WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.459 Well, good evening, friends. Good to be here with you tonight. 00:00:03.080 --> 00:00:05.200 You should have a sermon outline. 00:00:05.759 --> 00:00:08.640 That'll give you some sort of an idea of the direction that we're heading 00:00:08.640 --> 00:00:11.859 as we kick off this series on work. 00:00:11.960 --> 00:00:15.419 This one is laying the groundwork and a fairly broad foundation, 00:00:15.720 --> 00:00:18.219 if you like, for the next few weeks. 00:00:18.559 --> 00:00:19.080 Let's pray. 00:00:20.179 --> 00:00:23.859 Gracious God, as we come to your word now, 00:00:23.980 --> 00:00:27.539 we pray that you would give us wisdom and insight, 00:00:27.539 --> 00:00:30.919 and we pray, Father, that particularly that you would help us to connect 00:00:30.919 --> 00:00:36.500 what we do here now and in our Christian walk 00:00:36.500 --> 00:00:40.439 with what we do from Monday to Saturday in our life. 00:00:40.740 --> 00:00:44.079 I pray, Father, we would not have that separation in life, 00:00:44.140 --> 00:00:47.840 but see it all under your sovereign hand, 00:00:48.700 --> 00:00:52.060 knowing that there is not a square inch in this universe 00:00:52.060 --> 00:00:54.379 that is not subject to the Lord Jesus. 00:00:54.380 --> 00:00:58.440 And so help us to see what we do in our works subject to him. 00:00:58.900 --> 00:01:00.820 And we pray for your glory. Amen. 00:01:03.600 --> 00:01:05.460 Monday morning feels so bad. 00:01:05.719 --> 00:01:07.400 Everybody seems to nag me. 00:01:08.040 --> 00:01:09.980 Coming Tuesday, I feel better. 00:01:10.180 --> 00:01:11.700 Even my old man looks good. 00:01:12.340 --> 00:01:13.859 Wednesday just don't go. 00:01:14.079 --> 00:01:15.420 Thursday goes too slow. 00:01:15.599 --> 00:01:17.439 I've got Friday on my mind. 00:01:18.060 --> 00:01:20.500 Going to have fun in the city and be with my girl. 00:01:20.599 --> 00:01:21.439 She's so pretty. 00:01:21.439 --> 00:01:22.739 She looks fine. 00:01:22.819 --> 00:01:23.879 She's out of sight to me. 00:01:24.019 --> 00:01:25.480 Tonight I spend my bread. 00:01:25.620 --> 00:01:26.840 Tonight I lose my head. 00:01:26.980 --> 00:01:28.159 Tonight I've got to get to bed. 00:01:28.700 --> 00:01:31.219 Monday I've got Friday on my mind. 00:01:32.459 --> 00:01:35.939 They are some of the lyrics from the song Friday on my mind, 00:01:36.060 --> 00:01:39.120 which was released in 1966 by the Easy Beats. 00:01:40.700 --> 00:01:44.579 And what's more, it sits at position number one 00:01:44.579 --> 00:01:51.920 on the list of Australia's all-time favourite songs for 47 years. 00:01:52.840 --> 00:01:54.000 That's pretty astounding. 00:01:54.759 --> 00:01:58.120 And it probably sits there because it says something about our psyche. 00:01:59.539 --> 00:02:02.879 From the day I start working, I'm looking forward to knocking off. 00:02:02.879 --> 00:02:12.620 We are the land that is known as of compo claims, false compo claims, sickies, days off, 00:02:13.439 --> 00:02:16.919 weekends, long weekends, annual leave. 00:02:17.060 --> 00:02:20.680 I was sitting with someone in Hong Kong a few weeks ago at a table, 00:02:20.680 --> 00:02:31.080 and part of this gala dinner thing that they were doing was they were auctioning off 15 nights accommodation 00:02:31.080 --> 00:02:32.680 in this resort in Thailand. 00:02:33.240 --> 00:02:35.379 And the American leans across to me and says, 00:02:35.599 --> 00:02:38.379 who gets 15 days annual leave a year? 00:02:38.379 --> 00:02:41.979 Oh, well, I do. 00:02:43.819 --> 00:02:45.139 And then a few extra. 00:02:48.400 --> 00:02:52.039 From the day I start working, I think about the day I stop working. 00:02:52.939 --> 00:02:56.359 Early retirement in our culture is the ultimate to aspire to. 00:02:56.460 --> 00:03:01.859 It's an idol even, because anything better is better than having to work. 00:03:01.859 --> 00:03:07.120 And so that means, if that's the kind of culture that we're marinating in, 00:03:07.120 --> 00:03:12.060 it means that we've got some work to do when we come to this series of work. 00:03:12.920 --> 00:03:17.580 The dominant mentality in our society is that you work to live. 00:03:18.700 --> 00:03:20.120 You work in order to live. 00:03:20.640 --> 00:03:24.060 That is, work is a means to something else. 00:03:25.120 --> 00:03:26.759 It's not a purpose in itself. 00:03:27.580 --> 00:03:32.800 And so the 90,000 hours the average person will spend in paid employment in their life 00:03:32.800 --> 00:03:36.120 is a means to something else, not a purpose in itself. 00:03:36.120 --> 00:03:40.219 90,000 hours of just purposelessness. 00:03:42.620 --> 00:03:46.020 So what does God think about the large portion of our time spent working? 00:03:46.120 --> 00:03:49.759 That's what we're going to do, look at in the next five weeks. 00:03:50.719 --> 00:03:53.460 Let me tell you straight up, in the last year, 00:03:53.580 --> 00:03:58.080 I've had a very steep learning curve on this issue of work. 00:03:58.080 --> 00:04:06.360 I was discipled as a young Christian with the thinking that because the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ 00:04:06.360 --> 00:04:09.760 is the greatest thing in all the universe, 00:04:10.220 --> 00:04:14.240 then serving the gospel is the greatest thing. 00:04:14.400 --> 00:04:19.000 And particularly to be able to serve the gospel in full-time vocational ministry 00:04:19.000 --> 00:04:21.840 is the greatest thing that you could do with your life. 00:04:21.839 --> 00:04:25.839 And so subconsciously, unintentionally, 00:04:25.939 --> 00:04:33.500 it meant that every other job wasn't as important to God as my vocation. 00:04:33.500 --> 00:04:40.860 I'd say that my overall view of work was simply unthought through. 00:04:41.920 --> 00:04:45.100 The sense that ordinary work is second class, 00:04:45.680 --> 00:04:47.519 spiritually particularly second class, 00:04:47.939 --> 00:04:50.800 wasn't so much believed and taught by me, 00:04:50.860 --> 00:04:53.139 because I always sat a little uncomfortable with it, 00:04:53.139 --> 00:04:56.159 but it would certainly have been caught from me. 00:04:57.500 --> 00:05:00.979 That is, you've never heard anything from me 00:05:00.979 --> 00:05:03.740 that suggested that God approved of secular work. 00:05:04.800 --> 00:05:12.959 We've had commissioning services for people going on short-term mission trips, 00:05:13.159 --> 00:05:14.699 for missionaries. 00:05:15.319 --> 00:05:17.879 We've had prayers for people in full-time ministry. 00:05:19.000 --> 00:05:21.599 We rejoice when someone goes to Bible college, 00:05:21.600 --> 00:05:25.439 but I've never conducted a commissioning service for teachers, 00:05:25.560 --> 00:05:29.280 for business people, for lawyers, for cleaners, for parents, and for chefs. 00:05:29.960 --> 00:05:30.760 Never done it. 00:05:33.080 --> 00:05:35.680 With the best of intentions and sincerity of heart, 00:05:35.860 --> 00:05:39.660 I have discouraged others with some faulty ideas about faith and work 00:05:39.660 --> 00:05:40.500 and how they connect. 00:05:41.040 --> 00:05:44.560 I've wrongly viewed some kinds of work to be more important than others. 00:05:44.680 --> 00:05:46.080 I have had a hierarchy of work, 00:05:46.600 --> 00:05:50.040 and I've had a narrow view of how the gospel transforms our work. 00:05:50.040 --> 00:05:59.480 I have given minority attention to what is, in effect, our majority activity. 00:06:01.800 --> 00:06:07.300 I've either failed by devaluing and ignoring your work, 00:06:07.360 --> 00:06:11.640 or I've failed by not helping you to see a more biblically robust and rigorous 00:06:11.640 --> 00:06:13.860 and God-honoring outlook on your work. 00:06:13.860 --> 00:06:18.740 And that has all sorts of complications and implications that flow from that. 00:06:19.340 --> 00:06:22.400 And so right as we kick off this series, I want to say I'm sorry. 00:06:24.240 --> 00:06:25.560 I failed in that. 00:06:26.480 --> 00:06:30.560 And I'm hoping that what we do in the next few weeks 00:06:30.560 --> 00:06:34.939 will recapture something more of a God-honoring view 00:06:34.939 --> 00:06:36.939 of what we spend most of our time doing. 00:06:36.939 --> 00:06:45.439 And particularly, I'm hoping that at the end of these five weeks 00:06:45.439 --> 00:06:48.699 that you'll be able to connect what you do on Sunday 00:06:48.699 --> 00:06:52.920 with or even what you do in your own personal spiritual devotional life 00:06:52.920 --> 00:06:56.259 with what happens with you on Monday through to Saturday. 00:06:57.379 --> 00:06:59.319 I think that it's so essential 00:06:59.319 --> 00:07:02.839 because we are now working harder and harder and faster and faster 00:07:02.839 --> 00:07:08.259 for that which is seemingly more and more meaningless. 00:07:10.719 --> 00:07:12.560 And if we could truly believe 00:07:12.560 --> 00:07:16.459 that what we do is part of God's good and eternal purposes, 00:07:17.159 --> 00:07:20.699 I think this would be a tonic more invigorating than a Red Bull 00:07:20.699 --> 00:07:22.199 and a triple shot espresso. 00:07:24.039 --> 00:07:26.779 It may even result in us waking up. 00:07:26.839 --> 00:07:29.019 And I'm not sure this is going to necessarily happen in the next five weeks, 00:07:29.079 --> 00:07:32.239 but it may result in us being able to get up on a Monday morning 00:07:32.240 --> 00:07:33.939 and instead of thinking on Friday, 00:07:34.720 --> 00:07:36.160 be able to say, thank God it's Monday. 