Honoring God in Our Occupations, Part 2

Although written 2000 years. The Bible is filled with practical insight to those in the workplace attracted surprising to discover the common struggles among people who labor and the bosses who employ them today on Insight for living are giving our complete attention to a dynamic passage written by the apostle Paul.

Our text is Ephesians chapter 6 just a few verses, Paul provides clear direction to both employees and employers. Let's pick up the study right where we left off on Mondays program title this message honoring God in our occupations. This is a sermon about your job so employees verses five through eight. Let's remember four words your response is in verse five, your motive is addressed in verse six. Your perspective is in verse seven and your motivation is in verse eight. First, your response verse five slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh first comment I want to make from this passage is that we are to do what we are expected and told to do, do it with fear and trembling and sincerity of heart, look at the perspective in verse seven with goodwill render service if it would help you. Let's put it this way with a positive attitude thinking of another way to think or say yes yes I could tell you a half-dozen stories that would keep you.

I think interested in the situation, but I'll not go there. I'll read to someone else's story I want to read you the story of a man whom I've never met named John W. Schlatter, SCh, LAT, TER John happens to work as a teacher, listen to John's words because he is a good example of a rendering goodwill in his service as a teacher, I am a teacher I was born the first moment that the question leapt from the mouth of the child.

I had been many people in many places I am Socrates exciting the youth of Athens to discover new ideas through the use of questions I am and Sullivan tapping out the secrets of the universe into the outstretched hand of a blind girl named Helen Keller. I am Esau and Hans Christian Anderson revealing truth through countless stories. I am Marva Collins, fighting for every child's right to an education. The names of those who have practiced my professional ring like a Hall of Fame for humanity Booker T. Washington Ralph Waldo Emerson legal recycling. Moses, even Jesus, I have wept for joy at the weddings of former students laughed with glee at the birth of their children and stood with head bowed in grief and confusion by graves dug too soon for bodies far too young to have died throughout the course of my day. I had been called upon to be actor friend nurse Dr. Coach, finder of lost articles moneylender taxidriver psychologist substitute parent salesman politician and keeper of the faith. I'm a paradox I speak loudest when I listen, the most. My greatest gifts are, and what I am willing to appreciatively receive from my student material wealth is not one of my goals but I am a full-time treasure seeker. In my quest for new opportunities for my students to use their talents and in my constant search for those talents that sometime lie buried in self defeat.

I am the most fortunate of all who labor a doctor is allowed to usher life into the world and one magic moment I'm allowed to see that life is reborn each day with new questions, ideas and friendships and architect knows how to build up with care and knows that if he does his structure made stand for centuries, a teacher knows that if he builds with love and truth what he builds will last forever. I'm a warrior daily doing battle against peer pressure negativity fear, conformity, prejudice, ignorance and apathy, but I have great allies intelligence, curiosity, individuality, creativity, parental support, faith, love and laughter. All of these things rushed to my banner with indomitable support and who do I have to thank for this wonderful life. I am so fortunate to experience you the public. The parents, for you have done me the great honor to entrust to be your greatest contribution to eternity your own child and so I have a past that is rich in memories.

I have a present that is challenging and adventurous and fun because I'm allowed to spend my days with the future. I am a teacher and I thank God for it every day. Where was he when I was going to school. That's what I want to know you have a teacher like that will never be the same. You have a teacher who was on the opposite side, you'll never be the same. You have a coach who represents this kind of diligence and commitment and love and passion, change your life… Teaching – just one profession. That's one world is yours. What is yours. Some.com company. Some work behind the scenes. The nurse who serves patients an attorney who helps people in the struggles of life. Being there advocate when it seems they have none other isn't working at a shop that's rather grimy and grungy and doesn't seem all that significant. But it's a product it's a product that has your name on it is that it is a service that you rendered to the public is a sale's stepping before the people who may have a need for that particular product and you have the opportunity to help them see the value of that in their life with goodwill render service as to the Lord and not to me and you notice in all four of the verses to employees. There's a reference to the Lord why course in sincerity of your hardness to Christ.

Verse six, verse five doing the will of God from the heart as slaves of Christ.

Verse six with goodwill, do it is to the Lord. Verse seven a look at the motivation, knowing that whatever good thing. Each one does this he will receive back from the Lord with your slave or free. Great see the words receive back. We get our word commission from the Greek term come in so KO MIs seal commit so we get commission is a commission for is that see where that here it is. But it's not the kind of commission you're used to. It's not in dollars and cents.

It's and eternal rewards that will come. It's benefits that will come your way in the eyes of God because he sees the work you do and it's done for the right reason with the right motive and for his glory without a lot of the praise of men and women done it and you continue to do it.

He says you will receive back from the Lord with your slave or free. Put in the margin of your Bible.

Hebrews 610 God is not unjust to forget your work or the labor of love, which you showed toward his name, he won't forget you're in a room behind the scenes serving in a hospice setting the one whom you serve is too sick to say thank you as long since forgotten some of the kindnesses of life. He will not forget your work as you take care of her or him. You're in a profession that gets a lot of flak. Not a lot of credit and very little glory. He will not forget your work. Your serving the Lord Christ, we pause here in just another comment for you who work for others. This is your contribution to the life God is giving you. He has ordained you to be in this role is not a great thought and I will tell you, you will catch the attention of individuals like you cannot. More on that in a moment. Talk to the bosses for a few minutes. Masters verse nine. Do the same things that great bosses and get out there and I have said of the employee you do as an employer was at me, will you want respect show respect to those people who work with you believe in dignity model dignity to those who are part of your organization, you want diligence. Be diligent. You want integrity represent integrity. You want a good attitude. Have a good attitude yourself. You want passion and motivation. Let them see that displayed in you.

That's the positive side, do the same things to them and the negative is give up threatening. Fired people for less than that. Boy, isn't that motivating. Doesn't that encourage the employee don't threaten me another song like that mirror today in your through bladder really encourage women that doesn't that does encourage people to work alongside us. Don't threaten that doesn't work model.

It examples I made a list. Keep your promises pay fair wages provide necessary benefits have a heart, give affirmation and encouragement every day to someone provide a safe and wholesome environment that's clean and encouraging, tell the truth. Guard against prejudice and preferential treatment whenever possible promote from within. Keep the atmosphere positive and hopeful maintain confidentiality, show compassion, that's a good start, who would want to work for a boss like that. Who wouldn't want to be part of an organization like that you know what that example is the exception rather than the rule.

In other studs to Racquel as written a book entitled simply working is sort of a human anthology of the results of his interviewing thousands of people across America regarding their jobs. The subtitle of the book is people talk about what they do and how they feel about what they do. The opening lines of his penetrating book working our this book being about work is by its very nature about violence to the spirit as well as to the body. It is about ulcers as well as accidents about shouting matches as well as fistfights about nervous breakdowns as well as kicking the dog around it is above all about daily humiliations. It's tragic is this is a sermon about your job if you happen to be one of those bosses who humiliates the people who work for you. I need to warn you, you really ought never talk to him about Christ. Don't ever go there. You see the wonderful thing about our truly Christian organization is that it comes from within the core values of it is not something that's put on display. So this is my chance to add a little couple of pieces of advice, please don't feel the need to put a cross or a fish on your stationary K will know if it's a Christian company.

We can tell is like people to put it to surf fish on their cars in the down the traffic know I wouldn't never put a fish on my pickup.

I can assure you I will never do that because I'm not always a great example of a Christian driver, so why confuse the subject don't put religious trappings on stop thinking that somehow it'll make your outfit a Christian outfit. Let me visit with people within the organization.

Let me talk to your colleagues when you find out about the fairness of the raises that you been giving her the benefits you been providing or the care and compassion you have in knowing those people by name, as well as by needs and if you provide a Bible study.

Please don't force people to come to it in your company make it so good they can't stay away. Don't shame them or demote them or look down on them if they don't come to your Christian group. It's okay. It may not be worth come into if it is they got brains they'll figure it out telecom to love it. You see, when we make quality.

Our goal and those core values, Christ honoring you won't ever elect for employees you have more resumes than you can keep up with the problem is you will need to see too many because your folks will stay home and on and on. This is a sermon about your job. It really is a sermon about Christ likeness outside the church and just one more little advice quoting versus and carrying a Bible doesn't add to the Christian quality of your company. Okay, you don't have to do that.

Just good work, just quality product, fairness, generosity, grace, mercy, and integrity never padding the record would you fill out the. The expense account never overreaching on the bid know you don't do that paying the bills on time if not early because that's what it means to follow Christ, knowing that both their master and yours is in heaven.

And there is no partiality with him. You know what this is really about. This is not so much a sermon about job at your job. It's a sermon about life's a sermon about life. He owns it all. I love the words of the great Dutch prime minister, who announced his name Abraham Kuyper.

There is not one square inch of the entire creation about which Jesus Christ does not dry out.

This is mine. This is my your Christian your company is his your Christian employee. Your work is his. Your product is done for him. You do music doing well or don't do it you right right well I don't bother us.

You have a service make it the best in the city you can possibly make and you will find that you will have little difficulty talking to people about your see this is another sermon, but I hope it's one you will forget. I believe this with all my heart. My only regret is that God called me to do his work in a rather closed environment rather than to be able to do his work in a setting where the culture doesn't know about it so please send your there represent him well and for his glory spell together showing this is straight talk.

