3-92 Jesus and Our Jobs 1 Pet 2:18-25
Sermon Nuggets week of July 6, 2009
Sermon Nuggets Monday, July 6
Theme – Jesus and Jobs
Verse-1 Pet 2:12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
Jesus and our Jobs
As we meditate this week on work and responsibilities as Christians it is good to remember the context of what Peter is addressing is how to live in a persecuting environment. Last week he addressed issues regarding living in a hostile society in relationship to those in authority over us. Now he acknowledges to the slaves there are people over them. How do you live as a Christian who is owned by a master?
Since we have outlawed slavery, and rightly so, many things directly do not affect us except in principle as to those who are in authority over us in the workplace. People pay us for our time to do things for them, unless we are self employed. But these principles apply even in voluntary work or work at home or as students in school.
I want to go back to the principle of vs. 12 as we introduce this subject. WE are to live such good lives as Christians among the pagan world so people will see our good deeds and glorify God. How we live our lives even when things don’t seem to be going well is honoring to God if we do so according to Peter’s principles.
What do you do when your boss asks you to do something that is against your principles? If you are a secretary and your boss says when someone calls, "Tell them I am not in" should you obey your boss and lie, or not?
A friend of mine was working as an accountant for a company. He told me that his boss wanted him to lie on an inventory statement claiming damaged goods totally over $1,000. The goods were not damaged. He came to me for counsel. How would you advise him? He did what he believed God would have him do and was willing to take the consequences of being fired rather than lying. The result was his bosses were more impressed with his honesty and gave him a promotion.
Another fellow was a salesman in his company and his supervisors not only required that he buy his clients drinks to help purchase deals but also that he was required to drink alcohol with them for the clients were more apt to buy when salesmen would drink with them. If he failed to comply was told he could look for a job some place else. What would you do if that was a requirement for working there? He chose to follow his conscience and convictions and lost his job.
According to Doug Sherman in an article "Keeping Your Ethical Edge Sharp, "A growing body of research suggest that religious beliefs and convictions make little difference in the behavior of people on the job." A Gallup poll found church goers only slightly ahead in the ethics race, citing instances of 43% of unbelievers confess taking home supplies from work -but so do 37 % of church goers.
Some Christians are forced to make compromises at work that go against Biblical ethics. Sometimes professing Christians are poor testimonies of their faith in the workplace. Christians who refuse to be molded by the world often find it difficult to be ethical and Christ honoring. There are times when you are blest for doing what is right and good. There are times when you do what you believe God would have you do and you suffer unfair consequences.
How are we to act regarding our working lives? There are different things we should consider regarding our employment which we will address in the next days. But first remember for whom you work! It is not the human boss we are trying to please, but our Father who is in Heaven.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Tues July 7, 2009
Verses 1 Peter 2: 18 Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.
Consider the Privilege of Work
God had made us for work. Genesis tells us that.
Tony Salerno told of a young lady who was constantly sick. One day she was required to work very hard. She had to get up early in the morning for chores. She had to work full, hard days. The harder she worked the more things started to change in her life. What surprised her was the harder she worked the better she felt. I wonder how many people are really sick because they have not followed through on God's command to work. It is a privilege for which we were created.
Benjamin Franklin was right when he said, Trouble springs from idleness, toil from ease." Work with complaining lasts for years, while cheerful labor passes in minutes. We have a privilege in our country. We are most fulfilled when we have work to do.
In Peter’s day most people did not get to choose their work or employment. They often could not quit their jobs, or were self employed in the training and footsteps of their fathers. Most women were confined to motherhood, and household chores. We have the right to choose our work, our employers, and our vocation to the degree we can get training and get hired. With labor laws there are avenues of recourse for inappropriate working conditions. We have civil laws that restrict employers from discrimination against sexual bias, against religious bias, against racial bias. We have rights in our nation that many in other parts of the world do not have. In the world of that century there were 60 million slaves.
Peter was writing when the Roman Empire was ruling. Like kingdoms before them, when they would invade another country they could take prisons of war, the citizens and soldiers, and turn them into slaves. Slaves then were not necessarily people of lower class, uneducated and untrained. Some of them were professionals, Doctors and leaders, and kings and artists and vocations of all types, including scholars and teachers. Sometimes they had rights. Sometimes they did not.
The Roman government had slaves doing most of the work. They were under the complete authority of their masters who bought them and owned them. Many of the pagan masters were cruel. Some would be sold stark naked so the purchaser could see for themselves if there were any physical defects if they were buying someone for physical labor. They bought and sold mistresses and concubines. Most of the slaves were former prisoners of war. And remember Peter is writing to those Christians who were going through persecution and hardships.
But now many slaves came to faith in Christ. Yet, they had no freedom. How should they act as Christians to unsaved masters? What if their masters became Christians? Should they react differently to Christian masters? Peter tells them to submit to their masters with all respect. If you are slave and belong to Jesus Christ, then be the best slave possible.
Although we do not have slavery there are many situations where we think circumstances could be unfair. There are times when we are called upon to be completely under the authority at school, with the police, in a courtroom, in the military services, or jail or prison. As long as we have people we will not always have fairness, or righteousness. How should we respond?