00:07:38.519 --> 00:07:40.840 Let me just pause there and plug one resource. 00:07:41.300 --> 00:07:42.460 And that is this book, 00:07:43.340 --> 00:07:44.780 Every Good Endeavor by Tim Keller. 00:07:45.280 --> 00:07:49.360 This is astonishingly good. 00:07:50.699 --> 00:07:53.620 I didn't start my thinking here, 00:07:53.759 --> 00:07:56.900 but it has formed a lot of my thinking. 00:07:57.300 --> 00:08:00.199 So I am unashamedly ripping off Tim Keller. 00:08:00.199 --> 00:08:01.920 If you're going to rip anyone off, 00:08:02.000 --> 00:08:03.759 Tim Keller is a good guy to do it with. 00:08:04.319 --> 00:08:06.699 And so I'm unashamedly ripping him off. 00:08:06.819 --> 00:08:08.680 I'm still in the learning process in this. 00:08:09.259 --> 00:08:13.379 And what I'm doing in my couple of talks today and next week 00:08:13.379 --> 00:08:17.959 is I'm taking some of the ideas from here. 00:08:17.959 --> 00:08:19.419 But if you want a fuller picture, 00:08:19.479 --> 00:08:21.039 and particularly a fuller biblical picture, 00:08:21.519 --> 00:08:24.019 because I frankly haven't got time to do what he does 00:08:24.019 --> 00:08:27.719 in the times that we're going to be meeting together. 00:08:28.060 --> 00:08:31.319 You want a fuller and a more robust theology of vocation, 00:08:31.459 --> 00:08:32.600 work and jobs and stuff, 00:08:32.879 --> 00:08:33.699 read this book. 00:08:33.980 --> 00:08:35.460 Get it, read it, digest it. 00:08:35.519 --> 00:08:36.100 It is awesome. 00:08:36.799 --> 00:08:38.960 There's two or three at the back. 00:08:39.039 --> 00:08:39.639 Two at the back. 00:08:39.699 --> 00:08:42.120 And this is the third one that's there. 00:08:42.199 --> 00:08:43.059 So buy it tonight. 00:08:43.159 --> 00:08:44.439 Don't all rush over just yet, 00:08:44.440 --> 00:08:46.740 but be quick at the end of the service. 00:08:48.020 --> 00:08:48.920 Okay, let's kick off. 00:08:49.020 --> 00:08:52.220 The Bible begins, interestingly enough, 00:08:52.360 --> 00:08:53.660 about talking about work 00:08:53.660 --> 00:08:55.340 as soon as it begins talking about anything. 00:08:56.680 --> 00:08:59.240 That is how important and basic it is. 00:08:59.460 --> 00:09:01.960 We just had it read out there in Genesis 1 into Genesis 2. 00:09:02.380 --> 00:09:05.000 The Bible begins talking about work 00:09:05.000 --> 00:09:06.780 as soon as it begins talking about anything. 00:09:08.560 --> 00:09:12.220 Genesis describes God's creation of the world as work. 00:09:12.220 --> 00:09:13.420 It's what God does. 00:09:14.440 --> 00:09:18.440 And then it shows us human beings working in paradise. 00:09:19.480 --> 00:09:20.960 So God creates the world. 00:09:21.200 --> 00:09:22.600 He works to create the world. 00:09:22.980 --> 00:09:24.020 And then it says, 00:09:24.280 --> 00:09:26.200 a little bit further down in chapter 2, 00:09:26.740 --> 00:09:29.820 that there was no one to do work in the garden. 00:09:30.940 --> 00:09:32.440 So he created man. 00:09:35.480 --> 00:09:36.540 It's remarkable, 00:09:37.000 --> 00:09:38.820 at the end of Genesis 1, 00:09:38.940 --> 00:09:40.460 God not only works, 00:09:40.460 --> 00:09:43.200 but he actually finds delight in his work. 00:09:43.200 --> 00:09:45.080 Have a look at it there in verse 31. 00:09:45.620 --> 00:09:47.500 God saw all that he made, 00:09:47.620 --> 00:09:49.520 and it was very good. 00:09:50.500 --> 00:09:53.040 So God finds what he has done as beautiful. 00:09:53.379 --> 00:09:54.379 He stands back, 00:09:54.600 --> 00:09:57.220 takes in the whole creation that he has just made, 00:09:57.259 --> 00:09:57.700 and goes, 00:09:59.020 --> 00:09:59.700 yeah, not bad. 00:10:00.840 --> 00:10:01.420 Not bad. 00:10:03.500 --> 00:10:04.360 That's good. 00:10:04.360 --> 00:10:08.440 Like all good and satisfying work, 00:10:08.580 --> 00:10:11.320 the worker sees himself in the work. 00:10:11.940 --> 00:10:15.360 So a friend of mine came and stayed last night, 00:10:15.480 --> 00:10:16.840 and we were walking around outside, 00:10:16.980 --> 00:10:18.720 and he walks on this deck 00:10:18.720 --> 00:10:20.300 that we got out the back of the rectory, 00:10:20.379 --> 00:10:20.700 and he's going, 00:10:20.820 --> 00:10:20.940 oh, 00:10:21.899 --> 00:10:22.080 see, 00:10:22.159 --> 00:10:23.300 this is pretty solid. 00:10:23.379 --> 00:10:24.060 This is good work. 00:10:24.059 --> 00:10:24.559 And I'm like, 00:10:24.699 --> 00:10:25.939 I did that. 00:10:26.899 --> 00:10:27.779 I made that. 00:10:29.039 --> 00:10:30.519 And while we're at it, 00:10:30.559 --> 00:10:31.219 see this chair? 00:10:31.539 --> 00:10:33.699 I completely renovated this chair as well. 00:10:35.359 --> 00:10:36.619 It's something that you do. 00:10:36.979 --> 00:10:37.219 I mean, 00:10:37.259 --> 00:10:38.359 it's a bloke thing as well. 00:10:38.659 --> 00:10:39.639 You cut the grass, 00:10:39.719 --> 00:10:40.519 you pack the dishwasher. 00:10:40.899 --> 00:10:42.059 Did you notice what I did? 00:10:42.059 --> 00:10:47.339 You did a good job, 00:10:47.479 --> 00:10:47.819 Steve. 00:10:49.539 --> 00:10:51.399 Even my girls learned to do that. 00:10:51.619 --> 00:10:51.799 You know, 00:10:52.579 --> 00:10:53.279 Izzy comes along, 00:10:53.339 --> 00:10:53.500 Daddy, 00:10:53.579 --> 00:10:55.299 you cut the grass really well. 00:10:56.059 --> 00:10:57.879 She's going to be a great wife one day. 00:10:59.699 --> 00:11:01.219 She's just fantastic. 00:11:04.379 --> 00:11:05.219 Genesis 2, 00:11:06.059 --> 00:11:07.559 there's more to being a great wife 00:11:07.559 --> 00:11:08.179 than just, 00:11:08.239 --> 00:11:08.699 you know, 00:11:08.859 --> 00:11:10.039 propping up your husband's ego. 00:11:10.339 --> 00:11:11.559 I can say that. 00:11:12.059 --> 00:11:13.819 Genesis 2 goes on to show 00:11:13.819 --> 00:11:15.359 that God works 00:11:15.359 --> 00:11:17.619 not only to create, 00:11:17.739 --> 00:11:19.219 but also to care for his creation. 00:11:19.759 --> 00:11:21.579 God creates human beings 00:11:21.579 --> 00:11:23.319 and then he works for them 00:11:23.319 --> 00:11:24.179 as their provider. 00:11:24.319 --> 00:11:26.419 So in verse 7 of chapter 2, 00:11:26.500 --> 00:11:27.739 he forms the man, 00:11:28.479 --> 00:11:29.679 he plants a garden for him 00:11:29.679 --> 00:11:31.439 and waters it in verses 6 to 8 00:11:31.439 --> 00:11:33.299 and fashions a wife for him 00:11:33.299 --> 00:11:35.059 in verses 21 and 22. 00:11:35.479 --> 00:11:36.559 And the rest of the Bible 00:11:36.559 --> 00:11:38.259 tells us that God continues 00:11:38.259 --> 00:11:40.259 to do this work of providing, 00:11:40.679 --> 00:11:41.539 caring for the world, 00:11:41.559 --> 00:11:43.539 by watering and cultivating the ground. 00:11:43.959 --> 00:11:44.479 For instance, 00:11:44.559 --> 00:11:46.719 in Psalm 104 verses 10 to 22, 00:11:47.339 --> 00:11:49.259 giving food to all that he's made, 00:11:49.739 --> 00:11:51.539 giving help to all who suffer 00:11:51.539 --> 00:11:52.559 and caring for the needs 00:11:52.559 --> 00:11:53.939 of every living thing, 00:11:54.239 --> 00:11:57.679 according to Psalm 145 verses 14 to 16. 00:11:58.779 --> 00:12:00.479 But we also see in Genesis 00:12:00.479 --> 00:12:02.279 that not only is God working, 00:12:02.419 --> 00:12:04.559 but he's commissioning workers 00:12:04.559 --> 00:12:05.959 to carry out his work. 00:12:06.919 --> 00:12:08.079 That's the point there in, 00:12:08.879 --> 00:12:09.799 I forget which verse it is, 00:12:09.799 --> 00:12:10.279 where God says, 00:12:10.359 --> 00:12:11.379 there's no one to do the work. 00:12:11.759 --> 00:12:13.339 He wants someone to do the work 00:12:13.339 --> 00:12:14.959 to carry out his work. 00:12:15.859 --> 00:12:18.139 And so in Genesis chapter 1 verse 28, 00:12:18.299 --> 00:12:19.459 he tells human beings 00:12:19.459 --> 00:12:21.120 to fill the earth 00:12:21.120 --> 00:12:22.539 and subdue it. 00:12:23.439 --> 00:12:26.179 And so that command there 00:12:26.179 --> 00:12:28.019 is a lot more than just have babies. 00:12:28.799 --> 00:12:30.240 A lot more than just have babies. 00:12:30.240 --> 00:12:34.200 And great reformers like Luther and Calvin 00:12:34.200 --> 00:12:37.399 have specifically expanded upon that 00:12:37.399 --> 00:12:40.539 and what it means to feel and subdue the earth. 00:12:40.700 --> 00:12:41.519 At the very least, 00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:43.340 the word subdue indicates 00:12:43.340 --> 00:12:46.639 that though all that God has made is good, 00:12:47.180 --> 00:12:49.240 it was still in a great degree undeveloped. 00:12:49.879 --> 00:12:52.200 And so part of the work of people 00:12:52.200 --> 00:12:56.019 is to develop God's ongoing creative work, 00:12:56.620 --> 00:12:57.519 to develop further, 00:12:57.519 --> 00:12:58.759 to grow it, 00:12:59.079 --> 00:13:00.100 to expand it, 00:13:00.639 --> 00:13:01.460 to make it good. 00:13:02.679 --> 00:13:03.919 God left creation 00:13:03.919 --> 00:13:06.840 with deep, untapped potential 00:13:06.840 --> 00:13:07.759 for cultivation 00:13:07.759 --> 00:13:10.220 that people were to unlock 00:13:10.220 --> 00:13:11.279 through their labor. 