Honesty and Maintaining the Right Work Ethic. (Ephesians 4: 28)

This Podcast is part of a 10-year project to complete an in-depth, daily study of the entire Bible, chapter by chapter, verse by verse. 

Episode Notes:  Honesty and Maintaining the Right Work Ethic. (Eph 4: 28)

Sometimes Scripture tells us things we think we already know. Now and then, I find myself teaching a verse that seems so obvious, so basic, so universally accepted, that I wonder why Paul even needed to say it…. And that is exactly where we are today.

The verse before us is one that most people, Christian or not, would agree with on the surface. It doesn’t sound controversial. It doesn’t sound complicated. It doesn’t sound theological.

But the question is: Why does Paul talk about stealing to Christians?

Is there more going on here than meets the eye? Is Paul saying something deeper than the obvious? Is this verse about more than simply “don’t steal”?

Transcript

Transcript: Honesty and Maintaining the Right Work Ethic. (Ephesians 4: 28)

Introduction

Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

(Ephesians 4:28)

My normal way of preaching, teaching, or leading Bible study has always been to take a book of the Bible and work through it paragraph by paragraph, line by line, verse by verse.

I began doing this in the early 1990s under the watchful eye of my first mentor, a wonderful man from a local Baptist church named Dick Coates. In 1994, Dick and I began working our way through the entire Old Testament — chapter by chapter, verse by verse. Five years later, we had reached 2 Samuel before the Lord called us to different places: Dick to retirement in Nottingham, and me to serve at another church nearby.

And now, here I am, in my fourth decade of taking this expository approach to Scripture.

And over the years, I’ve learned two important things.

1. Expository teaching forces you to face the whole counsel of God.

When you preach this way, you don’t get to skip the awkward bits. You don’t get to avoid the uncomfortable verses. You don’t get to preach only your favourite themes.

You are constantly confronted with everything God has said. The parts that inspire you, the parts that challenge you, and the parts that make you think, ‘I’m not sure I would ever have chosen to preach on this’…. And that is a good thing. Because God’s Word is not a buffet. It is a feast, and we need all of it.

2. Sometimes Scripture tells us things we think we already know.

Now and then, I find myself teaching a verse that seems so obvious, so basic, so universally accepted, that I wonder why Paul even needed to say it…. And that is exactly where we are today.

The verse before us is one that most people, Christian or not, would agree with on the surface.

It doesn’t sound controversial. It doesn’t sound complicated. It doesn’t sound theological.

But the question is:

So, why does Paul talk about stealing to Christians?

Is there more going on here than meets the eye? Is Paul saying something deeper than the obvious? Is this verse about more than simply “don’t steal”?

Let’s look at it together….

The Verse.

“Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.”

(Ephesians 4:28)

Now, of all the things Paul could have said, why does he choose this?

Why does the text tell believers, which includes Christians today, church‑going, hymn‑singing, Bible‑reading Christians, to stop stealing?

Surely that’s obvious. Surely that’s basic morality. Surely that’s something you don’t need to say to people who claim to follow Jesus.

And yet Paul says it. Not just here, but in several of his letters.

Which means this must be more important than we think. And it must be more relevant than we realise.

So where does this fit with Paul’s Argument?

Remember the context.

Paul has been describing what it means to “walk in righteousness.”

He has given us a series of practical examples of what spiritual maturity looks like in everyday life.

·         Stop lying — speak the truth (v. 25).

·         Deal with anger properly — don’t let it control you (v. 26–27).

·         Now: stop stealing — and replace it with honest work (v. 28).

These are not random moral commands. They are marks of spiritual growth. They are signs of a transformed life. They are evidence of the new self that Paul has been describing since verse 22.

And here is the key: Paul is not simply saying, “Christians shouldn’t steal.”

He is saying something far deeper.

“Christians must live in such a way that their work ethic, their honesty, and their generosity reflect the character of Christ.”

This verse is not just about theft. It is about:

·         integrity

·         responsibility

·         dignity

·         generosity

·         community

·         transformation

·         discipleship

·         and the witness of the church.

This is about far more than not taking what isn’t yours. It is about becoming the kind of person who works, gives, serves, and blesses.

