By Bill Piatt and Kevin Carson
Editor’s Note: My dear friend and ministry partner Bill Piatt recently worked through some of Jay Adams’ ideas from More than Redemption related to how Adams views man. In today’s blog, we identify what Adams said about man. In tomorrow’s blog, we provide very practical expressions for daily living and practice.
Recently I was thinking about Jay Adams’ observations that man was created a social being as well as a working being which could be an opportunity to make some sense out of at least two reasons people are struggling from isolation/loneliness; as well as, the impact of loss of daily routine giving rise to “down” or feelings of uncertainty, perhaps even a general feeling of uneasiness. There are plenty of people still working, but whose work environment and setting has changed, who are perhaps struggling with those changes, including such things as interruptions, slow internet, etc.
What a great opportunity to learn self-discipline skills! Of course, the truth that God uses such frustrations as opportunities for all of us to grow in His likeness still holds true. Although, seeing this as part of God’s grace will be difficult for many people when there seems to be nothing good coming out of it. This produces yet another level of struggle.
The thoughts below are primarily from Jay Adams so they focus quite a bit on a person’s behavior and thinking. Therefore, in addition to these thoughts, all of us must remember our purpose of life and the absolute necessity of intentionally pursuing Christ through knowing Him through His Word (worshipping Him/treasuring Him). In other words, we must remember how God uses pressured situations to grow us as we seek to become more like Christ while understanding the implications of the Gospel.
To only change our behavior and/or our thinking without also focusing on the heart, the changes will only serve to soothe superficially. However, we also realize there is a blessing in both “knowing” and “doing” (John 13:17). We must get busy doing what is right and good as we develop our awareness of Who God is and the implications of that in living as a worshiper.
The following thoughts primarily come from Chapter 8 of Jay Adams’ More Than Redemption.
Adam in Creation
- In addition to Adam’s creation as a material being and a spiritual being, man was also created a moral being.
“Man was created in God’s image and likeness [Gen 1:26-28].” “All must agree … (a) that it is in the likeness to God that makes man different from animals, and (b) that (in part at least, though some say this is the whole of it) man is an intelligent, morally responsible creature.” - Adam was created a social being.
“Adam was not fashioned for solitary, isolated living. From the beginning his capacity for language, his walks and talks with God in the cool of the day, and God’s expressed concern that he not remain alone (Gen. 2:18) are all explicit evidences of the social side of human nature. This social side could not be satisfied by fellowship either with God alone (apart from a special gift – cf. Matt 19; 1 Cor 7) or with another human alone. God determined to create a being that would enjoy fellowship on both the vertical and horizontal planes.” … “In a distorted form unsaved persons both long for and try to fulfill longings for social contact. And even those who are ‘evil’ (notice Christ’s evaluation of man out of proper relationship to God) know how to ‘give good gifts to their children’ Luke 11:13. And yet, their best attempts fall short of what God designed when He created man not only to glorify Him, but also ‘to enjoy Him forever.’” - Adam was created as a working being.
“Work is not the result of sin. God works. Prior to the fall, Adam was called to provide companionship for Eve, dress the garden, name and rule over the animals, subdue the earth and propagate the human race. This was work – and it was intended to be a delight. If he had not sinned, it would have been.” … “There was variety in the work to which God called him. The various sorts of work were to occupy both the mind and the body. The work involved relationship to persons … and to the non-human creation.” … “The necessity for work – to be creative, productive being – is built into man: Adam was created to be a working being.”Adams further writes that this work was to involve physical efforts of some sort. He quotes Ecclesiastes 5:12 to remind us that the sleep of the workingman is sweet. Laziness is denounced several times in Proverbs and 2 Thessalonians 3:10. Doing something physical appears to be part of God’s design. When we are not productive but rather worry, are nervous, angry, dissatisfied with self or others without physical exercise or physically productive work our muscles become tense without relaxing. “Even a shut-in confined to a wheelchair (or bed) can expend energy productively in profitable enterprises like letter writing and prayer (but resentment, worry and anger complicate a physically ill patient’s situation for the reasons just stated).”Adams continues that a lack of physical productivity of some sort leads to “(b) negative self-evaluation. We are told to carry our own load (Gal 6:5, as well as 2 Thess 3), and when we don’t, we sin. Conscience then triggers bad physical feelings (and muscular responses) to awaken us to the need for change.” …. “Counselors will be aware of the fact that the ‘idle rich’ (cf. the Gal 5 passage), or the ‘idle sick’ (a more modern category that fits a wider constituency) are miserable, discontented persons.” “Retirement (when interpreted as cessation from work, and a time to indulge in loafing, the sole pursuit of hobbies, sports, and other self-interests) is a non-Christian concept.” … “When a counselee says, ‘I have no job,’ we always respond, ‘Oh, but you do.’ When he asks for an explanation, we say, ‘God gave you a job – to work six days a week! You have a job.”
Observations Related to COVID-19
The difficulty of shifting from a typical 9-5 type employment to a “stay at home except for essential tasks” makes life a bit complicated for most. Typically, people are told when to arrive at their place of employment, when to take lunch break, and when to quit at the end of their shift. Much of their lives are structured for them.
Consider that same person who is accustomed to having this structure, now is without that particular structure. He/she is left to be productive in creative ways, but is still a social being as well as a working being. He/she is not around the usual co-workers who have become more a part of the person’s world than most recognize. (Yes, there are those co-workers perhaps that one is very happy not to be around; but, for most who have worked in a setting for any length of time, I think this might be a factor.)
We as counselors and friends may also need to help some find creative ways to develop skills at the self-discipline that will encourage a work ethic that goes beyond waiting to have instructions given or tasks assigned. Can we help them assign tasks for themselves that will be productive?
- Perhaps how to schedule work tasks, priorities, outlining approximate time considerations to complete tasks, avoiding interruptions, simple organization suggestions.
- Students with assignments … how to set goals for the day, week, etc. Perhaps engaging friends or parents to help with accountability to finish assignments timely.
- As I talk with people, I am hearing them discuss a lack of motivation. Both those who are seeking to work at home without much accountability and students who are seeking to complete various homework assignments and projects. For example, when a student is in class with professors/teachers holding them accountable for assignments, due dates, even if the student is waiting till the last minute, the student is still motivated to complete the assignment. Now without anyone standing over him/her, it is easier to “kick it down the road” (as one student put it) since it doesn’t appear in one’s thinking as “that pressing.”
In part 2, we will provide specific ideas to help connect all these ideas together with some very practical ways for daily living.
Bill is a follower of Jesus Christ, a husband to Mary Ann, a father to two adult children, a granddad to six, and great granddad to eleven. He worships and serves as the director of biblical counseling at Sonrise Baptist Church in Ozark, MO, is an adjunct faculty member at Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary in Springfield, MO, and is a church planter. Bill also serves as an ACBC Fellow, is IABC certified, leads a biblical counseling training center, and regularly counsels. Over the years, he has served as a counselor for many pastors, missionaries, their families, and other Christian workers.
I am grateful he is my brother, friend, and colleague.
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