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New York Times bestselling author Timothy Keller shows how God calls each of us to express meaning and purpose through our work and careers.
In a work world that is increasingly competitive and insecure, people often have nagging questions: Why am I doing this work? Why is it so hard? And is there anything I can do about it?
Tim Keller, pastor of New York’s Redeemer Presbyterian Church and New York Times bestselling author of The Reason for God as well as The Skeptical Student in the Encounters with Jesus ebook series, and many others, has taught and counseled students, young professionals, and senior leaders on the subject of work and calling for more than twenty years. Now he puts his insights into a book for readers everywhere, giving biblical perspectives on such pressing questions as:
• What is the purpose of work?
• How can I find meaning and serve customers in a cutthroat, bottom-line-oriented workplace?
• How can I use my skills in a vocation that has meaning and purpose?
• Can I stay true to my values and still advance in my field?
• How do I make the difficult choices that must be made in the course of a successful career?
With deep insight and often surprising advice, Keller shows readers that biblical wisdom is immensely relevant to our questions about our work. In fact, the Christian view of work—that we work to serve others, not ourselves—can provide the foundation of a thriving professional and balanced personal life. Keller shows how excellence, integrity, discipline, creativity, and passion in the workplace can help others and even be considered acts of worship—not just of self-interest.
Foreword Katherine Leary Alsdorf 11
Introduction 18
Part 1 God's Plan for Work 31
1 The Design of Work 33
2 The Dignity of Work 44
3 Work as Cultivation 54
4 Work as Service 64
Part 2 Our Problems with Work 81
5 Work Becomes Fruitless 83
6 Work Becomes Pointless 98
7 Work Becomes Selfish 113
8 Work Reveals Our Idols 129
Part 3 The Gospel and Work 153
9 A New Story for Work 155
10 A New Conception of Work 183
11 A New Compass for Work 198
12 New Power for Work 226
Epilogue: Leading People to Integrate Faith and Work 242
Notes 254
Acknowledgments 285
Bloodlines adds to the discussion of race relations by its full throated enthusiasm for how the Christian gospel offers unique and real solutions to cultural, ethnic and racial divisions, particularly in a Western context. This book is primarily a Biblical exegesis, driven by local church, pastoral concerns, about the particular problems of racism and how to bring peace and harmony to long standing, seemingly intractable problems.
I was first interested in this book because the author, recently retired Minnesota pastor, John Piper, grew up in a neighborhood near me, and describes a local world, the American South, on the cusp of desegregation, of 50 years ago, that I am certainly familiar with. Piper's context, and his own personal observation about himself, that he was a functional, cultural racist during his teen years, coming from the dominant white culture of the time, is something that I can understand well. His personal biography, leading to seeking and mining Biblical truths concerning ethnic and racial divisions, while in graduate school, and even later seeking intentionally to move to a non white majority neighborhood in Minneapolis, MN, gives credence to his desire to incarnation-ally live a life that embraces a Biblical call for all nations and groups to worship Christ.
He addressed contemporary concerns while showing how he believes that concerns outside the realm of the healing power of the Christian gospel can only offer a patch. For instance, his teaching that diversity without harmony, is not a long term solution resonates. While dealing with contemporary culture, this is not a book of politics, but rather an attempt by one Christian pastor to address longstanding divisions with the direct application of Biblical exegesis.
Piper is known for his passion and embrace and desire to expand an understanding of God's glory, from the context of conservative, Reformation Protestantism. The writing in this volume desires more than to impart information. The text is written warmly and clearly, but it also desires for the reader to change and to consider their own life privileges, ethno centrism, and snobbery and personal self righteousness of place and culture, so that the reader would engage with a full hearted passion, where they live now, to effect real Biblical harmony, love, and respect as well, for all people.
Anonymous
Posted May 12, 2013
I always appreciate Timothy Keller's insights and this book doesn't disappoint. It's helped me feel better about what I'm doing and where I'm going and why I'm doing it all (which is perhaps the most important part of it all). Keller artfully ties in script and stories to help demonstrate his point. If you're questioning your vocation, this is a must-read.
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Overview
New York Times bestselling author Timothy Keller shows how God calls each of us to express meaning and purpose through our work and careers.
In a work world that is increasingly competitive and insecure, people often have nagging questions: Why am I doing this work? Why is it so hard? And is there anything I can do about it?
Tim Keller, pastor of New York’s Redeemer Presbyterian Church and New York Times bestselling author of The Reason for God...