The Gospel Driven Worker Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; Not by way of eyeservice, as menpleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back form the Lord, whether slave of free. And, masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.

The Groaning of Monday Mornings “Cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, because from it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return… therefore, the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden…so He drove the man out.” Genesis 3

Work Has No Spiritual Value Work is something viewed as negative or a curse Work has no intrinsic meaning, purpose, or fulfillment. It is just a paycheck and some benefits. Work keeps us from the really important issues of life like church and family. Work is 8-5, Monday through Friday. The good life happens the rest of the time. Work is seen as competitive, greedy, sinful, and corrupting. It is something that is a necessity, but must be endured.

Work Has A False Spiritual Value Work is what gives us our primary identity. Work is what gives us power and wealth and is what makes us a success. Work becomes an idol that we serve as it consumes more and more of our attention, energy, and focus. We not only give it our best efforts, but we give it all of our efforts. This popular view leaves people empty, unfulfilled, and in a crisis of the soul.

The problem is, they’re the wrong goals. “The problem is not that men are failing to achieve their goals. They are. The problem is, they’re the wrong goals. Failure means to succeed in a way that doesn’t really matter.” Patrick Morley

Work Has Some Limited Spiritual Value Work is part of the secular world and should not be confused with the sacred world. Work can have some limited value IF: work for a church or ministry evangelizing the lost at the workplace donate time or money to keep the church in the black play Christian music at work, put a cross on the business card, or put the word “Agape” in the name of the business. This is probably the dominant view of most Christians today.

“If we no longer see work as sacred, is it no wonder that we no longer see faith as sacred? After all, who could be interested in a religion that has no connection with nine-tenths of life” Dorothy Sayers British essayist

Have these thoughts ever crossed your mind? “I need my work to have more meaning” “I need a clear picture of what being a Christian on the job looks like” “I want a faith that makes a difference in my life and my job” “I’m tired of juggling two different worlds in my life” “I feel I am not receiving any help to bringing my the answers to these questions and to be honest, I don’t even know where to start looking”

Have these thoughts ever crossed your mind? Work is something that is ordained by God YOU were created by God to work. There is a deep, profound, and highly significant connection between you…God…and your work. There can exists a seamless connection between Sunday and Monday …and again from Monday to Sunday!

The Primary Issue Is The Heart….Not The Occupation “Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; Not by way of eyeservice, as menpleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.” “for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:21 The marketplace: where people’s treasure and hearts are being revealed. Your current job: where your heart is being revealed for all to see!

The Transparency of Work Work: the incarnation of the intangible heart and soul into His creation “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, Have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made.” Romans 1:20 Work allows what is inside to be revealed outside!

It’s the transformation of the worker… The Reality of the Gospel Driven Worker What God created…sin destroyed What sin destroyed…the world, the enemy, and our flesh promotes. What sin destroyed…God can and does redeem. Those whom God has redeemed, He empowers to go out into the place where people and money meet up and impact it! It’s the transformation of the worker… Who is then used to impact the work and the workplace!

So, what does a transformed heart do at work? With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back form the Lord, whether slave of free. “The way a cobbler loves his neighbor as himself is by making a good pair of shoes.” Martin Luther “It is not what a man does that determines whether his work is sacred or secular, but why he does it.” AW Tozer

With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back form the Lord, whether slave of free.

The Reality of the Gospel Driven Business Leaders And, masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him. “I have been designed, prepared, equipped, and called to make the most of all the people, opportunities, and resources that have been entrusted to me at this time and place.” Stewardship

What if? Christians realized the sovereignty of God in placing them at their work? People asked God to change their hearts to reveal Himself at the work? People started praying for their workplace on a daily basis? People asked God to increase their skills in order to serve others better? People asked God to open their eyes to what He is doing at work? People prayed for their co-workers daily? What would happen to those places of work? What would happen to that community? What would happen to YOU?