Hamilton Jr., James M. Work and Our Labor in the Lord. Short Studies in Biblical Theology 3. Wheaton: Crossway, 2017. 104 pp, excluding end matter.
Summary and Critique
Work and Our Labor in the Lord is a wonderful little book that simply, clearly, and compellingly presents God’s purpose for mankind from Scripture. It clearly answers the question ‘why am I here?’ from the Bible. Hamilton writes in a hopeful way. Even in a sin-filled world, he shows how God’s purpose for mankind has not changed and that we can still fulfill God’s purpose for mankind, even though it is more difficult because of sin.
I would recommend this book to anyone who struggles with the reason for their existence (Christian or non-Christian).
Summary of Each Chapter
Introduction
Hamilton defines biblical theology as “the attempt to understand and embrace the interpretive perspective of the biblical authors” (11).
Chapter 1: Creation—Work in the Very Good Garden
Genesis 1–2 (Creation)
Work is “built into the created order, right from the start. God gave man stewardship of the land and all life on it.”
- The Bible opens with God doing work (Gen 1). God continues to work even after the Sabbath.
- Man is to be fruitful and multiply so as to (a) fill, (b) subdue, and (c) rule (Gen 1:26-28). “[E]very task in the world can be seen in relationship to the subjection of the earth and the exercise of dominion over the animal kingdom.”
- Marriage is indispensable to the task given mankind: “God gave marriage not only to enable the great task but also to enrich the life and work God gave to man.”
Deuteronomy 28:1-14 (The Blessings of the Covenant)
Hamilton looks at Deuteronomy 28:1-14 to see what life would have been like if the fall had never happened. The blessings recounted in Deuteronomy 28 recount the blessings upon land, work, travel, every aspect of life. The condition, however, is obedience.
Genesis 3:16-19 (Judgment on God-Given Tasks)
In his mercy, God does not immediately kill Adam and Eve when they sin. Adam and Eve are not themselves cursed like the Serpent. However, God does issue curses that make man and woman’s tasks more difficult.
- Woman. Woman was supposed to produce offspring and help the man. Now, woman will bring forth children in pain and she will always be trying to usurp her husband’s authority.
- Man. Man is supposed to lead over his wife and work the ground. Now, man will rule over woman in such a way that he will reject and suppress her influence. Further, the ground is cursed so that man’s main goal of keeping and subduing it will involve painful toil.
Chapter 2: Work after the Fall—Fallen, Futile, Flourishing
Fallen
Identity and work are almost inseparable (43). Because God made man in his image to work, “we know that the man was to reflect the character of God in his work” (44). As such, we are to reflect God’s character through our work, which is why our identity is bound up in our work to a certain degree.
However, the presence of sin make work harder (43). All are affected by Adam’s original sin and, as such, work gets harder because of God’s judgment against sin (47). This is seen in the story of Cain and Abel.
Futile
This section focuses on the teachings of Ecclesiastes and Proverbs. Both Ecclesiastes and Proverbs instruct “on how to make the best of a broken world” (48).
Ecclesiastes “wrestles with the realities that flow from God’s word of judgment on man’s work in Genesis 3:17–19. Work will be painful and frustrating and then comes death” (49, cf. 52). According to Ecclesiastes, there are three things that are good for a person to do in this fallen world and in which a person can take joy: (1) eat, (2) drink, and (3) enjoy your work (4) “because the ability to do this is a gift of God” (Eccl 2:24–25; 3:12–13, 22; 5:18–19; 6:1–2; 8:15; 9:7–10; 11:8–10; pages 50, 52).
Proverbs is more specific and detailed than Ecclesiastes on how to flourish in the midst of fallen futility, giving instruction on how to live in a fallen world. Proverbs’ instruction “commends a picture of the good life characterized by diligent, faithful, and wise work done by a man who is providing for and protecting his wife and children, teaching his sons to do the same” (53–54).
Flourishing
Hamilton gives examples of flouring in a fallen world through exemplary biblical figures.
Joseph. Joseph was faithful to God and the work God gave him throughout his life, while suffering for doing good. He experienced the inaugurations of God’s blessings in the midst of affliction (60). “The pattern of Joseph’s life is a pattern fulfilled in Jesus, a pattern that informs the identity and expectations of those who follow Jesus” (60).
Daniel. “The book of Daniel teaches that God’s people should walk in accordance with the Torah (Daniel 1), pray to the Lord in crisis (Daniel 2), refuse to bow to idols for deliverance (Daniel 3), love pagans and tell them the truth (Daniel 4), remain free from worldly temptations to corruption (Daniel 5), and never allow pagan threats to keep them from praying and worshiping the Lord (Daniel 6)” (62–63).
Nehemiah. Nehemiah (1) worked in reliance on God’s power and guidance (2:12); (2) he was committed to the work (4:13–20); (3) he was vigilant and constant when working (4:21–23); (4) he was committed to justice and righteousness at work (5:1–13); (5) he saw the fruit of his work (6:15–16) (64).
