A Christian in the Workplace
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A Christian in the Workplace
A Christian in the Workplace
23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
Work is a part of the Christians life
col 3.23-25
It required to provide for the family
Scripture references both women and men working in and outside the home
If fact not working or providing is frowned upon in scripture
33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep: 34 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; And thy want as an armed man.
8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
I God’s Grace in the Workplace
I God’s Grace in the Workplace
Study Tools
23 In all labour there is profit: But the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
Introduction
I want to talk to you today about “God’s Grace in the Workplace”—“God’s Grace in the Workplace.” And again, I want to tell you, if you understand what I have to say today, it’s going to transform your work.
We’re preaching through the Book of Proverbs. A human proverb is a short sentence based on long experience, but these are short sentences based on something better than long experience. They’re based on the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, as given to Solomon. Now, today I have a message that I just pray God the Holy Spirit will burn into your heart because, if you understand the message today, I can promise you that it will literally transform your life. I’ve never preached on this subject—that is, a whole message on this subject. I have alluded to it. But, I believe it is a foundational truth, and I’m really amazed that I’ve not brought a whole message on this particular subject before.
It’s going to change it from boredom to blessing.
Proverbs chapter 14 and verse 23, and just the first part of that verse: “In all labour there is profit” ()—“In all labour there is profit.” I want to talk to you today about “God’s Grace in the Workplace”—“God’s Grace in the Workplace.” And again, I want to tell you, if you understand what I have to say today, it’s going to transform your work. It’s going to change it from boredom to blessing. It’s going to change it from monotony to meaning. It’s going to change it from drudgery to dignity. It’s going to change it from the same old grind, to glory, if you understand what I have to say.
It’s going to change it from monotony to meaning. It’s going to change it from drudgery to dignity. It’s going to change it from the same old grind, to glory, if you understand what I have to say.
You see, so many people are sick and tired of what they do.
I mean, they endure their work; they don’t enjoy their work. They think their job is meaningless. They think that some people have happy jobs, some people have exciting work, some people have thrilling things to do, but not them.
They draw their breath and draw their salary.
They wake up in the morning and take a bath, shave, go down, drink a cup of coffee, eat a piece of toast, scald their throat because they’re running a little late, drink their coffee too fast, then they run out and fight the traffic and get to work. It’s the same old thing, day after day.
Then they come home at night, take a couple of aspirin, sit down and watch the evening news, discuss things with the wife, maybe putter around in the yard a little bit, then go to bed.
The next day, the same old thing—nothing exciting, nothing meaningful, nothing thrilling; it just seems to be so humdrum, so meaningless.
Now, they love God, and they serve God, but they have the idea that the only time they can serve God is when they’re not working.
They want to get off work so they can serve God, so they give their prime time to the employer and then they give the leftovers to God. They give the weekends to God.
They’re serving God sort of halftime. It’s not even really halftime, because they give most of their prime hours, and the best hours, to the boss. They’re trying to serve two masters and, of course, Jesus said, “No man can serve two masters”
24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
m
26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
(). And, I believe there are some of you who are sitting here listening to me today, perhaps most of you, who are guilty of doing what I call split-level living.
You see? God uses ordinary people. But, here’s the secret: God takes ordinary people and He gives them extraordinary power.
Look in 1 Corinthians chapter 1, verse 26, “For ye see your calling, brethren… not many mighty, not many noble, are called” (). You see? God uses ordinary people. But, here’s the secret: God takes ordinary people and He gives them extraordinary power. God infuses us with His Holy Spirit, so we’re no longer ordinary, because, when we get saved, we become extraordinary. But now, wait a minute. God takes ordinary people, God gives ordinary people extraordinary power, and then God puts those ordinary people—are you watching this?—in ordinary places. Now, you’d better learn this: When God takes an ordinary person and gives him extraordinary power, then puts that ordinary person in an ordinary place with extraordinary power, He does extraordinary things through an ordinary person.
God infuses us with His Holy Spirit, so we’re no longer ordinary, because, when we get saved, we become extraordinary.
But now, wait a minute. God takes ordinary people, God gives ordinary people extraordinary power, and then God puts those ordinary people—are you watching this?—in ordinary places.
Now, you’d better learn this: When God takes an ordinary person and gives him extraordinary power, then puts that ordinary person in an ordinary place with extraordinary power, He does extraordinary things through an ordinary person.
You see, we divide life up into the secular and the sacred, but not the Bible, not the New Testament.
Now, you may not believe that right now, but l believe you will when I get finished with the message, not because I think I’m so sharp, but because of what God’s Word has to say.
“In all labour there is profit.” You may not be in an exciting job. I mean, your job may be in a factory screwing lids on tubes of toothpaste all day long.
Maybe that’s what you do all day long. Or, you may be working in an office as a clerk. Or, you may be pumping gasoline; you may be digging ditches; you may be building houses; you may be doing one of a myriad of a number of things.
But, I want to tell you, dear friend,
If you learn what I have to tell you today from the Word of God, it is going to turn that drudgery into delight; it’s going to turn that monotony into magnificence. And, you’re going to find out that you are where God has placed you, and you’re there for a specific purpose.
II. The Sacredness of Work
II. The Sacredness of Work
23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
What is the sacredness of everyday work? Don’t get the idea that to serve God you have to be a minister, or a missionary, or on the staff of some Christian organization.
Every job, if it is done in the power of the Holy Spirit, is a sacred job.
Every one! Now, listen. Let me give you a verse of Scripture—Ephesians chapter 6 and verse 5.
5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
—employees, be obedient to your boss: that’s what he’s saying, even though he is not a Christian.
He is your master according to the flesh, not according to the Spirit—”with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ” ().
You mean, I’m to work for my boss as though he were Jesus? That’s right. That two-legged devil? That’s right. You are to work for him as though he were Jesus Christ.
Because God owns the company that he thinks he owns. This is my Father’s world, and you are to serve the Lord Jesus.
You will remember that Daniel was taken as a captive from Israel and he was carried to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar.
And, there in Babylon he had a secular job. Daniel’s job was that he was a governmental bureaucrat. They trained him and they pressed him into the service of the government. As a governmental bureaucrat, he really served the Lord Jesus.
Don’t get the idea that Daniel was a pastor or that Daniel was a priest. He was not. Daniel was what we would call today a businessman, in ordinary work.
But, I want you to notice what the king said when Daniel was in the lions’ den. You remember Daniel refused to do certain things when he was in Babylon, and they threw him in the lions’ den as a sort of a punishment, and the lions got lockjaw.
Adrian Rodgers said - Daniel just relaxed and pulled up an old fluffy lion for a pillow, and got out his Old Testament, and began to read between the lions. He was just having a wonderful time there, doing his devotions.
20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
devotions.
“Daniel, you’re a servant of the living God. Has that God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” And, of course, God had been able to deliver him.
Now, what am I trying to say?
Here was a man who had a secular job, and yet even his enemies, and the unsaved people of this world, had to admit that his secular job was really a sacred job, that he was really serving God.
You may be a housewife. Well, not a housewife—I don’t like that word housewife. You’re not married to a house.
You may be a homemaker, and you might think, “Oh well, what’s this got to do with serving the Lord?” Friend, there’s no higher occupation than serving the Lord by being a homemaker. One woman has over her kitchen sink these words: “Divine services held here three times a day,” as she does those dishes.
The sacredness of what we call secular work, the sacredness of everyday work: If you do it in the name of Jesus, as to Jesus, in the power of the Holy Spirit, you will receive the same reward for doing that job that I receive for doing this job.
You may not believe it. You may not think it is so. You may think that your job is not an important job at all—“Nobody cares about me; nobody knows about me.” Friend, God knows about you, even if you don’t get to lead in silent prayer in the children’s department. God knows about you, and God has His eye upon you. And, the Bible says those of you who are in secular work are serving the Lord Christ. Every Christian, therefore, is in full-time Christian work—Ephesians chapter 6 and verse 5. Never forget it.
IIlustration - Urban Engineers - cell phone , car my expense report, praying for vice president that fell out of a tree etc.....
III. The Sphere of Work
III. The Sphere of Work
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Boy, you just don’t know; you just don’t know the people that I work with, I just don’t believe God wants me in this place.
Boy, I mean, it must be nice for you to be around all those people in the church, you know? They’re always smiling, always preaching, and always praising God. The only time I hear God’s name mentioned where I work is when people are cursing.
And, Preacher, you just cannot believe the obscene stories. And, you just cannot know the awful cartoons and things that are passed around. You just can’t believe the flirtation, and the way people dress, and the way they talk, and the greed, and the dog-eat-dog, and the ambition, and the throat cutting, and all of the materialism and the gossip that goes on. Oh, Preacher, if God would only get me out of this place so I could serve Him!”
Friend, God put you in that place so you could serve Him.
Well, friend, God may have placed you where you are, and you’d not know anything about it, and you didn’t have any sense of call at all.
Let me ask you a question: Was Daniel a servant of God? Indeed, he was. Did he serve God? Indeed, he did. Was he where God wanted him? Indeed, He was.
How did he get there? By circumstances beyond his control, at least what he thought were beyond his control. He was picked up by King Nebuchadnezzar, and he was brought as an exile to the land of Babylon, that place of wickedness.
But, let me tell you something: How did he really get there? How did he really get there?
4 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon;
Witnessing - I tell you, dear friend, there’s a better way. There’s a better way, and that is every day you’re to witness for the Lord Jesus Christ on your job.
We call this lifestyle evangelism, and you’re going to be hearing a whole lot more about this thing of lifestyle evangelism.
It’s not that you go take some names and go out and see somebody you don’t know, but that you work side by side, day by day, with those that you do know. You let your light shine there in that dark place where God has placed you.
Listen to this scripture—Matthew chapter 5, verse 14: “Ye are the light of the world…”—“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house” ().
For a light to be valuable, it must be visible. Therefore, God doesn’t want you under a basket called a church house.
God wants that light where it can be seen. I want to tell you that your job—are you listening to me?—your job is the lampstand that God has ordained where you let your light shine.
And, if God has placed you there, that is the place where God wants you. That is the sphere of your ministry, and it is a fulltime ministry.
So many times we just say, “O God, I want to get out of Babylon. God, I want to get out of Babylon. Lord, I just want to do something for you. I want to get away from this worldly influence.” Well, friend, God’s plan for you is not to flee from the world. God’s plan for you is to confront the world, and to overcome the world, and to witness to the world.
Listen to these scriptures—, verse 15—Jesus said, “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil” ().
God’s plan is not that you be taken out of that worldly environment, but that you would live a good Christian life in it.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually Immoral people, yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters; since then you would need to go out of the world.” (). Paul said, “If you try to live a life where you’re not going to come in contact with anybody who’s dishonest, or anybody who’s a pervert, or anybody who’s full of sexual innuendoes, or full of dishonesty; if you’re trying to live without touching the lives of those people,” Paul says, “the only way for you to live is to be somewhere with Prince Mongo in Zambodia,” or wherever it is he lives. You couldn’t live here. You couldn’t live here. You’d have to get out of this world. Now, what I’m trying to say is this—folks, listen: This world—this world—is where we live, and this world is where God has placed you.
Romans chapter 12, verse 21 says, “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (). We’re not to flee from the world; we’re to confront the world.
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
1 john 5.41 John chapter 5, verses 4 and 5: “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (). God has placed you in Babylon. God put Daniel in Babylon; God put you in Babylon. God has placed you there, and the work that you do there—as Daniel served the Lord God, you’re to serve the Lord God.
God has placed you in Babylon. God put Daniel in Babylon; God put you in Babylon. God has placed you there, and the work that you do there—as Daniel served the Lord God, you’re to serve the Lord God.
There were certain things in Babylon that Daniel refused to do, and he got thrown in the lions’ den; he got some persecution. There are some things that you cannot do.
That’s what’s going to make you distinctively different, and that’s what’s going to make you so effective when you are in Babylon. You have been saved out of the world, and then sent back into the world, to witness to the world. And, that’s the only business in the world you have in the world, till you’re taken out of the world.
15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
Phillippians 2.15
Where is the light to shine? Where? In the middle of a crooked and perverse generation. It is not God’s will to get you out of that ungodly place where you work. You shine as lights in the world, in the middle of a crooked and perverse generation.
I want to give you some verses—, verse 15—listen to it: “That ye may be blameless and harmless,”—that’s what Daniel was—“the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world” (). Where is the light to shine? Where? In the middle of a crooked and perverse generation. It is not God’s will to get you out of that ungodly place where you work. You shine as lights in the world, in the middle of a crooked and perverse generation.
When Daniel was in that fiery furnace, it was at that time that he went through the fiery furnace, and refused to do what they did in Babylon, in the middle of that crooked and perverse generation, that Nebuchadnezzar realized that God was God.
And, listen to what he said, in Daniel chapter 3, verses 28 and 29:
“Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.”
Now, listen to what this pagan king said: “Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort” ().
That’s a pagan king speaking.
How would that king have ever known the power of God had it not been for a Daniel, who took his secular job and used his secular job as a lampstand, to let his light shine in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation?
Ladies and gentlemen, Jesus has called us to go into all the world (). And, there’s the world of finance, and there’s the world of business, and there’s the world of sports.
