Sermon Central
-
The High Calling Of Work Series
Contributed by Johnny Creasong on Sep 10, 2007 (message contributor)
Summary: What woulf happen if we made Philippians 4:8 our job description?
The High Calling of Work
An employee bulletin board contained the following memo: “In case of fire, flee the building with the same reckless abandon that occurs each day at quitting time!”
From Marketing Daily 5/7/07:
64% of U.S. workers enjoy their work a great deal, and 29% enjoy it somewhat, while just 5% don’t care for work at all. When it comes to work-life balance, only about 50% feel they’ve got things down. Every month, workers bring lunch to work 8 days; eat while working 7.5 days, and buy lunch at or near work 5.9 days. They skip lunch entirely 3.5 days a month. 60% of workers work non-stop throughout their shift without taking any breaks. 28% of women say a snack break would help them be more productive, 30% of younger workers (18-34) claim free ice cream would boost morale finds a Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream study.
What do you do for a living?
Colossians 3:17, 22-24
17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.
23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,
24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
(NIV)
Most of the time when we think of church, we think of Sunday. But Sunday is really about Monday. If our job as Christians was simply to get together and worship God, we could do that in Heaven. But our job is more than that: that’s why God has us strategically placed right where we are.
The high calling to work is a call to transform our organizations, our jobs, and our responsibilities.
It is a call to consider how industries such as banking, consulting, education, and manufacturing must change. It is also a call to explore a right view of strategic planning, marketing, finance, sales, and various other valuable roles. Our work cannot remain the same when we recognize its eternal purpose. Once we realize the high calling of our work, the real work begins.
How can we transform
our work until it becomes worship?
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-- think about such things.
(NIV)
What would happen if we made Philippians 4:8 our job description?
• As an employee, I will make it my job to be TRUTHFUL TO MY character.
I will live my life with integrity. In other words, I will be the same on Monday at work as I am on Sunday at church!
37 Simply let your ’Yes’ be ’Yes,’ and your ’No,’ ’No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
(NIV)
When you’re a Christian, everything you do has Jesus’ name written on it.
• As an employee, I will make it my job to be honest.
The word translated here as “noble” denotes seriousness of purpose and self-respect in conduct. 1 Timothy 2:2 translates the word as “honest”.
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
(KJV)
Am I honest in my approach to my work? Do I give a week’s work for a week’s pay?
• As an employee, I will make it my job to have a right attitude.
Do I go to work with a “Bad” attitude? Oswald Chambers says, “Moods don’t go by praying; moods go by kicking them.”
"Our words come out of our attitudes. We can let circumstances shape our perspective, or we can use a good perspective to shape our circumstances—in the high calling of our daily work." —Howard E. Butt, Jr.
• As an employee, I will make it my job to think pure thoughts about my boss and my fellow employees.
If my fellow employees could read my mind, would they be embarrassed?
• As an employee, I will make it my job to do my work as if to make my boss say, “I love it!”
That’s what the word here translated “lovely” means. Literally it say that whatever pushs me toward love, that’s what I ought to be thinking about! I will do as I think!
• As an employee, I will make it my job to be admirable.
When my employer talks about my work, does he/she say “good things” or are they having to redo it because I’ve not given it my best? Our work itself has intrinsic value to God, so doing a good job is actually an act of worship.
