Work and Our Labor in the Lord

Short Studies in Biblical Theology

by James M. Hamilton Jr., Dane C. Ortlund (Editor), Miles V. Van Pelt (Editor)

"You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you."  
―Psalm 128:2 Work has been a part of God's good creation since before the fall―created to reflect his image and glory to the world. What are we to make of this when work today is all too often characterized by unwanted toil, pain, and futility? In this book, pastor, professor, and biblical scholar James Hamilton explores how work fits into the big story of the Bible, revealing the glory that God intended when he gave man work to do, the ruin that came as a result of the fall, and the redemption yet to come, offering hope for flourishing in the midst of fallen futility. Part of the Short Studies in Biblical Theology series.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Christian Living, Biblical Studies, Nonfiction, Business, Faith

128 pages, Paperback

Published January 31, 2017

About the author

James M. Hamilton Jr. (PhD, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is professor of biblical theology at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and preaching pastor at Kenwood Baptist Church. He is the author of God's Glory in Salvation through Judgment and the Revelation volume in the Preaching the Word commentary series.

Reviews

[Liam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just an introduction to a biblical view of work. Pretty basic. I actually couldn’t finish this one. Got to the last half hour of the audiobook and gave up.

For some reason Hamilton seemed way overly preachy about hard work along with a few other axes that he had to grind. Not good preachy - but more of a scolding kind of tone throughout. I don’t know - just seemed way more heavy handed than it needed to be. On the other hand, the book failed to address what I was hoping it would in the practical theology arena - a dissatisfaction or dislike of ones present work.

As a blue collar worker myself, I find it unfortunate that most treatments on work are written by pastors or scholars. What I’ve read mostly address more cognitive forms of work and less the physical ones. As a blue collar worker, reading these, they have seemed to favor the one over the other. A little bit leaning toward the ivory-tower if you will. It seems that they aren’t generally written while asking the question, “what would a garbage truck driver or ditch digger think of this book?”

I would love a book on work dealing with contentment and satisfaction written by someone who has a truly terrible job. The books I’ve read so far on it and how the gospel comes to bear in it, have all had a fairly trite treatment of work that left blue collar readers (at least from my perspective) nearly out of the equation entirely.

This book is just a short summary really - and so perhaps I was expecting more than I should have. However I just found the way the author argued to be a bit heavy and scolding for a theological treatment on work.

[Simon Wiebe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ultrapatriarchalisches Buch! Hamilton haut echt durchgehend steile Thesen raus, die immer wieder betonen: Mann muss raus arbeiten, Frau soll im Kontext Familie arbeiten. Fand es echt unangenehm, dass er so viel in einem kleinen Büchlein auf dieses Thema eingeht, besonders weil es mE ein Nebenschauplatz bei dem Thema „Arbeit“ ist und ich seine Meinungen als nicht fair dargestellt empfunden habe. Befremdlich fand ich auch, dass er Genesis 1-3 ständig miteinander vermischt hat. Vielleicht bin ich bei den beiden Punkten (Patriarchat & Genesis 1-3) aber auch etwas zu hyperkritisch.

Einige weitere Ausführungen fand ich aber gut und haben hilfreiche weiterführendene Gedanken in mir angeregt. Deswegen dann doch noch 3 Sterne.

[Khera Cannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

how sweet it is to long for eternity as we faithfully work!

[Ryan Lian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good stuff - clear, balanced, biblical. His stuff on men and women's roles and work was particularly helpful. Interesting views on Ruth and Naomi as well!

