Spiritual DNA: Work

Written by Rob Showers and Don Cranford
Sunday, 23 August 2009 09:00

Our Spiritual DNA

Sermon outline by Ed Allen

Introduction

Rob Showers and Don Cranford, followers of Christ Jesus and Elders at Gateway Community Church, to the saints and sinners at Gateway Community Church, Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Christ Jesus. That of course is a paraphrase of how Paul starts Ephesians which Pastor Ed has been talking about much of the summer. He has asked Don and I to “tag team preach” to explore how followers of Christ should view work and approach our jobs. As you know Ed has discussed the first 3-4 chapters of Ephesians which establishes the theological basis of who we are in Christ Jesus and how we fit into the body of Christ and Kingdom work. The apostle Paul now turns to practical topics throughout the rest of Chapter 4-6 of Ephesians and not surprisingly, even for 2000 years ago, he starts with the topic of work for a believer which was causing some problems back then as now.

When we talk about work we are referring to the broad definition as generally defined as in the dictionary as “an activity in which one exerts strength and faculties to do or perform something”. This could be a job that requires particular physical strengths or primarily mental abilities; we are talking about one that is a stay at home parent or a job involving traveling and being away from home most of the time and everything in between. Each of us has our individual struggles with work in general and our job in particular that challenges us as Christ followers, so Don and I will share briefly some of our pitfalls concerning our work. Don how have you seen your work and where do you struggle most in this area?

Don... I got my first job when I was 14 years old and with a few brief exceptions, I have been working ever since then. It is a huge part of my life. Now, I used to think that work was my provider. I thought I found security in work and security in that paycheck. But what I’ve come to realize is that my security doesn’t come from a job, or from an employer, or from a paycheck. My security can ONLY be found in God. God is my Provider – my Provider with a capital P. He uses my work to provide, but I have to look to Him for my provision and for my security. It makes me think of Psalm 20:7 – David said:

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”

A modern day version of that might be:

“Some trust in their paycheck and some in their job, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”

God has been teaching me that lesson over the past six years. In 2003, I was laid off and decided to work on my own and start my own business. I no longer had the “security blanket” – a false security blanket – that comes with a quote “regular job” and that paycheck. It isn’t something I would recommend for everyone, but I felt God was calling me to that. It hasn’t been easy and we’ve had lots of ups and downs. This year has been especially tough. There have been many times where we look at our bills and we look at our bank account and just don’t know how we’re going to do it. God has provided. We have seen God work in some amazing ways. One look at me and you know that I’m not going hungry. God has provided through my work. But he has also provided through friends, through family, and even through anonymous sources. God is good! And I am learning that my trust and true security only comes through God. God is my Provider with a capital P.

Rob ... My 3 problem areas historically have been:

1. I have derived my self worth from my job or profession and it has defined how I see myself-thus when I have a high paying and/or prestigious job as I did throughout much of my career as federal prosecutor, Chief Asst US Attorney, Special Assistant to the US Attorney General, Deputy Assistant Attorney General or Law Partner heading up the litigation and appellate sections to Managing Partner, I thought higher of myself than I ought or if I lost my job or people had severe criticism of me in my job I thought less of myself than I ought;
2. I have generally been a workaholic which I justified by the demands of the high paying or prestigious jobs I had but really it came out of how I gained my self esteem and self worth; and
3. My legal jobs have masked or justified my sin patterns such as self promotion, blame shifting, exaggeration/lying to make myself looked best or better than others or even gossip by me analyzing others for job related or management reasons. I needed to let everyone know how great I was so I could get promoted, I needed to look in charge to get clients and win cases in court. I needed to analyze and discuss people and their foilables for court cases and management reasons but that allowed me to in essence to “sin boldly and often” and be a person others did not really want to be around and not a good witness for Christ.

Unfortunately, most of these problem areas (finding undue pride in my professional job, workaholism, and sin pattern justification) work for the short term and often get us worldly success but ultimately fail to deliver what we really want and need. However, I believe the heart of these pitfalls in relation to work stems from a wrong understanding of work in general as a Christian.

The French have two words for “work.” The word “travail” comes from the Latin word for a 3-pronged device used to torture people. And the word “oeuvre” comes from the Latin for opera, which signifies creativity, artistry and beauty. I can’t think of a better illustration of our conflicted feelings about work. On the one hand we love it and find our significance by it. On the other hand we dread it, and we long to be away from it or beyond it. As I researched the definition of work the synonyms play out this dichotomy. One line of synonyms relates it to occupation, calling, pursuit and livelihood while the other line related work to labor, travail, toil, drudgery and grind.

By any standard, however, our job/work takes up significant space in our psyche as individuals and families. Consider that for the average American, our family gatherings, our trips, our vacations, our sustenance, even our relationships orbit around work. Or consider that numerous surveys detail that an overwhelming majority of college seniors count employment as their biggest concern. Just in terms of time investment, work takes center stage. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the average American works 50 hours a week. And as we apply that to us the statistics get down-right scary. In Northern Virginia people work close to 55-60 hours and when you add in commuting times, it means that the average person in this room spends between 60 and 75 hours per week devoted to your job. If you are a stay at home parent you wish you only worked 55-60 hours a week. In fact, we spend more time and energy devoted to our job than any other single aspect of our life – more than family, more than church, more than sleep, more than exercise. For example, if you spend close to 80 hours per week devoted to work, then you spend almost as much time related to work as you do to all other aspects of your life combined.

Unfortunately, many of us think that work and our Christian life are separate components and have developed from school age and beyond what I call a split level thinking of our work and Christian life. We live in two worlds and have unconsciously or consciously developed separate ways we think and treat work related activities and our Christian walk. Let me give you just five ways we often view work which I suggest are adopting a secular perspective of work:

1. The ultimate purpose of work is to fulfill yourself. While there is some truth in that you want to do work that you like and is fulfilling, Career and job happiness is really all about me-how it makes me feel. Go for it is our motto and IT does not fall from the sky into the lap of dreamers but those who fight for it and master your own fate. Often the extent we have been fulfilled in our job is the extent we may regard ourselves as successful.
2. Success in work means success in life. The second or third spouse may have left them, their children may be on drugs or morally adrift, and their subordinates might hate their guts and not trust them but if they are achieving success in their job/business they are regarded as a successful person.
3. You know how successful one is by how much money/toys they have, their professional recognition or how high are on the corporate latter. We have often seen people confuse money and material possessions with happiness and success. While most of you know we cannot buy happiness we work most of life to prove the adage wrong thinking that everything will be better with more cool things and more money. We in Northern Virginia epitomize this problem and misconception more than most. Only you know where in your heart you are with this faulty thought pattern.
4. You have got to do whatever it takes to get the job done-we value performance especially if rewarded by money, promotions and prestige. We also value success at our job with personal significance and it profoundly affects how we think about others and ourselves. Sometimes we will hurt people and ruin lives to succeed in the job and then justify it as part of the job-comes with the territory-or does it?
5. The opposite of these 4 secular views of work is the view that we simply do work to get a paycheck – in short it does not matter what or how we do work but it is a ‘necessary evil’ to live and have a roof over our heads, clothes on our backs and food in our bodies. A Christian justification is that Paul referred to himself as a tentmaker. However, he made tents to support himself so he was not a burden on others in his ministry and to be able to bless others. This viewpoint again believes that what we do at work and what we do in our Christian life have very little overlap or in common-never the twain shall meet.

Therefore, in light of theses 5 common views that most of us can understand and have today, we need a thought and attitude adjustment. I think it is absolutely critical that we hear what the Bible says about work, because if we allow this aspect of our lives to be out of focus, then our whole lives have little chance of being in focus. Ephesians 4:28 is a perfect place for us to get a handle on work.

But anything we say about work today comes with a warning. As with everything else related to our faith, if we try to apply to our lives what the Bible says about work through our own strenuous effort and our own thinking, then we will fail. We will either fail outright or we will succeed at obeying technically without heart transformation.

So this morning we need to do three things. We need to briefly outline what God says here about work. Then we need to set that teaching in its proper context. Then we need to suggest practical ways to apply God’s word to our work life and see what this might look like. Let’s stand out of reverence for God’s Word as Don leads us in reading Ephesians 4:28:

Ephesians 4:28

“The one who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.”

Work summary

In Ephesians, Paul gives us contrasts ... kind of like a before and after shot. He contrasts how we used to live before we knew Christ with how God calls us to live now as a result of our relationship with Christ. Before: we lived in the futility of our thinking, darkened in our understanding and separated from God (4:17-19). Now we are called “to put off our old self” and our former way of life and put on our “new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (4:20-24).

In the next few verses, Paul then gives us some contrasts that put some real-life ways that we can put off our old self and put on our new self.

• Put off falsehood ... speak truthfully
• No unwholesome talk ... but only that which is helpful for building up others
• Don’t steal... but work doing something useful

Steal no longer

Now stealing was common among slaves. It may have been a so-called “lesser sin” in some people’s minds and it may also have referred to more standard lifestyles like tax collector (not just slaves).

In modern day America, workplace theft is a $120 Billion industry (americandatabank.com/statistics.htm). Inc. magazine reports that a survey by CareerBuilder.com found that 40% of hiring managers – that is 4 out of every 10 – say they have fired an employee for theft at the office. They found that the most commonly stolen items were office supplies (15%), money (14%) and merchandise (11%). According to American Databank statistics, 30% of all business failures are caused by employee theft.

