Why do we work each day? Is it only to pay the bills? Are we like the miserable mythological Sisyphus, who was forced to endlessly push a massive rock up a hill only to watch it roll back down?

Throughout history, philosophers and theologians have presented shifting views of what work means. Some, like Plato, elevated the value of intellectual work, such as philosophy and poetry. He also devalued material work, such as manual labor, running a shop, farming, etc. By contrast, Aristotle gave more value to physical forms of work, the work of the here and now. Who was right?

As the Roman Empire decayed, the medieval church (generally speaking) followed Plato’s views about work. Thus, noble work was related to those who helped mortals stay focused on the “heavenly realms”; that is, the “spiritual” work of priests. But by the early 1500s, prominent theologians like William Tyndale and Martin Luther argued that God valued all work, including the work of common people. Jesus, after all, worked as a carpenter.

Today, the question of work’s meaning continues to weigh on our hearts and minds. Twentieth century existentialist philosophers claimed that the world has no intrinsic meaning; therefore, we should each fabricate our own meaning through choice and action. As a result, many cultures have adopted a belief about work that says, “You are what you do.”

In this study, readers will explore what the Scriptures and contemporary thinkers say about the meaning of work in today’s competitive, global economy. Integrating conceptual and practical principles, the study presents the following topics:

Donald McGilchrist worked in the British national railway industry for many years. He is a graduate of Oxford University. Donald has written extensively about work, entrepreneurship, and local and organizational history.