[Bill Pence · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, a biblical theological study on the topic of work, is part of the “Short Studies in Biblical Theology” series from Crossway. In the book, pastor, professor, and biblical scholar James Hamilton explores how work fits into the big story of the Bible; revealing the glory that God intended when he gave man work to do, the ruin that came as a result of the fall, and the redemption yet to come, offering hope for flourishing in the midst of fallen futility.” The book begins by looking at God’s design for work in the very good creation, prior to sin. From there it moves to consider what work looks like in a fallen world and what work should be in the kingdom that the Lord Christ has inaugurated. The book concludes by looking at what the Bible indicates about work in the new heaven and the new earth the Lord Jesus will bring. The book enables us to explore work as it was meant to be, as it is, as it can be, and as it will be.
Below are ten of my takeaways from this short, but meaty, book:
1. Work is neither punishment nor cursed drudgery but an exalted, Godlike activity.
2. Being in the image and likeness of God, working to fill the earth with God’s image bearers, subduing it according to God’s character, ruling it as God’s representative—work points to the character and glory of God.
3. Work continues to point beyond itself, with the character of God being displayed in the way God’s people do their work.
4. God made man to work, but sin resulted in God’s judgment. God’s word of judgment against sin makes the work painful, the environment cursed, and the relationships between men and women strained. Because of sin, work will be futile, frustrating, and fatal. Everyone dies.
5. The fact that the man and woman are allowed to continue in their work, cursed though it is, means that they still have the job of making the ways of God known in the world.
6. To bear his image as Christlike imitators of God, Christians must reflect the one they worship in the way they work.
7. Work that does not communicate love for God and neighbor is idolatrous because such work exalts something other than God as ultimate, making a god of oneself or mammon or one’s agenda or whatever.
8. 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.
9. Jesus will come and make it so that mankind can do the work in the world that God created us to do.
10. God built us to do something, and in the new heavens and the new earth we will be liberated to do the work for which God fitted us when he formed us in the womb.

[Peter Sontag · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did this book with a group of Men. The strength of this book is it is what is says it is “Short Study in Biblical Theology”. It was short at 104 pages. It was a study and it was Biblical. It took a deep dive into work from Creation through Revelation. It show the deep value of work to labor, keep, and have dominion over the creation. It showed how work produces faithfulness and character while comparison in work and the worship of work makes it vanity. I definitely know more about the Bible after reading this book. The weakness of the book is that it didn’t give much application and it didn’t really address spiritual gifts and calling. Overall a good read for any one wanting to be more biblical and grow in the image of Christ.

[Cal Fisher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book on work and the Biblical arc of how the relationship of man to work plays out in the redemptive historical context; however, I think he sometimes forces a theology of work from different texts of scripture that may not warrant it.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

As I just recently left a job in ministry work, I thought this was a fitting read. Not as interesting to me as some of the other topics in this series, but I'm determined to read through all of them this year. My favourite chapter was 3: Redemption - Work Now That Christ Has Risen.

[Eusebiu Florescu · Rating 1 out of 5]

First of all, this is not a book about work. It was intended to be, but it is not. The author got into a lot of unnecessary tangents.

The only good thing is that I got additional book references on this topic.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great aid for vocation sermons.

[Tim Michiemo · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 Stars

A satisfactory introduction to a biblical theology of work.

[emma jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hamilton moves the concept of work through the creation-fall-redemption-restoration framework in a way that is concise yet comprehensive. This book is quite short, but not necessarily a quick read—it’s jam packed with theology, and more cerebral than specifically practical. Honestly, it reads more like a textbook than your typical “Christian living” book, but at just over 100 pages, it’s totally manageable for us lay-theologians.
The topic was of personal interest to me so I enjoyed it all on its own for that reason, but I’m sure I will also return to it again for as a reference book.

[Mark A Powell · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a biblical theology of work, Hamilton provides a good sweeping overview of how work is viewed in Scripture. As a discussion of practical application of these truths to the varied vocations of readers, it is lacking. I would have also preferred a deeper discussion about how both our God-given skills and gifts are to be nurtured and developed through our work. A passable introduction to this important topic, but missing some important information to connect ancient wisdom to modern life.

[Nderitu Pius · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how James Hamilton writes on such a sensitive topic. Misunderstood as well. However if we go back to the SCRIPTURE as we see James doing. We understand that work is not a curse, it is the curse upon work that makes it hard for us to enjoy it. GOD help us

[Gabriel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short but very punchy book that follows the biblical arc - creation, post-fall, redemption, and restoration. Besides using four characters (I appreciate that Ruth was one of the examples as have not learned about her this way) as examples for how we should operate at the workplace, Hamilton laid down clearly and instructively the actions we should and should not do as we work, accompanied by biblical and gospel-centric truth for us to hold on to.

