We're A Mess: Work Relationships

We are in our the 3rd week of our series

We’re a mess: A critical look at culture and how it influences our relationships

Next week the relationship that we will be looking at is our family relationships.

We want to take a critical look at how culture affects our family relationships.

Maybe you are having trouble at home with your

Spouse

Teenager

In laws

young Kids

Grown kids

We don’t want to tackle issues that are not relevant to you.

We need your help for next weeks message.

If there is something you are are battling with at home and you are looking for a biblical solution we want to help.

We ask for you to share your question or situation by texting this number# 423-603-3869

All submissions will be anonymous. We will have no clue knowing who submitted the text message.

Opening Line:

Today we are talking about how culture can affect our professional relationships.

To clarify I think this message will also apply to those who are full time students.

As We look at Culture Remember:

We are not making up a definition

We are pulling this definition from 1 John as John defines the world/culture.

1 John 2:15–16 (ESV)

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

We can say that we love God all day long but if our lives are determined or driven by these three things

The desires of the Flesh - Godless desires

The desires of the eyes -  Godless desires for things, status, position, and acceptance.

pride of life - an attitude of superiority or entitlement

If our own personal success has been our main focus when it comes to our work

We might be embracing

Godless desires

Desires for status, position or acceptance,

An attitude of superiority/entitlement.

and We may have missed the purpose for why God has placed us in our professions

Set Up Topic

Actions are important for every relationship but they are extremely important when it comes to our work relationships

What we do or don’t do at work effects not just our relationship with others at work but it also effect how others view the God we worship

If we are not good at our job it effects things

Nobody wants to be friends with the person that does not pull their weight

If we ever do get to a point of sharing our faith, if our actions do not reflect the our beliefs the potential for our coworkers to take us seriously is slim to none.

Transition

How can we make sure that we are maintaining healthy and influential work at work?

Point 1

We Maintain healthy and influential work relationships through making Jesus our motivation for our work ethic.

Work ethic - a person’s dedication in relation to their job.

Our work ethic is ultimately determined by what we value and or what motivates us to perform well.

Some of us have a great work ethic because of intrinsic motivation

We just like to do things well

Some of us have a great work ethic because of extrinsic motivation

We do better because we love that money

We as Christians do not determine our work ethic like the rest of the world

Our work ethic as Christians comes from wanting to live a life that pleases God

Colossians 3:23

23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Explain Text

When we work, we exercise great work ethic because our goal is not to please our employers but to make God proud.

We are called to work like Jesus is our boss.

This is important when navigating work place relationships because when we work like Jesus is our boss we are exercising qualities that, most of time, they are pleasing to our coworkers.

This gives us an opportunity to share how our faith plays a role in everything we do. Allowing us to leverage our influence to share Jesus.

Everyone loves working with someone who is

Organize

Efficient

Hardworking

Clean

on time

Andrew was this guy for me this morning.

I checked out of the weekend

We had lunch with some friends in Wise Virginia

Then we had soccer all day on Saturday

When we are at Work our behavior is reflecting something. Is it reflecting the world to our coworkers or is it reflecting the love of God?

We like the rest of the world often work to the level of expectation.

Christians should be the hardest working people on the planet.

Because we work like Jesus is our boss

This plays a huge role in maintaining healthy influential work relationships.

Point 2

We Maintain healthy and influential work relationships through recognizing that our work matters to God

There is nothing more defeating than working at a job that we hate.

There are generally three things that people look for when it comes to employment.

Job satisfaction - what we do matters

Employer support - growth opportunities

Healthy Culture - General attitude and actions around the office

When these things are not fulfilled we can be pretty miserable while we are at work.

Misery loves company

Matthew 5:14-16

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Explain Text

What we do at work matters to God ! (because)

our place of employment is our ministry

Ministry is not just what we do on Sunday when we serve.

Ministry takes place throughout the week by the Godly example we set in all circumstances.

I’m willing to bet if you are miserable more than likely you are not the only one.

Sometimes God places us in unhealthy toxic environments to be a light for others who feel like they have to stand in darkness 8-12hrs a day

Apply

No matter where we physically are we are always in the light of Christ because of faith and we should be reflecting the hope we have in Christ to those around us.

The World defines their identity by what they do we as Christians define our identity by who we know.

we have the opportunity to go into a toxic unhealthy work culture and lead them by helping them endure the day to day.

We may not love our job and we may currently be looking for something else. (That’s ok)

But if we just put our head down and dealing with the daily grind

If we are constantly complain and not recognizing the opportunity we have in front of us to minister to those around us we may be loving the world rather than loving the Lord.

Point 3

We Maintain healthy and influential work relationships when we realize we need to be known for being calm and collected in the face of difficulty or failure.

2 Timothy 1:6-7

6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Explain Text

Nothing points to we trust in something greater than ourselves, when we can be a rock for other when the world feels like it’s falling a part.

Apply

Be known as calm and poised in the face of difficulty or failure

We accomplish this by reminding ourselves that we have a God bigger than our job.

When we feel like falling apart we need to remind ourself the the Lord loves us and cares for us.

By his The Spirit we have Power to endure and self-control.

People look for a leader when things get hard

Stay strong depend on the Lord and a person that others can lean on in the work place.

Landing

Bottom Line: we are called to healthy & influential work relationships so we can point our coworkers to Jesus.