Here our primary text, already quoted twice, is Ephesians 4:28. As one reflects, particularly in our day, on the vast array of vocational possibilities, he or she must consider whether or not any certain work is lawful in terms of the Word of God. Now this is what I do not mean: I do not mean whether or not a certain work is legal. I do not mean whether or not a certain work is legal in the eyes of society and of civil law. I believe rather quickly we could identify various vocations that are legal, but biblically unlawful. Our concern is: does a given endeavour meet the criteria (plural), for a biblically lawful calling? And: what are the criteria which must be met for any work to be biblically lawful? There are at least two: Firstly, a work, a calling, a vocation must produce a good or service that is genuinely beneficial, truly useful to others. Secondly, that product or that service must be made available at a reasonable price.
First, as to the criterion of genuine usefulness to others, let us look at Ephesians 4:28:
Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands.Here is the critical language: honest work. Let him labor. It is the language of wearisome effort, toiling, that one may support himself. A word often used in connection with manual gainful labour, as it seems to be used here in view of the following words:work with his own hands.But here is the standard: performing with his own hands what is good.In the language of Charles Hodge:
It is very certain that many things tolerated by the customs of men; many modes of getting the property of others into our own possession practiced even by those professing to be Christians, are in the light of the divine law only different forms of theft, and will be revealed as such in the judgment of the last day.That is, they are not good. The Christian’s labour must be in the realm of what is good.Now the adjective
good,while it certainly conveys the sense of that which is morally upright, conveys more dominantly here the sense of what is good for others, beneficial; what is suitable, useful, conducive, to the welfare of others. The Christian labours at his calling, in order to produce what is good. The labour of his hand is to be of good effect upon others, as others make use of the results of your labour. The product or service provided by one’s occupation, to say it in other language, is to be good for the consumer, for the customer. It is to bring genuine benefit to his or her life. It is to be serviceable and useful to the one who does business with the Christian. That is, if one’s work is to be biblically lawful.We are reminded here in Ephesians 4:28 that while profit to support ourselves and profit to support those dependent upon us, is a legitimate motive for our work, yet there is another motive. We are to produce what is good for those with whom we do business, or for whom we work. A lawful calling is a calling that benefits others. And it is unlawful—it may be legal but it is unlawful—if I am performing with my hands so as to produce a good or a service that is detrimental to the consumer, no matter how much money I make.1
George McDearmon
28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.