Life Carries On...

Hello! I'm never sure how to start a post... we want to keep you updated on our lives, but aren't always sure how best to do that! Hans spent a chunk of time last week writing a post about his lecture on the book of Mark, but then lost the entire post and didn't have the time to rewrite it. So hopefully he will still be able to do that soon.

I taught on the book of 2 Thessalonians last week. It's a short book, but packed with good stuff! I got to delve into topics such as a Biblical view of suffering and the Man of Lawlessness. I ran out of time but could have also spent hours talking about work ethic/Biblical perspective on work. This was where I was most challenged as I studied this book. Paul asked the church to hold one another accountable in this area, which reveals that our work ethic is actually a community matter... not just a personal issue. God values work and created us to work. John Stott writes that work has 3 purposes: It gives meaning to individuals, it benefits the community, and it glorifies God. Work is not something we do just to get a paycheck or earn vacation time. Work is part of our identity as humans. I'm not saying we are what we do, but what we do does add meaning and purpose to our lives (as well as build up the community around us and bring God glory). I'm also not saying certain types of work are more important or meaningful than others. The work God gave to Adam and Eve before the fall was to "work and keep" the garden of Eden. Whether you are building a house or teaching 3rd graders or pastoring a church or raising your children, God values the work that you are doing. I'm also not saying rest is not important. God also built the need for rest into our identity as humans. We should never feel guilty about taking time to rest... (in fact it should be high on our priority lists.) Some would say, the balance between work and rest is the key to a fulfilling, healthy life.

What would you say?