The Bible tells us we will be misused and abused for our faith in Christ. Let God work through those circumstances. I believe it is proper to appeal to the laws and privileges of our land since we have recourse for illegal or unethical treatment. In most incidents we have the freedom of quitting our jobs. But when someone in authority is making you so angry that you feel like lashing out, don't do it. Submission is turning the matter over to the Lord and allowing Him to do His work. Sooner or later, justice prevails. Just as many slaves were used of God to advance His kingdom and lead many masters to faith in Christ, so God may have you in your present position for an eternal reason. The privilege of employment is to look beyond the paycheck to the One who has a higher task for you.
Pastor Dale.
Sermon Nuggets Weds July 8
Verses- 1 Peter 2:19-20 For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God.
But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
Consider the Purpose of Work-
Yesterday we indicated the obvious difference between slaves who have no rights, and employees in USA where most of us have rights. Does the principle of how to handle unjust suffering remain the same for Christians regardless of their status?
Passages such as these were used during our slavery days of our nation to keep the slaves down and from organizing against abuses. I am so grateful that our present day economy is different. This passage doesn't speak to the morality of slavery as it does to the way people should let their faith affect their responsibilities. The message is, “do right.”
I read a quote yesterday that says, "The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway." Some slaves were beaten for doing wrong. That makes sense. But some were beaten for doing right. The Bible says God will honor that. As Christians we are to live to glorify God even in the way we do our employment. We are to not be lazy, disobedient, stealing, or disrespectful. But there may come times when we will be rebuked for living up to our convictions at work. Joseph in the Old Testament was such a man. He was a slave who was wrongly treated for doing what was right. God used him as an example of faithfulness. There are times when doing right results in some suffering. That is what is commendable. There are people willing to suffer unjustly for the cause of righteousness. There are people who sought to free the slaves and faced the consequences. There are people who housed the Jews in Germany during the War. There are people who serve God in the ghetto and have their places vandalized, or have their safety compromised.
The word that Scripture gives is take delight that God will reward and avenge. The satisfaction we are to receive is doing a good job, not how much money you make or what type of status the job gives you. Many people, especially men, determine their own self-worth by the nature of their work. Unless their job has an exalted title and a large salary, they see themselves as worthless.
One of the first things we ask when meeting someone new is "What is it you do?" But the answer seldom reveals very much about the person doing that job. How about answering that question by saying, "I am a slave of Jesus Christ, but 3M pays me a salary so I serve God there."
As followers of Jesus Christ, the purpose of work is to glorify God. We are to treat our work as if we are working for God, not money, or power, or material things, but ultimately God made us all for work. Some of that work we may get re-numeration, but if we work at home, or are self employed, or under an employer, we are doing business for God in our every day work a day world. Life is to be lived with an acute awareness of God.
Peter also wanted to address was the problem of Christian slaves who did wrong. It was common for workers to want to slack off and not work hard. It was the temptation then and now to give as little work as possible, so many masters and employers were hard on employees. To the employer or master who sees that the employee is trying his hardest and is working to do a good job, he most likely will be rewarded. They don't want to lose a hard careful worker.
But because you work for the Lord do not forget who is paying your wages. One does not make a good testimony for Christ when she is not doing what she has agreed to be paid to do. God has salary and benefits that far outweigh our paychecks, or even a clean house.
What is the purpose of our work? To glorify the Lord on inside as well as on the outside.
Pastor Dale
Sermon nuggets Thurs July 9, 2009
Verses- Titus 2:9-10
9 Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.
Consider the Principles of Work
Since Peter was talking about slavery and I used some of the principles that could be applied to our working situation, I turn to Titus 2:9-10 that points more specifically to actions in the workplace.
1) We are to be submissive and respectful to our Employers.
Peter and Paul are calling for a submissive attitude that is even willing to take suffering as an offering unto God. Show respect to those in authority over you. The attitude of loving our enemies and doing good to those who despitefully use us are for us hard to understand when we live in a society that demands human rights.
2) Handle grievances in a proper and truthful manner. I believe we can use the avenues our laws provide for appeal, just like Paul as a citizen of Rome used his right of citizenship for appeal in the courts of Israel and was then sent to the courts of Rome. But the point is in all matters be respectful. Our bosses may not always be right but they are our bosses. We might have better ideas, but that needs to be said in respectful and kind ways. We need to obey our employers they are paying our salaries, or responsible for our supervision. But before you use appropriate grievance procedures let me also ask you to be in prayer about it. It isn't a bad idea to have friends pray with you as to what you should do if it is an important matter. The reason I say this is that God may have a greater plan than you getting your rights or revenge or vindication. It may mean that by your suffering for good reasons, God will use that for your great blessing, or for the salvation of those who may be affected. If you have something against someone, the best idea is still to talk to that person about it. Don't go over the bosses head unless you have already discussed it with him or her.
3) When there are injustices over which you can do nothing, turn it over to God. Be sure that you do what is right not seeking revenge. Work hard and if something happens that is beyond your control you have a good conscience and can hold your head up high. If it is the will of God never fear the consequences. That is the principle Peter learned. Serve God in the spite of injustice and ridicule because then you are promised a heavenly reward.
