Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Your Work Matters to God, Part 22 of 45
TEXT: "Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything and do it, not only when their eye is on you, and to curry their favor, 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 human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Those who do wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism. Masters, provide your slave with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven" (Colossians 3:22–4:1).
IDEA: Through daily work we show our love for God.
PURPOSE: To help listeners think about the difference it can make in their work if they see it as a means of loving God.
If you were asked about another Christian, "Do you think she loves God?" what would you consider in answering that question?
If you were really going to take the question seriously, whom might you ask to check up on your perceptions?
I. One way we show that we love God and reverence Him is by the way we do our work, Colossians 3:22–4:1 above.
If you're working, you need to believe that you're doing something that God wants done.
You need to realize that God has given you the ability to do your work.
You do it out of a sincere desire to please Him. In Scripture, love is shown by "doing."
II. How do you show your love to other people? To a friend? To a spouse?
One way we do it is by saying it.
Another way we do it is by helping the other person.
If you believe you're doing something for another person that God wants done, when you do it out of a desire to please Him, then you are reflecting your real love for God.
The people to ask about your love for God might be your boss or the people you work with or your customers.
Conclusion:
The question would not be, "Have you witnessed to them about Jesus Christ?" but "Does your work demonstrate by the way you do it that you love Jesus Christ?"
