Labor Day 2013

1 He was one of 500 survivors of the battle who were evacuated to Noumea.

a Safely on board the ship, for the first time, Staples closely examined the life belt that had served him so well.

b It had been manufactured by Firestone Tire and Rubber Company of Akron, Ohio, and it bore a registration number.

2 We’ll get to the climax of that story in just a moment!

III The Christian does the best we can for others

A Colossians 3:22-24 (NKJV) 22 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

1 Christian employees should do more than expected because they work for the Lord.

a Christian employers do the best, not the least they can for their employees because they also have a master.

b Here’s a question for you:

aa Suppose a Christian has a $150 job to be done and two men are willing to do it.

bb One man will do the job for $150 and one for $100, Which person should the Christian hire?

cc Well, the Christian employer is free to hire either man.

c However, he should still pay $150.That’s what the job is worth, so that’s what the man is worth.

2 Jesus says in Matthew 7:12 (NKJV) 12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them...

a If an employee can get by with shoddy work he has no right to do so.

aa He works for the Lord.

bb Christians know people are more important than property.

b The Bible tells us repeatedly to love one another.

aa People are so important; it is vital we treat them right.

bb Listen again to Colossians 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

c So there are rewards for doing a good job!

B Given home leave, Navy seaman Staples told his story and asked his mother, who worked for Firestone, about the purpose of the number on the belt.

1 She replied that the company insisted on personal responsibility for the war effort, and that the number was unique and assigned to only one inspector.

a Staples remembered everything about the lifebelt, and quoted the number.

b It was his mother’s personal code and affixed to every item she was responsible for approving.

2 Do you suppose Mrs. Staples was glad that she had performed well on the job?

CLOSING:

A It pays both in this life and the life to come to do our very best!

1 How we carry our Christian principles into our work is important.

a Our work performance becomes a Christian ministry.

aa This gives work new meaning and dignity.

bb We can’t claim to be Christians if our Christianity is only a one-day a week affair.

b God does care what you do Monday through Friday whether you are an employee or employer.

2 There is great encouragement in knowing this.

a This is the Labor Day Weekend!