Proving Ground

An honest and realistic look at why how we work matters. There is no such thing as untested Christian faith. The Bible shows us how testing experiences are common to every Christian and are part of God’s good work in making us the people he wants us to be. As we spend so much of our time working, (whether in the home, in voluntary work, study or in a paid job), our work, like every part of our life, provides opportunities to prove for ourselves that God is real and at work in his world for good. Graham Hooper has written this challenging and encouraging book for all Christians, but particularly for those struggling to ‘live out’ their faith at work, or questioning the worth of what they are doing. Graham writes with the conviction that the Bible’s teaching about work is inclusive, covering every type of work at every stage of life; that the Bible is a message of good news with a universal application; and that it is also honest and realistic about the pressures of daily work and the way these often test our faith in a just and loving God. It’s this truly biblical view of work, grounded in Graham’s own experience, which he presents in this book. Chapter headings Part Understanding our Motives Necessity Getting Ahead Ambition Competition Rewards Contentment or Adventure? Pride Self–Image Part Living Our Values Accountability Faithfulness Service Dealing with Corruption Living with Integrity Prayer at Work A Witness to What? Setting Priorities Part Transforming Relationship Being the Boss Working for the Boss Bullying and Harassment Dealing with Conflict The Blame Game Exploitation Loneliness Part Testing Situations Trapped Frustrated Bored Stifled Creativity Pressured to Conform Aimless Envious Setback Redundant Stressed Part Keeping Focused… on ‘the Big Picture’ God at Work Not in Vain Identity and Worth The Right Work? Career or Calling Measuring Success Leaving a Legacy