I’d like to think a hard worker can be a genius in their own ways. You do something well and consistently, you become a genius in that.

A good read. Refreshing break from all the light topics I keep reading on most blogs.

There is no hint in Gen.1 (or 2) that work was intended. There were no weeds and the curse in Gen.3 specifically brings in sweat (ie. sweat – hard work was not intended before this). The vegetarian diet (the main point of which I think is that God did not intend violence) meant that what people needed was provided without work (no weeds remember).

Work is part of the curse. This leads to the need for its redemption. The glory of the nations goes into the new Jerusalem.

For me the starting point for the redemption of work is that: work is made for people, not people for work (based on Jesus saying about the sabbath in Mk.2). As has often been pointed out the Christian ethic is a communal one – as Basil pointed out: how will I learn patience if my brother does not annoy me?

My view is that Christians are intended to model a lifestyle for others to follow. This is one where social distinctions (of gender, race or wealth) are abolished. In Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, male or female, bond or free.

My own conviction is that this lifestyle is to embrace sustainability – one reason for Israel’s exile was not observing the land’s sabbaths and the whole of creation longs for the revealing of the children of God. ‘Heaven’ includes a redeemed heaven and earth.

As to current work arrangements. Paul is clear that equality should prevail among Christians. There are chapters devoted to this in 2Cor.

While it is surely true that people should work well at what they do there are a number of things not addressed. For instance while volunteering is ethical it doesn’t necessarily pay for accommodation or food. This perspective doesn’t mention how these people will eat. My own view is that government and charities should guarantee the necessities (food, housing, education, health) to all people. My own experience is that people want good work and are willing to put in lots of work on what is important and meaningful to them.

The perspective of ‘employees should work hard’ does not mention that employers have a duty too. It is not christian for employers to abuse people by providing mind-deadening work in lousy conditions.

My own experience is not that people are usually not lazy or selfish. In most work places you will find that people have lots of ideas about how they could be improved (they want to work better). If you ask people how much they would want to be paid for doing what they love, the income is usually a modest one. So much of the focus on money is due to its being compensation for lousy work in rotten conditions.

As you can see I think this is a big topic that brings together lots of different issues and perspectives.

I hope what I have written makes sense. I’m happy to keep discussing it.

Gen.1 gives no hint that work was intended. It was the result of the curse. His exegesis skips Gen.3 – something of an oversight, no?

The gifts of the spirit are not the same as work.

Ie. his exegesis is shoddy (to put it as kindly as possible).

I don’t hear this speaker as pervaded by the spirit of Christ. Do you?

As to what is useful to work at. Bureaucrats making the lives of the unemployed miserable by working in Centrelink? Taking money from the poor and transferring it to the rich by interest, from working in banks? There is much to be discussed here.

Great advice on how to nurture child prodigies.

Australia doesn’t have a culture of tipping.

Learning can happen most easily in a supportive environment. I don’t think they understand the experience of flow. They also don’t understand motivation.

I think almost everyone is under used. A few years ago I ran some retreats that helped people find their gift. They were very enjoyable for all of us (I did them basically for cost) but I basically exhausted the market and couldn’t find a way to make money from them (build another market in a way that didn’t take years). There is much to be done about this I think.

What is missing from this perspective is a social analysis. Jesus drove the money changers from the temple, Paul said that a workman is worthy of his hire. In 2Cor Paul tells the churches to engage in internation aid for the sake of equality. This is usually left out of these kinds of talks – I have some ideas why that might be (but they aren’t terribly charitable).

I think there are a few worthwhile nuggets in there (esp. about developing expertise and treating child prodigies well) but the leaving out of the social dimension just drives me nuts.