How To Survive The Workplace

Surviving the Workplace

John 11:1-5

Have you ever just got tired of work and you were just ready to quit?

· Tired of the hours

· Tired of the boss

· Tired of the workload

· Tired of the 8-5 then the additional work at home

· Tired, Tired, Tired, Tired

Then the church starts asking for additional workdays.

· Where do I draw the line?

· Where do I find the stopping point?

· Where do I get the energy to continue on?

Jesus gives us some great information throughout His Word on how to handle this exact kind of situations.

But just like everything else in God’s Word, you have to pattern your life exactly how He wants it to be.

No shortcuts

No replacements

It has to be just like He wants it to be.

Read John 11: 1-5

The Picture: (Background of Jesus getting in the boat)

Notice v. 5 – Simon speaking:

“We worked hard all night and caught nothing”

Have you ever worked the long hours, the hard labor, in difficult situations and had nothing to show for it?

That was the case with Simon.

But Simon gives us the answer we are looking for in this message.

The Question:

· How do I handle my workload?

· How do I put up with my never pleased boss?

· How do I make time to work for the church in addition to my other responsibilities?

· How do I have the energy to attend all the church services?

· How do I continue on when I am ready to give up?

Simon gives us the answer in verse 5.

· I have been fishing all night

· I am tired

· I am disgusted

· I am losing money

But: Because YOU (Christ) bid me to do so, I will

To survive your workplace you have to:

1. Make Jesus your reason for working.

Jesus:

· Because you asked me to put my nets in the water, I will.

· Because you encouraged me to try one more time, I will

· Because you asked me to do something for you, I will.

Result: Simon brought in a great quantity of fish!

Simon has just taught us the great answer to our many questions about our job.

Here it is: We have to make Jesus our reason for working

What are your reasons for working?

To pay the bills

To keep the wife happy

To put food on the table

To provide for my family

Do you think your job provided these things?

Philippians 4:19 –

“My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory”

· It’s not because you worked 40 hours this week.

· It’s not that you worked overtime for additional pay.

· It’s not that you got up early every morning to be on the job by 7am

You have what you need because of God’s blessings on your life.

Make Jesus your reason for working.

Make Jesus your reason for getting up every morning

Make Jesus your reason for living.

When you make HIM your reason, you will experience great quantity of blessings just like Simon did.

After I make Jesus my reason, what now?

2. Work Hard!

Exodus 20:8-11

This commandment is used to tell us to keep the Sabbath day holy. But notice the other comments that are made…

v.9 – Six days you shall labor…

God gives us a timetable of working. He says you have six days to get it done.

He also says, “…do all thy work”

Not part of it but ALL OF IT!

Two reasons why you should complete your work:

1. Your witness as a Christian

Don’t be classified as one who does a half way job. You know the job at hand – Get it done!

Don’t put it off! As Christians we need to live what we preach – We are not promised tomorrow!

Proverbs 27:1

“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth…”

Get done today what needs to get done today. Quit passing it off to another day and to another person.

Why is it important to complete my work?

2. How I work on the job will be how I work for Christ

If I am one to try and get out of work on the job, I will also try to pass the responsibilities of church on to someone else as well.

If I try to get out of working:

I will try to get out of praying

I will try to get out of teaching

I will try to get out of tithing

I will try to get out of going to the services…

Why, because of the way I am Monday through Saturday while on the job. Any other way would make me a hypocrite.