Bible Study with the Cincottis – Work, Rest and Play – 10/25/2026
Today’s Bible Study, Authored by Arthur Cincotti.
Listen to our Bible Study Discussion at: Work, Rest, & Play
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Work, Rest and Play
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Eph. 2:10
So, what are these “good works” that we are created for? Are they just nice deeds that we do along the way to heaven where we shall enter into His rest? Earlier in the Ephesians passage is the classic verse that tells us that we are not saved by works: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Eph. 2:8-9. The Bible has much to say about works.
Works constitute progress; forward motion from point A to point B, essentially towards an end. All time-based beings are working, not due to choice, but because we are caught up. Work is a dynamic of the universe. And yet, God is outside of time, and Jesus says of the Father, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.” Jn. 5:17. As long as the universe is in motion, it’s clear that work is at the core of movement. Everything in the universe is in motion because it is acted upon by a force, which is a description of work. Aristotle postulated that you could trace this movement back to, “the first mover,” who himself is immovable. Aristotle called that “god,” or Thomas Aquinas did – it doesn’t matter; it very much makes sense, except, as we have already seen, God is working, and work suggests movement.
Let’s leave this tongue twister for a moment. What do you do for work? Most everyone will have a ready answer to that question. In the movements of human activity, best as I can tell, there are three spheres of activity: work, rest, and play; and the greatest of these is play 🙂
What does God want us to know about this trinity? It seems important to know since it is woven into the warp and woof of reality, and God’s word has much to say on all three subjects.
Adam had work to do in the garden, though it is not called such, only described. We might say that he had activity that gave him purpose. He needed a helper. The idea of work didn’t become a hardship until after the fall, which says a lot about work as we now know it. Since then, work became what we might call a necessary evil. Contemporary culture tries to refashion work as fun, which seems closer to play, but the notion isn’t reflected in Scripture. And yet, we doubt very much that God’s work is a chore or a drudgery. Our work, in contrast, often is.
In John’s gospel, between chapters 5 and 11, Jesus speaks quite a bit about His works in a verb form. He says, for instance, “for the works which the Father has given Me to finish – the very works that I do – bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.” Jn. 5:36. Further on He says, “The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil.” Jn. 7:7. So a distinction arises: good works versus evil works. Notice that in our opening verse we glimpse that God created us for “good works.” God is good and everything that He created He declared was “good” or “very good.”
How do we discover these good works in order that we may walk in them? It seems useful, as if to suggest that good works are in harmony with God’s created order; therefore, there is much favor in knowing and engaging them. “LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart;” Ps. 15:1,2. In contrast, the LORD says, “because they have forsaken Me and burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands. Therefore, My wrath shall be aroused against this place and shall not be quenched.” IIKi. 22:17
Whatever advances the kingdom and glorifies God is indeed a good work. Whatever is temporal and glorifies man is an evil work which will not stand in the judgment; and yet, we are not saved by works because, “by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.” Gal. 2:16. When the people asked Jesus, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God? Jn. 6:28, He said, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” vrs. 29. This sums up the work that we are called to; believe in God, and, more importantly, since, “even the demons believe and tremble”; we should believe God, which is, take Him at His word.
When we effectively do this, then we, by invitation, enter into His rest. “Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.” Heb. 4:1. When we speak of God’s working, there is no striving involved as though He was moving from lack to fulfillment. This rest that we are invited into is a departure from striving perpetuated by a sense of lack. Faith ushers us into that rest. “For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. Heb. 4:2. God is at rest because His works are an overflow of His character. So, “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden our hearts.” For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Heb. 4:7-10. Rest, therefore is a departure from striving. It is grounded in trust, which requires faith to magnify the character of God. Jesus declared, “The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath.” Mk. 2:27
Play hardly finds a positive context in Scripture except for one. Mostly it refers to some sexual revelry. In Ex. 32:6 we read the account of Israel’s quick betrayal at the base of Mt. Sinai. “Then they rose up early on the next day, offered burnt offerings, and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” This play had nothing to do with baseball which is referenced in Gen. 1:1, “In the big inning.” Other usages to “play” specify, “play the harlot.” which is an obvious sexual connotation. God’s most frequent rebuke of Israel, following the Exodus is for harlotry, which is going after other god’s.
Play is used in a positive manner in regard to music which is the delight of the universe:
“They have seen Your procession, O God,
The procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary.
The singers went before, the players on instruments
followed after;
Among them were the maidens playing timbrels.
Bless God in the congregations,
The Lord, from the fountain of Israel.” Ps. 68:24-26
As we, His creation, seek to flourish in His universe, it’s wisdom to know the terms of engagement, particularly in regard to work, rest and play. God invites us into the beauty of His holiness. He is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. Paul puts it this way:
“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!”
Phi. 4;4
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