God’s View on Work
Craig Broman
1. Who has shaped your view of work?
“Work is not merely about making a living while avoiding sin, it’s about extending the kingdom rule of the Lord Jesus Christ”
2. Rest BEFORE Work, not work then rest
3. Created to Work
Genesis 2: 4-9
4. Work: a good thing gone wrong
Genesis 3:17-19, Ecclesiastes 2: 18-19
5. The ‘work’ of Jesus
John chapters 4-6
6. Work revisited
John 14:1-2
7. Never Ending Work
Revelation 22:3, 21:4, 14:13
GOING DEEPER QUESTIONS
- What/who has significantly shaped my view of work?
- How do I avoid joining the chorus of my work colleagues who are denigrating work and so reinforce a distorted view of work? What could I say or do differently in that situation?
- Discuss how being a Christan practically affects the way you work?
PRAYER POINTS
- Thank God frequently for the power He gives you to work and for work being a good thing in creation. Thank Him as you observe other people doing their work.
- Pray for God to so redeem the way you work that others may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
QUOTES FOR MOMENTS
“God makes us from the EARTH. Here we see a God with dirt under his fingernails. God digs, plants trees, and gets his hands dirty. And it’s GOOD.”
“Jesus’ goal in all his work is to get us back to life in Paradise….and so he works to purchase people back to their creator from whom they are now estranged”
“A follower of Jesus can work because they are invested in the GREAT WORK of people reconciled to God and they are prepared to talk about it to their workmates because they know this is indispensable for real life.”
“The Christian shoemaker does his duty not by putting little crosses on the shoes, but by making good shoes because God is interested in good craftsmanship” Martin Luther
RESOURCES
Work that makes a difference – Daniel Doriani Book review: https://engageworkfaith.org.au/book-review-work-that-makes-a-difference/
Joined up Life: A Christian account of how ethics work. Andrew Cameron – Book review: https://engageworkfaith.org.au/book-review-joined-up-life/
Why learn and why work? Dr Peter Adam: https://engageworkfaith.org.au/why-learn-and-why-work/
A prayer before you start your work
‘Heavenly Father, please make me the person you want me to be, prepare me to do the good works you want me to do, and help me to do them. I pray for my neighbours whom I will serve through my work today: please bless them and help them be a blessing to others. Please use me for your good purposes for this world. Please forgive my sins of learning and my sins of working. Please help me invest in my knowledge and skills for the sake of future service to others. Lord Jesus Christ, I do everything today in your name, giving thanks to God the Father and glorifying him through you. Amen’
Next Week
Craig Broman | On Rest