First book of my church’s summer reading list and I recommend this to anyone who seeks to build God’s kingdom anywhere.

[Kevin Halloran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read my brief interview with Dr. Hamilton on this book: How a Biblical Theology of Work Can Transform Your Life: Interview with Dr. Jim Hamilton

[J. Amill Santiago · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm somewhat disappointed by this work. I was expecting more depth from this book, but it seems to be more of a foundational work. The last part, however, which dealt with work within the eschatological context, was worthwhile.

[J.K. Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating - If you are looking for something.

Level - Short, moderate read, feels a little redundant at times

Summary
Hamilton attempts to concisely write a theology of work - why we work, what it means to work, and what it would look like to 'labor for the Lord'. The book is broken into four main parts: work before the fall, work after the fall, work now after Christ's coming, and finally, work in the new heavens and new earth.

My Thoughts
I'll start off by saying I think this is one of the most difficult topics for which Christians can write. Not necessarily because the Bible is unclear on work, it is, and not because I thought Hamilton didn't handle the theological points well. In fact, I thought he did a masterful job from a Biblical perspective; though there were occasionally odd section that appeared to have political undertones, but I guess that's to be expected from an evangelical publication (or maybe I just read too much into it, and watch too much politics).

No, the problem is the reader. Especially me - educated, white-collar, upper-middle class reader, who has actual opportunities to think about different careers or finding fulfilling jobs. Due to the reader problem, I think books on work are hammered twice. First, because the reader looking for answers, such as what should I do with my life, do not find any and may come away disappointed. Second, because those are the readers, the authors tend to focus on that demographic. Hamilton avoids some of these trappings, probably due to his focus on theology, but they do show up. I won't digress any further on that point.

The strength of this book is the first section, work before the fall. In our Biblically illiterate, 140 character limit culture, we miss too much of what the Bible actually says. For most of my life, I believed work was punishment for sin. I was around 30 before I heard someone point out that we worked the garden, it was one of the first commands from God and our original role in this world. So, work isn't our punishment for sin, but our sin has corrupted out work. Hamilton does a great job of teaching and explaining this Biblical truth.

This point is expanded on in the work after the fall section as well. I especially liked the references to Ecclesiastes; which is always a great reminder of the way we view life in general, but I'm not sure I've seen it related specifically to work.

Overall, it is a solid book, but it left me wanting a little more. I'm probably a little too critical of Christian books focused on work, so if that is a topic you are studying you should put this book on your list. If not, you might want to skip. It is short, so that is a positive (why not just knock it out) and a negative (maybe not as in depth as you'd like). The Biblical Theology is strong, so that would be another reason to read it. So, grab this book, if you are looking for something.

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

More reviews at MondayMorningTheologian.com

[Collin Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this short little book on a drive from Springfield, MO to Dallas, TX. This was my first book by Hamilton, and the first one from this series that I have read. I enjoyed the thorough biblical nature of his work. He talks a salvation-historical approach to the concept of work, going all the way from the Garden to the new creation.

Things I liked:

1) Big concepts of the importance of work was highlighted. Joy in the midst of work. Focusing on integrity. Stewarding God’s creation in the same way that He would steward it. Making the aim of your work to reveal God’s glory over the earth. Great reminders.

2) He included both Ecclesiastes and Proverbs in his work, which is untypical for a biblical theology. His exposition of Ecclesiastes was particularly enlightening for thinking about the importance of joy, eating and drinking, and seeing this perspective as God’s gift.

3) Revealing the continuity between the OT and the NT conceptions of work, but also highlighting important developments through the resurrection of Christ.

Things I didn’t like:

1) Hamilton did not always address present-day concerns. He did discuss sexual ethics a little bit on the first chapter, but I felt that some present-day issues were brushed aside. For example, I really wanted the Marxist idea of resensualization, specially for an American context where we feel so separated from our work. I worked at a Walmart for 20 months and struggled to find worth in my work because I didn’t feel connected to what I was making. I think that the connection between commercialization, commodification, and work must be addressed in theology (especially since in the Bible, most people did work with their hands).

