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Every Good Endeavour: Connecting Your Work to God's Plan for the World
In today's increasingly competitive and insecure economic environment, we often question the reason for work: why am I doing this? Why is it so hard? And what can I do about it?
Work may seem just a means to an end: we do it to earn the money to enjoy life outside the workplace. Here, Timothy Keller argues that God's plan is radically more ambitious: he actually created us to work. We are to work together to make the world a better place, to help each other, and so to find purpose for our lives. Our faith should enhance our work, and our work should develop our faith.
With deep insight, Timothy Keller draws on essential and relevant biblical wisdom to address our questions about work. There is grace available if we have taken the wrong attitude, idolising money and using our careers to glorify ourselves rather than God. This book provides the foundations for a work-life balance where we can thrive both personally and professionally. Keller shows how through excellence, integrity, discipline, creativity and passion in the workplace we can impact society for good.
Developing a better attitude to work releases us to serve others humbly, to worship God everyday, and leaves us deeply fulfilled.
289 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2012
3289 people are currently reading
21512 people want to read
About the author
Timothy J. Keller
397 books5,764 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Timothy Keller was the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, which he started in 1989 with his wife, Kathy, and three young sons. For over twenty years he has led a diverse congregation of young professionals that has grown to a weekly attendance of over 5,000.
He was also Chairman of Redeemer City to City, which starts new churches in New York and other global cities, and publishes books and resources for faith in an urban culture. In over ten years they have helped to launch over 250 churches in 48 cities. More recently, Dr. Keller’s books, including the New York Times bestselling The Reason for God and The Prodigal God, have sold over 1 million copies and been translated into 15 languages.
Christianity Today has said, “Fifty years from now, if evangelical Christians are widely known for their love of cities, their commitment to mercy and justice, and their love of their neighbors, Tim Keller will be remembered as a pioneer of the new urban Christians.”
Dr. Keller was born and raised in Pennsylvania, and educated at Bucknell University, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and Westminster Theological Seminary. He previously served as the pastor of West Hopewell Presbyterian Church in Hopewell, Virginia, Associate Professor of Practical Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary, and Director of Mercy Ministries for the Presbyterian Church in America.
Timothy Keller was the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, which he started in 1989 with his wife, Kathy, and three young sons. For over twenty years he has led a diverse congregation of young professionals that has grown to a weekly attendance of over 5,000.
He was also Chairman of Redeemer City to City, which starts new churches in New York and other global cities, and publishes books and resources for faith in an urban culture. In over ten years they have helped to launch over 250 churches in 48 cities. More recently, Dr. Keller’s books, including the New York Times bestselling The Reason for God and The Prodigal God, have sold over 1 million copies and been translated into 15 languages.
Christianity Today has said, “Fifty years from now, if evangelical Christians are widely known for their love of cities, their commitment to mercy and justice, and their love of their neighbors, Tim Keller will be remembered as a pioneer of the new urban Christians.”
Dr. Keller was born and raised in Pennsylvania, and educated at Bucknell University, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and Westminster Theological Seminary. He previously served as the pastor of West Hopewell Presbyterian Church in Hopewell, Virginia, Associate Professor of Practical Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary, and Director of Mercy Ministries for the Presbyterian Church in America.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,558 reviews
February 11, 2013
Though I did not have any idea what this book was about, only that it was Reverend Keller's new book, I am so glad I decided to read this at this point in my life. It almost seemed like God's personal counseling to me, since the topic discussed in the book, namely Gospel-minded career choices and attitudes toward work, is exactly the main focus of my thoughts and efforts right now for the past year or so. And finally, I found sound Christian career advise that is realistic, applicable, and Biblical to the 21st century young, educated, non-fundamentalist Christian who does want to live according to the Gospel but always had so much difficulty finding mentors who seem to do so.
A lot of the "Christian professionals" I have seen either seemed to be very exclusive in their career choices or friends they associate with, or lived a dualistic lifestyle that differentiated their church life versus "real life." I always felt this was somehow fundamentally wrong. If the Gospel is true and that our lives are made new because of Christ, and we do work most of our lives, whether we want to or not, than somehow I felt our work life, in both it's goals and execution, should be fundamentally different to those who are not followers of Christ. What exactly was this goal and execution, was always lost somewhere in transition. This book truly did help me sort out through this transition and re-established what is God's intention of work. And that I should be proud of my work, even if it is mere "layman's work", since God had intended all work to be holy and cultivating.
Of course, I still have a lot of figuring out to do. The book definitely helped me organize and lay-out my thoughts, as well as signs I should be looking out for in my personal motivations, but it certainly is not a manual or recipe, nor is it the Bible. I still have to take time to internalize and act upon these ideas and thoughts. But for anyone who is either struggling to find meaning to their work, or to live according to the Gospel and have always felt that somehow the "evangelizing, Bible on the desk" view of Christian work life was too one dimensional or lacking, I definitely recommend this book.
A lot of the "Christian professionals" I have seen either seemed to be very exclusive in their career choices or friends they associate with, or lived a dualistic lifestyle that differentiated their church life versus "real life." I always felt this was somehow fundamentally wrong. If the Gospel is true and that our lives are made new because of Christ, and we do work most of our lives, whether we want to or not, than somehow I felt our work life, in both it's goals and execution, should be fundamentally different to those who are not followers of Christ. What exactly was this goal and execution, was always lost somewhere in transition. This book truly did help me sort out through this transition and re-established what is God's intention of work. And that I should be proud of my work, even if it is mere "layman's work", since God had intended all work to be holy and cultivating.
Of course, I still have a lot of figuring out to do. The book definitely helped me organize and lay-out my thoughts, as well as signs I should be looking out for in my personal motivations, but it certainly is not a manual or recipe, nor is it the Bible. I still have to take time to internalize and act upon these ideas and thoughts. But for anyone who is either struggling to find meaning to their work, or to live according to the Gospel and have always felt that somehow the "evangelizing, Bible on the desk" view of Christian work life was too one dimensional or lacking, I definitely recommend this book.
