Every Good Endeavor

What's Every Good Endeavor about?

• Connecting Work to Faith: Every Good Endeavor by Timothy J. Keller explores how work can align with God's purpose, viewing it as a calling rather than just a job.
• Three-Part Structure: The book is divided into three sections: God's Plan for Work, Our Problems with Work, and The Gospel and Work, each addressing different aspects of work.
• Faith Integration: Keller emphasizes integrating faith into work, suggesting that our jobs can serve God and others, providing meaning and fulfillment.

Why should I read Every Good Endeavor?

• Transformative Perspective: The book challenges the conventional view of work as a necessary evil, encouraging readers to see it as a calling.
• Practical Guidance: Keller offers practical advice for navigating work complexities while maintaining faith, helping readers find purpose in daily tasks.
• Addressing Struggles: It addresses common work struggles like burnout and frustration, offering biblical wisdom to overcome these challenges.

What are the key takeaways of Every Good Endeavor?

• Work as God's Design: Keller emphasizes that work is part of God's original design, serving others and fulfilling our purpose as His image-bearers.
• Impact of the Fall: The book discusses how humanity's fall affects work, leading to frustration, and how understanding this helps navigate career challenges.
• Redemptive Work: Keller highlights that our labor can contribute to God's restoration of the world, encouraging a view of work as part of a divine narrative.

How does Timothy J. Keller define work in Every Good Endeavor?

• Work as Cultivation: Keller sees work as cultivating creation, involving physical, intellectual, and creative efforts to improve the world.
• Work as Service: He emphasizes work as a service to others, reflecting God's love and care, prioritizing others' needs in professional life.
• Work as a Calling: Keller argues that work is a divine calling, meant to fulfill our purpose and contribute to the common good.

What problems with work does Keller address in Every Good Endeavor?

• Fruitlessness of Work: Keller discusses how work can feel fruitless due to sin's effects, leading to disappointment despite diligent efforts.
• Pointlessness of Work: He addresses the existential crisis where work feels meaningless, often due to a lack of connection to a higher purpose.
• Selfishness in Work: Keller highlights how personal gain can distort work motivations, leading to unhealthy competition and lack of genuine service.

How does the gospel relate to work according to Every Good Endeavor?

• Redemption of Work: The gospel offers a redemptive perspective, seeing labor as part of God's restoration plan, promoting justice and flourishing.
• Empowerment through Faith: It empowers us to work with integrity and purpose, knowing our efforts are part of a larger divine narrative.
• Work as Worship: Keller emphasizes that work can be an act of worship, reflecting our relationship with God, encouraging reverence and dedication.

What is the significance of the "cultural mandate" in Every Good Endeavor?

• Filling and Subduing the Earth: Keller refers to the Genesis mandate, highlighting our responsibility to cultivate creation and develop culture.
• Stewardship of Creation: The mandate emphasizes stewardship, caring for and enhancing the world, a key aspect of work as God's image-bearers.
• Creating a Flourishing Society: Fulfilling the mandate involves creating a society that honors God and enables people to thrive, encouraging work for the common good.

How can I integrate my faith into my work according to Keller?

• View Work as a Calling: Keller encourages seeing work as a divine calling, transforming perspectives on daily tasks and aligning efforts with spiritual values.
• Serve Others: He emphasizes serving others through work, reflecting God's love, leading to greater fulfillment and purpose in careers.
• Seek Excellence: Keller advocates pursuing excellence in work as worship, honoring God and serving the community through quality and integrity.

What role does community play in our work according to Every Good Endeavor?

• Support and Accountability: Keller highlights community's importance for support and accountability in work, helping maintain focus on purpose and values.
• Shared Purpose: Working towards a common goal enhances impact, fostering collaboration and encouraging service to the greater good.
• Encouragement in Challenges: Community provides encouragement during work challenges, sharing struggles and successes to maintain perspective and resilience.

How does Every Good Endeavor redefine success in the workplace?

• Redefining Success: Keller challenges conventional success definitions focused on wealth and status, arguing true success is faithfulness to God's calling.
• Intrinsic Value of Work: The book emphasizes work's value is not just in achievements but in the heart and intention behind it.
• Eternal Perspective: Keller encourages viewing work in light of eternity, reminding that efforts contribute to God's kingdom and ultimate purpose.

What are the best quotes from Every Good Endeavor and what do they mean?

• “In the Lord, your labor is not in vain”: This reassures that work done in faith has eternal significance, meaningful in God's eyes despite immediate results.
• “Work is not a curse but a gift”: Keller reminds that work is fundamental to humanity, designed for good, shifting attitudes from obligation to gratitude.
• “Your work is your prayer”: This emphasizes daily tasks as acts of worship, encouraging a mindset of service to God and others.

What are some practical applications from Every Good Endeavor?

• Identifying Idols: Keller encourages identifying and confronting work-influencing idols, leading to a more authentic and fulfilling work life.
• Engaging in Community: The book emphasizes engaging with a community of believers for support, participating in vocation groups or church activities.
• Living Out the Gospel: Keller challenges living out gospel principles in work, demonstrating integrity, compassion, and excellence, serving God and others.