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A Biblical View of Work

Questions to Think About. Why do we work?Why do we sometimes get great enjoyment from our work?Why is work often so hard?What does Christ's redemption have to do with our work?Does our work have eternal value?. Response to the Questions. God's plan for our workThe impact of sin on our workChrist's redemption and our workThe eternal value of our work.

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A Biblical View of Work

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    1. A Biblical View of Work

    3. Response to the Questions God’s plan for our work The impact of sin on our work Christ’s redemption and our work The eternal value of our work

    4. 1. God’s Plan for our Work In the first two chapters of Genesis, we see God’s plan for work—before the Fall Three areas to notice God is a worker We are image bearers of God We are invited into his work

    5. God is a Worker Planning and Creation Evaluation and Assessment Beauty and Function Collaboratively Delegation Excellence Continuing Value Rest Setting Boundaries

    6. We See Beauty in the Creation In what God has done In the tasks he has assigned us to do

    9. Image Bearers of God Genesis 1:27 “ … in the image of God he created him. Male and female he created them.”

    10. God Invites Us Into His Work Be fruitful and multiply Rule over the earth Tend the garden Name the animals With new boundaries

    11. Not Just Talking about Paid Work We see no evidence that Adam and Eve were “paid” for their work

    12. Good Work

    13. Part I Conclusion Work is not a result of the curse, but the way God made us We are given the opportunity to continue his creation He chose not to make a bicycle bush or a computer tree We are able to see and enjoy God’s creation

    14. When We Talk About Admiring God’s Creation We often think of nature But if what God has given us to do is also done for him Isn’t this also a part of His creation Shouldn’t we extend our usual categoris

    17. 2. The Impact of Sin on Our Work This sin left three areas of brokenness Humankind and God Humankind with each other Humankind with our work All of the difficulties in our work can be traced to sin

    18. Humankind and God Separation from God and death Our work no longer under his authority Exploitation of people, the environment Destructive products

    19. Broken Relationships Fingerpointing Gender issues Painful relationships at work Poor treatment of customers and suppliers Poor treatment of employees Office politics

    20. Broken Work Work becomes toilsome The joy becomes “the grind” Work becomes hard “By the sweat of your brow” We distort God’s intention for work Workaholism Laziness Good work is not rewarded A project fails Lack of appropriate work

    21. Does This Mean Good Work is Gone? God promised a Redeemer God chose to limit sin— the rose remains beautiful, even with thorns We have some good relationships

    22. Part 2 Conclusion Work has been made difficult by sin All of our work includes brokenness—often from us But the reality of God’s intent is also there How does the promise of the Redeemer change our work?

    23. 3. Christ’s Redemption and Our Work Why did Christ come? What do we mean by the gospel? What is our role in sharing this good news?

    24. Christ’s Agenda “The spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor…Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke 4:18, 19, 21

    25. The Great Commission “Go and make disciples of all nations” “Baptizing them” “Teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you” Matthew 28

    26. And Our Commission “All this is from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ…And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” II Corinthians 5:19 “When Jesus called the twelve together, he gave them power and authority…to preach the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” Luke 9:1,2

    27. Salt and Light “You are the salt of the earth…” “You are the light of the world…” Matthew 5:13,14

    28. Christ Came To heal the brokenness between Us and God Each other Us and our work

    29. It Is Not Back to Eden Our mission is not only to do creative work as people of God But to bring hope and healing in this broken world

    30. A New Kind of Work after Sin Nurse Law enforcement Pastor Missionary

    31. How We Do Our Work Colossians 3:23-24 “Whatever you do work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for men…It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” I Peter 3:15 “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason of the hope you have.”

    32. Closing the Gap The right attitude about work— Hauling bricks or building a community center? Cutting grass or creating beauty?

    33. Closing the Gap The right focus for our work—struggling in relationships or bringing a sense of grace to our work. “Blessed are the peacemakers”

    34. Closing the Gap “As a software engineer, I have had the experience of creating something out of virtually nothing, which is pretty amazing. I love well crafted, elegant computer code. And I love to see people’s faces light up when they learn how to do something on the computer that previously mystified them.” Rosie Perera

    35. Closing the Gap Supporting those who are out of work Loss of work means lack of income Loss of work means loss of fulfillment

    36. What is a Kingdom Company? Treats people honorably? Treats the environment well? Gives profits to Christian causes? Creates great products and services?

    37. Who Did More for the Poor in India?

    38. Part 3 Conclusion Christ came to bring healing to the three areas of brokenness we found in Genesis 3 He has given us the ministry of reconciliation Heaven is later, but as “salt and light” we are to bring a touch of the Kingdom even now

    39. 4. The Eternal Value of Our Work But… Is our work ultimately meaningful, or only in this life? “The only thing we take into heaven with us are our relationships,” some say

    40. What Will We Be Doing in Heaven? Ruling “You have made them to be a Kingdom and priests to serve our God and they shall reign on the earth.” Revelation 5:10 Trade “And all from Sheba will come bearing gold…and proclaiming the praise of God.” Isaiah 50:6

    41. References The Heavenly Good of Earthly Work, by Darrel Cosden Surprised by Hope, by N. T. Wright “Heaven is not our Home,” by N. T. Wright, Christianity Today, April 2008

    42. Physical and Spiritual We often act as though the physical world is just an elaborate stage on which a spiritual battle is played out—Darrel Cosden Then why is the physical resurrection of Christ so important? Why is our physical resurrection so important? Why does the physical creation call all to account? (Psalm 8, Romans 1)

    43. God and Stalin

    44. Stalin would frustrate political prisoners by underscoring the meaninglessness of the work he required them to do Do we really think that God gives us meaningless work to do?

    45. N. T. Wright “When we talk with biblical precision about the resurrection, we discover an excellent foundation for lively and creative Christian work in the present world—not, as some suppose, for an escapist or quietist piety.”

    46. N. T. Wright “Thus the church that takes sacred space seriously (not as a retreat from the world but as a bridgehead into it) will go straight from worshiping in the sanctuary to debating in the council chambers, to discussing matters of town planning…”

    47. Conclusion We often, practically, reduce our work to “so that” status We do our work so that we can make a living and provide for our families We do our work so that we can be present with unbelievers to witness But God has us doing our work for him in carrying out his work in this world “It is the Lord Christ you are serving”

    48. Dennis Bakke Is Business A means for mission? A platform for mission? A mission?

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