In all of these worlds, we are to go in and let our lights shine for the Lord Jesus Christ. Let me give you another verse—
11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
When they see you, you are to let your light shine. If people would begin to take what I’m preaching today, if they would see that what they do is service to the Lord Jesus, I don’t care what it is, and if they would see that God has placed them there in Babylon—that is, the sphere of their witness—and if they would begin to let their light shine, people would believe what I preach on Sunday, when people start living like that on Monday.
Adrian Rodgers - Four Rules for Witnessing at Work
A. Four Rules for Witnessing at Work
Let me give you four rules for witnessing to those with whom you work. You say, “Okay, Preacher—Monday morning, look out, here I come!” All right now, let me give you four rules.
1. Don’t’ Brag!
Number one: don’t brag! Don’t brag! The Bible says, let your light shine ().
Don’t make it shine. It’s to glow, not glare. They’re to see the light, not the candle.
What I mean is, if you go in there with a super load of self-righteousness, bragging about yourself, and bragging about your church, and bragging about your righteousness, and bragging about your doctrines, you’re going to make them want to vomit. They’re going to be sick of it. There’s nothing worse than self-righteousness. Don’t brag.
2. Don’t Nag!
Second thing: don’t nag! If you’re always thumping a Bible, handing out a tract, always getting on to somebody when he gambles, or somebody when he smokes, or somebody when he curses, or somebody when he passes out a raw cartoon; if you’re nagging those people, you may think that you’re doing a good job.
You’d be just like that man, if you didn’t know the Lord Jesus Christ. His sin is not his problem. He needs Jesus Christ, and those are the only things he gets his kicks out of, he gets his bangs out of. He doesn’t have the joy that you have. And, you’re not going to nag him to the Lord Jesus Christ.
5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
col 4.
3. Don’t Lag!
As a matter of fact, listen to , verses 5 and 6: “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without…”—oh, if we could only teach our people this!—“Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man” (). Oh, if you could only say, “God, salt my speech! Lord, season my speech with grace! I don’t want to nag these people!”
3. Don’t Lag!
Don’t brag! Don’t nag! And, thirdly, don’t lag!
Do your part of the job. If you’re a lazy Christian, if you’re not getting there on time, if you’re not doing your work that you ought to do, you’re a disgrace to grace.
The Bible says, in Colossians chapter 3, verse 23: “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men” ().
The Bible says, in Colossians chapter 3, verse 23: “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men” (). Boy, that’ll put a dignity in it! Whatever it is—you’re running a machine; you’re greasing automobiles; you’re typing letters; you’re carrying mail; you’re painting houses; you’re digging ditches; you’re cutting yards—“Jesus, I’m doing it for you. And, I’ll do it with my might.” Boy, I’ll tell you, that’ll put a spring in your step. That’ll put a zest in it. And, you’ll say, “I’m as much serving God this morning, as Adrian Rogers was when he was standing in that pulpit. I’m serving God as much as Jim Whitmire was when he was leading that choir. I am serving God as much as any missionary on the face of this earth. And, whatever my hand finds to do, I will do it with my might” ().
Boy, that’ll put a dignity in it! Whatever it is—you’re running a machine; you’re greasing automobiles; you’re typing letters; you’re carrying mail; you’re painting houses; you’re digging ditches; you’re cutting yards—“Jesus, I’m doing it for you. And, I’ll do it with my might.”
Boy, I’ll tell you, that’ll put a spring in your step. That’ll put a zest in it. And, you’ll say, “I’m as much serving God this morning, as Adrian Rogers was when he was standing in that pulpit. I’m serving God as much as Jim Whitmire was when he was leading that choir. I am serving God as much as any missionary on the face of this earth. And, whatever my hand finds to do, I will do it with my might” ().
4. Don’t Sag!
Don’t brag! Don’t nag! Don’t lag! And, don’t sag! Don’t let down! Don’t let down! Don’t lapse back into the ways of this world.
Don’t begin to complain. Don’t get unhappy. Stay happy! Stay full of joy! The only way to stay full of joy is to stay full of Jesus. And, that means you’re going to have to have a quiet time before you ever go to work, and get loaded up with the grace of God, and bathe yourself in the presence of Jesus.
When everybody else is griping, and complaining, and bellyaching, and morose, you can be there with the light of the Lord God upon your face.
I want to tell you something about those people that you work with. Most of them are not all that interested in going to Heaven or Hell, they want to know how to hack it on Monday. And, when they see you come in the office without a hangover, and with the joy of the Lord Jesus on your face, they’re going to say, after a while, “Hey, buddy, what makes you function?”
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
You’re not going to have to take him by the buttonholes, and say, “Buddy, are you ready to meet God?” He’s going to come to you, and he’s going to say, “Hey, what makes you tick? What is the secret of the life that you live? Where are you getting that joy?” Because, the joy of Jesus is real, you’ve sanctified the Lord God in your heart, you’re going to be able to share the Lord Jesus with him.
Friend, that’s the sphere of everyday work. Right there in Babylon—God put Daniel in Babylon. He didn’t have any special call from God. It was circumstances that put him there, but God was overruling. And, that became his temple of devotion. And, that became his platform for witness. Daniel touched a whole nation for God, just by being God’s man where God placed him.
IV The Service of Everyday Work
IV The Service of Everyday Work
23 In all labour there is profit: But the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
prov 14.2
I spend all day plowing. I spend all day painting houses. I spend all day scraping something down. I work in a kitchen. There’s no way, really, that I can witness where I am. Is it meaningful still?” Absolutely. Absolutely.
Let me give you some Scripture here. Again, Proverbs chapter 14, verse 23: “In all labour there is profit.” Does it have eternal significance?
You know what Daniel’s job was? A secular job, an ordinary job—he was a government bureaucrat, according to Daniel chapter 8, verse 27.
I’m sure that Daniel, as he was handling taxation, as he was handling administration, as he was handling public relations, as he was handling law enforcement, as he was handling building projects and meetings and diplomacy, he said, “What does this have to do with serving God?” But yet, he served God continually.
Don’t get the idea that work is the punishment for sin. Listen.
God gave Adam work to do before he ever sinned—He made him caretaker of this world. Why a garden? Because people have to eat.
The home of Jesus was the cottage of a working man, and Jesus, whether He was mending plows or mending souls, was doing the work of God— because people also have to have houses to live in, and furniture to sit on, and food to eat, and clothes to wear, and the ability to communicate.
And, when we’re doing those things, friend, we are participating with God, and cooperating with God, as much as Adam was when He was taking care of the Garden of Eden, a garden that God has planted.
This is my Father’s world. Don’t get the idea that the material world is wrong, or out of whack with God.
God made these things, friend, and God knows they have to operate—we could not have humanity; we could not have life. Listen.
7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: 8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
eph 6
All of these things are as to the Lord. Listen again to Ephesians chapter 6, verses 7 and 8: “With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:”—he was talking to people in secular jobs, and he was saying that, when you’re doing that secular job, it’s service to the Lord—“knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free” ().
Now, that means, if you are a slave, you have absolutely no choice. Somebody is making you do it. Still, do it with a smile on your face and a song in your heart. And, Jesus will reward you. Isn’t that beautiful? Boy, I tell you that puts dignity in your job.
I don’t care what it is. When you go to work tomorrow, I want you to go to work tomorrow with a song in your heart, and a smile on your face, and a spring in your step. And, if you’re putting those caps on tubes of toothpaste, say, “This one is for you, Jesus. Hallelujah! Praise God! Another one for God! There they go!” Nobody else knows about it; God knows about it. You know about it. Isn’t that wonderful?
One last verse and I’ll be finished. You know, there were some people who, when they were taken out of Israel and when they were put in Babylon, just sat down. They said, “This is a decadent society. It’s an ungodly world. I’m not going to work in it. I’m not going to do anything. I’m not going to participate in that old world.”
Now, I want you to see what Jeremiah told them in verses 4 and following:
4 Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings. 5 Declare ye in Judah, and publish in Jerusalem; and say, Blow ye the trumpet in the land: cry, gather together, and say, Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the defenced cities. 6 Set up the standard toward Zion: retire, stay not: for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction. 7 The lion is come up from his thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way; he is gone forth from his place to make thy land desolate; and thy cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant.
4 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon; 5 Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them; 6 Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished. 7 And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the Lord for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.
jer 4.
We’re to do good to Erie County while we’re here. It is to be a better place because the people of Walnut C
Now, listen. We look for “a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (), but while we’re here, we’re to seek the good of Memphis. Did you know that? Seek the good of the city. I’ve caused you to be carried away captive, “and pray the Lord for it, and in its peace, you will have peace” (). We’re to do good to Memphis while we’re here. It is to be a better place because the people of Bellevue Baptist Church are here working in the streets, and lanes, and farms, and offices. We are to live here. This is where God has put us. Every day is a sacred day.
reek Baptist Church are here working in the streets, and lanes, and farms, and offices. We are to live here. This is where God has put us. Every day is a sacred day.
What Am I asking you to know?
You were called to be an influence at your job?