--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Work is so foundational to our makeup…" description: "\"“Work is so foundational to our makeup that it is one of the few things we can take in significant doses without harm. Indeed, the Bible does not say w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9b/timothy-keller-240_bible_work-is-so-foundational-to-our-makeup-th_2348610.jpg" --- # Work is so foundational to our makeup that it is one of… ![“Work is so foundational to our makeup that it is one of the few things we can take in significant doses without harm. Indeed, the Bible does not say we should work one day and rest six or that work and rest should be balanced evenly but directs us to the opposite ratio. Leisure and pleasure are…” quote by Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9b/timothy-keller-240_bible_work-is-so-foundational-to-our-makeup-th_2348610.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9b/timothy-keller-240_bible_work-is-so-foundational-to-our-makeup-th_2348610.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9b/timothy-keller-240_bible_work-is-so-foundational-to-our-makeup-th_2348610.jpg) > ““Work is so foundational to our makeup that it is one of the few things we can take in significant doses without harm. Indeed, the Bible does not say we should work one day and rest six or that work and rest should be balanced evenly but directs us to the opposite ratio. Leisure and pleasure are great goods, but we can take only so much of them.”” [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Work is essential and can be taken in large amounts without harm; leisure is limited; the Bible suggests a work‑heavy ratio. **In simple terms:** Work is vital, leisure limited. Key Takeaway Prioritize meaningful work over excess leisure. Themes work leisure balance spirituality productivity Mood reflective inspirational Type theological practical When to use this quote - career counseling - spiritual formation - time management Key Concepts theology ethics life design Questions to Reflect On - How much work is healthy for you? - What leisure activities truly rejuvenate you? A Different Perspective Excessive work can lead to burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Leisure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leisure/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-day/) ## Related quotes > [The fight against unfair scheduling is like the fight for a regulated work day - it's people fighting for reasonable conditions at work and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-holmes/the-fight-against-unfair-scheduling-is-like-the-fight-for-a-regulated/) [Rachel Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-holmes/) > [I have an inability to relax. I try to make every day a work day. I get pleasure from work... I try to think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-armisen/i-have-an-inability-to-relax-i-try-to-make-every-day-a-work-day-i-get/) [Fred Armisen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-armisen/) > [“O God, who is ever at work and ever at rest. May I be ever at work and ever at rest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/o-god-who-is-ever-at-work-and-ever-at-rest-may-i-be-ever-at-work-and/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [I think it must be awful not to work. My only point in being idle is to rest so that I can work more...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-field/i-think-it-must-be-awful-not-to-work-my-only-point-in-being-idle-is/) Betty Field > [In Heaven we shall not rest from our work, but from our labors. There will be no toil, no pain in the work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-berg/in-heaven-we-shall-not-rest-from-our-work-but-from-our-labors-there/) [David Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-berg/) > [Work first and then rest. Work first, and then gaze, but do not use golden ploughshares, nor bind ledgers in enamel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/work-first-and-then-rest-work-first-and-then-gaze-but-do-not-use/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [“It’s easy to find people who think work is good and leisure is bad (i.e., you rest to work). You can also find people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/it-s-easy-to-find-people-who-think-work-is-good-and-leisure-is-bad-i/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [Sit Rest Work. Alone with yourself, Never weary. On the edge of the forest Live joyfully, Without desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/sit-rest-work-alone-with-yourself-never-weary-on-the-edge-of-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [“But what if we find we don't suit?" "Then ye'll do as the rest o' us and work at suiting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/but-what-if-we-find-we-don-t-suit-then-ye-ll-do-as-the-rest-o-us-and/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [Awards do get you 'that profile,' but then you have to do the rest of the work - it's not just a case of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgina-campbell/awards-do-get-you-that-profile-but-then-you-have-to-do-the-rest-of/) [Georgina Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgina-campbell/) > [The stomach, when we lie down to rest, should have its work done, that it may enjoy rest, as well as other portions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/the-stomach-when-we-lie-down-to-rest-should-have-its-work-done-that/) [Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/) > [He who cannot rest, cannot work; he who cannot let go, cannot hold on; he who cannot find footing, cannot go forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/he-who-cannot-rest-cannot-work-he-who-cannot-let-go-cannot-hold-on-he/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [When I rest, I rest and when I work, I work hard and sometimes for long hours. I always try to be rested when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simmie-knox/when-i-rest-i-rest-and-when-i-work-i-work-hard-and-sometimes-for-long/) Simmie Knox > [Shabbat is a day of rest, of mental scrutiny and of balance. Without it the workdays are insipid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hayim-nahman-bialik/shabbat-is-a-day-of-rest-of-mental-scrutiny-and-of-balance-without-it/) Hayim Nahman Bialik > [“This is the first day of the rest of my life...