hands, and he felt that even as an apostle among them he should do the same.     

Other writings of Paul similarly emphasize the need for us to physically labor to provide for our own needs.  He wrote to Timothy saying, “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”  That is a very strong statement, and here Paul equates our faith with our works of providing the necessities of life: if we refuse to work to provide for ourselves and our families then we have denied our faith.  He warned of those who “learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house” (1 Timothy 5:8, 13).  Idleness is to be avoided in the gospel of Christ.  He told the Thessalonians likewise that they should work: “That ye study to be quiet, and do your own business, and to work with your own hands” (1 Thessalonians 4:11).  To the Ephesians he wrote, “Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth” (Ephesians 4:28).  It is not good enough not to steal but we should also work to get those things we need.  For Paul to physically labor was part of the gospel itself, and when he told the Hebrews, “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love,” I believe he was referring both to physical labor and labor in the works of righteousness in the gospel (Hebrews 6:10).  For in the end those really should be the same thing—all our labors, temporal or spiritual, should be done out of love for the Savior and love for our fellowman towards the glory of God.