INTRODUCTION
• SLIDE #1
• The sign in the store window read: NO HELP WANTED. As two men passed by, one said to the other, "You should apply--you'd be great." (Principles regarding work, Decision-making and the Will of God, p. 336.)
• What is one thing that we do in which we usually spend as much or more time doing than we get to spend with our families?
• It is called a job.
• I wonder how many are as excited for Monday as they are for Friday. 2ND SERVICE.
• I wonder how many folks work as hard at trying to get out of work as they do actually working.
• According to ibtimes.com, in a November 27, 2012 web article, employers are losing $134 billion annually because of employees who are doing non-work related activities while on the time clock.
• Activities such as surfing the web, making personal phone calls, fantasy sports and such. This estimate is most likely a conservative estimate.
• Why do we work? Is it just to make some money? When we work, how are we supposed to do it, are we called to give the minimum effort or are we to give more?
• More importantly does God have a purpose in mind for the Christian as we spend 40-60 hours plus a week in the workplace?
• Is the workplace a place in which we can tell Jesus he needs to stay home or are we called to take Him to work with us?
• I remember during my almost 13 years at Square D Company really struggling with my attitude and effort at work at various times.
• In the text we are going to seek answers from God’s Word today. The text speaks of the relationship between a slave and his master. The closest thing we have to this relationship today is the employer/employee relationship.
• We are going to look at four principles of the workplace that we need to understand so that we can please and glorify God in the workplace.
• These principals can be used even if we are retired as we can reflect God’s will in our lives.
• Understanding these principles will help you to find a deeper meaning and purpose to work than just drawing a paycheck. Your work ethic will not be so affected by bosses, co-workers or other issues that tend to bring us down.
• Let us begin our trek in verse 22!
• SLIDE #2
• Colossians 3:22 (ESV) Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.
• SLIDE #3
SERMON
I. Christians are called to display integrity on the job.
• One thing we need to realize concerning work we will usually spend 40 hours per week or more at work.
• Some people spend more quality time with their co-workers than they do with their own spouses and children.
• We spend a lot of time with people and we have a lot of influence over them. We can be one of the reasons they come to Jesus or turn away from Jesus.
• The workplace gives us an opportunity to practice what we believe and it is a place where we can display a level of integrity that matches our faith.
• I have always found it interesting that in the passage and others similar to it along with the book of Philemon, that Paul does not tell the slaves to revolt or try to run off.
• Instead he tells them something that had to be somewhat hard to swallow, OBEY YOUR EARTHLY MASTERS.
• YUK!
• Now if we translate that to the workplace, we would be told that we are to obey our employers in ALL things. The exception comes when we are told to do something that is contrary to what God tells us to do.
• Not only does Paul tell the slave to obey their earthly masters, but he takes it a step deeper and this is where the point on integrity comes in to play.
• It is pretty easy to do what the boss wants you to do when they are watching isn’t it?
• Look at verse 22 again.
• SLIDE #4
• Colossians 3:22 (ESV) Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.
• The Message translates this by saying: “And don’t just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best.
• When the boss is not looking, when the boss is not standing over your shoulder we are to work with a sincerity of heart.
• A sincere heart is one that is not divided in its’ loyalty. When we are at work, we are to be loyal to our employer. That is part of what we get paid to do.
• When we work with a sincere heart, we will do our best because we sincerely want to do a good job.
• We know that no matter what, when we are at work, we are to work with diligence.
• Why? Because we “fear” or we hold God in high reverence!
• We work hard because our God would want it that way.
• If I am a lazy untrustworthy employee, what will happen when I try to tell others about Jesus?
• When I worked in the factory, I saw that VERY thing happen. The way a person worked affected how effective they were in reaching others for Jesus.
• We must guard against just trying to look good when people can see us.
• I have heard it said about integrity that integrity is what you do when others cannot see you.
• Always remember God does see us.
• Let’s examine another principle found in verse 23
• SLIDE #5
• Colossians 3:23 (ESV) Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
• SLIDE #6
II. Christians know who they really work for.
• This takes our ethic to a deeper level. If we are not careful we can take make the last principle seem as though we are to work hard because we are afraid God will get us.
• This verse takes us to a level to try to get us to realize who we really work for.
• When you are on the job, who are you really working for? You are working for the place that is giving you the paycheck, but you work for someone who is higher in authority than the CEO if the company.
