Laboring in vain?
by Dan Doriani
Johannes Gutenberg is remembered today as the inventor of the printing press and movable type. He aimed to reproduce texts at reduced costs, in sufficient quantities to grant common people access to great texts, beginning with the Bible. This was his goal, but he never saw it come to fruition. Instead he was essentially bankrupted by his efforts and died in near-obscurity.
We often fear that they labor in vain, and rightly so. Fine art fades into oblivion, great inventions fail for lack of proper marketing or manufacturing, and sterling policy proposals never gain a hearing. Despair tempts us when we have noble goals, but fail, or fear we will fail, to achieve them.
Job assumes he works for naught and asks “why then do I labor in vain?” (Job 9:29). Solomon repeatedly laments the problem of vain labor (Eccles. 1-2, Ps. 127:1-2). Paul often fears that he labors in vain (Gal. 2:2, 1 Thess. 2:1, 3:5), especially when sees his churches falter (Gal. 3:4, 4:11; Phil. 2:16). Still, the apostle assures believers that their labor is not ultimately pointless: "Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain" (1 Cor. 15:2, 10, 14, 58).
We know faith drives out despair, but how does it operate? First, by giving us worthy goals. Second, by assuring us that our work is fruitful, even if we never see those fruits.
Gutenberg likely believed that he had labored in vain. But others saw his project to fruition. His invention fueled the Renaissance, the Reformation, the development of modern science, and the movement toward universal literacy. Not bad as legacies go.
Gutenberg's story shows that good work may have unseen results. Because they believed in his cause, dozens of people supported Gutenberg. Craftsmen taught him metal-working, financiers funded his project, and visionaries promoted its potential. Gutenberg's history encourages us to persevere and take a long view of our work, which often seems futile, if viewed myopically. Humans simply cannot detect the impact of their efforts.
One the other hand, workers may think their work is vain because it is vain. To produce and market cigarettes and the worst junk food is to labor in vain. If we suspect that our products are inferior, we should pause and reflect.
The "God at Work" movement rightly emphasizes motivations for work. It assures believers that their work matters, that they can dedicate it to God. That said, motivation and dedication are necessary, but not sufficient conditions for worthwhile labor. To state that God is pleased, whatever we do, provided that it is dedicated to him and not immoral, is false. We must have the right goals and achieve them the right way. Truly good work uses the right means, has godly motivations, and pursues beneficial goals. It is both lawful and helpful to humanity.
To see this, let's turn a classic "your work matters" illustration on its head. The illustration goes like this: One day a traveler came upon three stonemasons at work. He asked each man what he was doing. The first replied, "I am cutting stones." The second said, "I am earning my living." The third answered, "I am building a cathedral to the glory of God." The lesson, allegedly, is obvious. Masons do more than cut stones and earn money, they glorify God by building cathedrals.
Or do they? Does a mason glorify God because he intends to glorify God? In fact, an act pleases the when it meets three criteria. The goal must be a desire to glorify God, the standard must be God's law, and the motive must be love for God and neighbor. It is doubtful that cathedrals meet these criteria. By what biblical warrant did medieval leaders devote vast human and material resources to those buildings? Although God instruct Israel to build a tabernacle and endorsed the temple, there is no imperative to construct grand church buildings. Scripture does, however, command generosity to the poor. It took 263 years to erect the Strasbourg cathedral. The Notre Dame of Paris took 185 years. Both required thousands of tons of stone. It took the wood of 5,000 trees just to construct the roof of Notre Dame. And how many laborers died in construction accidents? Should medieval Christians have built homes, schools, and hospitals instead? Eventually, people did question the most grandiose project, St. Peter's Basilica. Indeed, its stupendous costs and subsequent abuses in raising money became a catalyst for the Reformation. Motivation certainly counts, but strong motivations for bad projects bring more harm than good. It is false piety to offer one's work to God's glory when that work violates his standards and purposes.
Workers must have worthwhile goals. Is space exploration worth the cost? Is needlepoint worth the time? What shall we say of colonialism, which brought the benefits and diseases of the West to Africa and the Americas? When does the church's missional impulse cause harm by fostering dependence? In short, rightly motivated people choose the right projects and implement them the right way. We need wisdom to assess the culture's notions of good projects – cathedrals, conquest of other lands – and choose goals that fit God's law and reflect his character. This point us toward God's standards for work.
Dr. Dan Doriani is Executive Director of The Center for Faith & Work Saint Louis and serves as vice president at large and professor of biblical and systematic theology at Covenant Theological Seminary.