I understand this is this is not designed to make you feel good to have you leave thinking well wonder what that was about think you know what this was about administering the date of people who are in professions that have become more and more marked by mediocrity difference in that you're engaged in behind-the-scenes work for nobody even notices paid make a difference back there make a difference.

Doing well and if you're the boss, don't remind him of it just live in such a way that nobody would doubt you're the one who leaves the pace you're the one who sets it.

If you never met the Lord Jesus. This is the perfect occasion to do that. This is just ideal. It's not religious, it's thoroughly Christian is not about ministry. It's about the working world. This isn't about secular or sacred. It's about life.

Give your life to him today. Our father I pray that you would help all of us to hear what this is saying about us where we spend so much of our time where we earn our living where we relate to a world that's lost its way.

Help us are fathered to get a grasp of the significance of our calling and to know that whatever it is we have been ordained of God to do it. May this message make a difference in the way companies are run by people who run them, hearing this message may it make a difference in the services rendered by those who render service listening to this message today be glorified. Our father in our work through the week. Just as we ask you to be glorified in our worship as we gathering the setting I ask it in the name of Christ our Lord, Chuck Swindoll's closing prayer we concluded today study in Ephesians 6 about honoring God in our occupations if they stay with us because we preserve several minutes at the close of today's program to hear some personal news from Chuck to learn more about this ministry. Visit us online@insightworld.org and let me remind you that insight for living ministries has created a number of resources that we believe will enhance your Christmas season. If you're looking to enrich your spiritual journey in December or perhaps you're shopping for gifts and stocking stuffers.

Please take some time to consider your options@insight.org/store.

In particular, I'll put out a favorite. It's the large classic volume called cradles treasury of illustrated Bible stories. This impressive book includes 125 stories from the Old Testament and 125 stories from the New Testament, with corresponding paintings designed to capture the imagination of your entire family cradles treasury of illustrated Bible stories will become a keepsake that will be remembered for years to come.

To purchase a copy right now. Call us if you're listening in the United States dial 1-800-772-8888 or go to insight.org/store check every brother in this vast world would be fortunate to have a big sister like mine whose name was Lucy, just a few years my senior, and what I'm enormous inspiration. She was to me. Gratefully, most of my memories about my assists or filled with hilarious laughter. One spontaneous story after another.

Lucy would have our entire family doubled over laughing so hard.

Our eyelids flipped out and the memory of those lighthearted moments helps us right now because is most of you know we lost Lucy just a few weeks ago. Her three year decline ended on 20 October when she left us and stepped into the gates of glory.

I share this personal sorrow with you because I know that you have suffered some losses in 2020 as well.

It may not of been the death of your sister, but perhaps you went through a financial setback. Maybe a layoff from your job or even the loss of your health.

I want you to know that I see you I hear you and I share your sadness.

More importantly, God does the prophet Isaiah described Jesus as a man of sorrows and acquainted with our deepest grief and so this month as we close the books on one of the most challenging years in human history we do so not in defeat, but in the anticipated joy of heaven's promise, and as we finished the last chapter of 2020 and open a brand-new page 2 2021, I invite you to join us in our all out effort to bring this joy, hope and comfort to a global audience of men and women just like you and me.

Many are confused by year of profound losses. With all my heart. I've never felt stronger about bringing joy to the joyless hope to the hopeless and great comfort to you who heard and you could do that with me by financially supporting insight for living. You know, Lucy inherited a Swindoll trait, like me, she was, well, loud. She attended the church I pastor every Sunday morning and I knew exactly where she was sitting because of her booming contralto voice when we would sing those hymns and songs of praises.

There was such beauty and fullness in the music because of her voice as her brother and the preacher, I'll admit to you I found Solis and great delight in hearing Lucy take the harmony as I would usually take the melody and now it's your turn. This is your time of the year to harmonize with us. We need your voice to insight for living is never missed a day of broadcasting in 2020 as long as God gives me breath. I'll be right here for you every single day of 2021. Please follow God's lead was hear from you.

Give whatever amount he is placed on your heart to do so soon together but still the world.

You're not alone. God hears your voice. Please take this occasion to let your voice be heard. And here's how to respond to Chuck Swindoll right now you're listening in the United States call this number 1-800-772-8888 also use our convenient mobile app or go directly to our website@insight.org for nonprofit ministries like insight for living there's no more important month in the calendar year than December.

So God direct you to give a year-end donation you can do that by calling your listening in the United States dial 1-800-772-8888 or give online@insight.when God begins a message about standing firm against Satanic scheme that's next time on insight for living. The preceding message honoring God in our occupations was copyrighted in 2000 2001 and 2009 and the sound recording was copyrighted in 2009 by Charles R. Swindoll. All rights are reserved worldwide. Duplication of copyrighted material for commercial use is strictly prohibited