There are times when we are fully in the right, but for the sake of souls or salvation we will suffer for their spiritual good and our future blessing. God does know if our suffering is unjust and he will reward. There are times when there are no avenues of recourse. The Bible then tells the slaves to suffer looking to Christ. But it is not against God’s will that we change jobs or quit over principles. Turning our rights over to him to avenge is true faith.
4) Do your best as you desire to be a witness for Jesus in being honest, helpful, friendly, kind and a good working for an honest days work for your wages. I feel proud when I hear compliments about people’s jobs from their employers or fellow employees. It makes me aware that there is a reputation of carrying Jesus into the work place. You will be surprised how people's reputations follow them for good and for evil.
Sometimes I am embarrassed to listen to some reports of people who have cheated others, or taken things from others, or almost have to be fired for poor working habits. What type of reputation do you have at work? Whatever you do, do your best on your job, not for your employer’s sake, or for money's sake, but for the Lord. Your witness will follow you. There will be many opportunities to cheat, or slack off, or crab and complain about your job, but instead give all that to God and do your best.
What often happens is that you can get with a bunch of co-workers who will get on your case for working so hard it makes them look bad. Other times an employer may see the good work and push you for more, and are never satisfied. What do you do in those situations? DO YOUR BEST. How much money you get should not make a single bit a difference regarding your work performance if you are working as unto the Lord.
Pastor Dale
Sermon nuggets Fri July 10, 2009
Verses- 1 Pet 2:21-25 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
22 "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth."
23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
25 For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Consider the Pattern of Work: Jesus
Jesus serves as an example to us. The Christian classic by Charles Sheldon, "In his Steps", is a fictional story of a pastor challenging his people in their personal and private lives to be as consistent as possible with living and acting in ways that Jesus would if He were in their shoes. The question each person was to ask was, "What would Jesus do?" What would He do if He were a newspaper editor? What would He do if He were a salesman? What would He do if He was parent? This book gives a variety of scenarios of people who took that question seriously and how it affected their lives.
If we suffer for doing right, or for being God's representative in an unrighteous world, then this is our call. Live as Christ would regardless of the consequences. If the consequences require us to face abuses, then that is God's will for us.
Jesus suffered and died that we might have eternal life. Likewise we are called upon to share this message and may have to suffer and die that others may obtain eternal life not by our death, but as a witness to the truth. Following Jesus may lead to rejection or persecution.
Verse 22 tells us that Jesus was sinless in his action and in his words. There is no human who can claim this. Verses such as these point to the divine nature of Christ. There is no reason He should have died, for He was pure. But just as whiteness compared to darkness also points out how dirty something is, so purity exposes sin in others around us. No wonder we are resented.
When it comes to the work world we may have to lose a sale or a job, but we can hold our heads high with the Divine promise that we will be rewarded. When we are mistreated or taken advantage of unjustly what do we do? How do we talk about the people with whom we work? Do we protest, and tell everyone else how wronged we've been? If someone in church hurts our feelings we want to be sure others know we have been wronged. Anyone can fight back; it takes a Spirit-filled Christian to submit and let God fight his battles.
v23 "When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly." There are times when God moves in our hearts to fight injustice and times not fight but yield our rights over to God believing He is in charge, but many times those choices are out of our hands.
The suffering of Jesus was for the sake of the sin of man; He suffered in order to bring people back to God. The message of atonement is Jesus died for me and paid the penalty for my sin. There in is our healing and our power over sin. For Jesus is more than an example. We cannot live by our own power, but by faith in the one who gives us the Holy Spirit to live in us an through us to bring glory to God.
In an age when we have control over our employment decisions, we are called work our best, please our employer, but also balance our activity so God gets our priority. There are many people climbing the ladders of success only to find no time for the Lord. There are people that let their professional peers determine what cars to drive, what neighborhood to live in, what to wear to work and where to do lunch. Many problems result from greediness, corruption, social compromise. Workaholism can be a cover up for social and psychological problems where Christ and family are pushed aside. Having lots of money is not the goal for a Christian.
Chuck Colson told the story of Sharron Barry who was a secretary in the molecular biology department at Yale University in New Haven Ct. Her main job is organizing the busy life a brilliant professor, but that is not her primary purpose in life. She wanted to serve Christ.
She decided to contact other Christians working a Yale and have lunch together in the cafeteria for fellowship and prayer. After they decided on a monthly meeting a speaker was invited to come from a nearby church and they gave challenges from the Bible. Now already more 100 born again Christian have become part of the prayer groups that have developed. A Christian students group developed up where up to 150 come for prolonged periods of prayer. They pray for their campus, professors and those with whom they work. The atmosphere has been changing.
Sharron is more than just a secretary she is a catalyst for revival at Yale. She is a respected worker influencing her world for Jesus because she does not work for money. The Lord has used her to change one of the most liberal universities in our nation. When she let Jesus become her pattern for the work place the truth of Jesus words came about. “Let your light shine that men might see your good works & glorify your Father in Heaven.”
Pastor Dale