00:13:12.340 --> 00:13:15.799 You'll see in Genesis chapter 2 verse 15 00:13:15.799 --> 00:13:17.639 that he puts Adam and Eve 00:13:17.639 --> 00:13:18.439 into the garden 00:13:18.439 --> 00:13:19.240 to work it 00:13:19.240 --> 00:13:20.439 and to keep it. 00:13:20.440 --> 00:13:24.260 And so while God works for us 00:13:24.260 --> 00:13:25.260 as provider, 00:13:26.200 --> 00:13:27.900 we also work for him. 00:13:28.860 --> 00:13:30.760 He works through us. 00:13:32.440 --> 00:13:33.740 And so the book of Genesis 00:13:33.740 --> 00:13:36.300 leaves us with a striking truth. 00:13:37.220 --> 00:13:39.920 Work was part of paradise. 00:13:43.040 --> 00:13:44.560 God's good plan 00:13:44.560 --> 00:13:46.200 and creation 00:13:46.200 --> 00:13:48.480 always included 00:13:48.480 --> 00:13:49.379 human beings 00:13:49.379 --> 00:13:51.560 living in a constant cycle 00:13:51.560 --> 00:13:53.080 of work and rest. 00:13:54.020 --> 00:13:54.860 Work and rest. 00:13:56.120 --> 00:13:58.100 It was part of God's perfect design 00:13:58.100 --> 00:13:59.259 for human life 00:13:59.259 --> 00:14:00.860 because we are made 00:14:00.860 --> 00:14:01.900 in the image of God 00:14:01.900 --> 00:14:03.740 and part of his glory 00:14:03.740 --> 00:14:04.520 and happiness 00:14:04.520 --> 00:14:06.640 is that he works. 00:14:08.840 --> 00:14:10.180 As does the Lord Jesus 00:14:10.180 --> 00:14:12.560 who says in John chapter 5 verse 17, 00:14:12.559 --> 00:14:14.599 My father is always 00:14:14.599 --> 00:14:15.579 at his work 00:14:15.579 --> 00:14:16.699 to this very day 00:14:16.699 --> 00:14:18.859 and I too 00:14:18.859 --> 00:14:19.759 am working. 00:14:21.279 --> 00:14:22.479 So it's startling 00:14:22.479 --> 00:14:23.279 to think that God 00:14:23.279 --> 00:14:25.000 made work part of paradise. 00:14:26.359 --> 00:14:27.339 Many people 00:14:27.339 --> 00:14:28.959 make the mistake 00:14:28.959 --> 00:14:29.859 of thinking that 00:14:29.859 --> 00:14:32.239 work is a curse 00:14:32.239 --> 00:14:34.539 and that something else, 00:14:35.699 --> 00:14:36.919 leisure, family, 00:14:37.619 --> 00:14:38.679 spiritual pursuits 00:14:38.679 --> 00:14:40.259 is the only way 00:14:40.259 --> 00:14:41.599 to find the meaning of life. 00:14:42.559 --> 00:14:47.579 The Bible, I think, 00:14:47.719 --> 00:14:48.739 exposes the lie 00:14:48.739 --> 00:14:49.399 of that idea. 00:14:51.539 --> 00:14:52.919 Work wasn't introduced 00:14:52.919 --> 00:14:54.819 as part of the brokenness 00:14:54.819 --> 00:14:56.159 and the curse of sin. 00:14:56.679 --> 00:14:58.899 Work is part of the blessedness 00:14:58.899 --> 00:15:00.159 of the garden of God. 00:15:01.839 --> 00:15:03.339 Work is much 00:15:03.339 --> 00:15:04.759 a basic human need 00:15:04.759 --> 00:15:05.639 as food 00:15:05.639 --> 00:15:07.199 and beauty 00:15:07.199 --> 00:15:07.899 and rest 00:15:07.899 --> 00:15:08.500 and friendship 00:15:08.500 --> 00:15:09.259 and prayer 00:15:09.259 --> 00:15:10.139 and sexuality. 00:15:10.739 --> 00:15:11.939 It is not simply 00:15:11.940 --> 00:15:12.560 medicine, 00:15:12.940 --> 00:15:13.960 it is food 00:15:13.960 --> 00:15:14.700 for the soul. 00:15:18.700 --> 00:15:19.780 According to the Bible, 00:15:20.660 --> 00:15:21.760 we don't merely 00:15:21.760 --> 00:15:23.040 need the money 00:15:23.040 --> 00:15:24.200 from work 00:15:24.200 --> 00:15:25.560 in order to survive. 00:15:26.260 --> 00:15:27.380 We need the work 00:15:27.380 --> 00:15:27.920 itself 00:15:27.920 --> 00:15:28.700 to survive 00:15:28.700 --> 00:15:30.340 and to live 00:15:30.340 --> 00:15:32.140 fully human lives. 00:15:32.680 --> 00:15:33.560 So rather than 00:15:33.560 --> 00:15:34.600 working to live, 00:15:34.760 --> 00:15:35.980 which is the dominant 00:15:35.980 --> 00:15:38.200 marinade, 00:15:39.460 --> 00:15:39.800 if you like, 00:15:39.820 --> 00:15:40.460 of the culture 00:15:40.460 --> 00:15:41.320 in which we're soaking, 00:15:43.160 --> 00:15:44.500 we live to work. 00:15:46.220 --> 00:15:47.139 Instead of 00:15:47.139 --> 00:15:48.160 working to live, 00:15:48.460 --> 00:15:49.400 we live to work 00:15:49.400 --> 00:15:50.320 is closer 00:15:50.320 --> 00:15:51.200 to the biblical idea. 00:15:52.259 --> 00:15:52.560 And I think 00:15:52.560 --> 00:15:53.519 that's what the Apostle Paul 00:15:53.519 --> 00:15:55.139 says in 2 Thessalonians 00:15:55.139 --> 00:15:56.200 3.10 00:15:56.200 --> 00:15:57.200 where he says, 00:15:57.340 --> 00:15:57.740 if anyone 00:15:57.740 --> 00:15:58.560 is not willing 00:15:58.560 --> 00:15:59.120 to work, 00:15:59.440 --> 00:16:00.780 let him not eat. 00:16:01.180 --> 00:16:01.940 He makes 00:16:01.940 --> 00:16:02.560 the issue 00:16:02.560 --> 00:16:03.280 of work 00:16:03.280 --> 00:16:04.720 a life and death 00:16:04.720 --> 00:16:05.139 matter. 00:16:05.740 --> 00:16:06.620 If you don't eat, 00:16:06.980 --> 00:16:07.560 you die. 00:16:07.559 --> 00:16:10.179 Paul does not 00:16:10.179 --> 00:16:10.859 rebuke those 00:16:10.859 --> 00:16:11.979 who can't work 00:16:11.979 --> 00:16:13.319 for whatever reason, 00:16:13.979 --> 00:16:15.459 but he does say 00:16:15.459 --> 00:16:16.599 an unwillingness 00:16:16.599 --> 00:16:17.139 to work 00:16:17.139 --> 00:16:17.939 is not 00:16:17.939 --> 00:16:18.959 a trivial thing. 00:16:20.079 --> 00:16:20.659 For anyone 00:16:20.659 --> 00:16:21.379 to refuse 00:16:21.379 --> 00:16:21.919 to work 00:16:21.919 --> 00:16:22.899 is a fundamental 00:16:22.899 --> 00:16:23.679 violation 00:16:23.679 --> 00:16:24.839 of God's 00:16:24.839 --> 00:16:25.819 creation design 00:16:25.819 --> 00:16:26.699 for humanity. 00:16:28.319 --> 00:16:29.119 But of course, 00:16:29.199 --> 00:16:29.719 what the Bible 00:16:29.719 --> 00:16:30.559 does is it 00:16:30.559 --> 00:16:31.219 stops us 00:16:31.219 --> 00:16:31.739 from falling 00:16:31.739 --> 00:16:32.579 into the opposite 00:16:32.579 --> 00:16:33.239 mistake, 00:16:33.859 --> 00:16:34.799 namely that work 00:16:34.799 --> 00:16:35.500 is the only 00:16:35.500 --> 00:16:36.559 important human 00:16:36.559 --> 00:16:37.080 activity. 00:16:37.879 --> 00:16:39.019 Work is not 00:16:39.019 --> 00:16:39.779 all that there 00:16:39.779 --> 00:16:40.460 is to life. 00:16:40.539 --> 00:16:41.080 There is more 00:16:41.080 --> 00:16:41.500 to life 00:16:41.500 --> 00:16:42.039 than work. 00:16:42.860 --> 00:16:43.480 You will not 00:16:43.480 --> 00:16:44.899 have a meaningful 00:16:44.899 --> 00:16:46.100 life without work, 00:16:46.139 --> 00:16:46.840 but you cannot 00:16:46.840 --> 00:16:47.799 say that your work 00:16:47.799 --> 00:16:48.360 is the meaning 00:16:48.360 --> 00:16:49.080 of your life. 00:16:50.220 --> 00:16:51.299 If you make 00:16:51.299 --> 00:16:52.200 any work 00:16:52.200 --> 00:16:52.659 the purpose 00:16:52.659 --> 00:16:53.440 of your life, 00:16:53.980 --> 00:16:54.840 even if that 00:16:54.840 --> 00:16:55.940 is church 00:16:55.940 --> 00:16:57.220 ministry work, 00:16:57.700 --> 00:16:58.320 you create 00:16:58.320 --> 00:16:58.740 an idol 00:16:58.740 --> 00:16:59.360 that rivals 00:16:59.360 --> 00:16:59.840 God. 00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:01.580 Your relationship 00:17:01.580 --> 00:17:02.159 with God 00:17:02.159 --> 00:17:03.039 is the most 00:17:03.039 --> 00:17:04.380 important foundation 00:17:04.380 --> 00:17:05.380 for your life 00:17:05.380 --> 00:17:06.280 and indeed 00:17:06.280 --> 00:17:06.740 it keeps 00:17:06.740 --> 00:17:07.700 every other 00:17:07.700 --> 00:17:08.460 factor within 00:17:08.460 --> 00:17:09.020 balance, 00:17:09.300 --> 00:17:09.840 your work, 00:17:09.920 --> 00:17:10.340 your friendships, 00:17:10.480 --> 00:17:10.920 your family, 00:17:11.020 --> 00:17:11.420 your leisure, 00:17:11.520 --> 00:17:12.000 your pleasure, 00:17:12.980 --> 00:17:13.640 keeps all 00:17:13.640 --> 00:17:14.040 those other 00:17:14.040 --> 00:17:14.520 factors from 00:17:14.520 --> 00:17:15.360 becoming so 00:17:15.360 --> 00:17:16.040 important to 00:17:16.040 --> 00:17:17.080 you that 00:17:17.080 --> 00:17:17.580 it becomes 00:17:17.580 --> 00:17:18.900 addicting 00:17:18.900 --> 00:17:21.340 and distorted. 00:17:23.100 --> 00:17:23.820 So work 00:17:23.820 --> 00:17:24.180 is something 00:17:24.180 --> 00:17:24.580 that God 00:17:24.580 --> 00:17:26.500 does and 00:17:26.500 --> 00:17:27.200 it is designed 00:17:27.200 --> 00:17:27.560 and created 00:17:27.560 --> 00:17:28.140 by God 00:17:28.140 --> 00:17:28.680 for us to 00:17:28.680 --> 00:17:29.340 do as 00:17:29.340 --> 00:17:29.940 his image 00:17:29.940 --> 00:17:30.500 bearers. 00:17:31.340 --> 00:17:32.320 Now I think 00:17:32.320 --> 00:17:33.260 I should just 00:17:33.260 --> 00:17:34.060 pause there for a 00:17:34.059 --> 00:17:34.579 moment and 00:17:34.579 --> 00:17:35.559 explain what I 00:17:35.559 --> 00:17:36.639 mean by work 00:17:36.639 --> 00:17:37.940 otherwise 00:17:37.940 --> 00:17:39.119 those who 00:17:39.119 --> 00:17:39.899 are retired, 00:17:41.119 --> 00:17:42.859 the unemployed, 00:17:42.980 --> 00:17:43.460 the students, 00:17:43.599 --> 00:17:44.099 the children, 00:17:44.399 --> 00:17:45.240 the stay-at-home 00:17:45.240 --> 00:17:46.099 mums or dads 00:17:46.099 --> 00:17:47.240 are just going to 00:17:47.240 --> 00:17:47.779 switch off for 00:17:47.779 --> 00:17:48.299 the next five 00:17:48.299 --> 00:17:49.819 weeks and go 00:17:49.819 --> 00:17:50.419 this is not 00:17:50.419 --> 00:17:51.039 for me. 00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:53.299 The biblical 00:17:53.299 --> 00:17:54.279 and I want to 00:17:54.279 --> 00:17:54.879 say it is for 00:17:54.879 --> 00:17:55.559 you so listen 00:17:55.559 --> 00:17:57.500 it is for you. 00:17:58.279 --> 00:17:58.879 The biblical 00:17:58.879 --> 00:17:59.899 idea of work 00:17:59.899 --> 00:18:00.619 has its meaning 00:18:00.619 --> 00:18:01.200 in the word 00:18:01.200 --> 00:18:02.059 vocation. 