2) Hamilton addressed the issue of people working in “sin industries,” where people are serving industries designed to cause people to sin (pg. 78). Thus, he addresses the very black and white issues. I wished that he would’ve added a section where he talked about people who want to work to at places like bars so that they can reach a different demographic while still remaining faithful to God. Or what about people who want to work with sexually abused women in strip clubs but are not technically working for the strip club? These are gray areas that I wish would’ve been addressed.

Maybe the answers I’m looking for couldn’t be addressed in a book of this brevity. Either way, I feel that what the book did, it did really well. I’m very thankful to have a biblical vision of work exposited for me in a fresh and new way. I recommend the book for anyone looking to have their work become more meaningful for them through the biblical vision of “filling, subduing, and ruling...for God’s sake and in God’s way to display God’s own character” (pg. 22).

[Max Rees · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is ironic for a book to be titled, “Work” and yet be ineffective at accomplishing its task.

Hamilton’s efforts to succinctly contribute to a series of “Short Studies in Biblical Theology” is compromised by the lack of focus on the subject at hand: work. Instead, the focus of the book appears to be on divulging the storyline of the Bible while peppering in some verses about work.

Unfortunately, amidst his effort to communicate what the entire Bible has to say about work in 100 pages, he spends a great deal of time explaining unfounded interpretations of passages and find a way to relate them to the Biblical motif of work.

For example, Hamilton sees fit to insert his complementarían beliefs about gender roles as though his opinion is clearly dictated from Genesis 2. In his view, God’s commission for humanity to multiply and have dominion over creation is dichotomized into the former being primarily the job of the woman and the latter to primarily be the role of the man. Therefore, in his view, the perpetual work for women is to help the man by producing offspring to help him subdue creation. Furthermore, he equates those who contradict this view with those who reject gender as binary. In doing so, he claims his complementarían view to be the only acceptable view of gender for Christians to have.

I find Hamilton’s “Work” to be unhelpful in identifying a Biblical view of work. If you wish to learn about this subject, I recommend reading Timothy Keller’s book, “Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God’s Work.”

[Andy Huette · Rating 4 out of 5]

A helpful resource for a biblical-theological perspective on work. The series, "Short Studies in Biblical Theology" is aptly named, as Hamilton quickly surveys work through the lenses of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration in 100ish pages. The book is not entertaining, but it's not meant to be. Just a solid, brief, biblical survey of pertinent passages and themes related God's design for human beings to labor.

One sidenote/recommendation: I thought there were some points in the book, esp. in first 40 pages, where it veered a bit broadly into the contemporary hubbub around marriage, gender identity, and gender roles. Certainly, such issues pertain to work and are evident in the creation account, however, in such a short primer on work, I think those sections are more influenced by contemporary theological issues, than by the topic itself.

Overall, a nice add to the church library, and James' Hamilton's ministry as a writer, scholar, and pastor is much appreciated!

[Case Owenby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very relevant since I’m in the second week of my first full time job. Not as good as the others I’ve read in this series. Even an intro into this topic was very necessary and helpful and motivating and changed the way I approach my work and every part of my day, but it wasn’t super well written. I wasn’t very engaged or moved, and I had to reread paragraphs pretty frequently. I think he missed an opportunity to really flesh out some of the Bible’s poetic language on the topic, like cultivating the garden or building the kingdom that will not be shaken. I did really like his comparison of what the Bible presents as the good life vs. the world’s fantasy of big rock candy mountain. That was a worldview changer. Overall I’m really glad I read it and the timing was perfect, but I’d probably search for another book on what the Bible says about work before recommending this one to someone.
The bar was also set very very high by the marriage one I read before this!

