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God's Sovereignty in Daily Work and Labor

God's sovereignty extends to all aspects of creation and human life, including daily work and labor [6, 8]. This divine oversight means that God's will and power are at play in the world, influencing human endeavors and outcomes [4, 13].

The concept of God's sovereignty is rooted in the understanding that God has an absolute right to do all things according to his own good pleasure [6]. This is evident in biblical passages such as Daniel 4:25, 35, Romans 9:15-23, 1 Timothy 6:15, and Revelation 4:11 [6]. The power of God is described as great, strong, glorious, mighty, everlasting, sovereign, effectual, irresistible, and incomparable [4]. This power is expressed through God's voice, finger, hand, and arm [4]. Christ's power, as the Son of God, is identified as the power of God, supreme, unlimited, and extending over all things [5]. This divine power is demonstrated in creation, upholding all things, and salvation [5, 8].

In the context of human work, the Bible presents a nuanced perspective. Ecclesiastes questions the ultimate gain from human labor, asking, "What does man gain from all his labor in which he labors under the sun?" [2, 3]. Yet, other scriptures emphasize God's involvement and blessing in human effort. Psalm 90:17 prays, "Let the favor of the Lord our God be on us; establish the work of our hands for us; yes, establish the work of our hands" [1]. This verse suggests a divine role in validating and making fruitful human labor.

The Puritan commentator Matthew Henry, reflecting on God's work in creation, notes that "his work is perfect; and if he begin he will also make an end, in providence and grace, as well as here in creation" [10]. This perspective implies that God's meticulous attention to his own works extends to his providential care over human activities. Henry also highlights that God's works are "illustrious and conspicuous," providing a reason to "acquiesce in all the operations of his providence concerning us in particular" [9]. This suggests that even in the daily grind of labor, believers can find reassurance in God's overarching plan.

The New Testament further articulates God's active role in human work, particularly in the context of salvation and spiritual growth. Philippians 2:13 states, "For it is God who worketh in you, both to will and to do of his good pleasure." The Jamieson, Fausset & Brown commentary interprets this as an encouragement to work, noting that God is "always present with you" and that the will and power to work are "first instalments of His grace" [11]. This means that even the desire and ability to perform good works originate from God [7]. John Gill, a Baptist commentator, notes that Jesus defended his work on the Sabbath by stating, "my Father worketh hitherto," indicating God's continuous activity in upholding and governing the world, even on the Sabbath [14].

Therefore, while humans engage in labor, the ultimate efficacy and purpose of that labor are understood to be under God's sovereign hand. Good works are described as "wrought by God in us" [7]. The "work of God" is also identified as believing in Jesus Christ, which is seen as the foundational act for all acceptable obedience [12]. This theological framework suggests that daily work, when undertaken by believers, is not merely a human endeavor but is intertwined with God's ongoing activity and purpose in the world.