00:18:02.059 --> 00:18:03.899 Unfortunately 00:18:03.899 --> 00:18:04.879 the classical 00:18:04.879 --> 00:18:05.799 understanding 00:18:05.799 --> 00:18:06.940 of vocation 00:18:06.940 --> 00:18:07.399 has been 00:18:07.399 --> 00:18:08.500 mostly exchanged 00:18:08.500 --> 00:18:09.460 today for 00:18:09.460 --> 00:18:09.919 what is 00:18:09.919 --> 00:18:10.619 essentially 00:18:10.619 --> 00:18:11.579 amounts to 00:18:11.579 --> 00:18:12.480 skills training 00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:13.119 for specific 00:18:13.119 --> 00:18:13.619 jobs. 00:18:14.200 --> 00:18:14.679 The idea of 00:18:14.679 --> 00:18:15.359 vocation is 00:18:15.359 --> 00:18:15.720 gone. 00:18:16.339 --> 00:18:16.759 One of the 00:18:16.759 --> 00:18:17.500 major differences 00:18:17.500 --> 00:18:18.299 between a 00:18:18.299 --> 00:18:19.299 vocation and 00:18:19.299 --> 00:18:20.480 a job is 00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:21.179 that someone 00:18:21.179 --> 00:18:22.319 calls you to 00:18:22.319 --> 00:18:23.039 a vocation. 00:18:23.799 --> 00:18:24.460 That's what 00:18:24.460 --> 00:18:25.000 in fact the 00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:25.659 word means. 00:18:26.019 --> 00:18:26.259 The word 00:18:26.259 --> 00:18:27.079 vocation means 00:18:27.079 --> 00:18:27.740 a calling. 00:18:27.740 --> 00:18:30.299 So when I 00:18:30.299 --> 00:18:31.079 talk about 00:18:31.079 --> 00:18:32.779 work I 00:18:32.779 --> 00:18:33.759 mean calling. 00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:34.339 I mean 00:18:34.339 --> 00:18:35.120 vocation. 00:18:35.240 --> 00:18:35.599 That's what I 00:18:35.599 --> 00:18:35.819 mean. 00:18:36.079 --> 00:18:36.660 I don't mean 00:18:36.660 --> 00:18:37.680 a job. 00:18:38.120 --> 00:18:38.740 I don't mean 00:18:38.740 --> 00:18:40.380 nine to five 00:18:40.380 --> 00:18:41.299 job sort of 00:18:41.299 --> 00:18:41.539 thing. 00:18:42.579 --> 00:18:43.099 So understood 00:18:43.099 --> 00:18:43.700 in a correct 00:18:43.700 --> 00:18:44.059 way in a 00:18:44.059 --> 00:18:44.779 biblical way 00:18:44.779 --> 00:18:45.539 Christian 00:18:45.539 --> 00:18:46.740 vocation is 00:18:46.740 --> 00:18:48.299 centered in a 00:18:48.299 --> 00:18:49.319 sovereign God 00:18:49.319 --> 00:18:50.420 who calls us 00:18:50.420 --> 00:18:51.420 to embrace the 00:18:51.420 --> 00:18:52.500 gospel of the 00:18:52.500 --> 00:18:53.019 Lord Jesus 00:18:53.019 --> 00:18:54.279 Christ and to 00:18:54.279 --> 00:18:54.880 follow him in 00:18:54.880 --> 00:18:55.279 the power of 00:18:55.279 --> 00:18:56.019 the Holy Spirit. 00:18:56.019 --> 00:18:57.099 And so our 00:18:57.099 --> 00:18:57.759 first and 00:18:57.759 --> 00:18:58.819 primary calling 00:18:58.819 --> 00:18:59.940 is to Christ. 00:19:00.019 --> 00:19:00.279 We're being 00:19:00.279 --> 00:19:01.539 called by God 00:19:01.539 --> 00:19:02.240 into relationship 00:19:02.240 --> 00:19:02.799 with himself 00:19:02.799 --> 00:19:03.619 through the 00:19:03.619 --> 00:19:04.019 Lord Jesus 00:19:04.019 --> 00:19:04.539 Christ. 00:19:04.779 --> 00:19:05.259 So if you're 00:19:05.259 --> 00:19:05.819 Christian that 00:19:05.819 --> 00:19:06.500 is your primary 00:19:06.500 --> 00:19:07.920 calling and 00:19:07.920 --> 00:19:08.839 that governs 00:19:08.839 --> 00:19:09.500 every other 00:19:09.500 --> 00:19:10.019 calling in 00:19:10.019 --> 00:19:10.359 life. 00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:13.019 But under 00:19:13.019 --> 00:19:13.859 that we all 00:19:13.859 --> 00:19:15.220 have secondary 00:19:15.220 --> 00:19:16.039 callings. 00:19:16.920 --> 00:19:18.019 A secondary 00:19:18.019 --> 00:19:19.139 position in 00:19:19.139 --> 00:19:20.019 life in which 00:19:20.019 --> 00:19:21.200 we live out 00:19:21.200 --> 00:19:22.379 our primary 00:19:22.379 --> 00:19:24.319 calling to 00:19:24.319 --> 00:19:24.759 Christ. 00:19:24.759 --> 00:19:24.819 Christ. 00:19:26.039 --> 00:19:27.000 And even 00:19:27.000 --> 00:19:27.619 though it's a 00:19:27.619 --> 00:19:28.420 secondary calling 00:19:28.420 --> 00:19:29.460 we must not 00:19:29.460 --> 00:19:30.579 minimize or 00:19:30.579 --> 00:19:31.640 devalue it. 00:19:33.180 --> 00:19:34.319 What makes the 00:19:34.319 --> 00:19:35.140 secondary calling 00:19:35.140 --> 00:19:36.740 significant is 00:19:36.740 --> 00:19:37.680 that God is the 00:19:37.680 --> 00:19:38.259 one who has 00:19:38.259 --> 00:19:39.299 called us to a 00:19:39.299 --> 00:19:40.279 life of service 00:19:40.279 --> 00:19:41.379 and contribution 00:19:41.379 --> 00:19:42.160 to society. 00:19:42.619 --> 00:19:43.619 That's basically 00:19:43.619 --> 00:19:44.359 the idea of 00:19:44.359 --> 00:19:45.299 1 Corinthians 7. 00:19:47.299 --> 00:19:48.480 So first and 00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:49.319 foremost work 00:19:49.319 --> 00:19:50.779 vocation is 00:19:50.779 --> 00:19:51.519 not about 00:19:51.519 --> 00:19:52.759 economic exchange. 00:19:52.759 --> 00:19:53.460 It's not 00:19:53.460 --> 00:19:54.279 about financial 00:19:54.279 --> 00:19:55.559 remuneration or 00:19:55.559 --> 00:19:56.319 a pathway to 00:19:56.319 --> 00:19:56.859 the Australian 00:19:56.859 --> 00:19:57.779 dream but 00:19:57.779 --> 00:19:58.640 about God 00:19:58.640 --> 00:20:00.039 honoring activity 00:20:00.039 --> 00:20:01.160 and contribution 00:20:01.160 --> 00:20:02.740 and the 00:20:02.740 --> 00:20:03.519 building up of 00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:04.039 society. 00:20:04.859 --> 00:20:05.819 That's vocation 00:20:05.819 --> 00:20:06.440 under God. 00:20:06.700 --> 00:20:07.259 Our work, our 00:20:07.259 --> 00:20:07.920 vocation, our 00:20:07.920 --> 00:20:08.379 calling, our 00:20:08.379 --> 00:20:08.920 position in 00:20:08.920 --> 00:20:09.680 life, whatever 00:20:09.680 --> 00:20:10.720 it is, whether 00:20:10.720 --> 00:20:11.339 we are paid 00:20:11.339 --> 00:20:12.960 for it or not, 00:20:13.480 --> 00:20:14.299 is our 00:20:14.299 --> 00:20:15.539 specific human 00:20:15.539 --> 00:20:19.720 contribution to 00:20:19.720 --> 00:20:20.339 the ongoing 00:20:20.339 --> 00:20:21.900 creation and 00:20:21.900 --> 00:20:22.680 to the common 00:20:22.680 --> 00:20:23.319 good of 00:20:23.319 --> 00:20:23.900 society. 00:20:24.779 --> 00:20:26.460 Tim Keller, I'm 00:20:26.460 --> 00:20:26.819 not sure if he 00:20:26.819 --> 00:20:27.319 says it in the 00:20:27.319 --> 00:20:27.720 book, I don't 00:20:27.720 --> 00:20:28.380 recall him saying 00:20:28.380 --> 00:20:28.799 it there, but he 00:20:28.799 --> 00:20:29.420 certainly said it 00:20:29.420 --> 00:20:30.259 at the conference 00:20:30.259 --> 00:20:31.279 we're at, that 00:20:31.279 --> 00:20:32.720 his view is that 00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:33.839 work is everything 00:20:33.839 --> 00:20:34.740 in your life 00:20:34.740 --> 00:20:36.200 except your 00:20:36.200 --> 00:20:37.299 Sabbath rest and 00:20:37.299 --> 00:20:37.779 your leisure. 00:20:39.559 --> 00:20:40.500 It's everything 00:20:40.500 --> 00:20:40.940 else. 00:20:43.700 --> 00:20:44.680 Including me 00:20:44.680 --> 00:20:47.200 cutting the 00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:47.660 grass. 00:20:47.660 --> 00:20:51.680 depending on 00:20:51.680 --> 00:20:52.460 whether or not I 00:20:52.460 --> 00:20:53.100 regard that as 00:20:53.100 --> 00:20:53.640 leisure or not. 00:20:57.759 --> 00:20:59.259 And I think 00:20:59.259 --> 00:20:59.759 this is the 00:20:59.759 --> 00:21:00.640 point here in 00:21:00.640 --> 00:21:01.420 1 Corinthians 7 00:21:01.420 --> 00:21:02.340 17, the word 00:21:02.340 --> 00:21:03.100 called is used 00:21:03.100 --> 00:21:03.820 eight times. 00:21:04.340 --> 00:21:05.259 What is primary 00:21:05.259 --> 00:21:05.580 there? 00:21:05.700 --> 00:21:06.720 It is God who 00:21:06.720 --> 00:21:07.220 calls. 00:21:08.740 --> 00:21:09.380 Being called into 00:21:09.380 --> 00:21:09.940 relationship with 00:21:09.940 --> 00:21:10.200 God. 00:21:10.580 --> 00:21:11.080 And the second 00:21:11.080 --> 00:21:11.759 thing that flows 00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:12.740 out from that is 00:21:12.740 --> 00:21:13.480 that God who 00:21:13.480 --> 00:21:14.160 calls us into 00:21:14.160 --> 00:21:14.580 relationship with 00:21:14.580 --> 00:21:15.300 him and it is 00:21:15.300 --> 00:21:16.540 God who assigns 00:21:16.540 --> 00:21:16.980 us certain 00:21:16.980 --> 00:21:17.620 positions in 00:21:17.619 --> 00:21:18.000 life. 00:21:19.079 --> 00:21:19.699 And he says 00:21:19.699 --> 00:21:20.059 they're be 00:21:20.059 --> 00:21:20.759 content with 00:21:20.759 --> 00:21:21.299 those positions 00:21:21.299 --> 00:21:21.639 in life. 00:21:22.239 --> 00:21:22.859 So Martin 00:21:22.859 --> 00:21:24.019 Luther's idea 00:21:24.019 --> 00:21:25.539 that there is 00:21:25.539 --> 00:21:26.500 no hierarchy. 