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Work: The Meaning of Your Life - A Christian Perspective
Where do we find the core of life's meaning? Right on the job! At whatever work we do - with head or hand, from kitchen to executive suite, from your house to the White House! "Work is the great equalizer - everyone has to come to it in order to find meaning in living: no short cuts, no detours, no bargain rates."
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First published January 1, 1982
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 12, 2025
A valuable, but delicate book that needs the proper reader or, preferably, teacher. It's a topic that has tremendous value but requires understanding and application of the nuance necessary in Dekoster's arguments. In the wrong hands it can easily be misused or misapplied under the guise of "Christian teaching," obliviously or maliciously.
Several very important ideas are presented but are done so clumsily and, I would argue, irresponsibly. Dekoster ultimately arrives at his point, that, "work is how we make ourselves useful to others, and by extension, to God," and, "it is through that work that we ultimately craft ourselves," but does so while presenting it in tersely-written, overly-simplistic language that is easily exploitable as an incomplete and idealistic approach to labor which can easily be utilized to exploit individuals. It's easy to see someone with a misunderstanding of the material, or worse, malicious intent, utilizing his ideas, as initially presented by the author, to manipulate Christians into serving "the larger cause of civilization," and "its storehouse," as a means for their own personal economic gain, or for the "greater good" of a culture or civilization, regardless what the aim of that culture or civilization may be.
He does himself no favors by offering several false dichotomies or even distracting strawman arguments, including the necessity to "submit to advancements in technology" no matter the cost, because the advancements will provide for "larger improvements for civilization." He compares several historical, rebellious responses to people losing their livelihoods to technology with the anarchic desire to have the "freedom to do jobs however [they] wish." It is not a lack of discipline or wish for anarchy, Dekoster, that people who lose their livelihood are justifiably angry with, it is their "right to work" being taken away for the sake of "technological advancement." This is one of several examples in which Dekoster finds himself lost among weeds far too thick for this book to enter, considering its brevity. Either a larger book, exploring a theological perspective of work and economy in more detail, or a more refined emphasis on his thesis regarding work, would have served his efforts far better.
That is not to say that what Dekoster says is foolish or without value; on the contrary, what's frustrating is that what he says regarding work is extremely useful. In the right hands, this would be an excellent study for an individual or group to work through and come to appreciate the value which one finds in what Dekoster calls, "the essence of work." His suggestion that the work we produce, daily, as a means of stewardship, its contribution to the "economy of civilization," and how we ultimately sculpt ourselves every day by how we choose to utilize our life, time and talents, is theologically sound, the thesis of the book, and relevant to those seeking to live their lives fruitfully, in even the most difficult employment. There is good information here which can be extrapolated and explored for its theological implications; one just need be wary, very discerning, and patient.
As it stands, it's a small book that is far too scattered and idealistic to stand on its own without critical guidance and serious discernment. Too many ideas, unnecessary asides and occasional free-market economy opinions interrupt the text and do little to support his, very interesting, theological argument. Nonetheless, in the right hands, the core thesis of work being a gift as well as the necessity by which we are sculpted as individuals over a lifetime, regardless of profession, class or wage, and is part of the stewardship of our lives, is theologically valuable. By working to serve others, we serve God, and in serving God, we become the sculptors of ourselves--our true work--for better or worse, not as a works-based-righteousness, but as a steward of our life, time and abilities.
Several very important ideas are presented but are done so clumsily and, I would argue, irresponsibly. Dekoster ultimately arrives at his point, that, "work is how we make ourselves useful to others, and by extension, to God," and, "it is through that work that we ultimately craft ourselves," but does so while presenting it in tersely-written, overly-simplistic language that is easily exploitable as an incomplete and idealistic approach to labor which can easily be utilized to exploit individuals. It's easy to see someone with a misunderstanding of the material, or worse, malicious intent, utilizing his ideas, as initially presented by the author, to manipulate Christians into serving "the larger cause of civilization," and "its storehouse," as a means for their own personal economic gain, or for the "greater good" of a culture or civilization, regardless what the aim of that culture or civilization may be.
He does himself no favors by offering several false dichotomies or even distracting strawman arguments, including the necessity to "submit to advancements in technology" no matter the cost, because the advancements will provide for "larger improvements for civilization." He compares several historical, rebellious responses to people losing their livelihoods to technology with the anarchic desire to have the "freedom to do jobs however [they] wish." It is not a lack of discipline or wish for anarchy, Dekoster, that people who lose their livelihood are justifiably angry with, it is their "right to work" being taken away for the sake of "technological advancement." This is one of several examples in which Dekoster finds himself lost among weeds far too thick for this book to enter, considering its brevity. Either a larger book, exploring a theological perspective of work and economy in more detail, or a more refined emphasis on his thesis regarding work, would have served his efforts far better.