[Noah Thomas · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hamilton has made the world a less beautiful place in writing a redundant, sexist, and pandering work about work. His main emphases are that the Bible says to “work with integrity” (Chapter 3) to Christ’s character, “work hard,” (Chapter 2), and that “women belong in the home, and exist for men’s pleasure and use” (Chapter 1). This is just slop written to sell books or reiterate a conservative ideology about work and culture. This is not a work of theology, biblical interpretation, but horrifying exposure of Dr. Hamilton’s homophobic, transphobic, anti-sex, anti-woman philosophy. Rather than inviting the reader into and describing the beautiful work of God that all people can create in the world, Hamilton emphasizes that the bible supports a post-industrial idea of gender roles and work that gives the picture of a God and human labor as small, boring, and narrow as this book.

[Micah Sharp · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good study on work. Hamilton follows a definition of work that is strictly limited to human vocation and labor. I had imagined going into the good that he would also address good works and Christ’s work on our behalf. It’s fine that these were excluded and I think it was valuable to have a more focused study but I wish he would have at least discussed the constraints chosen for the work and reasoning why these related topics were not included. He also followed a redemptive historical model rather canonical, which while legitimate, felt strange for Hamilton. I appreciated that he discussed the reasons for that decision, which all felt valid.
Overall, a well put together brief survey of the Biblical author’s perspective on human work.

[Aaron Wine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hamilton gives us a concise yet effective biblical theology of labor. He does so under the meta-narrative categories of Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration. Doing so provides a biblical dignity to our work without idolizing it. God has created us to live as priest-kings, expanding the geography of His covenantal presence. In Christ, we can take up that mantle again. And, praise God, there is a day coming where all the things that degrade our joy of labor will be no more. Hamilton gives the church a hopeful attitude towards the task at hand. We can be satisfied in our labor, since it is one of the ways we image our creative, priestly, King of Kings.

[Andrew Dallas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful, at a time a bit too verbose (an odd comment to make for what is a pretty short book).
I do love Hamilton’s work and ambition for keeping the Bible’s grand storyline in our minds as we consider different points of redemptive history. Additionally, I found a lot of his application of different principles of work at different points in that storyline to be really refreshing and insightful.
I feel like I have a deeper appreciation now for both God’s original goal for work to be the stage on which mankind imaged forth His character and how my work now is an opportunity to do that same thing having been redeemed through Christ’s perfect work.

[E · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the one book of this series I hadn't read (it's about 7 years old). Hamilton has a robust and healthy view of work. He understands its importance and how it's been affected by the fall. He spends some time showing how believers can be faithful workers even after the fall, using such examples as Daniel, Ruth, and the productive figures of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. He also looks at the NT to see how redemption improves our work. He is a bit vague when he speaks of work in the new heavens and the new earth (and this is an author who usually likes to speculate!).

So, all in all, a very solid if not spectacular piece of work. Therein he demonstrates his own topic.

[Chien-Wei Kung · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fairly good primer on the subject of work, and giving the big picture on the subject. Maybe it's just me, but at times I wasn't sure whether we were still on the subject of work or whether the author had deviated to talking about another biblical subject. I guess one could say it did show God's bigger work in history. If someone goes into this book thinking hoping to come away with practical ways working better or how to get along with coworkers and bosses, this is not the book. What it does offer is a connected picutre of man's relationship to work from pre-fall, post-fall, and in heaven (kind of).

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This brief book presents a biblical theology of work. It would be an excellent introduction to the subject if one is unfamiliar with the biblical teaching on work. Hamilton shows us what it looks like to faithfully bear the image of God in our work and not be idolaters. He does this by pulling out propositional teachings from Scripture and providing examples of faithful work. I always find it edifying and profitable to read him and I always come away with some things to think about I haven't considered before.

[Avery · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is edifying, concise, and deeply theological. I’m sure i’m not the only one who sometimes struggles to reconcile pursuing a ‘secular’ career with living a life honoring to God. It’s easy to think careers doing worldly work are less God-honoring than ministry, however, Jim Hamilton in this book shows our God-given design as workers made in His image to rule and subdue the earth. At only 100 pages, I’d encourage anyone looking to understand their work better as an avenue for glorifying God to give this short treatise a read