May 3, 2014
Mark Twain said that "work is a necessary evil to be avoided." Tim Keller and Katherine Leary Alsdorf disagree. They contend that work is a vital part of being created in the image of God. This book is divided into three parts, which can be summarized as: (1) work is good, (2) after the fall work is frustrating, (3) and because of the gospel, work can be redeemed.
Work is good: There is dignity to our work because we care for God’s creation in his place (ch. 2). Work is how we love our neighbor (ch. 4).
Work is bad: The fall makes love and work frustrating. Our accomplishments cannot match our ambition (ch. 5). Ecclesiastes teaches us that work becomes pointless (ch. 6). Making work a form of self-fulfillment is idolatry (ch. 8).
Work is redeemed: Keller and Alsdorf highlighted positive features from several faith backgrounds, resulting in a collage of insights. We should approach work from a distinct worldview (ch. 9), unique conception (that God cares for the world through our work, ch. 10), a new ethic (ch. 11), and a supernatural power (ch. 12).
Great quote: “It is a mistake to think that the Christian worldview is operating only when we are doing…overtly Christian activities. Instead, think of the gospel as a set of glasses through which you ‘look’ at everything else in the world” (pp. 179-180).
Work is good: There is dignity to our work because we care for God’s creation in his place (ch. 2). Work is how we love our neighbor (ch. 4).
Work is bad: The fall makes love and work frustrating. Our accomplishments cannot match our ambition (ch. 5). Ecclesiastes teaches us that work becomes pointless (ch. 6). Making work a form of self-fulfillment is idolatry (ch. 8).
Work is redeemed: Keller and Alsdorf highlighted positive features from several faith backgrounds, resulting in a collage of insights. We should approach work from a distinct worldview (ch. 9), unique conception (that God cares for the world through our work, ch. 10), a new ethic (ch. 11), and a supernatural power (ch. 12).
Great quote: “It is a mistake to think that the Christian worldview is operating only when we are doing…overtly Christian activities. Instead, think of the gospel as a set of glasses through which you ‘look’ at everything else in the world” (pp. 179-180).
May 27, 2024
This is the kind of book I like to read: theologically substantial, well-organized and well-written, and practical. I typically read these books, however, on one condition, and that is that I go slowly and take lots of notes. Because I started reading through this book with some guys in my family in July 2021, I didn't read it on my own terms. But I'm still glad I went through it, even if I didn't wring out all of the good parts and display them on Goodreads. I underlined a lot, and maybe later I'll go back through and distill some of the bigger points.
I read pp. 9–16 (the section on Tolkien's "Leaf by Niggle") on Jan. 22, 2019. It's one of the most encouraging pieces on work/vocation I've ever read. For more on "Leaf," see Tom Shippey's J. R. R. Tolkien: Author of the Century (266–77).
Review at Comment.
Random work thoughts:
Don McLean on the meaning of "Bye, Bye, Miss American Pie": "It means I'll never have to work again."
Thomas Cooper's 1846 The Baron's Yule Feast speaks of "lighten[ing] Labour's curse."
I read pp. 9–16 (the section on Tolkien's "Leaf by Niggle") on Jan. 22, 2019. It's one of the most encouraging pieces on work/vocation I've ever read. For more on "Leaf," see Tom Shippey's J. R. R. Tolkien: Author of the Century (266–77).
Review at Comment.
Random work thoughts:
Don McLean on the meaning of "Bye, Bye, Miss American Pie": "It means I'll never have to work again."
Thomas Cooper's 1846 The Baron's Yule Feast speaks of "lighten[ing] Labour's curse."
February 19, 2024
The most accessibly comprehensive faith-and-work book I’ve read. Lots of helpful synthesis and biblical insight. I wish there had been more attention to evangelism in the workplace. Would be good to pair with Gilbert and Traeger’s “The Gospel at Work.”
January 20, 2023
I will never stop coming back to this book. It is an antidote to my workaholism and an answer to so many young people’s unanswered questions about the fruitlessness/burnout/weight/stress of work today. Every page of this book slapped me across the face with truth. Dramatically changed my relationship with work. I’ve just been emerging from two years of intense over-working & workaholism & extracting my self-worth from my accomplishments. This book diagnosed all of the reasons why and painted me a clear picture of why I absolutely cannot continue doing that without burning out and perishing further. Makes me view work as a beautiful thing and God's gift that must be treated with care. Workaholics, high-achievers, haters of work, people who hate their job, people who love their job, literally, everyone should read this book, because everyone on this earth works.
October 16, 2018
This book is a game-changer. I started reading it because I had an inkling that my theology on work was lacking, and that inkling was immediately confirmed. "Lacking" was an understatement. I had no idea the good and holy things God has for us in work- *all kinds* of work. Getting to digest and discuss these ideas has changed the way I view the world and my place in it! There is not one person for whom these truths are irrelevant.
August 17, 2024
Cartea conține idei profunde, practice și merită citită de oricine care are un loc de muncă. Scoate în evidență importanța muncii și a chemării divine în viața cotidiană. Prin felul în care muncim și vorbim e nevoie să lăsăm să se vadă relația pe care o avem cu Dumnezeu, fiind ca niște indicatoare spre El. Munca a fost parte a planului perfect pe care Dumnezeu l-a avut pentru viața umană, și asta datorită faptului că suntem făcuți după chipul lui Dumnezeu, iar o parte a slavei și fericirii Sale constă tocmai în munca Sa. Munca este mai degrabă o modalitate prin care ne facem folositori altora, decât una prin care trăim pentru noi înșine.
,,Încă din primele versete, Scriptura vorbește, printre altele, și despre muncă, iar asta arată cât de importantă și fundamentală este această activitate. Autorul cărții Geneza descrie lucrarea de creare a lumii de către Dumnezeu drept muncă. De fapt, el zugrăvește proiectul magnific al inventării cosmosului ca pe o săptămână normală de lucru.”