00:21:27.299 --> 00:21:28.359 There is no 00:21:28.359 --> 00:21:29.500 hierarchy in 00:21:29.500 --> 00:21:31.139 your calling in 00:21:31.139 --> 00:21:31.679 life, in your 00:21:31.679 --> 00:21:32.519 assigned positions, 00:21:32.519 --> 00:21:34.000 because God is 00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:34.919 the one who 00:21:34.919 --> 00:21:35.379 gives it. 00:21:38.259 --> 00:21:38.759 And so over 00:21:38.759 --> 00:21:39.199 the years, 00:21:39.299 --> 00:21:39.759 however, the 00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:40.359 primary and 00:21:40.359 --> 00:21:41.339 secondary callings 00:21:41.339 --> 00:21:42.459 have been, 00:21:42.799 --> 00:21:43.599 if you like, 00:21:43.699 --> 00:21:44.279 unhelpfully 00:21:44.279 --> 00:21:45.000 separated. 00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:45.720 And we 00:21:45.720 --> 00:21:46.599 have put a 00:21:46.599 --> 00:21:47.440 hierarchy in 00:21:47.440 --> 00:21:47.960 place. 00:21:48.920 --> 00:21:49.460 In its 00:21:49.460 --> 00:21:50.640 early historical 00:21:50.640 --> 00:21:51.279 development in 00:21:51.279 --> 00:21:52.039 Christian theology, 00:21:52.519 --> 00:21:53.259 vocation was 00:21:53.259 --> 00:21:53.819 understood to 00:21:53.819 --> 00:21:54.180 mean that 00:21:54.180 --> 00:21:54.839 everyone is 00:21:54.839 --> 00:21:55.359 called by 00:21:55.359 --> 00:21:56.660 God into 00:21:56.660 --> 00:21:58.420 salvation and 00:21:58.420 --> 00:21:58.980 a life of 00:21:58.980 --> 00:22:00.079 service through 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:00.700 the Lord Jesus 00:22:00.700 --> 00:22:01.220 Christ. 00:22:01.559 --> 00:22:02.000 Everyone. 00:22:02.380 --> 00:22:02.980 There's no 00:22:02.980 --> 00:22:04.299 separation between 00:22:04.299 --> 00:22:04.859 clergy and 00:22:04.859 --> 00:22:05.200 laity. 00:22:05.819 --> 00:22:06.559 Eventually, the 00:22:06.559 --> 00:22:07.160 theology of 00:22:07.160 --> 00:22:07.859 vocation was 00:22:07.859 --> 00:22:08.799 distorted by the 00:22:08.799 --> 00:22:09.960 early 300s. 00:22:09.960 --> 00:22:11.620 vocation was 00:22:11.620 --> 00:22:12.680 applied primarily 00:22:12.680 --> 00:22:13.480 just to 00:22:13.480 --> 00:22:14.180 clergy. 00:22:14.340 --> 00:22:15.000 Clergy were the 00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:15.740 called ones. 00:22:16.140 --> 00:22:16.600 Everyone else 00:22:16.600 --> 00:22:17.279 kind of wasn't 00:22:17.279 --> 00:22:17.559 really. 00:22:19.059 --> 00:22:19.480 The most 00:22:19.480 --> 00:22:20.660 influential thinker 00:22:20.660 --> 00:22:21.220 in Western 00:22:21.220 --> 00:22:21.880 Christianity in 00:22:21.880 --> 00:22:22.840 the 300s was a 00:22:22.840 --> 00:22:23.279 guy called 00:22:23.279 --> 00:22:24.380 Augustine of 00:22:24.380 --> 00:22:24.680 Hippo. 00:22:25.880 --> 00:22:26.980 I knew someone's 00:22:26.980 --> 00:22:27.400 going to smile 00:22:27.400 --> 00:22:27.840 about that, 00:22:27.960 --> 00:22:28.220 Hippo. 00:22:28.880 --> 00:22:29.640 It's a really 00:22:29.640 --> 00:22:30.500 unfortunate name. 00:22:30.620 --> 00:22:31.039 It's where he 00:22:31.039 --> 00:22:31.700 was from, not 00:22:31.700 --> 00:22:32.380 the size of him 00:22:32.380 --> 00:22:32.980 or anything like 00:22:32.980 --> 00:22:33.160 that. 00:22:33.240 --> 00:22:35.340 It wasn't 00:22:35.340 --> 00:22:36.039 Augustine the 00:22:36.039 --> 00:22:36.840 Hippo, it was 00:22:36.840 --> 00:22:37.620 Augustine of 00:22:37.620 --> 00:22:37.880 Hippo. 00:22:37.880 --> 00:22:38.900 Now, he 00:22:38.900 --> 00:22:39.980 distinguished between 00:22:39.980 --> 00:22:41.540 two main aspects 00:22:41.540 --> 00:22:42.060 of life. 00:22:42.460 --> 00:22:43.100 He called the 00:22:43.100 --> 00:22:43.980 active life and 00:22:43.980 --> 00:22:44.740 the contemplative 00:22:44.740 --> 00:22:45.100 life. 00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:46.400 The active life 00:22:46.400 --> 00:22:47.140 was all the 00:22:47.140 --> 00:22:47.880 ways that people 00:22:47.880 --> 00:22:48.540 serve one 00:22:48.540 --> 00:22:49.900 another, farming, 00:22:50.140 --> 00:22:51.200 crafting, trading, 00:22:52.040 --> 00:22:53.220 raising kids. 00:22:54.060 --> 00:22:54.860 That was the 00:22:54.860 --> 00:22:55.580 active life. 00:22:55.680 --> 00:22:56.540 The contemplative 00:22:56.540 --> 00:22:57.300 life over here 00:22:57.300 --> 00:22:58.000 was a life of 00:22:58.000 --> 00:22:58.620 prayer and 00:22:58.620 --> 00:22:59.780 worship and 00:22:59.780 --> 00:23:00.240 spiritual 00:23:00.240 --> 00:23:00.720 disciplines. 00:23:01.600 --> 00:23:02.240 And while he 00:23:02.240 --> 00:23:03.620 said both aspects 00:23:03.620 --> 00:23:04.300 of life were 00:23:04.300 --> 00:23:05.700 good, he says 00:23:05.700 --> 00:23:06.740 the contemplative 00:23:06.740 --> 00:23:07.460 life was the 00:23:07.460 --> 00:23:08.579 best and 00:23:08.579 --> 00:23:08.980 the most 00:23:08.980 --> 00:23:10.299 important and 00:23:10.299 --> 00:23:11.220 the bit of 00:23:11.220 --> 00:23:12.039 life which was 00:23:12.039 --> 00:23:12.420 the most 00:23:12.420 --> 00:23:13.200 pleasing to 00:23:13.200 --> 00:23:13.620 God. 00:23:14.779 --> 00:23:15.480 The spiritual 00:23:15.480 --> 00:23:16.039 life. 00:23:19.259 --> 00:23:20.019 And so if 00:23:20.019 --> 00:23:21.480 you, so in 00:23:21.480 --> 00:23:22.279 those days what 00:23:22.279 --> 00:23:23.180 it meant was to 00:23:23.180 --> 00:23:24.180 have a vocation, 00:23:24.279 --> 00:23:24.860 a calling from 00:23:24.860 --> 00:23:25.539 God meant that 00:23:25.539 --> 00:23:25.960 you were a 00:23:25.960 --> 00:23:26.539 minister or a 00:23:26.539 --> 00:23:26.759 monk. 00:23:27.980 --> 00:23:28.600 That's basically 00:23:28.600 --> 00:23:28.860 it. 00:23:29.960 --> 00:23:30.460 And the 00:23:30.460 --> 00:23:31.259 separation of 00:23:31.259 --> 00:23:31.759 the physical, 00:23:31.980 --> 00:23:32.519 spiritual, the 00:23:32.519 --> 00:23:32.799 active, 00:23:32.940 --> 00:23:33.840 contemplative life 00:23:33.840 --> 00:23:34.900 was further 00:23:34.900 --> 00:23:36.319 distorted and I 00:23:36.319 --> 00:23:36.720 think to its 00:23:36.720 --> 00:23:37.539 ultimate degree 00:23:37.539 --> 00:23:38.500 in the 11th 00:23:38.500 --> 00:23:39.519 century when 00:23:39.519 --> 00:23:40.319 clergy were 00:23:40.319 --> 00:23:41.159 mandated to 00:23:41.159 --> 00:23:42.299 celibacy and 00:23:42.299 --> 00:23:43.299 therefore separated 00:23:43.299 --> 00:23:43.960 from ordinary 00:23:43.960 --> 00:23:45.139 life activity, 00:23:45.619 --> 00:23:46.159 the life of 00:23:46.159 --> 00:23:46.720 family and 00:23:46.720 --> 00:23:47.379 business and all 00:23:47.379 --> 00:23:47.779 that sort of 00:23:47.779 --> 00:23:48.119 stuff. 00:23:48.379 --> 00:23:48.859 Kind of got 00:23:48.859 --> 00:23:50.240 locked away in 00:23:50.240 --> 00:23:51.859 a room and 00:23:51.859 --> 00:23:52.299 prayed. 00:23:53.599 --> 00:23:54.559 That's kind of 00:23:54.559 --> 00:23:55.019 it really. 00:23:57.839 --> 00:23:58.579 That's the 00:23:58.579 --> 00:23:59.559 ultimate distortion. 00:23:59.559 --> 00:23:59.639 creation. 00:24:01.319 --> 00:24:01.700 The key 00:24:01.700 --> 00:24:02.639 development in 00:24:02.639 --> 00:24:03.559 understanding work 00:24:03.559 --> 00:24:04.839 happened in the 00:24:04.839 --> 00:24:05.740 6th century through 00:24:05.740 --> 00:24:06.599 Gregory the Great. 00:24:06.700 --> 00:24:07.179 As I said this 00:24:07.179 --> 00:24:07.659 morning I've got no 00:24:07.659 --> 00:24:08.279 idea why he was 00:24:08.279 --> 00:24:09.500 great but that's 00:24:09.500 --> 00:24:09.919 his name. 00:24:11.440 --> 00:24:12.480 Gregory was a 00:24:12.480 --> 00:24:14.440 monk and as a 00:24:14.440 --> 00:24:15.319 monk he really 00:24:15.319 --> 00:24:16.059 valued the 00:24:16.059 --> 00:24:17.200 contemplative life. 00:24:18.539 --> 00:24:19.319 And his whole 00:24:19.319 --> 00:24:20.119 life went into a 00:24:20.119 --> 00:24:21.659 bit of turmoil when 00:24:21.659 --> 00:24:22.779 he was called out 00:24:22.779 --> 00:24:23.519 of the monastery 00:24:23.519 --> 00:24:24.359 in the contemplative 00:24:24.359 --> 00:24:26.019 life and thrust 00:24:26.019 --> 00:24:27.460 into the papacy with 00:24:27.460 --> 00:24:28.480 all the administrative 00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:29.539 duties that went 00:24:29.539 --> 00:24:29.920 with that. 00:24:30.200 --> 00:24:31.420 He was Pope and 00:24:31.420 --> 00:24:32.299 so all of a sudden 00:24:32.299 --> 00:24:32.960 his life's in 00:24:32.960 --> 00:24:33.339 turmoil. 00:24:33.680 --> 00:24:34.240 I've got all this 00:24:34.240 --> 00:24:35.079 activity but I 00:24:35.079 --> 00:24:35.539 value the 00:24:35.539 --> 00:24:36.460 contemplative life. 00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:37.620 And so his 00:24:37.620 --> 00:24:39.420 thinking developed 00:24:39.420 --> 00:24:40.200 through the 00:24:40.200 --> 00:24:41.920 scriptures where he 00:24:41.920 --> 00:24:42.920 actually saw that 00:24:42.920 --> 00:24:44.940 there ought not 00:24:44.940 --> 00:24:45.880 be a distinction. 00:24:47.460 --> 00:24:48.299 His own personal 00:24:48.299 --> 00:24:48.980 journey helped him 00:24:48.980 --> 00:24:49.819 to see that the 00:24:49.819 --> 00:24:50.720 active life of 00:24:50.720 --> 00:24:52.000 service to others 00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:53.360 was not a 00:24:53.360 --> 00:24:54.660 distraction to the 00:24:54.660 --> 00:24:55.539 spiritual life. 00:24:58.480 --> 00:25:00.579 he concluded 00:25:00.579 --> 00:25:02.299 that in fact we 00:25:02.299 --> 00:25:03.200 need times of 00:25:03.200 --> 00:25:04.720 contemplation but 00:25:04.720 --> 00:25:05.559 also times of 00:25:05.559 --> 00:25:05.960 action. 