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ma-eduarda/this-is-the-first-day-of-the-rest-of-my-life/) Ma eduarda ## More by Timothy Keller > [If you are trying to live a life in accordance with the Bible, the concept and call to justice are inescapable. We do justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-you-are-trying-to-live-a-life-in-accordance-with-the-bible-the/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [The more you rejoice in your own forgiveness, the quicker you will be to forgive others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/the-more-you-rejoice-in-your-own-forgiveness-the-quicker-you-will-be/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“Evangelism will come organically in friendship if we don’t let our pride, fears, and pessimism cause us to hide our faith and heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/evangelism-will-come-organically-in-friendship-if-we-don-t-let-our/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“The coming of the messianic King occurs in two stages. At his first coming, he saved us from the penalty of sin and gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/the-coming-of-the-messianic-king-occurs-in-two-stages-at-his-first/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [ “24 A few pages later, Delbanco writes the following: \[Alexis de\] Tocqueville’s detection of a “strange melancholy in the midst of abundance” has a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/24-a-few-pages-later-delbanco-writes-the-following-alexis-de/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“To stay away from Christianity because part of the Bible's teaching is offensive to you assumes that if there is a God he wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/to-stay-away-from-christianity-because-part-of-the-bible-s-teaching/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [If the preaching of our ministers and the practice of our parishioners do not have the same effect on people that Jesus had, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-the-preaching-of-our-ministers-and-the-practice-of-our/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“of temple, presence, and sacrifice; of covenant and faithfulness; of kingdom and victory. When we seek to communicate the gospel to a particular culture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/of-temple-presence-and-sacrifice-of-covenant-and-faithfulness-of/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“Finally, you are ready to launch your church. Begin by developing action steps and goals that can be used as benchmarks to track your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/finally-you-are-ready-to-launch-your-church-begin-by-developing/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [If you are a child of God, you don’t lose your status if you have a bad week.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-you-are-a-child-of-god-you-don-t-lose-your-status-if-you-have-a/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [God's salvation does not come in response to a changed life. A changed life comes in response to the salvation, offered as a free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/god-s-salvation-does-not-come-in-response-to-a-changed-life-a-changed/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“When anything in life is an absolute requirement for your happiness and self-worth, it is essentially an ‘idol,’ something you are actually worshiping. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/when-anything-in-life-is-an-absolute-requirement-for-your-happiness/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [Suffering is the stripping of our hope in finite things, therefore we do not put our ultimate hope in anything finite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/suffering-is-the-stripping-of-our-hope-in-finite-things-therefore-we/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [Christ will do everything for you or nothing. He's either all of your righteousness or none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/christ-will-do-everything-for-you-or-nothing-he-s-either-all-of-your/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [If we give God things in hope that they'll earn us blessings, we're really not doing anything for him. It's for ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-we-give-god-things-in-hope-that-they-ll-earn-us-blessings-we-re/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) [Explore all 843 Timothy Keller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) ## More Bible quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“The Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose, Sergeant,’ Anthony Payne replied. ‘That is from The Merchant of Venice, but it holds great truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arnold/the-devil-can-cite-scripture-for-his-purpose-sergeant-anthony-payne/) Michael Arnold > [When you put your hand on the Bible, you are saying something much stronger than just telling your peers that you're going to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-greenwood/when-you-put-your-hand-on-the-bible-you-are-saying-something-much/) [Lee Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-greenwood/) > [“Scripture also teaches that human beings are morally responsible creatures”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-peterson/scripture-also-teaches-that-human-beings-are-morally-responsible/) Robert A. Peterson > [“The wife of a junior officer cooped up in a horrible canvas partition in steerage for five months wrote: "I had enjoyed much peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-taylor/the-wife-of-a-junior-officer-cooped-up-in-a-horrible-canvas-partition/) Stephen Taylor > [O Word of God incarnate . . . It is the golden casket Where gems of truth are stored; It is the heaven-drawn picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walsham-how/o-word-of-god-incarnate-it-is-the-golden-casket-where-gems-of-truth/) Walsham How > [How can I trust that the Bible is reliable?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/how-can-i-trust-that-the-bible-is-reliable/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [Every plant which my heavenly father has not planted with be uprooted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/every-plant-which-my-heavenly-father-has-not-planted-with-be-uprooted/) [Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/) > [Where I come from you're not raised to think on your own. It's not that you're pushed to read the Bible. The Bible is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-ferrara/where-i-come-from-you-re-not-raised-to-think-on-your-own-it-s-not/) [Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/) > [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [What comes to mind when you think of heaven? 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