Trying to decide about another job?

John Piper: In 1997 I put a list of Bible texts together to help folks think through what job to pursue. Below I have taken that list and added comments to flesh out more specifically what I had in mind. My prayer is that these thoughts will help saturate your mind with the centrality of […]

The “curse” of work

The curse under which we live today is not that we must work. The curse is that, in our work, we struggle with weariness and frustration and calamities and anxiety. And all this is doubly burdensome because now by this very toil we must keep ourselves alive. ‘In toil you shall eat of the ground.…In […]

Happy in your work?

In 1965 the future looked extraordinarily bright. Man was only four years from walking on the moon. The world was on the brink of a technological explosion — computer, microwave, laser, and communication advances were certain to revolutionize every facet of the way we lived. So a U.S. Senate Subcommittee in 1965 predicted that by […]

Grab bag

Some helpful articles from around the web recently: Heath Lambert answers the question often asked of biblical counselors, “Who says medicine is important?” There have been several recent helpful posts for students, and particularly college students. David Mathis offers a brief and helpful video in, “You’re Not a Student First,” Marshall Segal provides “Five Back-to-School […]

Hard work is useless

Psalms 120-134 are called “Songs of Ascent.” It seems most likely that these were songs that were sung by worshippers as they made their way to Jerusalem from their homes around Israel for one of the three annual religious festivals. These songs allayed the fears of the singers as they contemplated the trustworthy character of […]

On the topic of work…

This past Sunday, we considered what Paul said to Titus about those who are slaves and how they are to work and specifically, with what kind of motive they are to work — as a testimony to and adornment of the truth of God (i.e., the gospel). Scripture has much to say about the topic […]

Sunday Leftovers — what’s an employee to do?

One more thought from John Piper (Don’t Waste Your Life) about the value of secular work: We make much of Christ in our secular work by treating the web of relationships it creates as a gift of God to be loved by sharing the Gospel and by practical deeds of help. I put this last not […]

The value of secular work

In anticipation of tomorrow morning’s worship (Titus 2:9-10), these words from John Piper (Don’t Waste Your Life) will help prepare our hearts for the hearing of the Word of God: We make much of Christ in our secular work when it confirms and enhances the portrait of Christ’s glory that people hear in the spoken […]

Grab bag

Some helpful articles from the last week: Kevin DeYoung gives us something to think about: “I’ve learned over the years that the simplest way to judge gray areas in the Christian life like movies, television, and music is to ask one simple question: can I thank God for this?…” John Piper wrote a teenager about […]

Work, work, and more work

This morning I talked to friend — “How’s it going?” I routinely asked. “It’s Monday…” We both knew what he meant by that — “The weekend is over, rest is gone, work has begun, the drudgery is back. It’s Monday.” You know exactly what those two words mean. For many, work is no friend, but […]

Sunday Leftovers (5/1/11)

In 1965 the future looked extraordinarily bright. Man was four short years from walking on the moon. The world was on the brink of a technological explosion — computer, microwave, laser, and communication advances were certain to revolutionize every facet of the way we lived. So a U.S. Senate Subcommittee in 1965 predicted that by […]

Grab bag

Found recently around the internet: A new album from Sovereign Grace — “Risen.” You can listen to every track — and then purchase it as a download for only $5. What I’ve heard so far sounds good. There is much digital ink being spilled (digitized?) over Rob Bell’s latest book. Many good and biblical responses […]

Grab bag

Recently seen around the Internet that I found interesting: I might tweak some of his counsel at the end to be a little more Biblical, but I agree with his observation that “Busyness is the new spirituality.” Nine Marks produces an e-Journal every two months that is always helpful and thought-provoking. This month the theme […]

A simple definition of work

Don’t confuse work with a place of employment. John Stott has provided a clear distinction between work and employment: According to God’s intention,…work might be defined as “the expenditure of manual or mental energy in service, which brings fulfillment to the worker, benefit to the community, and glory to God.”…Though all employment is work, not […]

Today’s Quote (9/1/08)

A. W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God: It is not what a man does that determines whether or not his work is sacred or secular, it is why he does it.