Theology of Work

intro

old lion young lion

where does work originate

5 Ws : what,where,why,when,how

challenges to our understanding

exhortation and prayer

Where does work originate

Genesis 2:15 “Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.”

Curse : Genesis 3:17–19 “Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: “Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return.””

five w

WHAT works?

do good Psalm 37:27 “Depart from evil, and do good; And dwell forevermore.”

good works Ephesians 2:8–10 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

Galatians 6:10 “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

Matthew 5:43–48 ““You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

EVERYTHING Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

WHEN should we work (and not work)

before the fall Genesis 2:2–3 “And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.”

in the law Exodus 20:8–9 ““Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work,”

rhythm and ratio

gospel in creation

night then day

work then rest (through work we need God’s help; through sabbath He proves he has sustains us)

caveat Matthew 12:12 “Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.””

WHO works?

Christ in us Colossians 1:29 “To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.”

WHY should we work?

follow the Lord Psalm 128 “A Song of Ascents. Blessed is every one who fears the Lord, Who walks in His ways. When you eat the labor of your hands, You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine In the very heart of your house, Your children like olive plants All around your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed Who fears the Lord. The Lord bless you out of Zion, And may you see the good of Jerusalem All the days of your life. Yes, may you see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel!”

love like God

provide for our families 1 Timothy 5:8 “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

to have something to share Ephesians 4:28 “Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.”

bring glory to God 1 Peter 2:12 “having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

resources for ministering 1 Thessalonians 2:9 “For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.” “he who doesn’t teach his son a trade teaches him to be a thief” (popular in NT time)

HOW should we work?

By FAITH James 2:18 “But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”

Now everyone can recognize and determine for themselves when they are doing something good or not. If they find their heart confident that it pleases God, the work is good, even if it's as small as picking up a straw. If confidence is missing, or if they doubt, the work is not good, even if it could raise all the dead or if the person gives themselves to be burned. This is what St. Paul teaches in Romans 14: "Whatsoever is not done of or in faith is sin" (Rom. 14:23). Faith, as the main work, and no other work, has given us the name of "believers in Christ." For all other works, a heathen, a Jew, a Turk, or a sinner can also do; but to trust firmly that they please God is only possible for a Christian who is enlightened and strengthened by grace. -Luther

For Christ Ephesians 6:5–9 “Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.”

Honorably 1 Timothy 6:1–2 “Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed. And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.”

Suffering patiently 1 Peter 2:18–25 “Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”

Key Passages

1 Thessalonians 4:11–12 “that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.”

Continuing from last week Colossians 3:16–4:1 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them. Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality. Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.”

1 Corinthians 7:17–24 “But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches. Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters. Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.”

what about this? 2 Timothy 2:1–6 “You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops.”

first comes the natural then the spiritual

how can work become entanglement?

when it distracts and prevents from doing good

when it becomes an idol (source of fulfillment)

palm sunday?

challenges

Laziness

Sadness (Tristitia/Dejection): Self-pity, despair, or despondency, often linked to unmet desires.

Acedia (Sloth/Listlessness): Apathy, spiritual boredom, or discouragement, especially regarding spiritual progress. Proverbs 6:6–11 “Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, Which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler, Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest. How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep— So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.”

2 Thessalonians 3:10 “For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.”

Cultural lies:

life sucks, then you die

working for the man

do what you love, and you will never work a day in your life.

Work is evil (or at least a necessary evil)

1 Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

Work is useless or unimportant (not worth the effort)

Solomon’s gutters

Work as futile Ecclesiastes 2:17–18 “Therefore I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me, for all is vanity and grasping for the wind. Then I hated all my labor in which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who will come after me.”

Work as self-fulfillment

St. Augustine says: "All other vices are practiced in evil works; only honor and self-satisfaction are practiced in and by means of good works."

Conclusion: Ecclesiastes 2:24 “Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God.” repeated throughout the book

Evangelical understanding, error of the monstastics

They define good works so narrowly that they only include praying in church, fasting, and giving to the poor. They think other actions are pointless and believe that God doesn't care about them. Because of their harmful unbelief, they limit and reduce the service of God, who is served by everything done, spoken, or thought in faith. Luther

Yes, Jesus was a Teacher/Rabbi, but the greatest work was His incarnation, death, and resurrection

Work is beneath us

All of these attack our FAITH of God IN our work

Believe we worship Him in it

Believe he provides for us in it

opportunities to demonstrate His attitude (servant or king)

witness to his provision

resources to give

exhortation

REMEMBER God

ordained work, enabled us, directs us, empowers us, rewards us, sustains us

Wesley

Give all you can, Save (spend as little) as you can, Give all you can

Attitude

Gladly and Thankfully

Faithfully: favorite word: demonstrate and demand

Skillfully

Diligently

Hopefully

Purposefully

prayer

From the Library of A. W. Tozer: Selections From Writers Who Influenced His Spiritual Journey 2. Prayer and Contemplation

“Wesley’s Covenant Prayer”

I am no longer my own, but yours.

Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will.

Put me to doing, put me to suffering.

Let me be employed for you or laid aside for you,

Exalted for you or brought low for you.

Let me be full, let me be empty.

Let me have all things, let me have nothing.

I freely and heartily yield all things to your pleasure and

disposal.

And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and

Holy Spirit,

You are mine, and I am thine.

So be it.

And the covenant which I have made on earth,

Let it be ratified in heaven.

Amen.

References:

The Other Six Days by R Paul Stevens

Treatise on Good Works by Martin Luther

Doctrine of Work by Alan Richardson

Other scriptures

Psalm 104:23–24 “Man goes out to his work And to his labor until the evening. O Lord, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all. The earth is full of Your possessions—”

Amos 6:3–6 “Woe to you who put far off the day of doom, Who cause the seat of violence to come near; Who lie on beds of ivory, Stretch out on your couches, Eat lambs from the flock And calves from the midst of the stall; Who sing idly to the sound of stringed instruments, And invent for yourselves musical instruments like David; Who drink wine from bowls, And anoint yourselves with the best ointments, But are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.”

Titus 2:6–10 “Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you. Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.” ,Titus 2:14 “who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”