,,Există demnitate în muncă deoarece Dumnezeu Însuși lucrează și pentru că noi o facem în locul Său, ca reprezentanți ai Lui. Învățăm astfel nu doar faptul că munca este demnă în ea însăși, ci și că orice tip de muncă are demnitate.”
,,Încă din primele versete, Scriptura vorbește, printre altele, și despre muncă, iar asta arată cât de importantă și fundamentală este această activitate. Autorul cărții Geneza descrie lucrarea de creare a lumii de către Dumnezeu drept muncă. De fapt, el zugrăvește proiectul magnific al inventării cosmosului ca pe o săptămână normală de lucru.”
,,Există demnitate în muncă deoarece Dumnezeu Însuși lucrează și pentru că noi o facem în locul Său, ca reprezentanți ai Lui. Învățăm astfel nu doar faptul că munca este demnă în ea însăși, ci și că orice tip de muncă are demnitate.”
March 5, 2023
I needed to read this book.
As someone working in tax accounting, the only time I have been able to make any sort of deep connection between my work and my faith has been while reading about Jesus’s interaction with Zaccheus (and no, not just because I’m short).
If you struggle feeling deeply connected to God (like I do) while doing tasks that…
• aren’t explicitly spiritual activities
• don’t seem to directly impact eternity
• feel meaningless and purposeless in light of the greatness of God’s great redemptive story…
OR if you oftentimes feel like you are living for the next annual, weekly, or daily spiritual high, and thus feel like you are going to end up completely wasting the vast majority of your life if you pursue a “secular” job…
OR if you have no idea what it looks like to biblically choose a job without borrowing thought processes from those without the Holy Spirit (and the accompanying godly motivations and eternal perspective)…
OR if you just honestly had no idea that work/job/career could be thought about enough from a biblical perspective to warrant an entire book…
…then this book is for you.
Thank you Tim Keller (and the many other contributors to this book) for your willingness to thoughtfully, carefully, and biblically engage such an important and confusing topic for people like me who regularly feel like they are floundering in this area. Gonna have to re-read this one a few times!
As someone working in tax accounting, the only time I have been able to make any sort of deep connection between my work and my faith has been while reading about Jesus’s interaction with Zaccheus (and no, not just because I’m short).
If you struggle feeling deeply connected to God (like I do) while doing tasks that…
• aren’t explicitly spiritual activities
• don’t seem to directly impact eternity
• feel meaningless and purposeless in light of the greatness of God’s great redemptive story…
OR if you oftentimes feel like you are living for the next annual, weekly, or daily spiritual high, and thus feel like you are going to end up completely wasting the vast majority of your life if you pursue a “secular” job…
OR if you have no idea what it looks like to biblically choose a job without borrowing thought processes from those without the Holy Spirit (and the accompanying godly motivations and eternal perspective)…
OR if you just honestly had no idea that work/job/career could be thought about enough from a biblical perspective to warrant an entire book…
…then this book is for you.
Thank you Tim Keller (and the many other contributors to this book) for your willingness to thoughtfully, carefully, and biblically engage such an important and confusing topic for people like me who regularly feel like they are floundering in this area. Gonna have to re-read this one a few times!
July 20, 2019
Great book to get my brain jogging about the proper ways to serve God through my work. Sometimes the obvious ways of bringing Christ to work are talking to people about Jesus, or setting up a Bible study. But this book is not about this. It's about how God designed us for work, and how we are receiving that calling. Am I living out my true calling in my work. In addition we need to view our work through the Gospel worldview and benefit as many people as possible through the work we do.
January 19, 2021
Positives: asks some good questions, makes some good points - how does the doctrine of common grace impact work? (Ch10) What does it mean to 'work with all your heart as to the Lord, not men?' Kellar is correct that we cannot believe that the only place God is active is the church, creating again the "spiritual estate" of Christian work verses the second-tier Christianity everyone else is engaged in (p68). I think there is a right criticism of how 'narrow' over-intellectualised doctrine creates an overly simplistic and especially negative view of god's good gifts in the world and the ways that we can serve him.
Negatives: some terrible logic jumps, (for example 'being God's hands at work to serve other humans means being as technically skilled as we possibly can be in our work' - not at all!) not supported by scripture (most egregiously, 'Paul said this but Tolkien shows that actually he meant something different' (p29). Overall seems to too often spiritualise the values of the world (skill, prosperity, now-focused goodness). There must be a balance between 'nothing matters in your whole life except the five minute conversation you have in your lunch break about the fact you go to church' (which I think has been the worst form of the teaching on work that I have heard) and 'making the best table you can make is the highest calling your faith has on your life' (p77), but it's not here.
TL;DR: once or twice intrigued, but mostly unconvinced and a few times very concerned, especially in the first half.
Negatives: some terrible logic jumps, (for example 'being God's hands at work to serve other humans means being as technically skilled as we possibly can be in our work' - not at all!) not supported by scripture (most egregiously, 'Paul said this but Tolkien shows that actually he meant something different' (p29). Overall seems to too often spiritualise the values of the world (skill, prosperity, now-focused goodness). There must be a balance between 'nothing matters in your whole life except the five minute conversation you have in your lunch break about the fact you go to church' (which I think has been the worst form of the teaching on work that I have heard) and 'making the best table you can make is the highest calling your faith has on your life' (p77), but it's not here.
TL;DR: once or twice intrigued, but mostly unconvinced and a few times very concerned, especially in the first half.
April 25, 2024
Fantastic book. Some big takeaways for me:
1. Work is not a result of the fall. We are physiologically and psychologically designed for work. It’s a beautiful part of God’s perfect creation.
2. We are cultivators. As image-bearers, the work we do is an extension of the work God began in 6 days. By continuing to make sense out of a dark, formless, puzzling world, we are working for the Lord.
3. Work should not be driven out of a fear of failure (guilty). It’s driven by Romans 12:1. We are to willingly offer our bodies up as living sacrifices as an act of worship. Why? Because of our view of God’s mercy.
Give it a read!
