Work Matters: Lessons from Scripture by R. Paul Stevens

The rush of recent books talking about a Christian response to work (Timothy Keller and Ben Witherington are two authors) has continued with the latest offering from Canadian academic R. Paul Stevens- Work Matters: Lessons from Scripture. Stevens has been researching in this area for 50 years, and this book represents his enormous stored knowledge of the value of our working along with applications from Scripture.

What is unique about this book is the way Stevens works chronologically through the Bible to derive his lessons about working. He does this in five sections:

Part 1, God-Given Work: The Pentateuch

Part 2, Stewardship Work: The Historical Books

Part 3, Soul Work: The Wisdom Books

Part 4, Just Work: The Prophets

Part 5, Kingdom Work: The New Testament

Within each part, he focuses in on the working of key biblical characters, starting with Adam and Eve, and moving through Joseph, Ruth, David, Daniel, Martha, and Paul. What is pleasing is his inclusion of several women. He also utilises introductions and summaries of each part, and lists of key points to ensure the material is as accessible as possible.

While it is impossible to convey all the wisdom of this book in a review, I will give an example of one of the chapters, and finish with some of Stevens’ key encouragements about being a Christian at work.

Shrewd Work – Nehemiah. Stevens gives the background of Nehemiah as cupbearer to the Persian king, who shrewdly gains an opportunity to rebuild the walls of his beloved city of Jerusalem to provide protection of the returned exiles. He demonstrated great leadership in carrying out this task, including coping with resistance. Stevens draw out four lessons:

• Leadership is work, and one to which all of us are called, since leadership is being in a position to influence others.
• Biblical leadership is more than serving people, it is primarily about serving God.
• We are created and called to take strategic initiative in whatever situation we find ourselves, since it is the nature of the Father, Son and Spirit to inspire vision, creativity, inventiveness and risk-taking.
• We are providentially placed by God in situations where we can make some sort of difference; this is God’s great renewal project for this earth.

In reflecting on his life, and his work as an academic, a carpenter, a husband and father, as well as preaching, attending meetings, building houses, writing and doing domestic work; Stevens comes to three exhortations about our working:

1. We work in faith, that is, in fellowship with God, and for God, recognising that work is a context for soul growth.
2. We work in love, fellowship, and interdependence with our co-workers, building community in every way we can. In this way we both love our neighbours and model the trinity.
3. We work in hope, tackling the powers that frustrate God’s life-giving realm on earth, and being persuaded that some of our work will endure and contribute to the new heaven and the new earth.

With its discussion questions at the end of each chapter, this book would be a helpful resource for small groups, enabling members to reflect on their own working in light of biblical teaching and examples.

I found this book a treasure of wisdom, and a very helpful aid to contemplating my work. Stevens has a vision of the gospel helping to transform working and workplaces, as is pointed to in the foreword by entrepreneur Don Flow:

The Christian faith, which arose as an extraordinary experience of the in-breaking of God’s reign in history through Jesus Christ, was meant to be lived out in the midst of the world… Paul Stevens captures this lived theology.

KARA MARTIN is the Associate Dean of the Marketplace Institute, Ridley Melbourne, a lecturer with School of Christian Studies, and Wesley Institute and is an avid reader and book group attendee. Kara does book reviews for Hope 103.2’s Open House.