Are we going to work in heaven? This question has been asked by, well, probably all of us at one time or another. The Bible speaks of work from the beginning of time differentiating man’s work from Jesus’ work on earth, and the work in heaven.
Work began at creation. Adam was given the task of naming all the animals, the birds, and fish, and tend the garden. Work should not be considered something we do to live, rather, it is something we live to do. It is a gift from God and gives us an opportunity to fulfill passion and purpose.
Regarding humanity, work is an earthly trade or profession, a job where he is engaged in physical or mental activity. His goal is to earn money to buy material things to meet his needs and wants. “Man goes out to his work and to his labor until the evening.” (Psalm 104:23) Man may work in a non-paying capacity as well. This work may involve things like working on his car, or home or garden to maintain them for his good purpose. It is self-oriented.
God is spirit and His work is completely different from man’s work. In general, His acts and deeds of creating, saving, and sustaining all of life and the innate things on earth and in all the universe is a broad description of His work. He changes the times and the seasons; He sets up kings and removes kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. (Daniel 2:21) God does His work to accomplish His purposes and to bring glory to His name. He also judges sin and its consequences. His goal is to redeem man and to dwell among us for eternity. He will be our God and believers will be His people in endless and unimaginable joy. (Revelation 21:3) God is people motivated.
The people asked Jesus, “What shall we do that we may work the works of God?” Man doing spiritual work is defined by Jesus’ answer, “This is the work of God for humanity, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” Man’s spiritual work on earth gains him more than a salary or self-satisfaction; man receives the future inheritance in the form of rewards of all that Jesus has. (Colossians 3:23-24)
Man’s work becomes a privilege in heaven and will have the same goal for all – to worship, to serve, and to glorify the Lord. We will have rest from our labors on earth which involves the negative great and strenuous exertion of work (Revelation 14:13), but we will have tasks to perform in the New Jerusalem. The ‘work’ in heaven will be unlike our accustomed work in this world because the curse found in Genesis 3 will have been lifted. Our ‘job’ in eternity will simply be to serve the Lord in a perfect environment with unending joy for all eternity! (Revelation 22:3) No more Mondays.
When Jesus was on the cross, He cried with a loud voice, “It is finished!” He did not cry out in defeat, but in victory! He accomplished the work His Father sent Him to do – the redemption of man. He defeated the enemy, overcame the world, and rose from the dead victorious over death. His work was done, and He is seated at the right hand of God the Father.
To sum it up: Yes, we will work in heaven, but our work in heaven is of a spiritual nature. The Bible does not define every aspect of work in heaven other than to say it will be restful, enjoyable, and meaningful. There will be no stress, no toil, no strain, no pain, no exhaustion like the labor of the work we know on earth. With that promise before us, we can labor on earth knowing that a whole, new dynamic of ‘work’ awaits us!