Working%20in%20God

1
Working in Gods World

• A Brief Review of theHistory,Present,and
  Futureof Work

2
Why Am I Here Today?

• Command If anyone is not willing to work, let
  him not eat. - 2 Thess 310
• God has placed an extra heavy load on male heads
  of households!
• If anyone does not provide for his own, and
  especially for those of his household, he has
  denied the faith and is worse than an
  unbeliever. - 1Tim 58

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What Do I Hope to Convey to You This Morning?

• To briefly review with you the History and Future
  of Work
• Where, when, and how did work begin?
• How did work get its bad reputation?
• What will work be like in Gods New Heavens and
  New Earth?

4
What Do I Hope to Convey to You This Morning?

• I want to encourage you as you are faced, day by
  day, with the difficulty of dealing with work in
  this present evil age
• Unbiblical misconceptions to avoid!
• Biblical Ideals to strive for!

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The Origin of Work

• God Worked to Create the Universe in all of its
  splendor

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God Delegated Work to Man

• Adam - Cultivate and Keep (Gen 215)
• God gave Adam creative work to do. (Gen 219,20)
• God accepted Adams work

• Work was not required to survive (Gen 216)

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And then the fall!

• The fall of man had a profound effect on work!

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The Present Difficulty of Work

• The curse did two things
• Coupled work and survival
• Made work difficult (physically and relationally)

• Genesis 317-19

• The curse continues to the present day
• Is work part of the curse?
• Should we ever make rest/retirement our goal?

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The Glorious Redemption and Future of Work
In the New Heavens and the New Earth, we will
work free of the Curse (Rev 223)

• Work and survival will again be separated!
• Treasures of the nations (Rev 2126)
• Well rule over all the created order(Gen 128,
  Rev 225, Is 6518)
• Work will always succeed!(Is 628, 6521-23)

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How Then Shall We Think Of and Deal With Work Now?

• Lets strive to bring the Kingdom of God into our
  day-to-day work in this present evil age.

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My Stories...

• Many Layoffs!
• Battling the curse with technology

• Gods gracious provision!

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Work Misconceptions to Avoid

• Dont get caught in these traps!

13
Is Sacred Work Superior to Secular Work?

• Mt. 1039? A faulty and unbiblical distinction
  between sacred and secular- Dan 117

• God is thegift-giver! Do all to His glory!

14
Should We Choose the Job that Makes the Most
Money?

• Many ills of society are the result of this
  misconception - e.g. some doctors are more
  interested in than people...
• Let us rather think of Proverbs 308,9

15
Does Work Mean 9-5?

• Not Necessarily! but...
• Work IS Required!(II Thess 310)
• Sluggard(Prov 66, 2614)
• Sow-Reap Model(Ecc 116)

• Body (1 Cor 1218-21)
• Diligence
• Providing for Our Own

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Is Work Part of the Curse?

• No, although the curse had a lasting effect
• Work is inherently GOOD
• Work is a gift from God
• Work is a command from God!
• So, dont curse your work!

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Going Beyond Work Basics.

• We all know
• Dont steal, work and give! (Eph. 428)
• Dont be man-pleasers (Eph. 65-9)
• Work is a command from God!

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Work Ideals to Strive For

• Think Different!

(The renewing of your mind - Romans 122)
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We Are FREE to Choose!

• Proverbs 169
• The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD
  establishes his steps.
• Vigorously pursue whatever kind of work God has
  put in your heart to do!
• God will honor your desire to work, and will
  provide what He wants for you!
• Here are some ideals to strive for

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We Represent Gods Kingdom!

• The Kingdom should invade your work!
• Allow Gods attitudes and ideas about work take
  over your thinking
• Recognize work as a gift from God!

Realize Who gives you the power to work and to
get wealth! (Dt 818)
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Remember, and be Thankful, to GOD Who Provides!

• You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is
  he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may
  confirm his covenant that he swore to your
  fathers, as it is this day. - Deuteronomy 818

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Exercise Creation Stewardship

• Dont abandon science and the arts to
  unbelievers! (Gen. 420-22)

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We are Stewards of Creation!

• We need Christians in all fields to testify that
  we are under the curse, that technology is not
  the final answer, that judgement day is coming.

• We need to manage well what God has given us.

24
Exhibit Faithfulness and Service

• Faithfulness even in the smallest things(Luke
  1610,11)

• The servant is greatest (Eph 65-8)

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Do What God Created You For

• What did God design YOU for?

• Christ has given us gifts (Eph 48)
• They are for building up the body (412) but the
  outcome should permeate our lives and our work
  (417-624)

26
Do What You Do Well!

• Proverbs 2229Do you see a man skilled in his
  work? He will stand before kings.

Let us excel in our work!
27
Work With ENTHUSIASM!

• Ecc 910 - With your might!
• Psalm 194,5
• Col 323,24 - As unto the Lord!
• Prov 830,31 - Wisdom rejoicing
• No place for false humility!

28
Soli Deo Gloria!

• Recognize and Give GOD all the Credit!

• Deut 818 - God gives us the power

• 1 Cor 1031
• Col 317
• I Pet 411

When we express thanks to God for our skills and
abilities, we are a witness to those around us.
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Have A Backup Plan!
Are you unhappy in your work?

• 1 Cor 721

- You are free to change!

• Wage slaves?
• Dont know what may succeed, try many (Ecc)

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Grow, Learn, Be a Mentor

• Allow room for learning and teaching
• Scriptural examples
• Elijah and Elisha
• Eli and Samuel
• Jesus and Disciples
• Paul and Timothy
• Faithful men teachII Timothy 22

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Give More Than You Receive!

• Always give your employer or your clients more
  than they pay for!
• It is more blessed to give (Acts 2035)
• Go the extra mile (Matthew 541)
• Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and
  running over. Luke 638

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Maintain Your Life-Balance

• Dont fall into the workaholic trap!

• Spend time worshipping!

• Exercise, play, rest!

• Treasure your family!

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What Is the Conclusion of the Matter?

• You have two choices presented in Ecclesiastes
  chapter two.
• Ecc. 220-23
• Ecc. 224-26

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May Our LORD Bless You In Your Work!