Why Work?

"Work is the gracious expression of creative energy in the service of others."  Dorothy Sayers, from her essay "Why Work?"

Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, taught on the biblical view of work, with I Thessalonians 4:9-12 as his text:


But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;  and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia.  But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commended you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.

A biblical view of work is revolutionary, because the guidelines and motivation are counter-cultural.  Instead of working for money, status, or identity, we work so that we will be useful to other people. Work is an expression of love.  Christians should not be a drain on the community; rather, we should be investing in the common good.  Good work is that which is beneficial to others, no matter how low paying or seemingly insignificant.

The ideal vocation for each person combines God-given talents and abilities with that person's passions.  There is a range on the spectrum of jobs according to each person's interests and abilities, that will allow each person to promote the common good by serving others.  Even if we're not in an ideal job, we should continue to work until a better job can be found, because we are not to be idle.


Why did the Apostle Paul tell the Thessalonians to work with their hands?  The Greeks and Romans believed manual labor was degrading.  They esteemed work that required the use of the mind.  But we are not to be shaped by our culture.  God had his hands in the dirt in creation.  Jesus was a carpenter.  Our job is to mirror our Creator and Lord, and not think we are above physical labor.  


We work to please God, not to appease him.  We shouldn't work out of self-interest or as a means to try to get something from God.  When we apply the gospel to our jobs, with thankful hearts  for what he has done for us, we'll work out of the sheer joy of pleasing our Master. When our motivation is right, our labors will be pleasing to the Lord and a blessing to others.