• I remember the CEO of Square D Company coming to our facility on a couple of occasions.
• The atmosphere was a lot different than it was normally.
• Everyone was working hard. There were no people taking extra time for lunch or for break time.
• Everyone was at their best working to the fullest.
• Why was that kind of effort not there all the time?
• How is the Christian called to work?
• We are called to work heartily. This means we are to work faithfully from the heart.
• You may or may not like your boss or your place of employment, but you are not really working for them, you are to work as if you are doing what you are doing for the Lord!
• We are told to work as if we are working for the Lord!
• Would that change the way you go at your job?
• In a moment we will see why it is of the utmost importance for us to understand this concept.
• I know how easy it is to get upset at your employer. It is easy to justify not giving your best, but that is not an excuse for doing so.
• If you are in a job in which you cannot give your best, then for your own spiritual good, you need to find somewhere else to work.
• If you realize that you are really working for Jesus, it will change your attitude about work.
• I used to work with many people who would profess misery in their job, but they would do nothing about it other than coming into work every Monday only to go through it all again.
• Where I worked they would even pay for your college education if you wanted to take advantage of it.
• The truth of the matter is that for many people, complaining about the job is easier than actually doing something about it.
• Realize that when you work, you are representing Jesus wherever you are.
• For those still in the workforce, I would venture to say that if you would give work for your employer like you would for Jesus, then those promotions will follow much quicker.
• Let’s turn to verses 24-25 for our third principle.
• SLIDE #7
• Colossians 3:24–25 (ESV) 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.
• SLIDE #8
III. Christians work for more than an earthly paycheck.
• This part of the passage is a double-edged sword; there is a positive reinforcement for carrying out God’s call along with a negative one.
• It is interesting to note the context of the positive, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
• Under Roman law a slave could not inherit anything. This makes this statement a striking attention getter for the readers of the day.
• The slave was not just getting food and shelter, there was something greater awaiting those who were obedient to the call!
• These slaves could look forward to very little on earth but in Christ, they would receive the greatest of rewards! Whatever we receive on earth is but pennies compared to the great reward awaiting those who are faithful to Jesus!
• This goes back to knowing who you serve. Look at what verse 24 reminds us! It is the Lord Christ whom you serve! WOW!
• In the parable of the talents, Jesus tells those who were faithful with what they were given the following:
• SLIDE #9
• Matthew 25:23 (ESV) His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
• Part of what can help us to maintain being faithful is remembering the great blessings we receive when we follow Jesus!
• On the more negative side…
• Verse 25 also reminds us of a sobering thought: those who do not faithfully serve will receive something also; they will receive the consequences of not being faithful.
• It does not matter who you are, God will deal with each one of us.
• This goes back to realizing that although your earthly boss may not see you, God does. We are serving Him.
• If we are in a situation where we are just drawing a paycheck, what kind of example will we be to those around us?
• Remember who you serve and remember who will be giving out the ultimate reward!
• Let’s finish by looking at the other side of the coin.
• SLIDE #10
• Colossians 4:1 (ESV) Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
• SLIDE #11
IV. Christian employers are called to represent Jesus on the job also.
• In the slave/master relationship, masters needed to know they had responsibilities before God also.
• Employers need to realize they too will be held accountable before God for how they handled their position and authority.
• As a Christian who is an employer, it is incumbent upon you to treat your workers with respect and in a fair manner, to not to take advantage of the employee.
• They are to provide a fair wage. They are to provide good working conditions and they are to treat their employees with fairness and respect.
• One of the things I enjoyed about working for Square D Company was the fact that they were provided one of the highest wages in the area and they also provided some of the best working conditions you would find.
• The management generally treated people with respect and it was a good place to work.
• The employer too is will answer to God. The Christian businessman has a higher standard to work with.
• In the context it is interesting to read the book of Philemon it is written to a Christian slave owner whose slave Onesimus had run away. Paul more or less said that Philemon was to treat Onesimus as a brother in Christ.
CONCLUSION
• Many people will spend as much time or more time at work then they do with their family.
• We are called to do our best; the Christian should not just give a minimum effort because we are working for the Lord!
• Other people will draw conclusions about our God by the way we conduct ourselves at work.
• Christian and non-Christian employers should want to hire Christians because we should be the hardest working, most reliable and ethical people they can hire.
• Employers should be calling the church to see if anyone needs work because we are such good workers!
• Remember, we represent Jesus wherever we are.
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