That is not to say that what Dekoster says is foolish or without value; on the contrary, what's frustrating is that what he says regarding work is extremely useful. In the right hands, this would be an excellent study for an individual or group to work through and come to appreciate the value which one finds in what Dekoster calls, "the essence of work." His suggestion that the work we produce, daily, as a means of stewardship, its contribution to the "economy of civilization," and how we ultimately sculpt ourselves every day by how we choose to utilize our life, time and talents, is theologically sound, the thesis of the book, and relevant to those seeking to live their lives fruitfully, in even the most difficult employment. There is good information here which can be extrapolated and explored for its theological implications; one just need be wary, very discerning, and patient.
As it stands, it's a small book that is far too scattered and idealistic to stand on its own without critical guidance and serious discernment. Too many ideas, unnecessary asides and occasional free-market economy opinions interrupt the text and do little to support his, very interesting, theological argument. Nonetheless, in the right hands, the core thesis of work being a gift as well as the necessity by which we are sculpted as individuals over a lifetime, regardless of profession, class or wage, and is part of the stewardship of our lives, is theologically valuable. By working to serve others, we serve God, and in serving God, we become the sculptors of ourselves--our true work--for better or worse, not as a works-based-righteousness, but as a steward of our life, time and abilities.
September 25, 2025
“Work gives meaning to life because work is the form in which we make ourselves useful to others.
Why should this be a source of meaning?
Why does serving others give meaning to life?
…
The answer is twofold: First, God himself chooses to be served through the work that serves others and therefore molds working into culture to provide workers with even better means of service. Second, God has so made us that through working we actually sculpt the kind of selves we each are becoming, in time and for eternity.”
~ Lester DeKoster, Work: The Meaning of Your Life: A Christian Perspective, Chapter 2.
Cf. Matthew 25:31-46; 24:14-30.
Why should this be a source of meaning?
Why does serving others give meaning to life?
…
The answer is twofold: First, God himself chooses to be served through the work that serves others and therefore molds working into culture to provide workers with even better means of service. Second, God has so made us that through working we actually sculpt the kind of selves we each are becoming, in time and for eternity.”
~ Lester DeKoster, Work: The Meaning of Your Life: A Christian Perspective, Chapter 2.
Cf. Matthew 25:31-46; 24:14-30.
April 12, 2024
I actually read this back in 2018 right before I started college. I remember it being very helpful with my perspective on work. I wanted to come back and read it now that I’ve started my career. While some of its principles are excellent, there are some major drawbacks.
1st - Sometimes Biblical narratives are used to justify financial information that isn’t really the purpose of the original text.
2nd - It feels un comfy reading quotes from Jesus and then following them up with quotes from Carl Marx.
3rd - Almost each page bounces around to different focuses within the chapter.
1st - Sometimes Biblical narratives are used to justify financial information that isn’t really the purpose of the original text.
2nd - It feels un comfy reading quotes from Jesus and then following them up with quotes from Carl Marx.
3rd - Almost each page bounces around to different focuses within the chapter.
May 5, 2020
The author reminds us that 'work' is important since we spend most of our time doing it, but his focus on civilisation as an ultimate goal, rather than the Kingdom of God or His Glory, made me question his theology!
January 25, 2018
This is now a favorite book and one I will reread the rest of my life.
August 25, 2010
Excellent perspective on work. "Work is the gift of self to the service of others which becomes the fabric of civilization. Civilization is the gift of others to the service of ourselves. Wage provides the capacity to buy in on the riches of that civilization. The relationship between work and wage cannot be calculated scientifically, and must be governed by the art of creative stewardship guided by moral rather than economic law."
Read
August 20, 2012While this book is written in a different literary style than most "mainstream" reads, I found the central insight incredibly well communicated and valuable. For anyone who wrestles with whether there is meaning to be found in their work, read this book. I read it in less than 3 hours and it was time well spent.
February 13, 2011
I liked the premise of the book, just could not get into the writing style.
Read
April 19, 2012I made an attempt to finish this book, but it was just too poorly written, and so I gave myself permission to NOT finish it. Maybe some other time when I'm not so distracted it will make more sense.
Want to read
July 13, 2013recomendado por TGC
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/t...
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July 31, 2015
Great wisdom here. The afterward is essential reading.
January 18, 2016
Often times random, some good salient points about work, but at times I felt a disconnect with what the authors were presenting. But as part of the corpus on a theology of work, it is a needed read.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews