Why and How Should We Work to Improve Things on Earth?
Summary of a Sermon by Tim Keller
Should Christians passionately improve things on earth? Shouldn’t we focus on our eternal life, Christ coming back? Let’s learn from Titus 2:11-3:9.
We as Christians shouldn’t tie ourselves and our identity to our work on earth (v3:3). We shouldn’t be enslaved by worldly passions or addicted to things like money, personal gain, or self-fulfillment.
Instead, we should look forward to our eternal life in a perfect world of justice and peace, with no sufferings (v3:5-7).
Having said that, Christians shouldn’t ignore things on earth. We should be eager to do what is good, bringing glimpses of our wonderful future to earth now (v2:14; 3:1, 8).
So, live a self-controlled, upright, and godly life (v2:12). Work to help human flourish. This includes helping the community; and upholding public justice and public good. For example, if we have the power, don’t withhold the good from those to whom it is due (Proverbs 3:27).
But beware that we, the broken, live in a broken world. Life now isn’t black and white but is gray. Our work (e.g. practicing law, issuing stocks or bonds, or cleaning toilets) cannot be perfect.
Many idealists, initially passionate to change the world, become cynical after repeated failure.
In “Leaf by Niggle,” JRR Tolkien describes an artist trying to draw a great tree. Inundated by mundane chores and duties, and the need to help others, he only manages to draw a leaf before he dies. Then, before him is the great tree for him to further improve upon.
Earth is full of thorns and thistles. Don’t be discouraged if you can only draw a leaf. Just do what you can. Have faith that someday, you will see our great tree and improve on it (v2:13).
To conclude, by grace and through Christ’s sacrifice, we become God’s children with a glorious future. We should do good and work to bring glimpses of our wonderful future to earth. But we, the flawed, live in a defective world. Just do what we can. One day, something even better than our dreams will come true. This is our blessed hope.
Summarized from a Tim Keller sermon:
https://gospelinlife.com/downloads/hope-for-your-work-6026/
We as Christians shouldn’t tie ourselves and our identity to our work on earth (v3:3). We shouldn’t be enslaved by worldly passions or addicted to things like money, personal gain, or self-fulfillment.
Instead, we should look forward to our eternal life in a perfect world of justice and peace, with no sufferings (v3:5-7).
Having said that, Christians shouldn’t ignore things on earth. We should be eager to do what is good, bringing glimpses of our wonderful future to earth now (v2:14; 3:1, 8).
So, live a self-controlled, upright, and godly life (v2:12). Work to help human flourish. This includes helping the community; and upholding public justice and public good. For example, if we have the power, don’t withhold the good from those to whom it is due (Proverbs 3:27).
But beware that we, the broken, live in a broken world. Life now isn’t black and white but is gray. Our work (e.g. practicing law, issuing stocks or bonds, or cleaning toilets) cannot be perfect.
Many idealists, initially passionate to change the world, become cynical after repeated failure.
In “Leaf by Niggle,” JRR Tolkien describes an artist trying to draw a great tree. Inundated by mundane chores and duties, and the need to help others, he only manages to draw a leaf before he dies. Then, before him is the great tree for him to further improve upon.
Earth is full of thorns and thistles. Don’t be discouraged if you can only draw a leaf. Just do what you can. Have faith that someday, you will see our great tree and improve on it (v2:13).
To conclude, by grace and through Christ’s sacrifice, we become God’s children with a glorious future. We should do good and work to bring glimpses of our wonderful future to earth. But we, the flawed, live in a defective world. Just do what we can. One day, something even better than our dreams will come true. This is our blessed hope.
Summarized from a Tim Keller sermon:
https://gospelinlife.com/downloads/hope-for-your-work-6026/