Sources

  1. Psalms “Let the favor of the Lord our God be on us; establish the work of our hands for us; yes, establish the work of our hands. -- Psalms 90:17”
  2. Ecclesiastes “What does man gain from all his labor in which he labors under the sun? -- Ecclesiastes 1:3”
  3. Ecclesiastes “Quid habet amplius homo de labore suo ? -- Ecclesiastes 3:9”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Power of God, The — Is one of his attributes -- Ps 62:11. Expressed by the Voice of God. -- Ps 29:3,5; 68:33. Finger of God. -- Ex 8:19; Ps 8:3. Hand of God. -- Ex 9:3,15; Isa 48:13. Arm of God. -- Job 40:9; Isa 52:10. Thunder of his power. -- Job 26:14. Described as Great. -- Ps 79:11; Na 1:3. Strong. -- Ps 89:13; 136:12. Glorious. -- Ex 15:6; Isa 63:12. Mighty. -- Job 9:4; Ps 89:13. Everlasting. -- Isa 26:4; Ro 1:20. Sovereign. -- Ro 9:21. Effectual. -- Isa 43:13; Eph 3:7. Irresistible. -- De 32:39; Da 4:35. Incomparable. -- Ex 15:11,12; De 3:24; Job 40:9; Ps 89:8.”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Power of Christ, The — As the Son of God, is the power of God -- Joh 5:17-19; 10:28-30. As man, is from the Father -- Ac 10:38. Described as Supreme. -- Eph 1:20,21; 1Pe 3:22. Unlimited. -- Mt 28:18. Over all flesh. -- Joh 17:2. Over all things. -- Joh 3:35; Eph 1:22. Glorious. -- 2Th 1:9. Everlasting. -- 1Ti 6:16. Is able to subdue all things -- Php 3:21. Exhibited in Creation. -- Joh 1:3,10; Col 1:16. Upholding all things. -- Col 1:17; Heb 1:3. Salvation. -- Isa 63:1; Heb 7:25. His teaching. -- Mt 7:28,29; Lu 4:32. Working miracles. -- Mt 8:27; Lu 5:17. Enabling ot”
  6. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Sovereignty — Of God, his absolute right to do all things according to his own good pleasure (Dan. 4:25, 35; Rom. 9:15-23; 1 Tim. 6:15; Rev. 4:11).”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Works, Good — Christ, an example of -- Joh 10:32; Ac 10:38. Called Good fruits. -- Jas 3:17. Fruits meet for repentance. -- Mt 3:8. Fruits of righteousness. -- Php 1:11. Works and labours of love. -- Heb 6:10. Are by Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God -- Php 1:11. They alone, who abide in Christ can perform -- Joh 15:4,5. Wrought by God in us -- Isa 26:12; Php 2:13. The Scripture designed to lead us to -- 2Ti 3:16,17; Jas 1:25. To be performed in Christ's name -- Col 3:17. Heavenly wisdom is full of -- Jas 3:17. Justification unattainable by -- Ro 3:20; Ga 2”
  8. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Creation — The formation of things which had no previous existence -- Ro 4:17; Heb 11:3. Effected By God. -- Ge 1:1; 2:4,5; Pr 26:10. By Christ. -- Joh 1:3,10; Col 1:16. By the Holy Spirit. -- Job 26:13; Ps 104:30. By the command of God. -- Ps 33:9; Heb 11:3. In the beginning. -- Ge 1:1; Mt 24:21. In six normal days. -- Ex 20:11; 31:17. According to God's purpose. -- Ps 135:6. For God's pleasure. -- Pr 16:4; Re 4:11. For Christ. -- Col 1:16. By faith we believe, to be God's work -- Heb 11:3. Order of First day, making light and dividing it from darkness. -- Ge 1:3-5;”
  9. Job (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Job 36:24: Elihu is here endeavouring to possess Job with great and high thoughts of God, and so to persuade him into a cheerful submission to his providence. I. He represents the work of God, in general, as illustrious and conspicuous, Job 36:24. His whole work is so. God does nothing mean. This is a good reason why we should acquiesce in all the operations of his providence concerning us in particular. His visible works, those of nature, and which concern the world in general, are such as we admire and commend, and in which we observe the Creator's wisdom, power, and goodnes”
  10. Genesis (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Genesis 1:31: We have here the approbation and conclusion of the whole work of creation. As for God, his work is perfect; and if he begin he will also make an end, in providence and grace, as well as here in creation. Observe, I. The review God took of his work: He saw every thing that he had made. So he does still; all the works of his hands are under his eye. He that made all sees all; he that made us sees us, Ps. 139:1-16. Omniscience cannot be separated from omnipotence. Known unto God are all his works, Act 15:18. But this was the Eternal Mind's solemn reflection upon the”
  11. Philippians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Philippians 2:13: For--encouragement to work: "For it is God who worketh in you," always present with you, though I be absent. It is not said, "Work out your own salvation, though it is God," &c., but, "because it is God who," &c. The will, and the power to work, being first instalments of His grace, encourage us to make full proof of, and carry out to the end, the "salvation" which He has first "worked," and is still "working in" us, enabling us to "work it out." "Our will does nothing thereunto without grace; but grace is inactive without our will" [ST. BERNARD].”
  12. John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on John 6:29: This is the work of God--That lies at the threshold of all acceptable obedience, being not only the prerequisite to it, but the proper spring of it--in that sense, the work of works, emphatically "the work of God."”
  13. Job (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Job 23:13: in one mind--notwithstanding my innocence, He is unaltered in His purpose of proving me guilty (Job 9:12). soul--His will (Psa 115:3). God's sovereignty. He has one great purpose; nothing is haphazard; everything has its proper place with a view to His purpose.”
  14. John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on John 5:17: But Jesus answered them,.... Being convened before them, and charged by them with the violation of the sabbath, he vindicated himself in the following manner, saying; my Father worketh hitherto: he who is my Father, not by creation, or adoption, but by nature, though he ended all his work on the seventh day, and rested from what he had done; yet he did not cease from working at all, but has continued to work ever since, on sabbath days, as well as on other days; in upholding and governing the world, in continuing the species of beings, and all creatures in their being”
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