Christian Work Values
Dr. Joseph Stowell, president of Moody Bible Institute, addresses values in his excellent book "The Dawn's Early Light."
"Our values must be biblically based if we are to reclaim our minds for Christ. Whereas some values are a matter of preference, such as books over sport, other values are absolute and clearly taught in Scripture.
In direct contrast to our culture's values, authentic Christian values regard people above possessions, others above self, eternity above the present, righteousness above the temporary pleasure of sin, His will above my will,
forgiveness above revenge, giving above receiving, children over careers, character above credentials, truth above
falsehood, fact above feelings, commitment above comfort, and Christ above culture.
Because our values determine how we organize facts and drive us toward decisions, clear biblical values help guarantee a thought process that is godly, beneficial, and eternally significant. All that remains is for the Christian to learn what those values are and to choose them over the prevalent systems of secular thinking and selfish desires."
Culture Christian
Reputation Character
Career Family
Getting Giving
Self Others
Possessions People
God's Intentions of Our Work
1. God creates us to have work responsibilities--rulers of the environment. In Genesis 1:26, "Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."
2. Enjoy our work, just like He enjoys His work-His creation. In Eccl. 3:9-13, "What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil-this is the gift of God."
3. Enjoy the fruits of our work. In Psalms 128:2, Eccl. 5:18 "You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours."
4. Glorify Him through our work and to be a blessing to others. Be the salt and the light. In 1 Cor. 10:31 "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
5. Work rather than idle, and share our prosperity with those in need. Eph. 4:28, "He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need."
6. Work as diligent as we could (but lead a balanced life). Eccl. 9:10, "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might."
7. Lead a balanced life. Exodus 20:9-11. "Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth. but he rested on the seventh day."
8. God has a unique plan for each of us for our lives. We should not compare to others as of what and how much we
must achieve in our career. Psalms 139:16, "...your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."
Culture Christian
- Who is our true boss?
Culture: Our superiors in our company, ourselves
Christian: God (Col. 3:24, Eph. 6:7))-
- What motivates us to work?
Culture: Physical needs, greed, recognition, self, fear for uncertainties
Christian: Live for Christ (Rom. 14 7-8), physical needs (2 Thess. 3:8-10), love (1 Cor. 16:14)
- Source of satisfaction
Culture: Work, material success
Christian: God (Eph. 5:18)
- Whom does we glorify through work?
Culture: Ourselves
Christian: God (1 Cor. 10:31, John 15:8)
- Style of doing our work
Culture: Competitive, watch for one's own interests
Christian: Cooperative, helping others (Phil. 2:3-4)
- Condition for our obedience to our superiors
Culture: Until our self-interests are threatened
Christian: Until God's principles are violated (Eph. 6:5-8, Ex.1:15-21)
- What is my purpose?
Culture: Acquire, build up myself, play hard
Christian: Honor and enjoy God
- How shall I live?
Culture: Trying to fulfill myself
Christian: Christ is sufficient
Work after Adam sinned
1. Work has become painful toil as a result of our sinful nature. Genesis 3:17-19, "...Cursed is the ground because of you; though painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life."
2. Work has become repetitive and meaningless without God. Eccl. 1:9, Eccl. 2:17, "What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun." "So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind."
3. Because of our sinful nature, our personal agenda is to build a "city", like Cain. Gen. 4:17b, "...Cain was then building a city."
4. The world is filled with injustice, including our workplace. Eccl. 8:14, "There is something else meaningless that occurs on earth: righteous men who get what the wicked deserve, and wicked men who get what the righteous deserve. This too, I say, is meaningless."
5. We could get hurt by others. Eccl. 9:18, "...but one sinner destroys much good."
Dealing with Injustice and Hardship
1. God is always in control. Psalms 105 and Eccl. 3:14, "I know that everything God does will endure forever;
nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him."
Joseph said the following after he had suffered much hardship and injustice, Gen. 45:5, "And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you."
