The freedom of simplicity From exhausted to energised: looking at time From isolated to connected: looking at friendship From stuck to moving on: looking at the seasons of life From restless to fulfilled: looking at work

8 HOURS PER DAY? 5 HOURS PER DAY? 19 MINUTES PER DAY?

1) THE RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF STATUS

Popular first-liners! What or who creates our identity? How important is our rank and position? Does my boss and/or job contradict my faith?

2) BRINGING CHRIST INTO YOUR WORK

A Christian job description? What is work anyway? Can we live a double life of weekend Christianity and weekday detachment from God? Whom are we actually serving anyway?

What if I had the perfect job? Everything is under control!

Colossians 3:22-25The Message (MSG) Servants, do what you’re told by your earthly masters. And don’t just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn’t cover up bad work.

What if I have the worst job imaginable? Authority weighs on me!

Mark 12:13-17 Paying Taxes to Caesar They sent some Pharisees and followers of Herod to bait him, hoping to catch him saying something incriminating. They came up and said, “Teacher, we know you have integrity, that you are indifferent to public opinion, don’t pander to your students, and teach the way of God accurately. Tell us: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

15-16 He knew it was a trick question, and said, “Why are you playing these games with me? Bring me a coin and let me look at it.” They handed him one. “This engraving—who does it look like? And whose name is on it?” “Caesar,” they said. 17 Jesus said, “Give Caesar what is his, and give God what is his.” Their mouths hung open, speechless.

There are many fine values, such as courtesy, confidence, ingenuity, thrift, and so on. The trouble is that the list of values grows easily and can cause many employees to lose their focus. They fail to prioritize. A "short list" of values is far more useful in putting the workplace back on track. Integrity Accountability Diligence Perseverance and Discipline Robert Dilenschneider Business blog: Five core values for the workplace

Romans 13:1-3 The Message (MSG) To Be a Responsible Citizen Be a good citizen. All governments are under God. Insofar as there is peace and order, it’s God’s order. So live responsibly as a citizen. If you’re irresponsible to the state, then you’re irresponsible with God, and God will hold you responsible.

Duly constituted authorities are only a threat if you’re trying to get by with something. Decent citizens should have nothing to fear.

JESUS GRACE

What are my opportunities to serve at work? Can I emulate the Servant King? What is promotion? Does it increase or decrease my ability to serve? What would happen if I got the lower hand for once?

3) HAPPY TO TOIL!

Ecclesiastes 5:18-20The Message (MSG) Make the Most of What God Gives After looking at the way things are on this earth, here’s what I’ve decided is the best way to live: Take care of yourself, have a good time, and make the most of whatever job you have for as long as God gives you life. And that’s about it.

That’s the human lot. Yes, we should make the most of what God gives, both the bounty and the capacity to enjoy it, accepting what’s given and delighting in the work. It’s God’s gift! God deals out joy in the present, the now. It’s useless to brood over how long we might live.