The Christian and Work:The Christian and Work:A Theology of CreationA Theology of Creation

Forest Hills Bible ChapelForest Hills Bible Chapel

27 January 200827 January 2008

A Couple of Common A Couple of Common MisunderstandingsMisunderstandings

Misunderstanding #1: “Work was Misunderstanding #1: “Work was made necessary because of the Fall of made necessary because of the Fall of humanity – the sin of Adam and Eve in humanity – the sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.”the Garden of Eden.”

Scripture says, “The Lord God took Scripture says, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to Eden to work it and take care of itwork it and take care of it.” .” Genesis 2:15Genesis 2:15

A Couple of Common A Couple of Common MisunderstandingsMisunderstandings

Misunderstanding #2: “There is a Misunderstanding #2: “There is a strong distinction between sacred and strong distinction between sacred and secular.”secular.”

Scripture says, “So whether you eat or Scripture says, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Co 10:31the glory of God. 1 Co 10:31

Our Goals in This SeriesOur Goals in This Series

To understand the nature of God’s To understand the nature of God’s marvelous creation – ourselves, and marvelous creation – ourselves, and everything around us.everything around us.

To see our work as God’s calling – To see our work as God’s calling – something for which He has enabled something for which He has enabled us.us.

To see our work, and indeed all of our To see our work, and indeed all of our lives, as done to honor and glorify God.lives, as done to honor and glorify God.

Distinctives of God’s CreationDistinctives of God’s Creation God created the world out of nothing; He God created the world out of nothing; He

did it at His own choice, and He had no did it at His own choice, and He had no “competition.”“competition.”

God’s creation is distinct from Himself, and God’s creation is distinct from Himself, and is inherently good – God is God, and the is inherently good – God is God, and the world is His good world.world is His good world.

God desires to have a loving relationship of God desires to have a loving relationship of fellowship with His creatures – including fellowship with His creatures – including humans.humans.

Humans are made in God’s image, and they Humans are made in God’s image, and they reflect all that He is and does.reflect all that He is and does.

Scriptural Reasons for WorkScriptural Reasons for Work

To work is to be GodlikeTo work is to be Godlike, as we are made in the , as we are made in the image of God, who is the Creator of all things – image of God, who is the Creator of all things – Genesis 1:1, 26-28.Genesis 1:1, 26-28.

In the beginning God created the heavens and In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth….Then God said, “Let us make man the earth….Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” all the creatures that move along the ground.” 27 So God created man in his own image, in 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. female he created them.

Scriptural Reasons for WorkScriptural Reasons for Work

A major issue in our society today is the A major issue in our society today is the need to create a work ethic, and not just a need to create a work ethic, and not just a sense of entitlement.sense of entitlement.

““The American Republic will endure until The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public’s money.” – the public with the public’s money.” – Alexis de Tocqueville.Alexis de Tocqueville.

While we bask in the glory of the work of While we bask in the glory of the work of others, God calls us to build on the work others, God calls us to build on the work that others have done.that others have done.

Scriptural Reasons for WorkScriptural Reasons for Work To work biblically is to be balancedTo work biblically is to be balanced . God . God

expects that we will be neither lazy, nor a expects that we will be neither lazy, nor a workaholic.workaholic.

2 By the seventh day God had finished the 2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 And God day he rested from all his work. 3 And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done – Genesis 2:2-3.creating that he had done – Genesis 2:2-3.

Scriptural Reasons for WorkScriptural Reasons for Work 6 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we 6 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we

command you, brothers, to keep away from command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from according to the teaching you received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. a burden to any of you.

Scriptural Reasons for WorkScriptural Reasons for Work 9 We did this, not because we do not have 9 We did this, not because we do not have

the right to such help, but in order to make the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. 10 For ourselves a model for you to follow. 10 For even when we were with you, we gave you even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” 11 We hear that some among you not eat.” 11 We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12 Such people we command busybodies. 12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat - 2 Thess down and earn the bread they eat - 2 Thess 3:6-123:6-12

Scriptural Reasons for WorkScriptural Reasons for Work To work biblically is to find a sense of To work biblically is to find a sense of

fulfillment.fulfillment. Simply put, God created us to work, and if Simply put, God created us to work, and if

we do not work, we are not fulfilled.we do not work, we are not fulfilled. 24 A man can do nothing better than to eat 24 A man can do nothing better than to eat

and drink and find satisfaction in his work. and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, This too, I see, is from the hand of God, 25 for without him, who can eat or find 25 for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?enjoyment? – Ecclesiastes 2:24-25.– Ecclesiastes 2:24-25.

Some Final ThoughtsSome Final Thoughts Work is good – it accomplishes much, and Work is good – it accomplishes much, and

makes life better for all concerned.makes life better for all concerned. Work is difficult – it takes a discipline that Work is difficult – it takes a discipline that

does not come naturally to the fallen human does not come naturally to the fallen human heart.heart.

Work provides for ourselves and others.Work provides for ourselves and others. Work disciplines us.Work disciplines us. Work requires moral discernment.Work requires moral discernment. God rewards us with joy for work done, God rewards us with joy for work done,

when we in turn honor God in our work.when we in turn honor God in our work.

In the Weeks to Come….In the Weeks to Come…. What about my “9 to 5” job (or whatever What about my “9 to 5” job (or whatever

hours you work)?hours you work)? What is the relationship between my “9 to What is the relationship between my “9 to

5” job, and my calling as a follower of 5” job, and my calling as a follower of Christ?Christ?

What if I hate my job?What if I hate my job? How can I make a connection between my How can I make a connection between my

“Sunday life” and my “Monday through “Sunday life” and my “Monday through Saturday life” in a way that pleases God?Saturday life” in a way that pleases God?

What if I’m retired, or simply can’t work?What if I’m retired, or simply can’t work?