Unique Perspective

Introduction

Review

The purpose of work was the glory of God.

The pain of work is our punishment for sin.

The privilege of work will (likely) be part of our reward.

Let the pain of work push you to Jesus and the privilege of work point you to heaven.

Wanna talk tonight about how that unique theology (biblical understanding) of work ought to lead to a unique perspective on your field.

God is a worker

Keller — God is a gardener in Genesis and a carpenter in Mark

Seminary president to investment bankers — pointed to Genesis, God is creator/investor who leveraged his resources to create a new way of life, use your resources/investments to meet people’s needs

“Can you tell this to my pastor? He thinks all I care about is making money?”

Because God is a worker, work is about more than making money; it’s about being “imitators of God.” (Eph. 5:1)

Work that worships involves a change of perspective, so that we can love God with “all our minds” (Matt. 22:37)

3 Questions to Shift Your Perspective

How does my work reflect the nature of God?

The obvious ways are to be ethical and evangelistic, but we often miss this part

Because God is a worker, all good work is a reflection of God

Psalm 24:1 — “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it…” (including your field)

An example from mathematics

2+2=4

Where does 2+2=4? (everywhere — omnipresent), when? (all the time — eternal), how often? (never changes — immutable), for whom? (everyone — omnipotent/holds water no matter who you are)

Hebrews 13:8 — Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Math, like God, is omnipresent, omnipotent, immutable, and eternal

Doesn’t mean math is God, just that our world has universal laws, because their is an omnipresent, omnipotent, immutable, and eternal law-Giver, God.

So math is an outworking/reflection of God’s character/mind

Wish I’d seen that during AP Cal

Closely related are the natural sciences

Psalm 33:6 — “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.” // universal laws are the lowercase W word of God, his commands

John 1 — The logos (or divine reason) ordering the universe, John said was God himself, who came to live among us

Psalm 147:18 — “He sends his word and melts [the snow]…” // Pastors provide commentary on the Word of God (special revelation), scientists on the word of God (general revelation)

Some work looks at creation to see how it reflects the nature of God (math/science), while other careers look at God and reflect his nature to others

Arts — Our pursuit of the creation of beauty is our natural response to being image-bearers of God.

You reflect God’s glory when you make beautiful art, music, etc.

Psalm 19:1 — “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”

Law/public policy — points to the nature of God, his justice and mercy

John 1:14 — "We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Literature — Sees the power of spoken and written word to change lives, knowing it’s a reflection of our creation in the image of God

Proverbs 18:21 — “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

How does my work display the love of God?

Greg provided a great example with cybersecurity

Agriculture/environmental — Luther said the farmer is the answer for daily bread

Health/medicine — Emma as a PT

Business/economics — “Business is a holy calling.” — Lawrence Turner

Products are creative ideas

"Marketing is creativity. We take on the character and nature of God.”

Use then use those products and market them to grow a business and bring people out of poverty & change communities

How does my work anticipate the reign of God?

We'll talk more about this next week

For now, remember there is no work that will ever be perfectly seamless, because we live in a fallen world, but our work anticipates that day when he’ll make all things new

The city planner’s work anticipates the new Jerusalem, perfectly ordered

Exhortation

Non-Christians

Wrestle with this question — Why are you driven to do your work if not for a God who has made you in his image?

In your work, you are trying to reflect your Creator.

But here’s the biggest problem — your heart does not reflect His, and you need Jesus to fix that sin issue!

My hope is that you become as we are — followers of Jesus, bought by the blood, anticipating the reign of God with great joy instead of fear

Christians — Let your Christ-centered perspective on your studies give you a Christ-like attitude in your studies.