Having lost the security of being rooted in the eternal reality of the Word of God, we are looking to busy activity to fill the void that has been created in our lives. And under that bondage to activity we find it difficult to linger with the Word simply for the joy of it. In fact, we may be afraid to stop our busyness lest it expose the shallowness of our lives. So we go on from activity to activity, from project to project. But activity is a dangerous source of fulfillment. Instead of finding our identity, our sense of self-worth, from our relationship with God, we begin to look to success in programs and other earthly indicators of success for our self-worth. But these will never satisfy. This will only enslave us more in our bondage to activity.

Ajith Fernando (b. 1948), Bibelausleger, Konferenzredner, Buchautor und ehem. Nationalleiter von Youth for Christ

Topics: Work & Vocation, Meaning & Identity, The Bible & the Word of God

Occasions: For Reflection

Ajith Fernando

Der 1948 geborene sri-lankische Theologe und Autor Ajith Fernando leitete über drei Jahrzehnte Youth for Christ in seinem Heimatland und wirkt international als Bibelausleger und Konferenzredner. Er steht für eine biblisch fundierte Jüngerschaft, dienende Leiterschaft im Widerspruch zu christlichen Starkulten sowie die theologische Thematisierung von Leid und Verzicht in der Nachfolge. Bibellesern vermittelt er eine theologische Perspektive aus dem Globalen Süden, die Schriftauslegung eng mit langjähriger praktischer Basisarbeit im interreligiösen Umfeld verbindet.

All quotes by Ajith Fernando (21)

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The time of business does not differ with me from the time of prayer; and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were on my knees.

Brother Lawrence

Rest time is not waste time. It is economy to gather fresh strength… It is wisdom to take occasional furlough. In the long run, we shall do more by sometimes doing less.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

The bow cannot be always bent without fear of breaking. Repose is as needful to the mind as sleep to the body… Rest time is not waste time. It is economy to gather fresh strength.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

It may be that the Last Day will dawn tomorrow; if so, we will gladly lay down our work for a better future, but not before.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

If our identity is in our work, rather than Christ, success will go to our heads, and failure will go to our hearts.

Tim Keller

Our Lord's example is our example, not only on Calvary but in the workshop, on the road, in the crowd, amid interruptions, amid opposition, amid the lack of quiet and privacy, amid constant demands.

C.S. Lewis

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