1. Work is not a result of the fall. We are physiologically and psychologically designed for work. It’s a beautiful part of God’s perfect creation.
2. We are cultivators. As image-bearers, the work we do is an extension of the work God began in 6 days. By continuing to make sense out of a dark, formless, puzzling world, we are working for the Lord.
3. Work should not be driven out of a fear of failure (guilty). It’s driven by Romans 12:1. We are to willingly offer our bodies up as living sacrifices as an act of worship. Why? Because of our view of God’s mercy.
Give it a read!
January 22, 2024
This book came at an opportune time for me in my career. I am thankful for Tim Keller's methodical approach to this book. It was definitely a book that you had to "work" for as it was very dense. One of my biggest takeaways is that work in itself can be glorifying to God: from gardener to preacher. God created work as the foundation of our society, which gives it dignity. I will undoubtedly revisit parts of this book in the future when my view of work needs alignment.
February 27, 2024
This book couldn’t have come at a better time. I had just been thinking to myself “maybe I should just become an accountant for financial security” and then Tim Keller writes “no task is too small a vessel to hold the immense dignity of work given by God” and I want to cry because my Father is a gardener and my savior is a carpenter and He loves the little work I do here on earth
March 16, 2024
Just as good the second time around, the initial review still stands 🤝 One of the biggest struggles facing many Christians is how to integrate faith and work. Timmy K breaks down what this integration can look like and how we can approach this biblically. This book tries to practically show how we can integrate the gospel into this huge area of our many of our lives. I highly recommend this book to anyone feeling this tension and wanting to dive deeper into what this integration should look like.
April 15, 2024
Always a good book to return to. It’s really easy to fall into one or two ideas of the “right” way to think about work as a Christian, when there are so many different factors that Keller covers in this book. Huge recommendation for anyone that is in any kind of work (everyone)
November 7, 2025
Very relevant to me as I enter the corporate world. One important thing that I think most American Christians today are lacking is a good theology of work. This is a great foundation builder for anyone starting their career, or, well, anyone that works.
It doesn’t have quite as much poetic language, not as much pizzazz, as I usually prefer, but I think Keller intended it to be a very clear and grounded explanation of how the biblical worldview frames our work and how the gospel radically changes it, for the artist or the plumber. I really appreciate the Christ centeredness of his writing.
What a gift it is to work heartily as for the Lord, knowing that it’s Him who works within me for his good pleasure! What a gift to go to Jesus when I am weary and heavy laden, knowing that his yoke is easy and his burden is light, and he will give me rest! Let’s cultivate the garden and seek the welfare of this city until that great heavenly city comes!
“Nunc Dimittis”!
It doesn’t have quite as much poetic language, not as much pizzazz, as I usually prefer, but I think Keller intended it to be a very clear and grounded explanation of how the biblical worldview frames our work and how the gospel radically changes it, for the artist or the plumber. I really appreciate the Christ centeredness of his writing.
What a gift it is to work heartily as for the Lord, knowing that it’s Him who works within me for his good pleasure! What a gift to go to Jesus when I am weary and heavy laden, knowing that his yoke is easy and his burden is light, and he will give me rest! Let’s cultivate the garden and seek the welfare of this city until that great heavenly city comes!
“Nunc Dimittis”!
January 15, 2023
epic. fire. so so good!!! completely changed my thoughts regarding work. i feel equipped!! i think everyone should read this. do it now now now
March 6, 2025
Am I allowed to say this book was mid
December 5, 2020
There are some real pros to the way this book conceptualises work.
In particular Keller outlines how our society has fallen into seeing the value of work purely through the lens of status or renumeration, which leads to snobbery and elitism. This is definitely wrong, and a real problem in Conservative evangelical circles.
It also points out excellent implications of the fall to our work, that it will be futile and frustrating, and that without a concept of heaven and eternity, our work is ultimately pointless.
However, the major flaw of this book rests in its core understanding of the command in genesis to be fruitful and multiply. Keller takes this as a Justification to be culture builders in the world, and that we, like God, role back the chaos in our work when we create and order the creation.
I think this is a fundamental misreading of genesis. Be fruitful and multiply is a call rather to be gods image bearers to the rest of the world, a world that does not know Him. And this is seen supremely in the Lords jesus. At the heart of the command in genesis, is to make the Lord jesus known. This means that instead of seeing our work as somehow in the tramlines of God's creativity, we see our work as an opportunity to make the Lord known.
This must be right if we see the imperatives jesus leaves His followers with in the gospel as bei f primarily to witness to Him. And Keller openly admits that 1 corinthians encourages believers to take heart in their ministry work that it is not in vain, because ministry is what Paul is concerned with and it has eternal significance. But then for some reason Keller changes Paul's definition of labour and calling because of a story by Tolkein, the leaf by niggle, to incorporate all work and not just ministry. This is the major flaw in the book, Keller routinely and knowingly takes verses out of context and implants them with a meaning that is not at all what the text is saying.
Thus all of Keller's conclusions about work needing to be culture creating, competent, love filled and societal constructing, is all built on a foundstion of sand. This is not a good book for understanding a biblical doctrine of work.
In particular Keller outlines how our society has fallen into seeing the value of work purely through the lens of status or renumeration, which leads to snobbery and elitism. This is definitely wrong, and a real problem in Conservative evangelical circles.
It also points out excellent implications of the fall to our work, that it will be futile and frustrating, and that without a concept of heaven and eternity, our work is ultimately pointless.
However, the major flaw of this book rests in its core understanding of the command in genesis to be fruitful and multiply. Keller takes this as a Justification to be culture builders in the world, and that we, like God, role back the chaos in our work when we create and order the creation.
I think this is a fundamental misreading of genesis. Be fruitful and multiply is a call rather to be gods image bearers to the rest of the world, a world that does not know Him. And this is seen supremely in the Lords jesus. At the heart of the command in genesis, is to make the Lord jesus known. This means that instead of seeing our work as somehow in the tramlines of God's creativity, we see our work as an opportunity to make the Lord known.