And that is why Paul brings it up.

Now, when we hear the word stealing, most of us instinctively think of shoplifting or the like, the classic image of someone slipping something into a coat pocket and walking out of a shop.

And yes, shoplifting is a real problem.

In 2025, UK retailers reported losses of £10.5 billion from theft — a figure that includes both shoplifting and employee theft. That’s roughly £150.00 per person in the UK.

And here’s the surprising part:

·         Shoplifting and employee theft are almost 50/50.

·         The average employee theft incident costs the company £1800.00.

·         Warehouse thefts averages £2,500 per incident.

·         The average employee shoplifting incident is nearly £500.

One report even suggested that if theft were eliminated from the fashion industry, clothing could be over 25 cheaper.

So yes — stealing is a real issue. But here’s the part that fascinates me:

Paul isn’t writing to unbelievers. He’s writing to Christians.

And he says. “Let the one who steals steal no longer…”

Why would he need to say that to people who have already come to Christ? Surely, they’ve left that life behind. Surely, they’ve repented. Surely, they’ve changed, but the Greek text is in the present tense, meaning the stealing is happening right now.

Paul is addressing an active problem inside the church. And if it was happening then, we should assume it can happen now

.

So, how do believers steal?

When we hear “stealing,” we think of dramatic, criminal acts. But Paul’s command is much broader. It includes any form of dishonesty that takes what does not belong to us. 

Let’s consider a few examples.

1. Taking a full day’s wage for a half‑hearted day’s work.

Have you ever thought about that? If your employer pays you for eight hours and you give them four hours of effort, that is a form of theft.  Spending hours online on your employer’s time- scrolling social media, shopping online, watching videos, or doing personal tasks while being paid to work is a form of stealing.

2. Fiddling expense accounts.

Padding mileage. Adding a meal that wasn’t work‑related. Claiming more than you spent. It’s theft, just socially acceptable theft.

3. Keeping accidental overpayments.

If a bank, employer, or shop gives you too much change or pays you too much and you keep it, that is stealing.

4. Cheating on tax returns.

Underreporting income. Overstating deductions. Hiding cash jobs. By the standard revealed here, that would be stealing.

5. What about taking office supplies home?

One report suggested that over 50% of employees regularly take items home that belong to their workplace.

Pens, paper, envelopes, printer ink - the stationery cupboard becomes a “free‑for‑all.”

6. “Wardrobing” (Have you heard of that?) I didn’t know it had a name until I researched it. It means buying clothes, wearing them once, and returning them. This has become an epidemic, especially among younger consumers. It is theft by deception.

7. But what about White‑collar theft, corruption, and organised crime?

These dwarf all other forms of theft combined. Fraud. Embezzlement. Money laundering. Corporate corruption. Billions are lost every year.

So what is the deeper issue here?

The command “do not steal” is one of the Ten Commandments.

But Paul does something interesting. He doesn’t just repeat the negative. He flips it into a positive: “…but must work, doing something useful with their own hands…”

In other words, the opposite of stealing is not merely “not stealing.” The opposite of stealing is honest work. And then he goes even further. “…that they may have something to share with those in need.”

So, the full biblical pattern is:

1.     Stop stealing

2.     Start working

3.     Work hard

4.     Work honestly

5.     Work with purpose

6.     Work so you can give.

This is far deeper than “don’t take what isn’t yours.”

Paul is saying, Try and become the kind of person whose work ethic, integrity, and generosity reflect the character of Christ.

Work Is Not a Curse — It Is Part of Creation.

Paul roots this command in the very beginning of the Bible. In Genesis, before sin entered the world, before the fall, before the curse, God gave Adam work to do.

We are told that God placed him in the garden “to tend it and keep it.”

So, work is not a punishment. Work is part of God’s design.

And then God created Eve, not merely as a companion, but as a helper, a co‑worker, a partner in the task. Human beings were created to work. We are at our best when we are productive, creative, engaged, and contributing…. Work is not a necessary evil. Work is a divine calling.

Of course, work can be abused:

·         some work too much

·         some work too little

·         some work for the wrong reasons

·         some work without rest

·         some work without joy

But the biblical question is:

Why work at all?

