Every Good Endeavor

1. Work is part of God's perfect design for human life

"Work could not have a more exalted inauguration."

Divine origin of work. The Bible begins by depicting God himself working to create the world. This elevates work to a holy activity, not a necessary evil or punishment. God then places humans in the Garden of Eden to work it and care for it, showing that meaningful labor was part of paradise before sin entered the world.

Inherent human need. Work meets a basic human need, as essential as food, rest, relationships and worship. It allows us to be useful, creative, and to develop our talents. Even in retirement or unemployment, people feel an innate need to engage in productive activity and contribute to society.

Reflection of God's nature. By working, we mirror God's creative and productive nature. Work allows us to partner with God in cultivating and developing the world he created. It is through our work that we fulfill our role as stewards of creation.

2. All work has dignity as it reflects God's image in us

"No task is too small a vessel to hold the immense dignity of work given by God."

Equal dignity of all work. The Bible democratizes the concept of vocation, giving equal dignity to all types of legitimate work. Manual labor, intellectual pursuits, and leadership roles all reflect God's image and contribute to human flourishing. There is no biblical basis for looking down on certain professions as less noble or spiritual.

Beyond social status. Work has intrinsic value beyond its social status or economic rewards. A street sweeper and a surgeon can have equal dignity in their work if done to glorify God and serve others. This view challenges our tendency to judge work primarily by its prestige or earning potential.

Material world matters. Christianity affirms the goodness of the physical world God created. Unlike some philosophies that denigrate the material realm, the Bible teaches that caring for and cultivating the physical world through our work has lasting value and meaning.

3. Work is a form of service and love to others

"God milks the cows through the vocation of the milk maids."

Work as calling. The Reformation recovered the idea that all legitimate work, not just religious vocations, can be a sacred calling from God. This gives even mundane jobs profound meaning and purpose when done as service to God and neighbor.

Loving our neighbor. Our work is a primary way we love and serve our neighbors, meeting their needs through our skills and efforts. The farmer, teacher, engineer, and artist all contribute to human flourishing through their particular vocations. Excellence in our work becomes an act of love.

God's providential care. God often provides for people's needs through the work of others. The doctor, baker, sanitation worker, and countless others become instruments of God's providential care for the world. This insight infuses daily work with sacred significance.

4. The fall of humanity has made work fruitless and frustrating

"Thorns and thistles will come up as we seek to grow food."

Frustration in work. While work itself is not a curse, it now lies under the curse of sin. We experience futility, conflict, and exhaustion in our work. Our best efforts often fall short or are thwarted by circumstances beyond our control.

Unfulfilled aspirations. We can envision and aspire to far more than we can actually accomplish in our work. This gap between our ideals and the realities of a fallen world can lead to deep disappointment. Yet this very frustration can point us to our need for God.

Hope of redemption. The Christian story offers hope that our work, though imperfect now, will ultimately bear fruit in God's redeemed creation. This gives us courage to persist in our callings despite setbacks and failures.

5. Work can become pointless when divorced from its true purpose

"All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind."

Futility apart from God. When work is pursued solely for personal gain or achievement, detached from love for God and neighbor, it ultimately proves unsatisfying. Even great accomplishments feel hollow if not connected to a larger purpose.

Temporal nature of achievements. The book of Ecclesiastes points out how even our greatest works will eventually be forgotten or undone. This sobering reality challenges us to find meaning beyond temporal success or recognition.

Need for transcendent purpose. True satisfaction in work comes from connecting it to God's purposes for the world. When we see our work as part of God's plan to bless others and renew creation, it takes on profound meaning regardless of its visible results or rewards.

6. Our work often reveals our idols and misplaced priorities

"To make a name for ourselves."

Work as identity. Many people look to their work to provide their primary sense of identity, worth, and security. This makes work into an idol that can never fully satisfy these deep human needs. The gospel frees us from this idolatry by grounding our identity in God's love.

Competitive pride. The story of the Tower of Babel illustrates how work can become driven by pride and the desire to prove ourselves superior to others. This leads to exploitation, ethical compromises, and ultimately societal breakdown.

Unbalanced priorities. Our approach to work often reveals misplaced priorities, such as valuing productivity over relationships or profit over ethical concerns. The Christian worldview challenges us to reorder our priorities in light of God's values.

7. The gospel provides a new story and conception of work

"The gospel replaces the stories that animate our work."

Redemptive narrative. The Christian gospel provides a larger story that gives new meaning to our work. It sees human labor as part of God's plan to redeem and renew all of creation. This narrative infuses even ordinary tasks with eternal significance.

Common grace. The gospel helps us appreciate the good work done by all people, Christian or not, as evidence of God's common grace. This guards against both arrogance and unnecessary separation from non-Christian colleagues.

Cultural renewal. Understanding work through the lens of the gospel motivates Christians to seek the flourishing of their workplaces, professions, and society as a whole. It provides a vision for cultural renewal through excellent, ethical work in every sphere.

8. Christian faith offers a different ethical compass for work

"Christians should be known to not be ruthless."

Beyond cost-benefit analysis. Christian ethics provides a firmer foundation for integrity than mere pragmatism. It calls us to do what is right because it honors God and serves others, not just because it may benefit us in the long run.

Human dignity. The Christian belief that all humans are made in God's image provides a strong basis for treating all people with respect and fairness in the workplace. This challenges practices that exploit or dehumanize workers.

Wisdom for complex situations. Christian faith offers resources for navigating ethically complex situations at work. It provides not just rules, but wisdom rooted in the character of God and the teachings of Scripture.

9. The gospel gives new power and motivation for our work

"You can work with passion and rest, knowing that ultimately the deepest desires of your heart . . . will be fulfilled when you reach your true country."

Freedom from proving ourselves. The gospel message that we are fully accepted by God through Christ frees us from the need to prove our worth through our work. This enables us to work from a place of security rather than anxiety.

Empowering grace. Christian faith offers not just ethical guidance but spiritual power to live it out. The indwelling Holy Spirit provides wisdom, strength, and motivation to work with integrity and excellence.

Eternal perspective. The hope of eternal life and the promise of a renewed creation give Christians a long-term perspective on their work. This allows them to invest in things that may not show immediate results but have lasting value in God's kingdom.

Last updated: October 29, 2024