Purpose At Work

YOUR PURPOSE@WORK

F I N D I T. . . F U L F I L L I T

PURPOSE@WORK The story of a few interesting Christians follow….. Is this your story too?

I AM AN EVANGELIST MASQUERADING AS A LAWYER

I AM AN EVANGELIST IN THE GUISE OF AN ACCOUNTANT

I AM AN EVANGELIST DISGUISED AS A SOFTWARE ENGINEER

I AM AN EVANGELIST DRESSED UP LIKE A BEAUTICIAN

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

WHAT IS YOUR PRIMARY CALLING IN YOUR WORKPLACE?  Earn

money to take care of your family

 Working  Share

the love of Jesus Christ in your workplace

WHICH IS MORE IMPORTANT IN YOUR OFFICE?  Working  Sharing

the love of Jesus Christ in your workplace

YOUR PURPOSE@WORK Your PRIMARY calling in the workplace is to WORK. SHARING THE GOSPEL IS NOT THE PRIMARY REASON WHY GOD HAS PLACED YOU IN YOUR WORKPLACE!

YOUR PURPOSE@WORK Working with the best of your ability is as important to God as sharing the gospel!

BUT WHY?

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT WORK What is the meaning and purpose of my work? What does my work mean to God? How do I integrate my faith life and work life? How can I worship God 9 to 5?

Finding the answers to these questions holds the key to discovering your purpose@work

And the Bible has the answers…

The ‘ALL YOUR HEART’ principle

Where is your heart? The bible asks us to do two things with all our heart.

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?” Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your all your soul and with all your mind.”

heart and with

Mathew 22: 36-37

There is one more thing that the Bible asks you to do with ‘ALL YOUR HEART’ What is that?

Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it not only when their eye is on you and to win their favour, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with ‘ALL YOUR HEART’ as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

Colossians 3: 22-24

Jesus also said: “You cannot serve two masters.”

WORSHIP WORK

WORSHIP WORK

avodah

AVODAH One of the Hebrew words used to describe work and worship Work – in the context of hard labour Worship – in the context of serving God, building the tabernacle or sacrifice offered at the temple in Jerusalem

AVODAH Your hard labour in your workplace can be equated to building a tabernacle for God in the office and serving Him. Therefore Work is an act of Worship

IF…

WORK IS AN ACT OF WORSHIP IF… Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it not only when their eye is on you and to win their favour, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Colossians 3: 22-24

The big ifs… 

Sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord Integrity and commitment to work are important. Never be insincere in your work. Fear of the Lord in your work



All your heart This is a command. Both worship and work has to be done with all your heart. God will not accept half hearted worship. He will Not accept half hearted work either.



As working for the Lord If you are working for your selfish ambition, or to satisfy your pride and if you are workaholic your work has become an idol– it is not worship. Work is worship if you are working for the Lord. God does not judge us based on results, but on motives.



Lord Christ you are serving

Who are you serving? Your boss? Your ego? Your ambition?

When work is an act of worship and when it is not IS

IS NOT



Sincerity



Sloth



Reverence for the Lord



Reverence for your boss



All your heart



Half hearted



Serving your self



Serving the Lord

BUT WORKAHOLICS BEWARE! 

Work is one way of worship. Not the only way.



Get the balance right!



There are five purposes in life (Purpose Driven Life)

mankind)

Worship (Work is only one aspect of it!) Fellowship (with God, family and the rest of Discipleship Mission Ministry

BUT WHY IS WORK SO IMPORTANT TO GOD? WHY DOES GOD EQUATE WORK TO WORSHIP?

The answer lies in creation…in the book of Genesis

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF CREATION?

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF CREATION? GOD CREATED MAN TO WORK! “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to WORK IT and take care of it.” Gen 2:15

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF CREATION?  Work

was a creation purpose  Work was God’s command  Work was serving God  God instituted work! BUT MAN SINNED!

