"Work" just keeps getting better and better and not that it has everything I want to hear, but the way he says it makes all the difference. So with that in mind, in order to not write a whole book, here is a list of the three topics I wanted to highlight...
1) Chapter three as a whole was a challenging read. Not that is was hard to understand because Witherington clearly expressed and wrote what he wanted to say. Instead, it was the topic. We all can relate to either being a "sloth" or being a workaholic. These are two extremes that are hard to avoid. One can either not do anything or does too much. It's extremely difficult to find a balance.
In my own experience, I am no doubt a workaholic. I shamefully admit this. Keeping busy prevents me from doing common mistakes that kids my age typically do. Being busy, although often times extremely overwhelming and stressful, keeps me focused and in control. On the other hand, as Christians we are not meant to have control over every single things on this earth. Part of it is God's job and the other is ours. In addition, being too busy is a common mistake in our society. Without thinking, it's so easy to fall into working too much. Maybe that's why God gives workaholics a time of rest and yet we workaholics have no idea what to do on rest days but work. Even for the sloths and slackers there is a difference between rest and being lazy. Witherington says on page 62, "Even if we view rest as nothing more than an opportunity to recharge and revitalize ourselves so we can go back to working more efficiently and with more excellence, the fact is we need rest each and every day."
2) "We do not need to feel the weight of the world on our own shoulders when Jesus, the ultimate Atlas, has already borne that burden and overcome it on the cross and through the resurrection" (64).
When I read this sentence, I almost filled with tears; I so much needed to hear that at that very moment. I mentioned above I'm a workaholic and part of that is because when I am not busy, I feel like I have no control over my life. And that is when working becomes a sin. I am needing work to fulfill my time, when all I need is God to be in my life. So many times I've watched people become suddenly burdened and overwhelmed with their lives (this includes me). Maybe it's because we are carrying our problems and the world's problems on our shoulders and we are not meant to do that. We forget that that is already taken care of.
3) I am currently reading Exodus so when Witherington mentioned Moses, I was glad. Moses is a great example of someone who, because of his fear of public speaking, could not follow through with what God wanted him to do. As Witherington mentions, "Moses says to God, in effect, 'Here I am, Lord--take somebody else, please!'" (68). But the great thing is, God has no Plan B. He had to free the Israelites somehow, and Aaron was gifted with the ability to "speak well" so says in Exodus 4:14 (NIV). Now what Moses did was not trust God in that He would help Moses speak. And yet, the plan continued. Eventually Moses became the leader and the messenger between God and the Israelites. What an honor! God knows our abilities and He knows what we can do even if we can't see it. But in time, or right away, God will reveal to us what our work is here on earth when we cannot see.
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