This must be right if we see the imperatives jesus leaves His followers with in the gospel as bei f primarily to witness to Him. And Keller openly admits that 1 corinthians encourages believers to take heart in their ministry work that it is not in vain, because ministry is what Paul is concerned with and it has eternal significance. But then for some reason Keller changes Paul's definition of labour and calling because of a story by Tolkein, the leaf by niggle, to incorporate all work and not just ministry. This is the major flaw in the book, Keller routinely and knowingly takes verses out of context and implants them with a meaning that is not at all what the text is saying.
Thus all of Keller's conclusions about work needing to be culture creating, competent, love filled and societal constructing, is all built on a foundstion of sand. This is not a good book for understanding a biblical doctrine of work.
January 26, 2013
In 1990, Doug Sherman wrote "Your Work Matters to God." It's a great book and highly recommended. But it is a bit dated and thus, I picked up Tim Keller's more recent treatment on the theology of work, "Every Good Endeavor," and I am very happy I did so.
Early in Keller's book, he asks, do you feel that you have a "job" or a "calling"? Most of the time people think of a "calling" as being something a Pastor / missionary / professional Christian worker has from God. But Keller reminds us that God put work in place as something for all of us, and it is a "GOOD" thing. Thus we are all "called" by God to do our work in a way that brings honor and glory to His name and serves others.
God gives each of us talent and intellect and in His grace "calls" us to the work we do. Keller challenges us to ask ourselves: how can I bring please God through my daily work? How will my attitude at work be a positive witness to others about my faith? How will I serve others through the work to which God has called me.
On page 210 Timothy Keller says that wisdom, according to the Bible, is knowing the right thing to do in the 80% of situations where moral rules (e.g. The Ten Commandments) don't apply (e.g., whether to move, whether to accept a job offer, whom to marry).
Keller lists five sources of growing wisdom:
1. Know God personally. Why? Because God is all-knowing.
2. Know ourselves.
3. Remember the results of your experiences. Don't repeat failures and mistakes.
4. Read the book of Proverbs. It has 31 chapters, one for each day of the month. Read and re-read it.
5. Seek the Holy Spirit. He is the spirit of wisdom (Ephesians 1:17) and the power source for wisdom (Ephesians 1:19).
Keller's book is a needed reminder that work is "GOOD" and that we are blessed with talents and abilities by God to work for His glory and honor. Though it's written primarily with the Christian in mind, and could easily be used for a small group discussion or for personal development, I could also see it as a good vehicle for evangelism.
Highly recommended reading.
Early in Keller's book, he asks, do you feel that you have a "job" or a "calling"? Most of the time people think of a "calling" as being something a Pastor / missionary / professional Christian worker has from God. But Keller reminds us that God put work in place as something for all of us, and it is a "GOOD" thing. Thus we are all "called" by God to do our work in a way that brings honor and glory to His name and serves others.
God gives each of us talent and intellect and in His grace "calls" us to the work we do. Keller challenges us to ask ourselves: how can I bring please God through my daily work? How will my attitude at work be a positive witness to others about my faith? How will I serve others through the work to which God has called me.
On page 210 Timothy Keller says that wisdom, according to the Bible, is knowing the right thing to do in the 80% of situations where moral rules (e.g. The Ten Commandments) don't apply (e.g., whether to move, whether to accept a job offer, whom to marry).
Keller lists five sources of growing wisdom:
1. Know God personally. Why? Because God is all-knowing.
2. Know ourselves.
3. Remember the results of your experiences. Don't repeat failures and mistakes.
4. Read the book of Proverbs. It has 31 chapters, one for each day of the month. Read and re-read it.
5. Seek the Holy Spirit. He is the spirit of wisdom (Ephesians 1:17) and the power source for wisdom (Ephesians 1:19).
Keller's book is a needed reminder that work is "GOOD" and that we are blessed with talents and abilities by God to work for His glory and honor. Though it's written primarily with the Christian in mind, and could easily be used for a small group discussion or for personal development, I could also see it as a good vehicle for evangelism.
Highly recommended reading.
February 4, 2024
Dacă nu aș fi avut-o de citit pentru un club de lectură cu siguranță nu aș fi pus mâna pe ea, dar, bineînteles, ca oricare altă carte scrisă de Keller, a fost o surpriză deosebit de plăcută. Ceea ce mă fascinează în general la el este modul de a gândi, Tim Keller fiind capabil să ilustreze evanghelia chiar și în subiectele care par că nu ar avea nici cea mai mica legătură cu aceasta. Dincolo de modul hristocentric de a privi lucrurile, Tim mai e capabil și sa înglobeze o cunoaștere enciclopedică în raport cu tot ceea ce înseamnă cultură, filosofie, psihologie, sociologie, etc. fapt contrastant dacă comparăm cu liderii din spațiul evanghelic românesc.
Cu toate acestea, cartea este de un real folos, nu doar pentru a întelege cum se așează munca în planul lui Dumnezeu, ci pentru a întelege raporturile dintre creștini/necreștini, etica muncii, artă/societate etc.
Cu siguranță aș recomanda-o oricui, indiferent dacă tema muncii reprezintă un domeniu de interes sau nu.
Cu toate acestea, cartea este de un real folos, nu doar pentru a întelege cum se așează munca în planul lui Dumnezeu, ci pentru a întelege raporturile dintre creștini/necreștini, etica muncii, artă/societate etc.
Cu siguranță aș recomanda-o oricui, indiferent dacă tema muncii reprezintă un domeniu de interes sau nu.
January 26, 2013
Just as Keller's book on marriage was the most beneficial I have read on that subject this book is the best I've read on work. Keller is a master at getting to the root of an issue and not getting distracted by the subsidiary issues. This book is encouraging, thought provoking, and well worth anyone's time who has a job or might want one some day.
March 14, 2023
Having read many of Keller's previous works, I knew I was in for a treat when jumping into this book recently. Although I believe the Bible teaches the importance of hearty work for the Lord and that of giving of your best, I have never read or studied a "theology of work" per se. Wow! What a thorough overview of the subject of work from a biblical & cultural perspective!
