Making It Work @ Work
Key Thoughts from Rick Duncan’s sermon, "Truth @Work"
Col. 3:22-4:1
Sept. 9, 2007 FBC, Chester Mike Fogerson, Pastor
Introduction
A Let’s talk about a four-letter word that makes some of us cringe every time we hear it.
1 It’s a nasty word to some, others just love to do it, sometimes for over 40 hours a week.
a Four letters: W-O-R-K
b At the store today, I asked a young man, "How are you doing?" ... "I’m here"
c Elizabeth, who loves her job & can’t wait to get there!
2 There’s an old adage "You gotta feed your soul."
a Many of us work, but our souls are starving.
b God didn’t/doesn’t intend for work to be that way for you (it doesn’t have to be a four-letter word).
B Col. 3:22-4:1 (please turn to this paragraph in your Bibles).
1 You are going to hear the terms "slaves" & "masters"
a Please do not assume 1) Scripture is condoning slavery 2) the early church was wrong for not publically opposing or seeking to destroy slavery.
b At the time Colossians was written there were 60 million slaves (many were well-educated, doctors, teachers).
aa In Colossians, God’s Word had already undermined the institution of slavery in 3:11, in Galatians 3:28 we see the thought as well. ...a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. Col 3:11 (NASB)
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Gal 3:28 (NASB)
bb The church was a small minority, with no political power.
2 The early church wasn’t called to be social reformers.
a Their mission was to share the Good News of Jesus Christ (the message was/is revolutionary).
b It’s good & right for Christians to get involved with honest & moral government, but it must never replace the mandate of
Matt. 28:19-20 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matt 28:19-20 (NASB)
c Part of that teaching is in Col. 3:22-4:1
3 Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. 25 For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality. 1 Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven. Col 3:22-4:1 (NASB)
C Let’s look at how we can apply this truth at work, so work isn’t a four-letter word.
I The boss is always watching
A Last year, USA Today published the results of a Sipherion Workplace poll of 1,601 employed adults who were asked the following question: "If you knew your employer could see content from your social network website-such as MySpace, Friendster, or Facebook-would you remove any content from it?"
1 33% Yes, 37% No, 30% Neutral
a The thought of their boss’ eyes seeing everything puts a new slant on what employees did or said.
b We don’t need a poll to tell us that, do we?
2 We tend to do things differently on the job when we know our job performance is being audited, evaluated, or the boss is watching.
a Arrive early, breaks end on time, projects make their deadlines.
b Our performance, under supervision, is often better when the boss is watching (less loafing).
3 J Vernon McGee (Through the Bible): "If you’re lazy on the job, you are not dedicated to Jesus Christ."
a I believe the idea carries into school & home, too.
b How do we do better?
4 Let’s look at three progressive steps to understand & implement.
B OBEDIENCE: ...in all things obey...
1 Listen, give heed, follow, hearken, yield to our supervisors/bosses.
a Submit to his/her leadership
b Paul’s reminding those under authority that they have a master on earth as well as a Master in heaven who is supervising.
2 "What if my boss is hard-to-please, mean, overbearing, crooked, or perverse? Does this rule apply, pastor?"
a God isn’t commanding you to do anything immoral, illegal, or to follow hurtful commands from your boss (at times obeying God means disobeying the boss).
aa Most of our problems with our boss are not good vs. evil struggles.
bb Usually, our problem is we’ve been asked to do something we don’t want to do (hard, unpleasant, thankless).
b Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable. 1 Peter 2:18 (NASB)
aa He/she may not be a good boss, but that doesn’t release us from being a good Christian.
bb This gives you an opportunity to be a shining holy example of what a Christian really looks like.
C HEART: not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart...
1 Eye service relates to an outward service ONLY. Going through the motions (IL: time to make the donuts).
a Sincere heart/heartily is the enemy of eye service.
b Heart is all about right attitudes, HOW we do what we do.
2 Some of us blow the "heart" step & end up with wrong attitudes, goals, motives.
a Work for money (net worth isn’t self-worth, your value isn’t based on your valuables).
b Work for boss (you may never get his/her approval).
3 The goal of your heart should be to honor God with your work.
a You’re not just pushing papers, guarding prisoners, teaching pupils, taking notes...you’re a minister of Jesus Christ who happens to be...
b Having the right heart brings dignity, purpose to work with you.
4 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men...
a We don’t get the heart right until we get the obedience right.
b Progressive! "I’ll do it when I feel like it."-NO! "I’ll do it, then I’ll feel like it."-YES!
D FEAR: fearing the Lord.
1 We talk about loving, praising, worshiping the Lord, but no so much about fearing (cause to run away, fear revenge, be afraid).
a Don’t fear your boss, fear the Lord. Why?
b He rewards the good & issues consequences to the bad.
2 Even when our boss/supervisor/teacher is not in sight...we are never out of the sight of God!
a Employers & bosses! Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven.
b Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free. Eph 6:8 (NLT)
Some people honor us, but others blame us. Some people say evil things about us, but others say good things. Some people say we are liars, but we speak the truth. 2 Cor 6:8 (NCV)
For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil. Eccl 12:14 (NASB)
c Have reverence for God, obey His commands, because this is what we’ve been made for!
Conclusion
A We can do everything we’ve learned today & still things won’t all be well at work (fallen world!)
1 I believe if you do it right, God will reward you!
a Not the State of Illinois-you can trust God to pay out at the end of your shift.
b I believe God pays so well, there will be people who say, "Wow, I wish I would have served Him even more!"
2 Are you in? How do you do this?
B I believe joy at work only becomes possible for people who have a relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord & Savior. Do you know Him today?
1 Plan of salvation
a Sinner’s prayer
b Ask for 1st time responders
2 Plan of action
a Decision to go to work with the right obedience, attitude, fear
b What ultimately matters most is not what your boss says about your life, but what God says about your life, what He’s put in your permanent file.
3 If you’re ready to take the truth to school/work, I want to pray with you...come forward.
a You are my boss, I’m really working for You, Jesus.
• I’m serving You, working for You, find me faithful
• It is the Lord Christ whom I serve
• Starting at my next day of school/work, I’m going to keep a quiet conversation going on with You all day at work.
• Demonic activity
b Pray for your boss, co-workers, teacher who you work for or study under.
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