Idolization of Work and Rest

This season has been unlike any before. Seminary has become almost all that I spend my time doing. This has been necessary for the short term. However, this has led me to be either totally consumed with Seminary or to have almost nothing to do when class has ended. I experienced this in part when I was home for a week around Thanksgiving. I had a few finals to study for but nothing that needed 8-10 hours a day. I lived that week pretty aimlessly and I left that week tired, unfulfilled and purposeless from lack of activity.

Right now, I am in the middle of taking two compressed classes. These classes are pretty intense, and I have been equally busy during these two weeks. Some of the work carries over through the Winter break, so I will have a few things to do then as well. I am worried that once I don’t have work that occupies a good chunk of my day, I will become lazy, lonely and depressed.

I believe these basic feelings to work and to rest are right, healthy and biblical, but I think that this is revealing a deeper issue.

Man was created to work. Man was not created to lie around and do nothing. Especially in the West, we have a deep desire to accomplish and conquer, particularly as males. I think this desire within me is God-given, but I am prone to take this to wrong ends.

Our work is never to be the end for which we were created. Our work is meant to glorify God. Adam was told to fill the earth, to subdue it and to have dominion over the creation. Habakkuk provides further understanding of the purpose of Adam’s work.

“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.” –Habakkuk 2:14

This knowledge, before the fall and partially after the fall, comes through the creation. Paul describes this in Romans.

“For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” –Romans 1:19-20

So as we subdue the earth we are to be about making God and the gospel known. There is also a God-given desire to rest well. This basic desire is good, but can also be taken to wrong ends. We can become lazy bums or we can be led into temptations not likely for busy people. So is the answer to this predicament to work more, less or find the right balance? Partially, but I think this reveals a deeper issue.

As we work, we are advancing the creation and creating in order to show who God is. The purpose of our work is to glorify God and to point to his glory in creation. The purpose of our work is not that we would be fulfilled or satisfied, but these are definite outcomes of doing what God created us to do. As a man I am prone to making my work define who I am—I idolize work to the point that it defines who I am.

As we rest, we are being reminded of our limits and finiteness. The purpose of our rest is to glorify God and be energized to do this better. The purpose of our rest is not that we would be fulfilled or satisfied, but these are definite outcomes of doing what God created us to do. Again, I am prone to making rest ultimate and idolizing this comfort.

This idolization happens regardless of the circumstances (busy or free) and reveals a deeper issue.

So the point of this is not that I should work more or work less. Surely there is wisdom in doing both at certain times. All will certainly go through seasons of busyness and freedom. The real issue is that I work not for the glory of God and that I rest not for the glory of God. The real issue is that I am too focused on myself too much and not on the purpose for which I was created.

I am praying that I would learn to not use busyness to mask the issues in my heart. I am praying that I would learn to rest well and not over-analyze my own heart. I am praying that whether I am busy or free, I would be about glorifying God. May we exalt the gospel of Jesus Christ in our work and in our freedom. May the gospel advance in our own hearts so that we might not idolize either work or freedom, but instead worship God fully regardless of the circumstances.

“Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” –1 John 5:21