What I love about Keller is that he really makes you ponder, meditate, & think at a deeper level than most. In addition, he culls from an wide array of illustrations, writers, historians, and theologians on the topic at hand while weaving in Scriptural principles. This book was no different.
This book, probably more than most of Keller's works, will help the pastor communicate the theology of work better with the average layman in his church. Why? Because most of the people in your church do not work full time in ministry. Most of them are out working a job that God has called them to.
Over and over again, I found myself commenting (and writing in the book) "this is such a balanced view of work." In other words, Keller rightly does not lift work up too much or put it down too much. He rightly asserts and gives the subject of work its due.
The author divides the book into three parts: 1) God's Plan for Work, 2) Our Problems With Work, and 3) The Gospel & Work. The first four chapters that comprise section 1 are masterful, encouraging us to see how good work actually is. Why? Because God created it to be.
In his first chapter entitled "The Design of Work," Keller states this:
"The fact that God put work in paradise is startling to us because we so often think of work as a necessary evil or even punishment. Yet we do not see work brought into our human story after the fall of Adam, as part of the resulting brokenness and curse; it is part of the blessedness of the garden of God. Work is as much a basic human need as food, beauty, rest, friendship, prayer, and sexuality; it is not simply medicine but food for our soul. Without meaningful work we sense significant inner loss and emptiness. People who are cut off from work because of physical or other reasons quickly discover how much they need work to thrive emotionally, physically, and spiritually." p.23
This book would be good for anyone who currently works, wants to learn more about what God's Word has to say about work, those who are contemplating retirement, and those who are retired.
Keller continues in chapter 1 about the importance of work:
"Work is so foundational to our makeup, in fact, that it is one of the few things we can take in significant doses without harm. Indeed, the Bible does not say we should work one day and rest six, or that work and rest should be balanced evenly-but directs us to the opposite ratio. Leisure and pleasure are great goods, but we can take only so much of them. If you ask people in nursing homes or hospitals how they are doing, you will often hear that their main regret is that they wish they had something to do, some way to be useful to others. They feel they have too much leisure and not enough work. The loss of work is deeply disturbing because we were designed for it." p. 24
In my sphere of work (the ministry), all too often I have come across men who are defined by their work in the ministry. In other words, ministry is life to them. Keller deftly shows how this too can be wrong. On page 27, Keller speaks to this issue:
"You will not have a meaningful life without work, but you cannot say that your work is the meaning of your life. If you make any work the purpose of your life-even if that work is church ministry-you create an idol that rivals God. Your relationship with God is the most important foundation for your life, and indeed it keeps all the other factors - work, friendships and family, leisure and pleasure - from becoming so important to you that they become addicting and distorted." p.27
In chapter 2, The Dignity of Work, Keller shows how all work is important to God and we do a disservice when we minimize (or make lower) "secular" work and elevate "sacred" work. He shows how God's Spirit was involved in the work of "gardening" and of "preaching the Gospel" according to passages in Psalms & the Gospel of John. He thereby submits that both are God's Work and one is not lower than the other.
I love the following quote because the truth will help people realize their work does bring dignity: "We were built for work and the dignity it gives us as human beings, regardless of its status or pay...We no longer have any basis for condescension or superiority; nor is there any basis for envy or feelings of inferiority." p.41
In Section 2, Our Problems With Work, Keller shows us how sin has marred the subject of work. As we journey with him through the first couple of chapters of Genesis, he shows us how work becomes fruitless, pointless, and selfish if we don't understand and approach it the way God wants us to approach it. His last chapter, Work Reveals Our Idols, shines a spotlight on society's deficient view of work. Keller speaks to Christians throughout these chapters challenging us in regard to what we set our heart on.
In the last section of the book (The Gospel & Our Work), Keller in his typical manner brings to bear the Gospel on the subject of work. It's hard to argue with Keller's conclusions. If you were an unbeliever reading this book, he would show you what each of the major philosophers thought about the idea of work and its role in our lives. He then follows up with the superiority of the gospel (without being condescending). For instance, here is what he says about Christianity on page 161:
"Look again at the uniqueness of Christianity. Only the Christian worldview locates the problem with the world not in any part of the world or in any particular group of people but in sin itself (our loss of relationship with God). And it locates the solution in God's grace (our restoration of a relationship with God through the work of Christ). Sin infects us all, and so we cannot simply divide the world into the heroes & and the villains. (And if we did, we would certainly have to count ourselves among the latter as well as the former.) Without an understanding of the gospel, we will be either naïvely utopian or cynically disillusioned. We will be demonizing something that isn't bad enough to explain the mess we are in; and we will be idolizing something that isn't powerful enough to get us out of it. This is, in the end, what all other worldviews do. The Christian story line works beautifully to make sense of things and even to help us appreciate the truth embedded in stories that clearly come from another worldview. The Christian story line, or worldview, is: creation (plan), fall (problem), redemption and restoration (solution)." p. 161
In this last section, Keller spends quite a bit of time developing and presenting what a Christian worldview looks like in the marketplace. As a pastor in full time ministry (but who worked in the IT industry for some time before full time ministry), I found it fascinating. In addition, Keller teaches the role of employer/employee from the New Testament and addresses slavery in the Bible.
All in all, this was an excellent book that I would recommend every pastor read, glean, and learn from. You will be glad you did!
What I love about Keller is that he really makes you ponder, meditate, & think at a deeper level than most. In addition, he culls from an wide array of illustrations, writers, historians, and theologians on the topic at hand while weaving in Scriptural principles. This book was no different.
This book, probably more than most of Keller's works, will help the pastor communicate the theology of work better with the average layman in his church. Why? Because most of the people in your church do not work full time in ministry. Most of them are out working a job that God has called them to.
Over and over again, I found myself commenting (and writing in the book) "this is such a balanced view of work." In other words, Keller rightly does not lift work up too much or put it down too much. He rightly asserts and gives the subject of work its due.
