Question

After reading Chapters 6–8 in Timothy Keller's Every Good Endeavor, discuss how work reveals the idols of our hearts. What idols does the author talk about and elaborate on whether or not you have seen these idols at play in your own work experience.

Answer 1

Every Good Endeavour- “connecting your work to God's work” it is a challenging vision of how the Gospel should shape our work. Timothy Keller explores the idea of work as a calling and eliminates the connection between Christian faith and the workplace. the amount of information regarding the integration of faith and work has increased drastically in the last 20 years. Christian ethics motives identity with us and worldview shape and individuals work in different ways. six to provide clarity on this increasingly Complex subject by dividing it into three parts

God's plan to work

Power problems with work and

The Gospel as it relates to work .

At the beginning of the story we are told about Niggle was a painter who had a journey to make. However he did not want to begin the journey leading many to conclude that it was the journey towards death. Nigglel had a vision of a tree he wanted to paint before embarking on the desolate journey towards death. He began by laying out a canvas so largely that he needed a ladder to reach the top. As Niggle worked his neighbours called out to him and he kindly put his work on hold to help him. He focused so much time on each individual leaf of the tree that he so little progress towards the ultimate goal of finishing the painting. After going out into the cold to fetch a doctor for his neighbour's sick wife Nigglel becomes sick and starts the journey he has put off for so long leaving behind only one beautiful leaf.

Thankfully the story goes on and Niggle hears two voices on his journey to the After life. one whom Niggle believes to be justice says Niggel wasted time and accomplished nothing. The other home Niggle believes to be much she says Niggle chose to sacrifice for others knowing the potential consequences as a reward for his sacrifice. His tree stood before his heavenly destination forever, a part of the true eternal reality where it would live and be enjoyed forever .

The impact of idols on work: The first Commandment orders” thou shalt have no other gods…” when we return a good thing like work into an Ultimate thing it can quickly become a powerful force controlling our actions by controlling our hearts. However idols can also be created out of a collective since and problems. When a group or country makes a service and idol, it creates social and cultural trouble much like the fall of man into Sin. Traditional sculptures made idols out of religion, tribe and tradition. The idol of tribe is a good example of the dangers of making a good thing and ultimate thing.

Traditional cultures begin by valuing their community. This was a good thing that helped them build relationships and protect one another. when it turned into an Ultimate thing the middle of Race was created. Racism caused businesses to deny service to people from different backgrounds and hurt the company's competitiveness as well as the community health. Modern culture made Idol out of reason, empiricism and individual freedom.

The idol of reason gives way to the absolute necessity for explanation through science. the idol of the individual elevated the rights of the individual above all others. modern societies placed individual interest and Desire as the highest cause paving the way for work to become the defining characteristics of individuals. postmodern culture has made idols out of Technology Unity under the market. The postmodern culture is marked by cynicism and for less optimism. people no longer desire to go into education and Science but rather Business and Finance. We have begun to view work as a means to make money to free ourselves to live a fulfilling life.

It is a means without an end and is characterized by the description of fraud and grid displayed by the financial companies in the Middle East of the 2008 recession. The effect of personal and cultural idols on our work has further distorted the worldview of work. it is no wonder then that work has become filled with great and riddled with controversy. are sleeping into their worldviews and destroying the possibility of working towards vocation. however even in the midst of the selfish and the nation and a distorted world view God can use as through our work if we humbly consider why we are where we have come to be