And now - "A Christian View of Work"

In light of my friend's useful comments on the previous post, I thought I'd do some research on what the Christian view on work is.

At the website www.preachingtodaysermons.com, I found a brief synopsis of a sermon by William Willimon titled "A Christian View of Work". The full, complete transcript of the sermon is downloadable as a Word file, but you got to pay, so at the moment I won't be downloading it ;) Nevertheless, the brief synopsis seem to provide some useful points from a Christian perspective. Here is that synopsis:

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A Christian View of Work
by William Willimon
Text: Exodus 3:1-12
Topic: How to relate to your job
Big Idea: While work may be an invitation to join in God's continuing creativity, our present structures of work are not divinely ordained.
Keywords: Work; Workaholism; Vocation; Creativity; Idolatry; Materialism; Workplace


Introduction:

• Illustration: God used a reluctant Moses to accomplish his work.
• God chooses to use humans to carry out his plans on earth.

The myth of glorified work.

• Martin Luther instilled "the Protestant work ethic" in his followers, the idea that work is God's invitation for us to join in his continuing creativity.
• Vocation comes from the Latin vocari, meaning "we are called."

The potentially degrading nature of work.

• The Protestant work ethic ended up, sometimes, validating degrading work.
• Illustration: Students today can expect to make seven job changes in their life, most due to external factors.
• Illustration: The founder of Scotland's lona community volunteered to be part of the crew that cleaned the toilets every week.

God's invitation to join the work.

• Beginning in Genesis, humanity is graciously invited by God to get in on the work.
• We have no record in the Bible that Jesus ever worked.

Work as a form of idolatry.

• Work, like any human endeavor, can be tainted by human sin.
• When work becomes the end toward which all human creativity is directed, work becomes an idol.

Work and materialism.

• The Bible is relentless in its attack on the rich.
• The Old Testament shows a remarkable concern for minute details of economic justice.
• The philosopher Albert Camus said, "Life goes rotten without work." But, Camus added, "And yet, life stifles and dies when work becomes soulless."
• Our vocation is not our job; our vocation is, in the words of the old Westminster Confession, "to glorify God and to enjoy God forever."

Right expectations of work.

• We're right to seek meaningful work.
• Making a life is more significant than making a living.
• Most of work's rewards are mundane.
  -Illustration: Thomas Moore told Duke students that maybe the goal of work ought to be friendship.
• From a Christian perspective, your work has value—not because it contributes to your well-being—but because it contributes to somebody else.

Conclusion

• Your life is not just your work.
• Look for the sort of work that makes you feel like it's part of your call from God.