THE FALL OF WORK To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, “You must not eat of it,’ Cursed is the ground because of you through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life

THE FALL OF WORK It will produce thorns and thistles for you and you will eat the plants of the field By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food (2 Thes 3:10) until you return to the ground since from it you were taken for dust you are and to dust you will return. Gen 3: 17-19

THE REDEMPTION OF WORK For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. Ro 5:17

THE REDEMPTION OF WORK CHRIST PAID THE FULL PRICE ON THE CROSS. BUT SALVATION COMES ONLY WHEN YOU BELIEVE AND CLAIM IT. WORK WAS REDEEMED ON THE CROSS. BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO CLAIM IT.

THE REDEMPTION OF WORK The Worker’s prayer Dear Lord Jesus…my work life lost its purpose when Adam sinned. But you paid the full price for Adam’s sin on the cross. I confess my sins, ask for your forgiveness and pray that you will restore my work life to the original, holy calling. Please redeem my work life, just like you redeemed my body, mind, spirit and soul…….. Amen

THE REDEMPTION OF WORK CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! You are now `born again’ in your work life.

Other reasons why God equates Work to Worship God is a worker. “By the seventh day God had finished the WORK he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his WORK.” Gen 2: 2

If God is a worker... And if God created man in his own image… Man is a worker too!

Other reasons why God equates Work to Worship God commanded us to work. “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God.” Gen 20: 810

Other reasons why God equates Work to Worship God commanded us to work. “For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” 2 Thes 3:10

Other reasons why God equates Work to Worship God enjoyed his work. He had job satisfaction! “God made the wild animals according to according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. AND GOD SAW THAT IT WAS GOOD.” Gen 1:25

God saw and enjoyed his work. He had job satisfaction! Man too should enjoy his work and have job satisfaction!

Finally, one last point.

CREATION MANDATE

REDEMPTION MANDATE

CREATION MANDATE God did not create man to be saved! Salvation is not the purpose of creation! God created man for fellowship, work and worship.

REDEMPTION MANDATE But man fell. And Jesus came to restore our relationship with God. So we have to tell everyone about the love of Jesus.

UNDERSTANDING THE TWO MANDATES

 The Redemption Mandate did not erase the Creation Mandate.

 Most of us stop with the Redemption Mandate. After we are saved, we often think only of ministry, mission, winning the lost, evangelism etc.

 We do not restore `Work’ -- a significant part of the Creation Mandate -- as a divine purpose in our life.

UNDERSTANDING THE TWO MANDATES  Without Jesus, the creation mandate may not have been relevant. But after salvation -: Work becomes a holy calling Work becomes a creation purpose Work becomes an act of worship

 Continue to fulfill and enjoy the purposes for which God has created you even as you tell everyone about the love of Jesus Christ!

CREATION MANDATE I AM A LAWYER SERVING GOD AS A LAWYER

REDEMPTION MANDATE I ALSO SHARE ABOUT THE LOVE OF CHRIST AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY

CREATION MANDATE I AM AN ACCOUNTANT SERVING GOD AS AN ACCOUNTANT REDEMPTION MANDATE I ALSO SHARE ABOUT THE LOVE OF CHRIST AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY

CREATION MANDATE I AM A SOFTWARE ENGINEER SERVING GOD AS A SOFTWARE ENGINEER REDEMPTION MANDATE I ALSO SHARE ABOUT THE LOVE OF CHRIST AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY

CREATION MANDATE I AM A BEAUTICIAN SERVING GOD AS A BEAUTICIAN REDEMPTION MANDATE I ALSO SHARE ABOUT THE LOVE OF CHRIST AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY

There is one misconception that I would like to correct

“God has put me in my office to evangelise my workplace. My primary job (or the meaning and purpose of my work) at work is to tell my co-workers about Jesus Christ.”

NO !

Your primary calling in your office is not to evangelise. Your primary calling in your office is to

WORK!

YOUR PURPOSE@WORK IS TO WORK… AS WORKING FOR THE LORD

THANK YOU