Divine Dignity: Embracing Work and Rest in God
Summary
In our exploration of Genesis, we delve into the profound themes of work and rest, which are foundational to human existence. Genesis 1 and 2 reveal that work is not merely a necessity or a curse, as some ancient cultures believed, but a divine calling. God Himself worked in creation, and by doing so, He dignified all forms of labor. This challenges both Eastern and Western ancient views that saw work as either beneath the gods or as a punishment. Instead, Genesis presents work as inherently good, a part of paradise, and a reflection of God's own creative nature.
We are called to work, and this calling encompasses all types of labor, from the most menial to the most esteemed. The Bible elevates all work, showing that even God engaged in manual labor, forming man from the dust. This high view of work is unique and socially healing, as it affirms the dignity of every worker and every type of work.
To work well, we must follow three guidelines: look in, look out, and look up. We should look in to understand our gifts and talents, look out to see the needs of the world, and look up to recognize our divine calling. This approach ensures that our work is fulfilling, beneficial to others, and aligned with God's purpose for us.
However, work can become burdensome if it becomes the source of our identity and worth. Many people, like Rocky or Madonna, work not just for a living but to prove their worth. This creates a "work under the work," a deeper burden that can only be lifted by finding rest in God. Jesus Christ's finished work on the cross offers us this rest, freeing us from the need to justify our existence through our achievements.
True rest, both physical and spiritual, is essential for meaningful work. Without it, work becomes a relentless pursuit of validation. By resting in Christ's finished work, we can approach our labor with joy and purpose, knowing that our worth is already secure in God's eyes.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Divine Dignity of Work: Genesis reveals that work is a divine calling, not a curse. God Himself worked in creation, dignifying all forms of labor. This challenges ancient views that saw work as beneath the gods or as a punishment. Understanding work as a reflection of God's creative nature elevates its significance and affirms the dignity of every worker. [07:35]
2. Guidelines for Meaningful Work: To work well, we must look in, look out, and look up. This means understanding our gifts, recognizing the needs of the world, and aligning our work with God's purpose. This approach ensures that our work is fulfilling, beneficial to others, and aligned with our divine calling. [13:22]
3. The Burden of Self-Justification: Many people work to prove their worth, creating a deeper burden beneath their labor. This "work under the work" can only be lifted by finding rest in God. Jesus Christ's finished work on the cross offers us this rest, freeing us from the need to justify our existence through achievements. [29:40]
4. The Necessity of True Rest: True rest, both physical and spiritual, is essential for meaningful work. Without it, work becomes a relentless pursuit of validation. By resting in Christ's finished work, we can approach our labor with joy and purpose, knowing that our worth is already secure in God's eyes. [32:10]
5. Work as a Reflection of God's Image: We are made in the image of a Creator, and thus, we have a deep desire to create and bring order out of chaos. This reflects God's own work in creation and is a fundamental aspect of our humanity. Embracing this calling allows us to find fulfillment and purpose in our labor. [15:18]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:12] - Introduction to Genesis
[00:37] - The Relevance of Work
[01:30] - New York's Work Culture
[02:23] - The Crisis of Work
[03:40] - The Loss of Rhythms
[04:07] - The Essence of Work and Rest
[05:11] - Radical View of Work in Genesis
[06:33] - Eastern and Western Views on Work
[07:35] - The Dignity of Work in Genesis
[09:06] - Work in Paradise
[10:39] - The High View of All Work
[13:22] - Guidelines for Meaningful Work
[25:14] - The Realistic View of Work
[26:03] - The Need for Rest
[29:40] - The Work Under the Work
[32:10] - Rest in Christ's Finished Work
[35:06] - Conclusion and Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Genesis 1:26-28 - Discusses humanity's creation in God's image and the mandate to work and steward creation.
2. Genesis 2:2-3 - Describes God's rest after creation, establishing a pattern for work and rest.
3. Hebrews 4:9-10 - Speaks about entering God's rest through faith, connecting to the concept of spiritual rest.
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Genesis 1:26-28 reveal about the nature of work and humanity's role in creation?