Ruth. Ruth is an example of the kind of woman described in Proverbs 31. Regarding work (66), Ruth . . .
- Sought work authorized by the law of Moses.
- Worked hard in the service for herself, but also for the benefit of Naomi.
- Worked in such a way that she gained a good reputation among her fellow workers and also in her community.
- Worked in a way that was sexually pure.
Summary of Chapter
“[K]now God in all your ways (Prov 3:5). Enjoy your work and its fruits as God’s gift to you (cf. the seven statements to this effect in Ecclesiastes). Hope in the promises and bless the world (Gen 12:1–3). Live and work the way that Joseph, Daniel, and Nehemiah did: seeking to hallow God’s name and to see his kingdom come and his will be done—in reliance on him for daily bread, forgiveness of sin, and deliverance from evil—for his is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever” (67).
Chapter 3: Redemption—Work Now That Christ Has Risen
This chapter considers “how what Jesus accomplished on the cross redeems and frees people to work for God’s glory” (69). To do this, Hamilton takes Romans 12:1–2 as his “organizing principle” (73). The first half of the chapter focuses on conformity to the world by examining what Christians are not to do with relationship to work. The second half focuses on being a living sacrifice by examining how Christians should engage their work (73–74).
Conformity to the World: Idolatrous Work
Based on Ephesians 4:28, Christians should not (76):
- Steal (covetousness)
- Engage in dishonest work (including all immoral, life-destroying schemes to make money)
- Be selfish (unwilling to share).
Based on 1 Thessalonians 4:11–12, Christians should not (79):
- Have disruptive discontent
- Engage in meddlesome behaviour
- Be lazy
- Engage in disreputable conduct
- Be dependent on others when able to work
Hamilton says the following of the Thessalonian Christians, which I love:
“By embracing the wider story in which they were to find their identity, they were to find the quiet life desirable, their own affairs special assignments from God, the work they could do with their hands a privilege, and the productive pursuit of good repute with those outside a matter of building God’s own reputation” (Hamilton, “Work“, 79).
Based on 1 Thessalonians 5:14, Christians should not (80):
- Be idle
- Be fainthearted
- Be weak (in character and faith)
- Be unconcerned for those who do not work
Based on 2 Thessalonians 3:6–15, Christians should not (81):
- Be idle
- Reject apostolic teaching
- Reject apostolic example
- Mooch off others
- Burden others when not needed
- Meddle in other people’s business
- Tolerate what dishonours God
Finally, James 5:4 says we should not hold back the wages of those who work for us (83). “Work that does not communicate love for God and neighbour is idolatrous” (83).
Renewal of Mind: Work unto the Lord that Adorns the Gospel
The command in Romans 12:1–2 to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind” “amounts to love for God and neighbour” (83).
Work as an Expression of Love FOR God (84–85)
- Work to please God: The parable of the talents (Matt 25:14–230)
- Do all for God’s glory (1 Cor 10:31)
- Do all in Christ’s name (Col 3:17)
- Work from your soul for the Lord (Col 3:23)
Work as an Expression of Love FOR Neighbour (86–88)
- Following Paul’s example of hard work to benefit others (1 Cor 9:6–27; 15:10)
- To support the ministry (1 Cor 9:14; Gal 6:6)
- To share with the needy (Eph 4:28)
- To live an undisruptive life (1 Thess 4:11; 2 Thess 3:12)
- As a good testimony for unbelievers (1 Cor 9;12; 1 Thess 4:12; 1 Tim 5:14; 6:1; Titus 2:5, 9)
- Not to burden others (2 Cor 11:9; 12:13, 14, 16; 1 Thess 2:9)
- In brotherly love that transcends race and status (1 Tim 6:2; Philem 16)
“Walking with God in this way will allow us to flourish in the midst of fallen futility” (88).
Chapter 4: Restoration—Work in the New Heavens and New Earth
“The new work we will do is the work of ruling and subduing, working and keeping, exercising dominion and rendering judgment, all as God’s people in God’s place in God’s way” (91).
The Bible speaks of resurrection and restoration. “God will restore what has been ruined and lost because of sin . . . . God will satisfy every longing he built into the human heart. Longings for sinful things are by perversions of righteous desires. God will satisfy us” (95).
When Jesus returns and the heavens and earth are restored, God’s people will (97–98):
- Inherit the creation
- Steward the creation
- Reign with Jesus over creation
- Judge in the creation
“Under King Jesus, the new heavens and the new earth will be ruled by those who exercise the dominion that he reclaimed, those whom he made a kingdom and priests. These are also those who will feast with Jesus” (89–90).
When Jesus returns, heavens and the earth will become what God originally built them to be: a cosmic temple. “In that cosmic temple, the people who belong to Jesus, who have been transformed into his image, will rule and subdue, work and keep, and no snake will ever enter that garden to speak lies to the bride of Christ. Jesus himself will ensure the safety of that redeemed place” (100).
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