Work and play
1. In the light of CREATION
God himself sets the example, Gen 2:1-3. God calls us into partnership with him, Gen 2:15. God has made this world our workplace and our playground, Gen 1:28. God has established a cycle of work and play, Ex 20:8-11.
2. In the light of THE FALL
Work tends to become a hardship, Gen 3:17-19. The worker tends to become selfish, lazy, disobedient, dishonest, 2 Thess 3:6-12. Play tends to become perverted from its original purpose: (a) it may become commercialised and over-competitive; (a) it may become destructive of work, education, physical health, family life or spiritual well-being.
3. In the light of REDEMPTION
See 2 Cor 5:17; Rom 12:1; Col 3:22-24.
Being ‘in Christ’ gives us: (a) a new meaning; (b) a new value; (c) a new balance; (d) a new behaviour; (e) a new goal.