Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Your Work Matters to God, Part 33 of 45

TEXT: "Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear and with sincerity of heart just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one of you for whatever good you do, whether you are slave or free. And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him" (Ephesians 6:5-9).

IDEA: We can find significance in ordinary work if we believe that at our work we serve the Lord Jesus Christ.

PURPOSE: To help listeners look at their jobs in a different way.

Back in 1962 Thomas Kuhn (The Structure of Scientific Revolutions) introduced the concept of a "paradigm shift."

I. A paradigm shift is a new way of looking at life.

Ptolemy, the famous Egyptian astronomer, believed that the earth was the center of the universe. Years later, however, Copernicus created a new paradigm, placing the sun at the center of the universe. Galileo agreed with Copernicus. What difference did that shift in paradigms make? Did everyone in his society at that time agree with him?

When our paradigms shift, our attitudes and the way we act may shift.

Stephen Covey (Seven Habits of Highly Effective People) described a mini-paradigm shift he experienced on Sunday morning on a subway in New York City. He wrote:

"People were sitting quietly—some reading newspapers, some lost in thought, some resting with their eyes closed. It was a calm, peaceful scene.

"Then suddenly a man and his children entered the subway. The children were so loud and rambunctious that instantly the whole climate changed. The man sat down next to Covey and closed his eyes, apparently oblivious to the situation. The children were yelling back and forth, throwing things, even grabbing people's papers. It was very disturbing. And yet the man sitting next to Covey did nothing.

"It was difficult not to feel irritated. Covey could not believe that the man could be so insensitive to the other passengers that he would let his children run wild and do nothing about it. Everyone else in the subway car felt irritated.

"Finally Covey turned to the man and said, "Sir, your children are really disturbing a lot of people. I wonder if you couldn't control them a little more." The man lifted his gaze as if to become aware of the situation for the first time, and then said softly, "Oh, you're right. I guess I should do something about them. We just came from the hospital where their mother died about an hour ago. I don't know what to think and I guess that they don't know how to handle it either."

What was the paradigm shift for Stephen Covey?

What did it change?

How might it have influenced the way Covey would have acted toward this man and his children?

Did the children change? Nothing changed except a paradigm shift in Stephen Covey.

II. What might people do who dislike their jobs?

If you dislike your job and you can change to another one, do it. Do you think that changing jobs will necessarily make people enjoy their work more?

Most people do not have the luxury of changing their jobs when they are dissatisfied. Perhaps they need a paradigm shift.

III. The apostle Paul is writing to produce a paradigm shift in workers in Ephesians 6:5-8. He is writing to slaves:

Ephesians 6:5-9 – "Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear and with sincerity of heart just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one of you for whatever good you do, whether you are slave or free. And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him."

Imagine slaves in a Christian assembly hearing this section of the apostle Paul's letter.

How might this have made a difference in their work?