00:25:06.900 --> 00:25:07.920 He says both of 00:25:07.920 --> 00:25:08.660 those things are 00:25:08.660 --> 00:25:10.940 needed if we are 00:25:10.940 --> 00:25:12.480 going to love 00:25:12.480 --> 00:25:13.660 our neighbor, if 00:25:13.660 --> 00:25:14.099 we're going to 00:25:14.099 --> 00:25:15.279 fulfill the mandate 00:25:15.279 --> 00:25:16.579 of Matthew 28 to 00:25:16.579 --> 00:25:17.720 use our God-given 00:25:17.720 --> 00:25:18.480 gifts for the glory 00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:18.960 of God. 00:25:20.420 --> 00:25:22.180 And even the 00:25:22.180 --> 00:25:23.299 activity life, the 00:25:23.299 --> 00:25:24.079 life of action, 00:25:24.460 --> 00:25:26.000 drives us back into 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:27.539 contemplation where 00:25:27.539 --> 00:25:28.400 we give thanks to 00:25:28.400 --> 00:25:28.940 God for his 00:25:28.940 --> 00:25:29.640 activity in the 00:25:29.640 --> 00:25:31.359 world and we cry 00:25:31.359 --> 00:25:32.099 out to him for the 00:25:32.099 --> 00:25:33.619 frustrations that we 00:25:33.619 --> 00:25:34.640 feel about the 00:25:34.640 --> 00:25:35.059 active life. 00:25:35.119 --> 00:25:35.720 He says they both 00:25:35.720 --> 00:25:35.980 need. 00:25:36.420 --> 00:25:37.279 It's a cycle. 00:25:37.819 --> 00:25:39.380 That is, he 00:25:39.380 --> 00:25:40.319 connected every 00:25:40.319 --> 00:25:41.299 aspect of our life 00:25:41.299 --> 00:25:41.859 in a unified 00:25:41.859 --> 00:25:42.220 whole. 00:25:42.319 --> 00:25:42.980 The contemplative 00:25:42.980 --> 00:25:44.059 life equipped us 00:25:44.059 --> 00:25:45.059 for an active 00:25:45.059 --> 00:25:46.039 life of service. 00:25:47.799 --> 00:25:48.940 The contemplative 00:25:48.940 --> 00:25:51.039 life grounded us, 00:25:51.380 --> 00:25:52.880 if you like, in a 00:25:52.880 --> 00:25:54.019 life of love of 00:25:54.019 --> 00:25:56.019 neighbors, and the 00:25:56.019 --> 00:25:57.420 active life kept 00:25:57.420 --> 00:25:59.200 us from floating 00:25:59.200 --> 00:26:00.119 off into a 00:26:00.119 --> 00:26:01.519 bizarre spiritual 00:26:01.519 --> 00:26:03.559 world of spiritual 00:26:03.559 --> 00:26:04.819 pride and irrelevance 00:26:04.819 --> 00:26:05.359 where we saw 00:26:05.359 --> 00:26:06.180 ourselves as better 00:26:06.180 --> 00:26:07.039 than everyone else. 00:26:09.240 --> 00:26:09.920 Now that bit's 00:26:09.920 --> 00:26:10.339 crucial. 00:26:13.139 --> 00:26:15.220 He saw that those 00:26:15.220 --> 00:26:16.400 who live the active 00:26:16.400 --> 00:26:17.859 life, and 00:26:17.859 --> 00:26:18.900 especially things 00:26:18.900 --> 00:26:19.839 like feeding the 00:26:19.839 --> 00:26:20.599 hungry, caring for 00:26:20.599 --> 00:26:21.379 the sick, teaching 00:26:21.379 --> 00:26:22.779 the ignorant, humbling 00:26:22.779 --> 00:26:24.960 the proud, he saw 00:26:24.960 --> 00:26:26.039 those who pursued 00:26:26.039 --> 00:26:27.720 the active life in 00:26:27.720 --> 00:26:29.539 faith as being 00:26:29.539 --> 00:26:31.279 better equipped to 00:26:31.279 --> 00:26:33.460 experience the riches 00:26:33.460 --> 00:26:34.379 of the contemplative 00:26:34.379 --> 00:26:36.019 life than those who 00:26:36.019 --> 00:26:37.039 absorbed all of their 00:26:37.039 --> 00:26:37.899 life in spiritual 00:26:37.899 --> 00:26:38.420 pursuits. 00:26:41.539 --> 00:26:42.240 And so what he does 00:26:42.240 --> 00:26:44.319 is he connects my 00:26:44.319 --> 00:26:46.079 life of service with 00:26:46.079 --> 00:26:47.200 my spiritual life, my 00:26:47.200 --> 00:26:47.920 life of faith. 00:26:48.539 --> 00:26:49.920 He connects my work 00:26:49.920 --> 00:26:51.460 with my faith. 00:26:52.920 --> 00:26:54.240 And he goes as 00:26:54.240 --> 00:26:55.300 far as to say 00:26:55.300 --> 00:26:58.519 that a life of 00:26:58.519 --> 00:26:59.700 spiritual pursuits 00:26:59.700 --> 00:27:01.080 without an activity 00:27:01.080 --> 00:27:03.039 life of loving 00:27:03.039 --> 00:27:04.279 neighbors and serving 00:27:04.279 --> 00:27:06.140 people is actually 00:27:06.140 --> 00:27:07.400 spiritual immaturity. 00:27:11.000 --> 00:27:12.340 I would go as far as 00:27:12.340 --> 00:27:13.640 to say that your 00:27:13.640 --> 00:27:15.080 all-Christian education 00:27:15.080 --> 00:27:16.960 ought to lead us to 00:27:16.960 --> 00:27:18.300 humble hearts and 00:27:18.300 --> 00:27:19.320 activities of love to 00:27:19.319 --> 00:27:19.639 people. 00:27:21.079 --> 00:27:22.099 And if it doesn't, 00:27:22.200 --> 00:27:22.839 it's distortion. 00:27:25.659 --> 00:27:26.659 The impact of 00:27:26.659 --> 00:27:28.259 Gregory's work was 00:27:28.259 --> 00:27:28.839 that in the Middle 00:27:28.839 --> 00:27:29.899 Ages, Pope Benedict 00:27:29.899 --> 00:27:30.779 came along, loved 00:27:30.779 --> 00:27:32.000 what he said, and he 00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:33.119 made manual labor the 00:27:33.119 --> 00:27:34.079 duty of every monk. 00:27:34.819 --> 00:27:35.079 Doll! 00:27:37.079 --> 00:27:37.879 He said, you 00:27:37.879 --> 00:27:38.460 blokes have got to 00:27:38.460 --> 00:27:39.159 start working. 00:27:40.599 --> 00:27:41.759 And so, you know, 00:27:41.879 --> 00:27:44.220 the monasteries became 00:27:44.220 --> 00:27:46.099 orphanages, some of 00:27:46.099 --> 00:27:46.980 them became hospitals, 00:27:47.259 --> 00:27:47.819 and they started 00:27:47.819 --> 00:27:48.419 brewing beer. 00:27:49.319 --> 00:27:50.939 Not sure what the 00:27:50.939 --> 00:27:51.859 connection is, but 00:27:51.859 --> 00:27:53.399 that's kind of what 00:27:53.399 --> 00:27:53.839 they did. 00:27:56.460 --> 00:27:57.639 I suspect that we're 00:27:57.639 --> 00:27:58.359 in the danger of 00:27:58.359 --> 00:27:59.159 propagating this 00:27:59.159 --> 00:28:00.399 historical, sacred, 00:28:00.539 --> 00:28:01.220 secular divide. 00:28:02.500 --> 00:28:03.960 It is easier to 00:28:03.960 --> 00:28:04.939 class what we do 00:28:04.939 --> 00:28:06.000 right now as 00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:07.759 worship, but much 00:28:07.759 --> 00:28:08.779 harder to class what 00:28:08.779 --> 00:28:09.240 you're going to be 00:28:09.240 --> 00:28:09.879 doing this time 00:28:09.879 --> 00:28:11.839 tomorrow or earlier 00:28:11.839 --> 00:28:12.700 tomorrow as 00:28:12.700 --> 00:28:13.079 worship. 00:28:14.079 --> 00:28:15.159 It is easy to see 00:28:15.159 --> 00:28:16.439 this is spiritual and 00:28:16.440 --> 00:28:17.820 that is unspiritual. 00:28:20.400 --> 00:28:21.940 And we only do it in 00:28:21.940 --> 00:28:23.120 the end because we 00:28:23.120 --> 00:28:23.960 need to do it to 00:28:23.960 --> 00:28:24.279 live. 00:28:26.039 --> 00:28:27.400 Without a real sense 00:28:27.400 --> 00:28:29.160 of calling from God, 00:28:29.720 --> 00:28:31.279 our motivation to get 00:28:31.279 --> 00:28:32.559 out of bed tomorrow 00:28:32.559 --> 00:28:34.180 morning will be little 00:28:34.180 --> 00:28:36.200 more than I owe, I owe, 00:28:36.420 --> 00:28:37.620 it's off to work, I go. 00:28:37.619 --> 00:28:42.279 Faith in the Lord Jesus 00:28:42.279 --> 00:28:43.299 helps me to see the 00:28:43.299 --> 00:28:44.759 dignity of all work. 00:28:45.199 --> 00:28:45.919 That's the point, 00:28:46.039 --> 00:28:47.099 Martin Luther's point 00:28:47.099 --> 00:28:47.779 in 1 Corinthians 00:28:47.779 --> 00:28:48.500 chapter 7. 00:28:50.259 --> 00:28:51.719 Work has dignity 00:28:51.719 --> 00:28:52.539 because it is 00:28:52.539 --> 00:28:53.339 something that God 00:28:53.339 --> 00:28:55.459 does and because we 00:28:55.459 --> 00:28:56.459 do it in God's 00:28:56.459 --> 00:28:57.519 place as his 00:28:57.519 --> 00:28:58.159 representatives. 00:28:59.239 --> 00:29:00.179 The plants and 00:29:00.179 --> 00:29:01.299 animals are called to 00:29:01.299 --> 00:29:02.599 simply reproduce, but 00:29:02.599 --> 00:29:03.819 God gives a specific 00:29:03.819 --> 00:29:05.319 job to us in 00:29:05.319 --> 00:29:06.079 Genesis 2. 00:29:06.079 --> 00:29:08.879 We are called to 00:29:08.879 --> 00:29:10.119 subdue and to have 00:29:10.119 --> 00:29:11.639 dominion or to rule 00:29:11.639 --> 00:29:12.539 over the earth. 00:29:13.859 --> 00:29:14.939 So not only does 00:29:14.939 --> 00:29:16.159 work have dignity, 00:29:17.639 --> 00:29:18.480 but Martin Luther 00:29:18.480 --> 00:29:19.619 particularly, and 00:29:19.619 --> 00:29:21.079 John Calvin's 00:29:21.079 --> 00:29:23.619 exegesis of 1 00:29:23.619 --> 00:29:25.579 Corinthians 7 and 00:29:25.579 --> 00:29:27.079 a couple of other 00:29:27.079 --> 00:29:27.679 bits of the New 00:29:27.679 --> 00:29:30.720 Testament, says that 00:29:30.720 --> 00:29:32.359 all work has 00:29:32.359 --> 00:29:32.819 dignity. 00:29:32.819 --> 00:29:35.879 even unskilled 00:29:35.879 --> 00:29:36.819 simple work, as 00:29:36.819 --> 00:29:37.879 Tim Keller has 00:29:37.879 --> 00:29:38.879 written in this 00:29:38.879 --> 00:29:40.179 book, no task is 00:29:40.179 --> 00:29:41.240 too small a vessel 00:29:41.240 --> 00:29:42.220 to hold the 00:29:42.220 --> 00:29:43.279 immense dignity 00:29:43.279 --> 00:29:44.960 of work given 00:29:44.960 --> 00:29:45.539 by God. 00:29:46.779 --> 00:29:47.639 Luther particularly, 00:29:47.759 --> 00:29:48.059 I think, was 00:29:48.059 --> 00:29:48.619 helpful in this 00:29:48.619 --> 00:29:48.899 point. 