WEEK #4 HOW DO I FIND MEANING AND MOTIVATION IN MY WORK?

Money Compliments Scooby Snacks

Distorted Views of Work 1.Utilitarian View of Work- Work is POWER ( I am able to accrue money and status)

Distorted Views of Work 2.Dualistic View of Work. (Luke 14:5) 3.Romanticized View of Work. (Eccl., Rom. 1) 4.Work is Cursed at the Fall. (Gen. 3, Eccl.)

CURSE from Gen. 3:16 16 To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for6 your husband, and he shall rule over you.” 17 And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

Purposeful Enjoyable Design Frustrating Disappointing Work Purposeful Enjoyable Design

Work Mandate- Restated Genesis 3:23 Therefore the L ORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken.

Purposeful Enjoyable Design Frustrating Disappointing Work Purposeful Enjoyable Design

Work can never Rob us of JOY Through many throbbing trials I've discovered that work or painful circumstances themselves cannot rob us of joy. Only idolatry can. Joylessness in the crucible of ache happens when we lose (or are losing) something we think we need to be truly happy---something that "makes us." When we are complete in Christ we understand He is all we need. Tullian Tchividjian “Glorious Ruins”

Finding Hope and Joy for our Work through the gospel- From “Every Good Endeavor” The gospel provides an alternative story line for our work. (Different Vision) Christianity gives us a rich conception of work as partnering with God in his care for the world. (Motivation) The gospel gives us a moral compass through sound ethical guidelines to help us make good decisions that benefit and protect ourselves, others, and our futures. (Direction and Assurance) The gospel changes our motivation for work fills us with a new and durable inner power to serve God and others and to remain faithful. (Delivers us from our IDOLS.)

Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, WORK with ALL YOUR HEART, as working for the Lord and not human masters

January 27 th What does God want Believers Doing? Calling & The State of the World – Making sense of the Global Narrative. February 3 rd What is God’s will for my Life in the area of vocation? A Believer’s Call – What are we supposed to be DOING? February 10 th Can I have a Life and a Significant Career? Calling and Vocation – When WORK interferes with your LIFE. February 17 th How do I find meaning and motivation in my Work? Work – Part II The MEANING of Work and making it MEANINGFUL. February 24 th How do I make a difference for Christ in the workplace? Work – Part III Being an Agent for Positive Change in the Marketplace. March 3 rd Is there a right fit for me? (Dreams / Desires / Design) Making a Unique Contribution – Design, Dreams, Desires & Your Calling.

Audio & PowerPoint and other resources will be available at:

OUR PROBLEM IS WE HAVE COME TO THINK ABOUT CAREER PATH RATHER THAN A CALLING PATH LOOK UP! LOOK OUT! LOOK IN!