Comments on: Lessons from Bonaventure on the Spirituality of Work

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 16:06:39 +0000

Ryan, thank you! You’ve addressed an area that has been weighing heavily on my mind, as well as my husband’s. He’s an iOS developer, creating all sorts of apps. We’ve been trying to flesh this out in light of God’s kingdom. What would that look like in the thoughtful framework that you’ve laid here?

By: silver price

silver price — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 02:50:18 +0000

This is a danger inherent in professional ministry: ministers and other Christian leaders can come to look down on laypeople. Here we are reminded, however, that God honors those who realize that their ministry does not commend them before God or make them superior; rather, we are all the objects of his grace and mercy.

By: The Spirituality of Work | Jennifer Lubanski, MA, LMHCA

The Spirituality of Work | Jennifer Lubanski, MA, LMHCA — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 05:29:55 +0000

[...] whether these workers are aware of God’s common grace or not, that is working through them. read more This entry was posted in Spirituality, Work. Bookmark the permalink. ← Identity in [...]

By: PowerLinks – 07.19.12 | @ActonInstitute PowerBlog

PowerLinks – 07.19.12 | @ActonInstitute PowerBlog — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 19:40:57 +0000

[...] Roach went on to say, “Christ never died for a corporation. He died for you and me.”Lessons from Bonaventure on the Spirituality of Work Ryan BradleyAccording to Bonaventure, those in the mechanical arts are fundamentally involved in [...]

By: Maria

Maria — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 04:37:06 +0000

Thanks for this! Lately I’ve been talking and thinking through what the Christian life should look like in the day-to-day world, and this hits exactly some of what I was arriving at, along with adding a few new insights. And it’s always comforting to find that wise people before me have shared some of my thoughts.

I have the joy of working outdoors in public gardens all week long, and I try to keep myself conscious of the beauty of our creator while doing this. However I hadn’t thought of my work as glorifying the beauty of creation and creator for others to marvel at – I was missing that crucial step of directing my thoughts to others. Thank you again! I will work even more diligently with this in mind.

By: Guy

Guy — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 04:22:52 +0000

Thank you for the thoughtful post. I have been only recently thinking and struggling through the meaning of my own work which is actually in real estate investing. Your post is an encouragement for me to keep my eyes open to see how God’s grace is moving through the various people I interact with through the day. Thanks.

By: Ryan Bradley

Ryan Bradley — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 22:25:03 +0000

Thanks for the response Jim. That’s exactly the sort of application I’m thinking about. For the final application in my post (the part about meditating on God as His character relates to your work) it might be helpful to think about the protection of God as you work. Maybe memorizing one of the many psalms having to do with protection (or even a verse or refrain from one) and reciting it from time to time as you work will be helpful. I read Psalm 5 this morning, which ends with “For you, O Lord, will bless the righteous; you will defend them with your favor as with a shield.” Both thinking of your work as defending the righteous and praying to God as the One who gives His favor as a shield could be a powerful way of worshiping God both with and through your labor.

By: Jim Sprouse

Jim Sprouse — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 19:19:51 +0000

As a student at Southwestern Baptist Seminary I work on campus as a security officer here in Fort Worth, TX. Unfortunately I have been looking at my job here as just something I have to do to put me through school so that “real” ministry can begin after I graduate. To think of it as a ministry of mercy of protection for the students that live at the campus has not been at the forefront of my mind as I go about my work day. This had led to laziness at times and Instead of working as though I am working for God and not for man. Thank for this post.