00:29:49.460 --> 00:29:50.059 Luther looked at 00:29:50.059 --> 00:29:50.759 lots of places in 00:29:50.759 --> 00:29:51.319 the Bible that 00:29:51.319 --> 00:29:52.639 says God is a 00:29:52.639 --> 00:29:53.460 God who continues 00:29:53.460 --> 00:29:54.099 to provide. 00:29:54.439 --> 00:29:56.519 He feeds every 00:29:56.519 --> 00:29:57.279 living thing. 00:29:58.200 --> 00:29:58.939 And Luther sees 00:29:58.939 --> 00:29:59.819 this as a promise 00:29:59.819 --> 00:30:01.059 that God fulfills. 00:30:01.059 --> 00:30:02.079 And how does he 00:30:02.079 --> 00:30:02.619 fulfill it? 00:30:03.019 --> 00:30:04.119 He feeds you 00:30:04.119 --> 00:30:04.899 through the farmers 00:30:04.899 --> 00:30:05.700 who grow the wheat 00:30:05.700 --> 00:30:06.539 and the truck driver 00:30:06.539 --> 00:30:07.279 who delivers it to 00:30:07.279 --> 00:30:08.519 the silo and the 00:30:08.519 --> 00:30:09.519 trader who sells it 00:30:09.519 --> 00:30:10.259 to the baker and 00:30:10.259 --> 00:30:11.019 the baker's assistant 00:30:11.019 --> 00:30:11.839 who makes the bread. 00:30:13.819 --> 00:30:14.940 That's how he sees 00:30:14.940 --> 00:30:16.599 God fulfills that 00:30:16.599 --> 00:30:18.779 point, that he's 00:30:18.779 --> 00:30:19.960 promised to feed all 00:30:19.960 --> 00:30:21.359 his living things. 00:30:22.220 --> 00:30:22.919 He says that the 00:30:22.919 --> 00:30:23.679 people who do the 00:30:23.679 --> 00:30:25.220 simplest kind of work 00:30:25.220 --> 00:30:27.480 are the fingers of 00:30:27.480 --> 00:30:29.039 God fulfilling his 00:30:29.039 --> 00:30:29.799 promises to you. 00:30:31.059 --> 00:30:32.440 So when I go to a 00:30:32.440 --> 00:30:32.940 restaurant, the 00:30:32.940 --> 00:30:34.179 waitress who brings 00:30:34.179 --> 00:30:34.839 me my food, the 00:30:34.839 --> 00:30:35.559 chef in the back who 00:30:35.559 --> 00:30:36.159 prepares it, the 00:30:36.159 --> 00:30:36.960 delivery driver, the 00:30:36.960 --> 00:30:38.119 wholesaler, the 00:30:38.119 --> 00:30:38.899 workers in the food 00:30:38.899 --> 00:30:40.019 processing factory, the 00:30:40.019 --> 00:30:40.899 farmer and all the 00:30:40.899 --> 00:30:42.919 accountants and lawyers 00:30:42.919 --> 00:30:45.399 and business people and 00:30:45.399 --> 00:30:46.879 cleaners and stuff that 00:30:46.879 --> 00:30:47.779 are connected in that 00:30:47.779 --> 00:30:49.720 whole network that is 00:30:49.720 --> 00:30:51.220 the economic food chain 00:30:51.220 --> 00:30:53.299 are all being used by 00:30:53.299 --> 00:30:54.419 God to answer my 00:30:54.419 --> 00:30:55.319 prayer, give me this 00:30:55.319 --> 00:30:56.279 day my daily bread. 00:30:56.279 --> 00:30:59.240 All work has 00:30:59.240 --> 00:30:59.740 dignity. 00:31:02.660 --> 00:31:03.980 So God is loving me 00:31:03.980 --> 00:31:04.720 through the work of 00:31:04.720 --> 00:31:05.259 other people. 00:31:06.339 --> 00:31:07.680 All work is God's way 00:31:07.680 --> 00:31:08.460 of caring for his 00:31:08.460 --> 00:31:08.940 creation. 00:31:09.980 --> 00:31:10.819 And I think this is 00:31:10.819 --> 00:31:12.339 really crucial for us 00:31:12.339 --> 00:31:13.319 to come to terms with. 00:31:16.119 --> 00:31:17.799 There is no biblical 00:31:17.799 --> 00:31:20.279 foundation for elevating 00:31:20.879 --> 00:31:22.200 doctors over shelf 00:31:22.200 --> 00:31:22.740 packers. 00:31:22.740 --> 00:31:25.759 No biblical foundation 00:31:25.759 --> 00:31:26.539 for it whatsoever. 00:31:30.240 --> 00:31:31.359 Luther gets that from 00:31:31.359 --> 00:31:32.259 1 Corinthians 7. 00:31:37.099 --> 00:31:43.099 That ought to impact 00:31:43.099 --> 00:31:45.400 our attitude when 00:31:45.400 --> 00:31:46.079 you're pushing the 00:31:46.079 --> 00:31:47.059 shopping trolley on a 00:31:47.059 --> 00:31:48.620 Sunday night trying to 00:31:48.620 --> 00:31:50.960 dodge those people in 00:31:50.960 --> 00:31:51.319 the aisle. 00:31:52.740 --> 00:31:57.440 Notice in 1 Corinthians 00:31:57.440 --> 00:31:58.400 7 that God calls 00:31:58.400 --> 00:31:59.819 people to different 00:31:59.819 --> 00:32:00.839 positions in life and 00:32:00.839 --> 00:32:01.500 roles in life. 00:32:01.579 --> 00:32:02.599 He assigns it to them. 00:32:03.319 --> 00:32:04.480 It's dignifying because 00:32:04.480 --> 00:32:06.160 God is the one who 00:32:06.160 --> 00:32:07.359 does the calling and he 00:32:07.359 --> 00:32:08.519 calls us to be content 00:32:08.519 --> 00:32:08.980 with it. 00:32:09.519 --> 00:32:10.620 So be careful of 00:32:10.620 --> 00:32:11.759 participating in the 00:32:11.759 --> 00:32:12.920 sneering attitude of our 00:32:12.920 --> 00:32:15.039 culture has towards 00:32:15.039 --> 00:32:16.339 people who do simple 00:32:16.339 --> 00:32:16.759 jobs. 00:32:18.460 --> 00:32:19.500 If you lived in 00:32:19.500 --> 00:32:21.180 Seville in February 00:32:21.180 --> 00:32:21.920 this year, 00:32:21.920 --> 00:32:23.640 you would appreciate 00:32:23.640 --> 00:32:24.720 garbage collectors 00:32:24.720 --> 00:32:26.200 because when they 00:32:26.200 --> 00:32:28.120 went on strike for a 00:32:28.120 --> 00:32:28.860 few days, 00:32:29.779 --> 00:32:31.080 it almost brought the 00:32:31.080 --> 00:32:31.840 whole city to a 00:32:31.840 --> 00:32:33.220 standstill when 00:32:33.220 --> 00:32:34.980 6,000 tons of 00:32:34.980 --> 00:32:36.560 rotting waste was 00:32:36.560 --> 00:32:37.600 left on the streets 00:32:37.600 --> 00:32:38.700 and no one knew 00:32:38.700 --> 00:32:39.420 what to do. 00:32:41.039 --> 00:32:42.320 The whole city nearly 00:32:42.320 --> 00:32:43.380 came to a standstill. 00:32:45.000 --> 00:32:46.180 It's in those moments 00:32:46.180 --> 00:32:47.640 you appreciate the 00:32:47.640 --> 00:32:48.460 dude who drives you, 00:32:48.519 --> 00:32:49.380 wakes you up in the 00:32:49.380 --> 00:32:50.160 early hours of the 00:32:50.160 --> 00:32:50.740 morning with his 00:32:50.740 --> 00:32:51.120 truck, 00:32:52.000 --> 00:32:53.680 emptying your bins. 00:32:55.620 --> 00:32:56.800 Whenever Luther talked 00:32:56.800 --> 00:32:57.840 about vocation, 00:32:58.259 --> 00:32:59.440 he deliberately used 00:32:59.440 --> 00:33:00.279 the simple and the 00:33:00.279 --> 00:33:01.440 mundane in order to 00:33:01.440 --> 00:33:02.620 elevate the significance 00:33:02.620 --> 00:33:03.680 of everything. 00:33:04.960 --> 00:33:06.340 The father washing 00:33:06.340 --> 00:33:06.840 nappies, 00:33:07.019 --> 00:33:08.019 the maid sweeping the 00:33:08.019 --> 00:33:08.320 floor, 00:33:08.700 --> 00:33:09.660 the brewer making 00:33:09.660 --> 00:33:10.460 good beer. 00:33:10.460 --> 00:33:13.779 By doing our 00:33:13.779 --> 00:33:14.680 appointed work in 00:33:14.680 --> 00:33:15.259 society, 00:33:15.559 --> 00:33:17.059 we become means or 00:33:17.059 --> 00:33:18.200 agents of grace 00:33:18.200 --> 00:33:19.180 through which God 00:33:19.180 --> 00:33:20.120 serves others. 00:33:21.759 --> 00:33:22.440 So friends, 00:33:22.519 --> 00:33:23.240 traditionally we have 00:33:23.240 --> 00:33:24.140 used the language of 00:33:24.140 --> 00:33:25.220 Christian work to 00:33:25.220 --> 00:33:26.720 refer to basically the 00:33:26.720 --> 00:33:27.539 sort of stuff that I'm 00:33:27.539 --> 00:33:28.380 doing right now, 00:33:29.160 --> 00:33:30.180 to missionaries, 00:33:30.319 --> 00:33:30.940 to parachurch 00:33:30.940 --> 00:33:31.579 callings. 00:33:32.460 --> 00:33:33.579 This distorted 00:33:33.579 --> 00:33:35.539 understanding exposes 00:33:35.539 --> 00:33:36.900 an inadequate grasp of 00:33:36.900 --> 00:33:37.880 the biblical understanding 00:33:37.880 --> 00:33:38.660 of vocation. 00:33:38.660 --> 00:33:41.019 It will be Monday 00:33:41.019 --> 00:33:42.120 again tomorrow, 00:33:42.580 --> 00:33:43.620 and if you're a 00:33:43.620 --> 00:33:44.000 Christian, 00:33:44.220 --> 00:33:45.019 then you're about to 00:33:45.019 --> 00:33:46.400 embark on a week of 00:33:46.400 --> 00:33:47.220 Christian work. 00:33:49.720 --> 00:33:50.660 Paid or not, 00:33:51.779 --> 00:33:52.420 it's irrelevant. 00:33:54.980 --> 00:33:56.200 And what will that look 00:33:56.200 --> 00:33:57.480 like for you in the work 00:33:57.480 --> 00:33:58.100 that you do? 00:33:59.220 --> 00:34:00.180 Depending on your 00:34:00.180 --> 00:34:01.680 theological position, 00:34:03.240 --> 00:34:04.440 you might say, 00:34:05.060 --> 00:34:06.080 Christian work, 00:34:06.079 --> 00:34:07.059 the way to serve God 00:34:07.059 --> 00:34:07.899 at work is to work 00:34:07.899 --> 00:34:08.539 with a grateful, 00:34:08.759 --> 00:34:09.139 joyful, 00:34:09.840 --> 00:34:10.819 gospel-centered heart 00:34:10.819 --> 00:34:11.679 through all the ups 00:34:11.679 --> 00:34:12.239 and downs. 00:34:12.840 --> 00:34:13.699 Or the way to serve 00:34:13.699 --> 00:34:15.279 God at work is to do 00:34:15.279 --> 00:34:16.719 whatever gives you the 00:34:16.719 --> 00:34:17.659 greatest joy and 00:34:17.659 --> 00:34:18.099 passion. 00:34:18.699 --> 00:34:19.940 Or the way to serve 00:34:19.940 --> 00:34:20.840 God at work is to 00:34:20.840 --> 00:34:21.960 make as much money as 00:34:21.960 --> 00:34:22.900 you possibly can so 00:34:22.900 --> 00:34:23.539 that you can be as 00:34:23.539 --> 00:34:24.119 generous as you 00:34:24.119 --> 00:34:24.840 possibly can. 00:34:25.500 --> 00:34:26.819 Or the way to serve 00:34:26.819 --> 00:34:27.679 God at work is to 00:34:27.679 --> 00:34:28.699 further social justice 00:34:28.699 --> 00:34:29.279 in the world. 