Don't Be Weary In Well Doing

Note: Developed from message by MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER on Labor Day: Take Christ With You

TITLE: Be not weary in well doing

Theme: To show the importance of living a godly life in our work force.

TEXT: Galatians 6:2 - 10 Ephesians 6:5-6; Daniel 6:20

Galatians 6:2-10 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (3) For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. (4) But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. (5) For each one shall bear his own load. (6) Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches. (7) Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. (8) For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. (9) And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. (10) Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Introduction

How many of you enjoy your job?

Now if you answered "Yes" to any of those questions, then you’re in the minority. Surveys reveal that 65% of American workers are unhappy with their jobs. Many of them go to work simply because they have no other choice. "I owe, I owe, so it’s off to work I go."

Secular & Sacred

One of our problems in life is that we divide everything into secular & sacred categories.

We say, "We’d really like to serve God, but we have to spend so much time on our secular job."

You can see that sacred & secular pattern in the O.T., but not in the N.T. The O.T. says, "Over here is the sacred with its temple & priests, & everything else is secular." But the N.T. teaches that we’re all priests, & our body is a temple, & that God’s Holy Spirit lives in us, & every day is holy.

1 Peter_2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

The N.T. tells us that we can take God with us wherever we go, & that He can be a part of everything we do.

With this in mind, I want you to see three things this morning. First of all, I want you to see your everyday work as a service for God.

I. SEE YOUR EVERYDAY WORK AS A SERVICE FOR GOD

1 Corinthians 10:31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Colossians 3:23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,

This is what Paul meant in Romans 12:1, "Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy & pleasing to God - which is your spiritual service or worship."

We can serve God in the way we work & where we work every day!

II. YOU CAN SERVE GOD WHERE YOU WORK

Let me share a scripture with you. In Ephesians 6, beginning in vs. 5, is a passage that I think is very appropriate today. It is addressed to slaves, but the closest thing to them today are workers like you & me. So let’s substitute the word, "worker," for "slave" & listen to what God has to say.

"Workers, obey your earthly masters with respect & fear, & with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart." [5-6]

Daniel & Joseph

B. I want to take you back to the O.T. for a moment & remind you of Daniel. You've heard about him ever since you were children in Sunday School. Daniel was carried away captive to Babylon, taken from Jerusalem where he was surrounded by people who believed what he believed, who believed in one God.

But now he is in a totally pagan environment in Babylon. As time passed, King Nebuchadnezzar appointed him a government official. He became a government bureaucrat.

Now if a lot of what we hear is true, if you want to get as far away from God as you can, become a government bureaucrat. Serve in that kind of environment & you’ll be about as far away from God as you can possibly be.