2. How does Genesis 2:2-3 illustrate the importance of rest in the context of creation?
3. According to the sermon, how does the view of work in Genesis differ from ancient Eastern and Western perspectives? [07:35]
4. What are the three guidelines for meaningful work mentioned in the sermon, and how do they relate to the biblical passages? [13:22]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does understanding work as a divine calling, as seen in Genesis, challenge modern perceptions of work as merely a means to an end? [07:35]
2. In what ways does the concept of "work under the work" create a deeper burden, and how does finding rest in God address this issue? [29:40]
3. How does the sermon suggest that true rest, both physical and spiritual, is essential for meaningful work, and what role does faith play in this understanding? [32:10]
4. How does the idea of being made in the image of a Creator influence our approach to work and creativity? [15:18]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current work situation. How can you apply the three guidelines of looking in, looking out, and looking up to find more fulfillment in your work? [13:22]
2. Consider a time when work became a source of identity and worth for you. How can you shift your perspective to find rest in God's finished work instead? [29:40]
3. What practical steps can you take to incorporate true rest into your weekly routine, ensuring that your work is not a relentless pursuit of validation? [32:10]
4. Identify an area in your life where you can better reflect God's creative nature. How can you embrace this calling to bring order and creativity into that area? [15:18]
5. Think about a job or task you consider menial. How can you change your perspective to see it as dignified and valuable in God's eyes? [09:49]
6. How can you ensure that your work is not just about personal gain but also about serving others and fulfilling God's purpose for you? [21:28]
7. Reflect on a recent challenge at work. How can resting in Christ's finished work help you approach similar challenges with joy and purpose in the future? [32:10]
Devotional
Day 1: The Divine Dignity of Work
Work is not merely a necessity or a curse, but a divine calling that reflects God's own creative nature. Genesis 1 and 2 reveal that God Himself worked in creation, dignifying all forms of labor. This understanding challenges ancient views that saw work as beneath the gods or as a punishment. Instead, work is presented as inherently good, a part of paradise, and a reflection of God's own creative nature. By recognizing the divine dignity of work, we affirm the value and worth of every worker and every type of labor. This perspective is socially healing, as it elevates all work and acknowledges the unique contributions of each individual. [07:35]
Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 (ESV): "I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man."
Reflection: How can you view your daily work as a reflection of God's creative nature, and how does this perspective change the way you approach your tasks today?
Day 2: Guidelines for Meaningful Work
To work well, we must follow three guidelines: look in, look out, and look up. Looking in involves understanding our gifts and talents, looking out means recognizing the needs of the world, and looking up is about aligning our work with God's purpose. This approach ensures that our work is fulfilling, beneficial to others, and aligned with our divine calling. By integrating these guidelines into our daily lives, we can find joy and purpose in our labor, knowing that it serves a greater purpose beyond ourselves. This holistic view of work encourages us to be mindful of our unique contributions and the impact we have on the world around us. [13:22]
Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV): "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."
Reflection: What are your unique gifts and talents, and how can you use them to meet the needs of those around you while aligning with God's purpose for your life?
Day 3: The Burden of Self-Justification
Many people work to prove their worth, creating a deeper burden beneath their labor. This "work under the work" can only be lifted by finding rest in God. Jesus Christ's finished work on the cross offers us this rest, freeing us from the need to justify our existence through achievements. By embracing this rest, we can release the pressure to validate ourselves through our work and instead find our identity and worth in God's love and grace. This shift in perspective allows us to approach our labor with a sense of freedom and joy, knowing that our value is already secure in God's eyes. [29:40]
Galatians 2:20 (ESV): "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Reflection: In what ways have you been seeking to prove your worth through your work, and how can you begin to find rest in the finished work of Christ today?
Day 4: The Necessity of True Rest
True rest, both physical and spiritual, is essential for meaningful work. Without it, work becomes a relentless pursuit of validation. By resting in Christ's finished work, we can approach our labor with joy and purpose, knowing that our worth is already secure in God's eyes. This rest allows us to recharge and refocus, enabling us to engage in our work with renewed energy and intention. Embracing rest as a vital component of our lives helps us maintain a healthy balance between work and rest, ultimately leading to greater fulfillment and productivity. [32:10]
Hebrews 4:9-10 (ESV): "So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his."
Reflection: How can you intentionally incorporate both physical and spiritual rest into your routine this week, and what impact do you anticipate this will have on your work and overall well-being?