Now, those are actual physical thefts, but they say nothing about some of the greatest thefts – that is theft of time – not working while we’re on the clock. We can steal time in many different ways: shopping online, updating our facebook accounts, surfing the web, taking long lunches... We’ve all seen it and probably done it from time to time.

We had a humorous exchange in my small group that was a perfect illustration... We were talking about playing a quick 9 holes of golf before going to work. It was a purely fictional account by one of the people in the group, but I’m sure we can all relate...

Geez, doesn’t anybody work???

... the response was...

Only on Mondays. Monday is especially tough as there is the morning meeting with the boss to explain why we did so poorly in golf over the weekend. That is promptly followed by our Federally mandated mid morning break. Once break is over we then access email and check on our updates in Facebook and respond to any urgent postings from friends, we then have to make arrangements with fellow co workers with regards to lunch, like where are we going to eat, how can we expense it to the company, who is driving etc. Then, it is time for lunch. After lunch we again access email and update Facebook with a review of the restaurant we ate at, respond to any new postings, reschedule any business appointments we might have had for another Monday and by then it is time for our Federally Mandated afternoon break. After our Starbucks Lattés, we return clear off our desk by throwing away any messages (later claiming we never got them), deleting all voice mails without listening (claiming phone system down) and by then it is time for the long drive home.

While that was a fictional response, it is all too real. Statistics (www.connectworld.net/ccc/employee-internet-usage.html) show that one-third of time spent online at work is non-work related. Internet misuse at work is costing American corporations $85 billion annually in lost productivity. This isn’t just goofing off – it is another form of theft.

We cannot separate our work lives from our spiritual lives. God calls us to integrity / wholeness in our lives 24x7. We can’t say “It’s just business” or “it’s okay. They don’t pay me enough anyway, so I deserve it.” So, whether it is stealing office supplies, fudging our expense reports or spending our workday on Facebook, God will have none of it. Not simply because it is wrong. [it also effects our witness] Everything that God commands, he commands with a purpose. He intends for us to be productive.

2. God tells us that those who have been stealing must steal no longer, but must work instead. He says three things directly about work and implies another.

1. Work must be Worthwhile (PURPOSEFUL)

“work doing something useful” ... Literally “working the thing that is good,” or “useful” (NIV)

God wants us to work at something that contributes positively to others, not negatively. God wants us to make a difference in other peoples’ lives. He doesn’t call us to anything illegal or anything that hurts other people when we are selfishly pursuing our own goals. God calls us to do something that makes a difference in people’s lives or helps people – things that are purposeful and worthwhile.

2. Work must be hands On (BY DESIGN – WE ARE WORKERS)

The 18th C. philosopher Samuel Johnson said, “Every man is or hopes to be an idler.” This is not God’s hope for you.

God does not want you to retire at 40 and play golf. He wants us to do something useful with our own hands.

It is not His primary intention for us to make a fortune playing the stock market or the lottery or betting on horses. He intends our lives to have much more direction and meaning than that.

In Ephesians 2:10, God tells us that “we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us.” Our work is a part of the good works that God created us for. It goes all the way back to Genesis and the Garden of Eden. In Genesis 2:15, we see that God put Adam in the Garden to work it and take care of it.

3. By implication, God says our work must involve Remuneration

That doesn’t seem to be a problem at Gateway. We live in one of the wealthiest counties of all of America. That obviously doesn’t justify greed. It doesn’t justify hurting in others in the process of “getting to the top.” It doesn’t justify oppressing the poor for our own gain. But when we are working hard and doing the right thing for the right reasons, there is nothing wrong with getting paid well.

But why should we desire to make a good living? Because then we will have something to share with those in need. In other words ...

4. Work must be Koinonia Kindling (WE ARE TO SHARE – WHICH BUILDS COMMUNITY – THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PURPOSE)

“koinonia” is Greek for fellowship, sharing, partnership, community.

We work so that we can have something to share. In short, God wants to turn thieves into philanthropists.

Your work should be connected to a larger purpose. It is not a distraction from what God has called you to do and be. It should help enable what God has called you to do and be. God has called you to be a giver and your work enables you to be that. It gives you something to give.

God blesses us for a reason ... so that we can bless others. In Genesis 12, we see that God blesses Abram and through His blessing to Abram, God blesses all nations. God was calling Abram to leave his country and father’s household and go to the land God would show him.

2 “I will make you into a great nation
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.

3 I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.”

That is God’s pattern. He comforts us so that we can comfort others. He gives us skills and talents so that we can help build the Kingdom. He blesses us so that we can in turn bless others. And that blessing in turn results in thanksgiving and praise to God.

In 2 Corinthians 9 Paul tells us:

(10) Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. (11) You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

(12) This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. (13) Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. (14) And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. (15) Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

I can tell you first hand that the generosity of God’s people results in incredible praise and thanksgiving to God.

