Introduction
Why is there work at all? What is God’s primary purpose in making it possible for us to work?
An adequate answer to this question must distinguish us from the animals, who are not in the image of God and whose behaviour, whilst possibly social, is not goal oriented but dominated by issues of survival and reproduction.
This is especially important in the Australian context of work, with its “culture of complaint”.
God Enjoys His Work
Despite human projections of our own dispositions onto God, the Bible makes it clear that God does not work for himself. That is, for his own benefit separated from a wider good.
The mutual operation of the Word and the Spirit in performing God’s work of creation (Gen 1:1-3) is essentially relational. This becomes even clearer when God says : “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion…” (Gen 1:26). The “let us” suggests deep cooperation within the divine society of the trinity.
The joy that the “sons of God” expressed (Job 38:7) and divine wisdom experienced (Prov 8:30 -31) at the glory of creation indicates that the reason God works is to enjoy the things he makes.
This is not a selfish matter because we were made to share in this enjoyment. For this reason the work of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (“delight”) must have been pure joy. A joy that they shared with God and each other. (Compare Gen 2:23.)
Joy Lost and Joy Promised
Humanity was created to be like God in all that it is and does. When Adam and Eve desired created things more than the Creator they entered into his displeasure (Gen 3:10). They were no longer working with/for God but against him. The death that sin brings cuts sinful humanity off from any possible enjoyment in the results of its labours. Fruitless labour and toil becomes an inescapable part of the selfish and fallen human condition (Gen 3:17 -19; Eccl 2:18- 23).
Nevertheless, the Old Testament foretells a time when “my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labour in vain.” (Isa 65:22 -23). Jesus came to turn this promise of the new, eternal and more perfect creation into a reality.
Jesus Regains the Joy
The Father rejoices in Jesus’ willingness to do his work (Luke 3:22). Scripture speaks of Jesus rejoicing at the Father’s work in which he shared (Luke 10:21 -22). As their life is in each other their working joy is purely relational.
The cross is the one work of the Father that Jesus cannot enjoy, because he endures the death of the wicked which brings God no pleasure (Ezek 18:32; Mark 15:34). As the judgement of God is taken away in the cross (John 5:24) the way is opened up for a return to God’s original purpose in work.
Through the victory of his death, which is his most fruitful and acceptable work for the Father (Eph 5:2), Jesus himself now dwells in fullness of joy at the right hand of God (Heb 12:2). He has “entered into the joy of his master” (Matt 25:21).
Christian Joy in Work
Christ is now the reality of the life (Col 3:4) and so the work of believers. He has promised us no less than his own victorious resurrected joy, the fruit of his completed work (John 17:13). Therefore, as we serve him in our labours (Col 3:23), we know the truth of the promise, “Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the work of the Lord your labour is not in vain.” (1 Cor 15:58). This joy, since it is the joy of the new creation (2 Cor 5:17), does not depend on what type of work a Christian is engaged in, but is a matter of the heart (Eph 6:6). According to the principle of the cross, that which appears to be most useless is the place where God can be most deeply honoured and from which the greatest joy can flow.
This joy, as that of Jesus, is a pure relational joy in sharing in the nature of God the worker: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:4).