Day 5: Work as a Reflection of God's Image
We are made in the image of a Creator, and thus, we have a deep desire to create and bring order out of chaos. This reflects God's own work in creation and is a fundamental aspect of our humanity. Embracing this calling allows us to find fulfillment and purpose in our labor. By recognizing our work as a reflection of God's image, we can approach our tasks with a sense of purpose and creativity, knowing that we are participating in God's ongoing work in the world. This perspective encourages us to see our work as an opportunity to contribute to the flourishing of creation and to reflect God's love and creativity in all that we do. [15:18]
Genesis 1:27-28 (ESV): "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.'"
Reflection: In what ways can you reflect God's image through your work, and how can you bring creativity and order to the tasks you undertake today?
Quotes
"Genesis 1 is almost deliberately going into teeth, right in the teeth of what both Western and Eastern, what everybody else ever thought about work. It's saying work is something God does, work is something good. In fact, here what's really astounding is look at chapter 2:7, the Lord formed God the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and Man became a living being." [00:07:26]
"Genesis going out of his way to say look how good work is. Work is in the paradise. Here's Paradise, the Garden of Eden, paradise, and what's in there? Great food, beautiful things for the eye to look at, so you have food and you have Beauty and you have, as we're going to see, you have spirituality. They walk with God in the cool of the garden and you had sexuality and you had friendship and work." [00:09:16]
"All work is held up, even what we call today menial work, manual work. No matter how high and lofty your position is in society today, your ancestor was a groundskeeper. In other words, if you have this huge house at the Hampton, you know there are people you don't even know their names who take care of your grounds. That's your cousin, that's your ancestor, that's your father." [00:09:42]
"There's nothing more socially healing than to believe what the Bible tells us, and that is we are called to work and we're called to all work. All work is a calling of God. All work has dignity. All work is satisfying to something God put in us. Well, let's get to that, and by the way, is there anybody who right now has a job that's considered menial?" [00:12:21]
"Look in at what you're gifted to do, look out at what people need, and look up to the one who's called you. Look in, work because of who you are or what you're gifted to do. Number two, look out, look at the world around you and give the world what it needs to have, and look up, look at the one who's called you and realize you have to realize what you're destined to be." [00:13:51]
"Creation proper is making something totally new out of no matter at all. Only God can do that. But sub-creation, that's the word that J.R.R. Tolkien came up with, sub-creation means making something relatively new out of existing material. Sub-creation is doing what the spirit does in Chapter 1:2, which we looked at last week. The spirit hovers over the empty void matter." [00:15:12]
"Why is it so satisfying to get a job done well, whether it's business or whether it's teaching or whether it's counseling or whether it's medicine or whether it's management or whether it's groundskeeping or whether it's domestic engineering, whether it's cleaning up your own house, whether it's running a comb through somebody's hair? What are you doing? Exactly what the spirit did, bringing out of order out of chaos, bringing something new." [00:17:19]
"Do not only find work that fulfills you but find work that helps people. Find work for the common good. Find work that the world needs. You are stewards of the people around you. You've been given gifts for them. Now, here's the way the average New Yorker says, great, I'll find a job that fits my gifts and I'll make as much money as I possibly can." [00:19:34]
"John Coltrane says, I know that there's certain people I need to help, there's certain things I'm here to do, and at a certain point, he realized he'd done them. He had a sense of accomplishment. Do you see these three things? A, you look inside and realize God's given me something to do. B, you look outside and say, and I'm in the place where I need to find a job that'll be productive to other people." [00:23:41]
"You're never going to do the work you're called to, you're never going to be able to do it in this way unless you see what you've got to have in your heart of hearts in order to do work. What do you have to do? You have to rest. Now, listen, God, chapter 2, verse two, finished his work and then he rested, and then of course it goes on, though we don't have it printed here." [00:25:56]
"Until you believe that because Jesus Christ died on the cross for you and did everything necessary to fulfill the law of God, until you believe, unlike Stephen J. Gould, that the person whose approval you really need is God, that the significance you really need is to be significant in God's eyes, that security you really need is to be secure in God's arms." [00:32:08]
"Finally, you can just work. Work is just about work. It's not about you. It's not about your existence. Finally, you can do things just for their own sake. Do you realize that if you are creating your own meaning in work, the work is never about the work. It's about you. It's never about the people you're helping. It's about you." [00:33:15]
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