2. God will judge according to his time. Eccl. 3:17, "I thought in my heart, `God will bring to judgment both
the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time for every deed."
3. Act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. Micah 6:8, "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
4. As long as we are doing God's will and love Him, God is watching over us. Rom. 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
5. Read the story of Joseph and learn how he dealt with hardship and injustice. Gen. 37-45.
6. Read the story of Daniel and learn how he dealt with hardship and injustice. Dan. 1-6.
7. Read the story of Moses and learn how God led him with his career. Exodus 2-3.
Relationships with Our Supervisors
1. Obey our boss/company until God's principles are violated. Ex. 1:15-21, Eph. 6:5-6, 1 Peter 2:18-20,
"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 like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart."
2. We should be trustworthy. Luke 16:10-11, "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?"
3. Avoid wicked boss. Psalms 1:1, "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers."
4. Forgive, forgive, and forgive. Matthew 5:44, "But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."
Relationships with Our Co-workers
1. Avoid competition. James 4:1-2, "What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God."
2. Do not harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition. James 3:14-16, "But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such `wisdom' does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice."
3. Use wisdom from heaven. James 3:17-18, "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness."
4. Testify about our Lord. 2 Tim. 1:8,
"So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God."
5. Forgive, forgive, and forgive. Matthew 5:44, "But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."
Dealing with Our Salaries
1. ALL of our salaries and material possessions are from God. Job 1:21, "Naked I came from my mother's womb. And naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised."
2. Make the one tenth tithe obediently. Malachi 3:10, ".Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it."
3. Helping our brothers/sisters in need when we have material possessions. 1 John 3:17, "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?"
4. Live a simple life so that you never become slaves of material possessions. Matt. 5:8, 1 Cor. 7:30-31, "...those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away."
5. Never be greedy. Avoid get-rich-quickly thinking. 1 Tim. 6:6-10, "...People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."
6. Pray and then do a budget. Recommendations by Mahlon L. Hetrick in "The Money Workbook,"
Budget Categories Percentages Amount
Gross Annual Income $60,000
1. Tithe 10% $6,000
2. Taxes 30% $18,000
Net Disposable Income $36,000
3. Housing 25% $9,000
4. Food 10% $3,600
5. Auto 12% $4,320
6. Insurance 6% $2,160
7. Debts 5% $1,800
8. Entertainment/ Recreation 6% $2,160
9. Clothing 6% $2,160
10. Saving 5% $1,800
11. Investments 13% $4,680
12. Medical 4% $1,440
13. Miscellaneous 8% $2,880
Steps to Financial Freedom
1. Transfer ownership to God
2. Establish the tithe
3. Become debt free, esp. from using credit cards, and save before buy
4. Accept God's provision
5. Keep a clear conscience
6. Put others first
7. Budget and prioritize your time and money usage
8. Live a simple life and avoid indulgence
9. Never be greedy
10. Seek Christian counseling.
The Five Dangers of Possessions
1. Adjusting to a life of indulgence as normal. Proverbs 28:20, 2 Timothy 2:4
2. Focusing on worldly success. 1 Cor. 4:11, Matt. 6:24
3. Dulling God's direction. Phil. 3:8, 1 John 2:15
4. Adopting an attitude of superiority. Phil. 2:3
5. Indifference toward the needs of others. Matthew 25:45
Balancing between Work, Family, Church
Our whole life is a ministry. We should serve our Lord "full-time" in all these ministries. In Galatians 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
To balance between these three ministries, we should set a budget for our time.
The importance of time management: John 9:4, "As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent
me. Night is coming, when no one can work."
The most frequent time robbers:
.. Procrastination
.. Poor personal planning and scheduling
.. Interruptions by people without appointments
.. Poor delegation
.. Poor use of the telephone
.. Lack of concern for good time management
.. Lack of clear priorities
.. Television
To identify your personal time robbers: use Time Inventory Sheet.
