Books on Work
This short book by Drs. Quinn and Strickland of Southeastern Seminary is an excellent place to begin an exploration of the doctrine of work within the Christian tradition. It is built around a sound, biblical theology, that takes readers from the garden of Eden to the garden city—New Jerusalem. The purpose of the book is to help readers understand that work is God’s calling to all humanity, whether it occurs in the church or in the marketplace.
As part of the “Short Studies in Biblical Theology” series from Crossway, this book is brief and emphatically biblical. It offers a concise treatment of all the significant passages of Scripture that deal with work and vocation. This book is a treasure for pastors and teachers seeking to frame the doctrine of vocation for others.
Doriani’s book benefits from the maturing of the faith and work movement among Christians. It’s more in-depth than the previous two recommendations. It explains a basic doctrine of vocation from biblical data, but offers a more expansive treatment with case studies, illustrations, and examples based on interviews with Christians working in the marketplace. This volume wrestles with some significant challenges of working faithfully in a fallen world.
This anthology of Christian writing on work and vocation offers a gateway into the way believers have talked about the roles in society since Christ. The introductions are informative, and the selections represent the various eras of Christian thought. For those seeking a bird’s-eye view of this topic, Placher’s editorial selections are a goldmine for a deeper understanding of the Christian tradition.
Soteriology and ecclesiology are usually considered the key doctrines of the Reformation. However, Luther’s doctrine of vocation may have been the key to the renewal of the church. By advocating for the holiness of all work, Luther helped break down the sacred-secular divide and understand the ability of every Christian to worship through their work. Wingren’s book helps explain how the doctrine of vocation has shaped Protestant Christianity and changed the course of world history.
Books on Rest
It’s marketed for students and certainly has some examples tuned to younger audiences. However, Smith’s book is an excellent introduction to a theology of rest. In fewer than 100 pages, A Student’s Guide to Rest covers key biblical passages, offers incisive diagnostic questions, and outlines a framework for recovering rest in our busy lives.
Like Hamilton’s book on work, this is part of Crossway’s series on biblical theology. As such, it offers a valuable survey of what Scripture says about work and rest, including the concept of Sabbath. From creation to new creation, Waters shows that perpetual labor was never God’s design for humanity.
Sometimes, we don’t rest because we feel like we’ve got to do everything. Kapic reminds us that humanity’s limited ability is part of God’s creational design; human limits do not result from the fall. This book deals with more than rest, but it gives us permission to rest because it reminds us that perpetual work was never God’s plan for creation.
Productivity books are generally about becoming more frenetically busy. Rest fits into the productivity genre alongside books by Cal Newport and others, but Pang argues that time away from work is essential to being truly productive. This is not a book built on a Christian worldview, but Pang basically reinvents the concept of Sabbath, which is a reminder that God’s creation gives testament to his character (cf. Ecc 3:11; Ps 19:1)
Perpetual activity characterizes so much of our culture. We are always in too much of a hurry. This book is one of Comer’s most helpful as he proposes a retrieval of spiritual disciplines, including Sabbath and intentional simplification of life.
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