There are two extreme approaches to work:

1) Work is necessary evil. Do just enough so I never have to work again.
2) Work is the ultimate good to pursue.

We’ll look in depth at these two kinds of extreme approaches to work next week, and how they can damage us, then the next week, we’ll see what good work looks like, and how it ties in with God’s purpose and rhythm for both work and rest.

We saw with the recent devastation in Quebec how disastrous it is when trains go off the rails. They are made to run on rails. The rails are not about restricting their freedom, however. The rails give them freedom – when they hop the rails, they lose all freedom.

God has given some tracks for us. A rhythm of work & rest in a week…a year…and a lifetime.

Work is not a temporary, troublesome virus in our lives, but part of who we are. And the rhythm will help us see that while work is important, it’s not all important.

Balance and rhythm are the way to keep away from those extremes.

Challenge: Draw a continuum between these extremes – work is nothing, everything. Where are you? Where are those you know and work with? Where would you like to be?

 

Acknowledgements: Tim Keller, Every Good Endeavour and Work & Rest

Ryan Sim - September 9, 2015

Wednesday - Change It - Structured Rest

Work and Rest

So far this week, we’ve looked at rhythms for rest, but what should one actually do with that time? One author, Tim Keller, has suggested two main categories of rest. 1) Doing nothing at all. Kick your feet up. 2) Do something different from your usual work. If you work in a bank, volunteering to help launch our church is a form of rest. But if you work in a church, then it isn't rest...but doing the books for your favourite charity could be. If you’re a fisherman, then fishing isn’t rest. But if you’re a videographer, it is. If you’re a landscaper, then cutting the grass at home isn’t rest. But for many people, it’s therapeutic! Not sure what that might look like? It could be contemplative – spend some time praying, reading something spiritually focused, watching a sunrise. It could be recreational - playing soccer, rock climbing, hitting the beach, learning a new skill, reading something just for fun. It could be aesthetic - going to an art gallery, climbing the CN tower to look over the city, watching an outdoor movie like we're hosting this September. Rest is going to vary depending on your work and your personality. For me - rest is reading, or outdoors. Hiking, rock climbing, camping, all use muscles, parts of my brain and energies that writing these challenges and standing here in front of a camera talking to you does not! Question: List your favourite way to find rest in each of these categories: Doing Nothing: Contemplative: Recreational: Aesthetic: Then put down when you'll plan to do that next. We meet for coffee this Wednesday night at Starbucks in the Chapters Store in Ajax, in Durham Region just East of Toronto. Maybe we'll see you there?

From Series: "Work and Rest"

Just in time for summer's blend of work and rest, Redeem the Commute is starting a new series of daily challenges to help busy people restore life to the commuting lifestyle. This seven week series will look at the meaning and purpose of work, rest, and ancient practices that have helped followers of Jesus to keep the two in perspective and balance for centuries.

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