So, what does work look like according to Scripture? What does the bible say is the reason we work?

Paul gives several reasons.

1. We work to provide for ourselves.

“If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.” (2 Thessalonians 3:10)

In Thessalonica, some believers had stopped working because they thought Jesus was returning any minute…. Paul says: “No — get back to work.”

2. We work to provide for our families.

“If anyone does not provide for his own… he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” (1 Timothy 5:8) Strong words. Work is part of Christian responsibility.

3. We work so we can give to others.

This is Paul’s point in Ephesians 4:28. Work is not just about income. It is about generosity…. Work is not just about survival. It is about service. Work is not just about self‑sufficiency. It is about blessing others.

This is the heart of the Christian work ethic….

I told you at the beginning of today’s episode study that I wasn’t going to tell you anything you didn’t already know…. But I did want to remind you of something you may have forgotten.

And here it is:

How you work is as important as the fact that you work.

Paul says in Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”

This is one of the most liberating truths in the entire New Testament.

Because it means:

• Your real boss is the Lord.
• Your real workplace is His kingdom.
• Your real performance review is eternal.
• Your real reward is heavenly.

And that changes everything.

Working for the Lord — Even When No One Is Watching.

Someone once wrote about how they spent their lunch break sitting on a bench overlooking a building site. They enjoyed watching the activity, but one thing especially impressed them — the conscientious operator of a large piece of machinery.

Day after day, this man worked with precision, care, and integrity.

One afternoon, the observer finally approached him and said, “I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy watching your work. You’re incredibly diligent.”

The operator looked stunned and replied. “I noticed you working and I thought you were the boss.”

Isn’t that revealing?

Most people work hard only when they think someone is watching.

But this verse tells us:

The Lord is always watching. So, work as if every task, every email, every shift, every project, every conversation, is done for Him.

If you work that way, you’ll please your earthly boss too.

The Dignity of Work — And the Purpose Behind It.

Look again at Ephesians 4:28: *“Let the one who steals steal no longer, but rather let him work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.”*

Paul gives us the negative and the positive again:

• Stealing hurts people
• Working helps people
• Stealing satisfies your desires
• Giving satisfies someone else’s needs
• Stealing is self‑centred
• Giving is God‑centred

Work is not simply about earning a wage. It is about earning the ability to give. Creating the opportunities to both serve and give to others.

Work is not just about providing for yourself. It is about providing for others.

Work is not just about survival. It is about service.

This is the Christian work ethic.

Giving is the joyful fruit of honest work

Paul expands this idea in 2 Corinthians 9. He reminds the church that giving is not about the amount — it is about the attitude. “…That it may be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.”

And then he says: “Whoever sows sparingly will reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will reap generously.” (2 Cor 9:6)

And then the famous line:

“God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Cor 9:7)

The Greek word for “cheerful” is the word from which we get “hilarious.” It means overflowing joy.

Imagine that — God wants His people to give with laughter in their hearts.

Not reluctantly. Not under compulsion. Not with a sigh. Not with a sense of duty…. But with joy.

Because giving is not losing. Giving is sowing. And God promises that: “God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” (2 Cor 9:8)

You cannot out‑give God. If you give with the right attitude, He will see to it that you always have something to give again.

Another point is you don’t have to be rich to give.

Some people say, “I’ll give when I’m debt‑free.” Or “I’ll give when I earn more.” Or “I’ll give when life settles down.”

But giving is like gardening. If you wait until every weed is gone before you plant anything, you will never plant.

You should start by clearing a small patch and planting something beautiful there. Then you expand the garden as you go.

Giving works the same way. Start small. Start somewhere. Start with what you have. God says: “I would rather you give a small amount with the right attitude than a large amount with the wrong attitude.”

Because giving is not about wealth. It is about worship.

It is not about money. It is about maturity.

It is not about pressure. It is about joy.

An important part of living a godly, righteous life is learning to give.

Work honestly. Work diligently. Work joyfully. Work as unto the Lord.

And then give generously. Give cheerfully. Give freely. Give because God has given so much to you.

This is the Christian life. This is walking in righteousness. This is what it means to live out Ephesians 4:28.