The author divides the book into three parts: 1) God's Plan for Work, 2) Our Problems With Work, and 3) The Gospel & Work. The first four chapters that comprise section 1 are masterful, encouraging us to see how good work actually is. Why? Because God created it to be.
In his first chapter entitled "The Design of Work," Keller states this:
"The fact that God put work in paradise is startling to us because we so often think of work as a necessary evil or even punishment. Yet we do not see work brought into our human story after the fall of Adam, as part of the resulting brokenness and curse; it is part of the blessedness of the garden of God. Work is as much a basic human need as food, beauty, rest, friendship, prayer, and sexuality; it is not simply medicine but food for our soul. Without meaningful work we sense significant inner loss and emptiness. People who are cut off from work because of physical or other reasons quickly discover how much they need work to thrive emotionally, physically, and spiritually." p.23
This book would be good for anyone who currently works, wants to learn more about what God's Word has to say about work, those who are contemplating retirement, and those who are retired.
Keller continues in chapter 1 about the importance of work:
"Work is so foundational to our makeup, in fact, that it is one of the few things we can take in significant doses without harm. Indeed, the Bible does not say we should work one day and rest six, or that work and rest should be balanced evenly-but directs us to the opposite ratio. Leisure and pleasure are great goods, but we can take only so much of them. If you ask people in nursing homes or hospitals how they are doing, you will often hear that their main regret is that they wish they had something to do, some way to be useful to others. They feel they have too much leisure and not enough work. The loss of work is deeply disturbing because we were designed for it." p. 24
In my sphere of work (the ministry), all too often I have come across men who are defined by their work in the ministry. In other words, ministry is life to them. Keller deftly shows how this too can be wrong. On page 27, Keller speaks to this issue:
"You will not have a meaningful life without work, but you cannot say that your work is the meaning of your life. If you make any work the purpose of your life-even if that work is church ministry-you create an idol that rivals God. Your relationship with God is the most important foundation for your life, and indeed it keeps all the other factors - work, friendships and family, leisure and pleasure - from becoming so important to you that they become addicting and distorted." p.27
In chapter 2, The Dignity of Work, Keller shows how all work is important to God and we do a disservice when we minimize (or make lower) "secular" work and elevate "sacred" work. He shows how God's Spirit was involved in the work of "gardening" and of "preaching the Gospel" according to passages in Psalms & the Gospel of John. He thereby submits that both are God's Work and one is not lower than the other.
I love the following quote because the truth will help people realize their work does bring dignity: "We were built for work and the dignity it gives us as human beings, regardless of its status or pay...We no longer have any basis for condescension or superiority; nor is there any basis for envy or feelings of inferiority." p.41
In Section 2, Our Problems With Work, Keller shows us how sin has marred the subject of work. As we journey with him through the first couple of chapters of Genesis, he shows us how work becomes fruitless, pointless, and selfish if we don't understand and approach it the way God wants us to approach it. His last chapter, Work Reveals Our Idols, shines a spotlight on society's deficient view of work. Keller speaks to Christians throughout these chapters challenging us in regard to what we set our heart on.
In the last section of the book (The Gospel & Our Work), Keller in his typical manner brings to bear the Gospel on the subject of work. It's hard to argue with Keller's conclusions. If you were an unbeliever reading this book, he would show you what each of the major philosophers thought about the idea of work and its role in our lives. He then follows up with the superiority of the gospel (without being condescending). For instance, here is what he says about Christianity on page 161:
"Look again at the uniqueness of Christianity. Only the Christian worldview locates the problem with the world not in any part of the world or in any particular group of people but in sin itself (our loss of relationship with God). And it locates the solution in God's grace (our restoration of a relationship with God through the work of Christ). Sin infects us all, and so we cannot simply divide the world into the heroes & and the villains. (And if we did, we would certainly have to count ourselves among the latter as well as the former.) Without an understanding of the gospel, we will be either naïvely utopian or cynically disillusioned. We will be demonizing something that isn't bad enough to explain the mess we are in; and we will be idolizing something that isn't powerful enough to get us out of it. This is, in the end, what all other worldviews do. The Christian story line works beautifully to make sense of things and even to help us appreciate the truth embedded in stories that clearly come from another worldview. The Christian story line, or worldview, is: creation (plan), fall (problem), redemption and restoration (solution)." p. 161
In this last section, Keller spends quite a bit of time developing and presenting what a Christian worldview looks like in the marketplace. As a pastor in full time ministry (but who worked in the IT industry for some time before full time ministry), I found it fascinating. In addition, Keller teaches the role of employer/employee from the New Testament and addresses slavery in the Bible.
All in all, this was an excellent book that I would recommend every pastor read, glean, and learn from. You will be glad you did!
December 16, 2024
So many great things to think about!
Becoming a Christian is a lot like moving to a new country; only it is more profound, because it gives us a new perspective on every culture, every worldview, and every field of work. In the long run, the gospel helps us see everything in a new light, but it takes time to grasp and incorporate this new information into how we live and pursue our vocations. And we can be sure that this ultimate learning experience will never truly end; we are told the angels themselves never tire of looking into the gospel to see new wonders (1 Peter 1:10–12).
When your heart comes to hope in Christ and the future world he has guaranteed—when you are carrying his easy yoke—you finally have the power to work with a free heart. You can accept gladly whatever level of success and accomplishment God gives you in your vocation, because he has called you to it. You can work with passion and rest, knowing that ultimately the deepest desires of your heart—including your specific aspirations for your earthly work—will be fulfilled when you reach your true country, the new heavens and new earth. So in any time and place you can work with joy, satisfaction, and no regrets. You, too, can say, “Nunc dimittis.”
When facing the trials of life in the big city and the demands of a high-pressure career it helps to remember God’s sovereignty so that, by definition, we can be sure we are where he wants us to be. Second, he asks his people to seek the peace and prosperity of Babylon “because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” As a congregation, we understand ourselves to be a small minority whom God has called to love and serve the city, our professions, our workplaces, and our neighborhoods. We seek to draw others into a redeeming and renewing faith, but also to serve alongside those who don’t believe as we do, for the good of the city and the world.
