A CHRISTIAN VISION OF WORK (13 OF 13)
by Drew Hunter
Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-18
This content is part of a series.
A Christian Vision of Work (13 of 13)
Series: Until He Comes
Drew Hunter
2 Thessalonians 3:6-18
These letters have held two themes together that we don't often hold together well.
1. First, more than any other part of the Bible, these letters look to the horizon of Jesus' future return. They tell us that our hope is not a utopia that we can create; it is the new creation that Jesus will bring. So, these letters focus on Jesus' return.
2. Second, more than any other part of the Bible, these letters focus on the importance of work. One of the repeated concerns is on Christians working an contributing to the common good.
These two themes stick together like magnets in these letters.
But in our own experience, we've flipped one of the magnets and they repel each other. We don't always hold these two together well.
Maybe you've heard the phrase, ''she's too heavenly minded for any earthly good.'' That assumes that you need to pick-one or the other. Either you focus on Christ's future return and become irrelevant; or you forget about Jesus' return to so you can get to work.
But these two letters hold future hope and present work together. And they aren't even in tension.
These letters call us to hope in the return of Christ, and then be diligent with good works in the meantime. That's why this series is called, ''until he comes.'' He is coming, but what are we to do until then? There is work to be done. We are waiting for Jesus, but we also serve the common good until he comes.
And as this letter turns from the focus on the return of Christ to the focus on good works, it gets very specific. This is not a call to good works in general; it is a call to good work. This text is about the place of work in the Christian life.
This is an important connection for us.
One of the most important ways that we can grow as Christians is to integrate faith and work. And, by work, I'm not just thinking about employment. Work may refer to ...
Series: Until He Comes
Drew Hunter
2 Thessalonians 3:6-18
These letters have held two themes together that we don't often hold together well.
1. First, more than any other part of the Bible, these letters look to the horizon of Jesus' future return. They tell us that our hope is not a utopia that we can create; it is the new creation that Jesus will bring. So, these letters focus on Jesus' return.
2. Second, more than any other part of the Bible, these letters focus on the importance of work. One of the repeated concerns is on Christians working an contributing to the common good.
These two themes stick together like magnets in these letters.
But in our own experience, we've flipped one of the magnets and they repel each other. We don't always hold these two together well.
Maybe you've heard the phrase, ''she's too heavenly minded for any earthly good.'' That assumes that you need to pick-one or the other. Either you focus on Christ's future return and become irrelevant; or you forget about Jesus' return to so you can get to work.
But these two letters hold future hope and present work together. And they aren't even in tension.
These letters call us to hope in the return of Christ, and then be diligent with good works in the meantime. That's why this series is called, ''until he comes.'' He is coming, but what are we to do until then? There is work to be done. We are waiting for Jesus, but we also serve the common good until he comes.
And as this letter turns from the focus on the return of Christ to the focus on good works, it gets very specific. This is not a call to good works in general; it is a call to good work. This text is about the place of work in the Christian life.
This is an important connection for us.
One of the most important ways that we can grow as Christians is to integrate faith and work. And, by work, I'm not just thinking about employment. Work may refer to ...
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