Work and Recreation

Soon after God created Adam, he put him to work: “The Lord God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch over it” (Gen. 2:15). Adam and Eve’s sin brought widespread consequences (Gen. 3:8–24), primarily the introduction of both literal and spiritual death into the human race but also the introduction of difficulty in work. But the call to work remains for all of us.

Depending on our age and stage in life, our main responsibilities will change, whether we are working as a student, as a parent, and/or at a full-time or part-time job. But working hard (at those main responsibilities) is perhaps the most immediate way that we can serve others, serve society, and serve God. But God also created us to rest and to recreate, both for our joy and so that we can be refreshed to resume the good work he has for us to do.

In our motivation and attitude and effort, we can glorify God and reflect that he is our ultimate audience (1 Cor. 10:31; Eph. 6:5–9). The apostle Paul said, “And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Col. 3:17). The resources below clarify what this looks like in actual practice.

The Gospel at Work by Sebastian Traeger & Greg Gilbert (2): A book that emphasizes how a biblical worldview affects every aspect of our work. Accessible, practical advice.

*Every Good Endeavor by Timothy Keller with Katherine Leary Alsdorf (2 or 3): The author explains the way God designed work, our problems with work, and how God guides us to work for his glory. In the end, we must never separate our work from our Christian faith.

Work and Our Labor in the Lord by James M. Hamilton, Jr. (3): A biblical-theological study of work, highlighting work in creation, work after humanity’s fall into sin, work in light of and after Jesus’s resurrection, and work in the new heavens and new earth.

*Work by Daniel M. Doriani (3 or 4): A book that Bible scholar D. A. Carson labels as best-in-category, though it lacks the accessibility of the other books.