00:34:29.539 --> 00:34:30.380 Or the way to serve 00:34:30.380 --> 00:34:31.279 God at work is to 00:34:31.279 --> 00:34:32.139 personally be honest 00:34:32.139 --> 00:34:32.900 and to take every 00:34:32.900 --> 00:34:34.199 opportunity to get 00:34:34.199 --> 00:34:34.960 Jesus into every 00:34:34.960 --> 00:34:35.899 single conversation 00:34:35.899 --> 00:34:36.539 and lead my 00:34:36.539 --> 00:34:37.379 colleagues into 00:34:37.379 --> 00:34:38.159 prayer of sinners 00:34:38.159 --> 00:34:38.639 repentance. 00:34:40.480 --> 00:34:41.379 Or the way to serve 00:34:41.379 --> 00:34:42.219 God at work is to 00:34:42.219 --> 00:34:42.980 do skillful, 00:34:43.159 --> 00:34:43.899 excellent work. 00:34:43.980 --> 00:34:44.719 Or the way to serve 00:34:44.719 --> 00:34:45.960 God at work is to 00:34:45.960 --> 00:34:46.719 create beauty. 00:34:47.099 --> 00:34:47.739 Or the way to serve 00:34:47.739 --> 00:34:48.719 God at work is to 00:34:48.719 --> 00:34:49.980 work from a 00:34:49.980 --> 00:34:50.779 Christian motivation 00:34:50.779 --> 00:34:51.839 to glorify God, 00:34:51.960 --> 00:34:52.759 seeking to engage 00:34:52.759 --> 00:34:53.519 and influence the 00:34:53.519 --> 00:34:54.519 culture to a 00:34:54.519 --> 00:34:55.500 positive end. 00:34:58.739 --> 00:35:00.019 I would probably 00:35:00.019 --> 00:35:01.019 say now that 00:35:01.019 --> 00:35:02.099 Christian work is a 00:35:02.099 --> 00:35:02.819 mixture of all 00:35:02.819 --> 00:35:03.639 those things. 00:35:04.199 --> 00:35:07.639 at any time. 00:35:08.000 --> 00:35:08.439 It could be a 00:35:08.439 --> 00:35:08.919 mixture of all 00:35:08.919 --> 00:35:09.500 those things. 00:35:10.699 --> 00:35:11.859 I love the story 00:35:11.859 --> 00:35:14.639 of Charles Spurgeon. 00:35:14.799 --> 00:35:15.599 Once upon a time, 00:35:16.480 --> 00:35:17.439 you would have 00:35:17.439 --> 00:35:19.480 interviews to become 00:35:19.480 --> 00:35:20.379 members of churches 00:35:20.379 --> 00:35:21.399 and particularly in 00:35:21.399 --> 00:35:22.079 the Baptist church. 00:35:22.199 --> 00:35:22.980 And so Spurgeon, 00:35:23.480 --> 00:35:24.339 the great old preacher, 00:35:24.419 --> 00:35:25.059 would sit there with 00:35:25.059 --> 00:35:26.119 his elders of the 00:35:26.119 --> 00:35:26.659 church and he'd 00:35:26.659 --> 00:35:27.399 interview each person 00:35:27.399 --> 00:35:27.879 individually. 00:35:28.899 --> 00:35:29.719 And one day there, 00:35:29.779 --> 00:35:30.299 he's sitting there 00:35:30.299 --> 00:35:31.039 interviewing a person 00:35:31.039 --> 00:35:31.579 wanting to become 00:35:31.579 --> 00:35:32.399 member of the church 00:35:32.400 --> 00:35:33.760 and he says to 00:35:33.760 --> 00:35:34.740 them, a young 00:35:34.740 --> 00:35:35.940 lady says to 00:35:35.940 --> 00:35:38.099 them, give us 00:35:38.099 --> 00:35:39.639 evidence of the 00:35:39.639 --> 00:35:40.519 transformation of 00:35:40.519 --> 00:35:41.400 the gospel in your 00:35:41.400 --> 00:35:41.780 life. 00:35:41.940 --> 00:35:42.940 Why should, and 00:35:42.940 --> 00:35:43.660 without that evidence 00:35:43.660 --> 00:35:44.300 we're not going to 00:35:44.300 --> 00:35:45.360 give you membership 00:35:45.360 --> 00:35:45.960 of the church. 00:35:47.059 --> 00:35:49.700 And she was a 00:35:49.700 --> 00:35:49.920 cleaner. 00:35:50.780 --> 00:35:51.559 And she said, 00:35:51.680 --> 00:35:53.220 well, ever since I 00:35:53.220 --> 00:35:53.720 have become a 00:35:53.720 --> 00:35:55.860 Christian, she said, 00:35:55.920 --> 00:35:56.840 I no longer sweep 00:35:56.840 --> 00:35:57.680 the dust under the 00:35:57.680 --> 00:35:57.860 mat. 00:35:57.860 --> 00:35:59.559 I actually clean it 00:35:59.559 --> 00:36:00.180 up and get rid of 00:36:00.180 --> 00:36:00.320 it. 00:36:01.780 --> 00:36:02.579 And Spurgeon said, 00:36:02.680 --> 00:36:03.440 give her entry to the 00:36:03.440 --> 00:36:04.140 church immediately. 00:36:07.140 --> 00:36:08.980 You see, the gospel 00:36:08.980 --> 00:36:10.860 has impacted what she 00:36:10.860 --> 00:36:11.599 does Monday to 00:36:11.599 --> 00:36:11.920 Saturday. 00:36:14.460 --> 00:36:15.360 And so if you're a 00:36:15.360 --> 00:36:16.460 Christian airline pilot, 00:36:17.620 --> 00:36:20.059 what does it mean for 00:36:20.059 --> 00:36:20.579 you to be a Christian 00:36:20.579 --> 00:36:21.260 airline pilot? 00:36:22.260 --> 00:36:23.940 Does it mean you hop 00:36:23.940 --> 00:36:25.480 on the plane and you 00:36:25.480 --> 00:36:26.260 use the intercom 00:36:26.260 --> 00:36:28.660 opportunity to captive 00:36:28.660 --> 00:36:29.640 audience to share the 00:36:29.640 --> 00:36:30.380 gospel with them? 00:36:30.800 --> 00:36:31.560 Ladies and gentlemen, 00:36:31.720 --> 00:36:32.740 we're just in route to 00:36:32.740 --> 00:36:33.000 LA. 00:36:33.120 --> 00:36:33.920 We've got 16 hours 00:36:33.920 --> 00:36:34.280 together. 00:36:35.120 --> 00:36:37.940 Let me just share a 00:36:37.940 --> 00:36:38.920 few thoughts with you 00:36:38.920 --> 00:36:42.340 or put two ways to live 00:36:42.340 --> 00:36:43.100 on the screen. 00:36:43.740 --> 00:36:44.460 I mean, is that? 00:36:45.460 --> 00:36:47.620 I think most basic and 00:36:47.620 --> 00:36:48.780 fundamental to be a 00:36:48.780 --> 00:36:50.540 Christian airline pilot is 00:36:50.540 --> 00:36:53.980 to land the plane and do 00:36:53.980 --> 00:36:54.640 it smoothly. 00:36:56.260 --> 00:36:57.800 Think about the people 00:36:57.800 --> 00:36:58.680 in the plane. 00:36:59.740 --> 00:37:00.820 The most basic thing, 00:37:00.920 --> 00:37:01.880 do your job well. 00:37:01.980 --> 00:37:02.720 And if it means that you 00:37:02.720 --> 00:37:04.580 get an opportunity to 00:37:04.580 --> 00:37:06.020 witness to people, most 00:37:06.020 --> 00:37:06.900 likely when the plane's 00:37:06.900 --> 00:37:08.480 going down, there's a 00:37:08.480 --> 00:37:09.380 good opportunity to do 00:37:09.380 --> 00:37:09.540 it. 00:37:14.980 --> 00:37:16.320 Do your work well, 00:37:16.480 --> 00:37:16.980 honours God. 00:37:17.220 --> 00:37:18.640 Billy Graham's wife, the 00:37:18.640 --> 00:37:19.940 great evangelist, had a 00:37:19.940 --> 00:37:22.220 plaque above her kitchen 00:37:22.220 --> 00:37:23.560 sink which read, 00:37:23.559 --> 00:37:25.539 divine services conducted 00:37:25.539 --> 00:37:26.880 here three times daily. 00:37:28.880 --> 00:37:29.599 She got it. 00:37:31.860 --> 00:37:33.239 Ironing your child's 00:37:33.239 --> 00:37:34.360 school uniform and 00:37:34.360 --> 00:37:35.420 changing a nappy that 00:37:35.420 --> 00:37:40.320 overfloweth or mowing 00:37:40.320 --> 00:37:41.779 your lawn are not 00:37:41.779 --> 00:37:44.259 simply jobs when they are 00:37:44.259 --> 00:37:45.139 done for God. 00:37:45.139 --> 00:37:49.259 God calls us to exercise 00:37:49.259 --> 00:37:50.099 dominion over the 00:37:50.099 --> 00:37:53.879 created order for the 00:37:53.879 --> 00:37:55.259 good of society. 00:37:56.259 --> 00:37:58.159 If I do not cut my 00:37:58.159 --> 00:38:01.480 grass, do you think my 00:38:01.480 --> 00:38:02.579 neighbours would be happy 00:38:02.579 --> 00:38:03.059 with that? 00:38:03.739 --> 00:38:04.719 Is it loving my 00:38:04.719 --> 00:38:05.819 neighbours if I choose not 00:38:05.819 --> 00:38:07.440 to cut my grass and let 00:38:07.440 --> 00:38:09.000 all the rats and the 00:38:09.000 --> 00:38:10.440 snakes and the junk to be 00:38:10.440 --> 00:38:11.460 dumped in there and it 00:38:11.460 --> 00:38:12.519 looks like an absolute 00:38:12.519 --> 00:38:13.119 schmuzzle? 00:38:13.119 --> 00:38:14.259 Is that loving my 00:38:14.259 --> 00:38:14.480 neighbour? 00:38:15.139 --> 00:38:18.179 When you do it for God, 00:38:18.420 --> 00:38:19.279 you do it to love your 00:38:19.279 --> 00:38:20.179 neighbour and so you cut 00:38:20.179 --> 00:38:20.759 your grass. 00:38:21.579 --> 00:38:22.420 You deal with the 00:38:22.420 --> 00:38:22.779 weeds. 00:38:23.859 --> 00:38:25.059 It's not just simply a 00:38:25.059 --> 00:38:25.359 job. 00:38:25.659 --> 00:38:27.159 It's my calling for the 00:38:27.159 --> 00:38:28.179 good order of society 00:38:28.179 --> 00:38:29.559 and for the dominion of 00:38:29.559 --> 00:38:30.000 creation. 00:38:32.219 --> 00:38:33.059 Is there one that the 00:38:33.059 --> 00:38:35.079 Bible teaches us in 00:38:35.079 --> 00:38:36.559 Colossians 3.23? 00:38:37.739 --> 00:38:39.199 Whatever you do, work at 00:38:39.199 --> 00:38:41.119 it with all your heart as 00:38:41.119 --> 00:38:42.299 working for the Lord, not 00:38:42.299 --> 00:38:44.059 for men, since you know 00:38:44.059 --> 00:38:45.400 that you receive an 00:38:45.400 --> 00:38:46.380 inheritance from the 00:38:46.380 --> 00:38:47.460 Lord as a reward. 00:38:48.199 --> 00:38:50.159 It is the Lord God that 00:38:50.159 --> 00:38:50.820 you are serving. 00:38:51.559 --> 00:38:52.039 Let's pray. 00:38:54.599 --> 00:38:56.519 Gracious Father, may your 00:38:56.519 --> 00:38:58.779 favour be upon us and 00:38:58.779 --> 00:39:00.400 give us hope and purpose 00:39:00.400 --> 00:39:02.940 and meaning and joy in our 00:39:02.940 --> 00:39:03.739 weekly work. 00:39:04.739 --> 00:39:06.239 Pour out your favour on us 00:39:06.239 --> 00:39:07.860 and establish the work of 00:39:07.860 --> 00:39:08.480 our hands. 00:39:08.480 --> 00:39:11.500 for the honour of your 00:39:11.500 --> 00:39:12.679 name we pray. 00:39:13.460 --> 00:39:13.820 Amen.