The Christian and Work: A Theology of Creation

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The Christian and WorkA Theology of Creation

• Forest Hills Bible Chapel
• 27 January 2008

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A Couple of Common Misunderstandings

• Misunderstanding 1 Work was made necessary
  because of the Fall of humanity the sin of Adam
  and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
• Scripture says, The Lord God took the man and
  put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take
  care of it. Genesis 215

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A Couple of Common Misunderstandings

• Misunderstanding 2 There is a strong
  distinction between sacred and secular.
• Scripture says, So whether you eat or drink or
  whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
  1 Co 1031

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Our Goals in This Series

• To understand the nature of Gods marvelous
  creation ourselves, and everything around us.
• To see our work as Gods calling something for
  which He has enabled us.
• To see our work, and indeed all of our lives, as
  done to honor and glorify God.

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Distinctives of Gods Creation

• God created the world out of nothing He did it
  at His own choice, and He had no competition.
• Gods creation is distinct from Himself, and is
  inherently good God is God, and the world is
  His good world.
• God desires to have a loving relationship of
  fellowship with His creatures including humans.
• Humans are made in Gods image, and they reflect
  all that He is and does.

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Scriptural Reasons for Work

• To work is to be Godlike, as we are made in the
  image of God, who is the Creator of all things
  Genesis 11, 26-28.
• In the beginning God created the heavens and the
  earth.Then God said, Let us make man in our
  image, in our likeness, and let them rule over
  the fish of the sea and the birds of the air,
  over the livestock, over all the earth, and over
  all the creatures that move along the ground.
  27 So God created man in his own image, in the
  image of God he created him male and female he
  created them.

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Scriptural Reasons for Work

• A major issue in our society today is the need to
  create a work ethic, and not just a sense of
  entitlement.
• The American Republic will endure until the day
  Congress discovers that it can bribe the public
  with the publics money. Alexis de
  Tocqueville.
• While we bask in the glory of the work of others,
  God calls us to build on the work that others
  have done.

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Scriptural Reasons for Work

• To work biblically is to be balanced. God
  expects that we will be neither lazy, nor a
  workaholic.
• 2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he
  had been doing so on the seventh day he rested
  from all his work. 3 And God blessed the seventh
  day and made it holy, because on it he rested
  from all the work of creating that he had done
  Genesis 22-3.

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Scriptural Reasons for Work

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

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Scriptural Reasons for Work

• 9 We did this, not because we do not have the
  right to such help, but in order to make
  ourselves a model for you to follow. 10 For even
  when we were with you, we gave you this rule If
  a man will not work, he shall not eat. 11 We
  hear that some among you are idle. They are not
  busy they are busybodies. 12 Such people we
  command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to
  settle down and earn the bread they eat - 2 Thess
  36-12

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Scriptural Reasons for Work

• To work biblically is to find a sense of
  fulfillment.
• Simply put, God created us to work, and if we do
  not work, we are not fulfilled.
• 24 A man can do nothing better than to eat and
  drink and find satisfaction in his work. This
  too, I see, is from the hand of God, 25 for
  without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?
  Ecclesiastes 224-25.

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Some Final Thoughts

• Work is good it accomplishes much, and makes
  life better for all concerned.
• Work is difficult it takes a discipline that
  does not come naturally to the fallen human
  heart.
• Work provides for ourselves and others.
• Work disciplines us.
• Work requires moral discernment.
• God rewards us with joy for work done, when we in
  turn honor God in our work.

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In the Weeks to Come.

• What about my 9 to 5 job (or whatever hours you
  work)?
• What is the relationship between my 9 to 5 job,
  and my calling as a follower of Christ?
• What if I hate my job?
• How can I make a connection between my Sunday
  life and my Monday through Saturday life in a
  way that pleases God?
• What if Im retired, or simply cant work?