God at Work #18

I recently finished book #18 for the year - God at Work by Gene Veith. I am teaching a series on employment in a Sunday School class and had heard that this was a good book that explained Martin Luther's view on employment. Unfortunately, this book was not a translation or summarization of Martin Luther's view but more how Martin Luther influenced the author who is not a pastor or theologian, but according to the back cover a "culture expert" - whatever that means.

While it was a helpful book which contained many biblical concepts, it could have been better. I had hoped that Veith would spend more time explaining the relevant biblical texts on employment and bring insight into how that works out in the life of a Christian through the lens of Martin Luther. But nonetheless, here are some good biblical thoughts from the book:

• "When we pray the Lord's Prayer, observed Luther, we ask God to give us this day our daily bread. And He does give us our daily bread. He does it by means of the farmer who planted and harvested the grain, the baker who made the flour into bread, the person who prepared our meal."
• "Most people seek God in mystical experiences, spectacular mysteries, and extraordinary acts they have to do. To find Him in vocation brings Him, literally, down to earth, makes us see how close He really is to us, and transfigures everyday life."
• "This is why all vocations are equal before God. Pastors, monks, nuns, and popes are no holier than farmers, shopkeepers, dairy maids, or latrine diggers. In the spiritual kingdom, in a divine egalitarianism (which would also come to have cultural implications) peasants are equal to kings. All are sinful beings who have been loved and redeemed by Christ."

I thought Veith did a very good job explaining how God uses people as His agents when we work for others. We are the means that God uses to give others their daily bread. We are also the means that God uses to serve others, lead others, teach others, etc. in the church.

But the best book I have read on employment is Business for the Glory of God by Wayne Grudem.