Becoming a Christian is a lot like moving to a new country; only it is more profound, because it gives us a new perspective on every culture, every worldview, and every field of work. In the long run, the gospel helps us see everything in a new light, but it takes time to grasp and incorporate this new information into how we live and pursue our vocations. And we can be sure that this ultimate learning experience will never truly end; we are told the angels themselves never tire of looking into the gospel to see new wonders (1 Peter 1:10–12).
When your heart comes to hope in Christ and the future world he has guaranteed—when you are carrying his easy yoke—you finally have the power to work with a free heart. You can accept gladly whatever level of success and accomplishment God gives you in your vocation, because he has called you to it. You can work with passion and rest, knowing that ultimately the deepest desires of your heart—including your specific aspirations for your earthly work—will be fulfilled when you reach your true country, the new heavens and new earth. So in any time and place you can work with joy, satisfaction, and no regrets. You, too, can say, “Nunc dimittis.”
When facing the trials of life in the big city and the demands of a high-pressure career it helps to remember God’s sovereignty so that, by definition, we can be sure we are where he wants us to be. Second, he asks his people to seek the peace and prosperity of Babylon “because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” As a congregation, we understand ourselves to be a small minority whom God has called to love and serve the city, our professions, our workplaces, and our neighborhoods. We seek to draw others into a redeeming and renewing faith, but also to serve alongside those who don’t believe as we do, for the good of the city and the world.
January 2, 2024
“When your heart comes to hope in Christ and the future world he has guaranteed — when you are carrying his easy yoke — you finally have the power to work with a free heart. You can gladly accept whatever level of success and accomplishment God gives you in your vocation, because he has called you to it. You can work with passion and rest, knowing that ultimately the deepest desires of your heart — including your specific aspirations for your earthly work — will be fulfilled when you reach your true country, the new heavens and new earth. So in any time and place you can work with joy, satisfaction, and no regrets.”
A very freeing read. I specifically enjoyed Keller’s discussion of common grace — he just doesn’t miss!
A very freeing read. I specifically enjoyed Keller’s discussion of common grace — he just doesn’t miss!
July 15, 2018
I have long been very intimidated of all things Tim Keller, so I put off reading this for as long as possible. Not only did this book completely change my perspectives on Keller (he is quite easy to understand and follow), it mainly reframed how I view work and the role I play in it.
I strongly recommend this book to anyone entering any sort of job as it ties our role as Christians in the workplace together with scripture with masterful arguments.
It may have taken me 2 months to finish, but it was well worth the time.
I strongly recommend this book to anyone entering any sort of job as it ties our role as Christians in the workplace together with scripture with masterful arguments.
It may have taken me 2 months to finish, but it was well worth the time.
September 9, 2024
Almost read this last year, but so thankful for the timing of this one. Purpose of work, how work glorifies our Creator, and how we are to pursue a career in light of the Gospel (even when the Enemy is using our sins / idols). Like a Presbyterian version of Garden City
“If this life is all that there is, then everything will eventually burn up in the death of the sun, and no one will even be around to remember anything that has ever happened. Everything will be forgotten, nothing we do will make any difference, and all good endeavors, even the best, will come to naught. Unless there is a God. If the God of the Bible exists, then every good endeavor, even the simplest ones, pursuit and response to God’s calling, can matter forever. This is what the Christian faith promises.”
“If this life is all that there is, then everything will eventually burn up in the death of the sun, and no one will even be around to remember anything that has ever happened. Everything will be forgotten, nothing we do will make any difference, and all good endeavors, even the best, will come to naught. Unless there is a God. If the God of the Bible exists, then every good endeavor, even the simplest ones, pursuit and response to God’s calling, can matter forever. This is what the Christian faith promises.”
October 23, 2025
"But the gospel frees us from the relentless pressure of having to prove ourselves and secure our identity through work. All work now becomes a way to love the God who saved us freely, and by extension, a way to love our neighbor... Since we already have in Christ the things other people work for - salvation, self-worth, a good conscience, and peace- now we may work simply to love God and our neighbors. It is a sacrifice of joy, a limitation that offers freedom"
September 29, 2021
GO READ THIS!! It discusses the dignity of all work and the rhythm of work and rest in very human terms. There was one part that conflicted with Catholic teaching (faith vs faith and works), but I really appreciated his emphasis on scripture backed evidence for our deep desire for work that contributes to the good of others.
A couple quotes that struck me:
“Work is so foundational to our makeup, in fact, that it is one of the few things we can take in significant doses without harm. Indeed, the Bible does not say we should work one day and rest six, or that work and rest should be balanced evenly— but directs us to the opposite ratio. Leisure and pleasure are great goods but we can only take so much of them.”
“Ability to be disciplined in your practice of Sabbath… it means you are not a slave— not to your culture’s expectations, your family’s hopes, your medical school’s demands, not even your own insecurities. It is important that you learn to speak this truth to yourself with a note of triumph— otherwise you will feel guilty for taking time off, or you will be unable to truly unplug.”
A couple quotes that struck me:
“Work is so foundational to our makeup, in fact, that it is one of the few things we can take in significant doses without harm. Indeed, the Bible does not say we should work one day and rest six, or that work and rest should be balanced evenly— but directs us to the opposite ratio. Leisure and pleasure are great goods but we can only take so much of them.”
“Ability to be disciplined in your practice of Sabbath… it means you are not a slave— not to your culture’s expectations, your family’s hopes, your medical school’s demands, not even your own insecurities. It is important that you learn to speak this truth to yourself with a note of triumph— otherwise you will feel guilty for taking time off, or you will be unable to truly unplug.”
March 5, 2024
Keller's book is a mouthful of fresh air for the colliding world I live in: in the either/or of frenziness to make a name for yourself or just save souls for Heaven, Keller reminds us yet again that Jesus really meant it when he said "Thy Kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven". May we never lose the wonder.
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