What I plan to do tomorrow What I actually did
______________ 8:00 ______________
______________ 8:30 ______________
______________ 9:00 ______________
______________ 9:30 ______________
______________ 10:00 ______________
______________ 10:30 ______________
The following rules will help:
1. Avoid working on several small projects at once.
2. Finish one project before starting another.
3. Prioritize your projects and work on the most important ones first.
4. Set self-imposed deadlines for all projects and meet them.
5. Concentrate on results.
6. Learn to say no to things that do not contribute to the priority.
7. Avoid activity trap: busy does not mean a lot gets done.(1 Kings 20:40, Luke 10:38-42)
How to set priorities: Use Priority Scale:
1. In the upper left-hand corner of the priority scale under "List To Be Prioritized," record the items you wish to put in priority order.
2. Compare item 1 with item 2 and circle the one most important. Next compare item 1 with item 3, then with item 4, and so on, circling the most important items. 3. Once you have completed the comparison, add up the total number of 1s, 2s, 3s, ... and record them under "Total Circled".
4. Now you are ready to rearrange - in order of priority - the items to be included in next week's work schedule.
PRIORITY SCALE
List To Be Prioritized Total Circled
1. Spend time in Church for B.S. __ 1s
2. Final Exam 1 __ 2s
2
3. Film festival on TV 1 2 __ 3s
3 3
4. Aunt visits 1 2 3 __ 4s
4 4 4
5. Clean bathroom 1 2 3 4 __ 5s
5 5 5 5
Balancing between Work, Family, and Church
.. Setup a budget--do not over-commit
.. Identify your time robbers
.. Strive for efficiency and minimize waste
.. Avoid too many stressful events at the same time
.. Delegate more and form partnership
.. Pray for God's wisdom
.. Learn to say NO
How to Enjoy our Work/Ministries
.. Identify the beneficiaries of your work
.. Have a serving heart
.. Know that God is boss
.. Know that God has his own timing
.. Know that God is with you
.. Be creative, be positive, take initiatives
.. Be nice to everyone around you
.. Be thankful that you have a job and ministries-it's a gift
Dr. James Dobson's advice in the book, "Life on the Edge,"
1. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matt. 6:33). This is the fundamental principle of life on which all others rest.
2. Over-commitment and time pressure are the greatest destroyers of marriages and families. It takes time to develop any friendship. whether with a loved one or with God Himself.
3. The universe and everything in it will someday pass away and be made new by the Creator. Therefore, the events of today that seem so important are not really very significant, except those matters that will survive the end of the universe (such as securing your own salvation and doing the work of the Lord).
4. This is the way to be successful in life: Treat every person as you want to be treated; look for ways to meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of those around you. Suppress your desire to be selfish and to seek unfair advantage over others. Try to turn every encounter with another person into a new or stronger friendship. Then when this confidence with people is combined with hard work, your future success is assured.
5. Human worth does not depend on beauty, intelligence, or accomplishments. We are all more valuable than the possessions of the entire world simply because God gave us that value. This fact remains true, even if every other person on earth treats us like losers.
6. Comparison is the root of all feelings of inferiority. The moment you begin examining other people's strengths against your most obvious weaknesses, your self-esteem starts to crumble!
7. If you're going through difficult times today, hold steady. It will change soon. If you are experiencing smooth sailing and easy times now, brace yourself. It will change soon. The only thing you can be certain of is change.
8. "The love of money is the root of all evil" (1 Tim. 6:10). That's why Jesus issues more warnings about materialism and wealth than any other sin. Obviously, it takes a steady hand to hold a full cup.
9. One of the secrets of successful living is found in the word balance, referring to the avoidance of harmful extremes. We need food, but we should not overeat. We should work, but not make work our only activity. We should play, but not let play rule us. Throughout life, it will be important to find the safety of the middle ground rather than the imbalance of the extremes.
My Suggestions
.. Lead a simple life
.. Early retirement, and serve full-time ministry
.. Do not compare with others
.. Change is the only certainty
.. Balance is key
.. Greed is bad--it enslaves
.. Always have good relationship with God
.. Don't worry, be happy, just trust God