So, Rob, we’ve talked about what God’s purpose in work. What are some warning signs that perhaps it isn’t what God intends for us?

IF YOU FORGET EVRYTHING ELSE, HERE IS THE MAIN TAKE AWAY FOR TODAY-WORK AND MINISTRY ARE NOT SEPARATE BUT ARE INTEGRATED IN GOD’S ECONOMY AND OUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS AND IN OUR WORK IS KEY TO DOING GOD’S KINGDOM WORK IN AND AT OUR JOB.

However, let’s discuss some warning signs that may indicate that your viewpoint or attitude about your work may be off.

5 Signs that work may not be for us what God intends:

• If your job is a source of depression-you dread going into work or really want a new job-could be that you need one but often you first need an attitude adjustment about what God is doing through and in you at work;
• If work is how you value yourself.
• If you consistently feel undervalued-while there may be some truth in your feelings, it generally means that you view work as delivering more than it can. If you place value in anything other than who you are in Christ, it will get you thinking and acting wrongly
• If you work too much (goes back to my value problem-may be that you need or want work to be something other than what God wants it to be for you.) or work too little (seeing work as a necessary evil or paycheck and not a way to work out God’s plan for you and your ministry.
• If your work is not used to bless others-ask yourself-what I do for work and how I work, does it help and bless others – in the workplace, people I help or society as a whole? Col 3:23-24 says “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men... It is the Lord Christ you are serving” in order to bless others.

Don how do we do that when we are in the daily grind of what seems like boring or useless jobs?

How to make work what God intends

How to rescue it from depressing monotony? How to place it in proper context? How to fill it with meaning? How to work appropriately hard with right motivation and purpose?

• Not by determination or our own strength
• Not by making a clever life plan
• Not by more education/training
• We make work what God intends by faith

That is why the Apostle Paul would never think of lining out a list of ethical expectations and demands, which is what he does in Ephesians 4, 5 and 6, without first laying down the proper God-saturated foundation. We dare not even begin to think about trying to live better or trying to measure up to a higher standard simply by great effort. Paul begins at the only place he knows from experience that he can begin. He begins with a penetrating portrayal of who we are in Christ. We are:

1. honored by God,
2. God’s choice,
3. Someone whose life has been ordered by God,
4. God’s child,
5. Free,
6. In the know, and
7. secure.

Then Paul reminds us what an incredible thing God has accomplished in our lives. Listen to the imagery he uses. God has:

1. made us alive,
2. saved us,
3. made us His workmanship,
4. brought us near,
5. united us,
6. given us peace.

All of this has happened by grace through our faith!!!!!!

Paul describes two kinds of life. One he calls the old self and one the new self. The old self is caught in a downward spiral of disobedience. (4:17-19) The old self moves from hardness of heart to ignorance, to futile thinking – which means blinded and separated from God – to insensitivity, and finally to abandonment to impurity.

The other kind of life is called the new self. This life is being made new; this life is being created to be like God. The old self is being corrupted by its desires, which are deceitful. The new self is being given a new attitude. Therefore, because of all that God has done for us and in us, because of who He has made us to be, because of His immeasurably great work on our behalf, and because of the dangers and darkness that accompanies our old lives, let’s live our new lives. Like putting on clean clothes each morning, let’s put on our new self. We do so not by great effort or great planning, but by great faith in a great God.

So, what are some practical suggestions on making work what God intends it to be?

Practical suggestions for making work what God intends:

• Put up pictures of family in cubicle
• Put up pictures of missionaries you support/ children you support
• Remember who your true boss is &ndah; Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, and not for men.”
• Memorize Ephesians 4:28
• Better, memorize Ephesians 1:3-14
• Set a specific goal for how much you will devote to work and ask someone to hold you accountable to that goal.
• As you do your budget, figure out how much of your work goes to what causes. Then identify which ministry is that 10% of your day you are working for-ie today from 1-2pm I am working to bless the orphans in Zambia through Every Orphans Hope.
• Simplify your life. Eliminate the excess. Streamline. Downsize. Make it your goal to see how much you can give away next month or next year.
• Ask God to show you how your gifts and skills can be used directly to spread His love at work.
• Most of all, ask God to change your attitude towards your work-see it as ministry and expect God to work in and through you and your work at your job. When you work do you expect God to show up with you?
• Finally, you also need to really understand who you are in Christ and succeed in furthering His Kingdom work. You also need to begin to value yourself by who you are in Christ and not what by secular standards of what you do for a job or how you succeed at your work(ie money,toys, status or professional accolades)

If you miss everything else do not miss this truth – Your work matters to God because He wants to work though you to minster and bless others through your work/job. Your work is a part of your ministry.

“The difference between sacred work and secular work is not what we are doing but why [and for Whom] we are doing it.” – AW Tozer