How To Succeed at Work While Doing a Job You Hate
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Have you ever worked a job you hated? Or have you ever worked a job you started out loving, but the injustices, office politics, and unfair treatment you both saw and experienced mad it a miserable chore just to get out of bed and go to work? Have you been told things to do that seem unreasonable. Have you found yourself doing only the minimum because you are not paid enough or appreciated enough to do any more. Have you found yourself doing less than your best because if you did, other workers would slack off, letting you take on more and more while they suck up the credit? This message is for you.
Some jobs can be awful. But make no mistake, however bad we have it today… we are not slaves. We are not owned by another. We are not beaten. We are paid for work. It seems to be hard to live a life of Christian integrity while working a tough job, imagine doing so as a slave.
As we continue talking about relationships that are effected by our new life in Christ, we find the Apostle Paul admonishing Christian slaves to retain their integrity with their masters. While not condoning slavery, Paul was acknowledging its existence and challenging the believing slaves to control what they could, their integrity and testimony before unbelieving masters.
As we study this passage, we can apply this to the workplace today. How we behave at work reflects directly on the Savior we claim to represent. Today we will learn some actions and attitudes that we are to adopt as those alive in Christ. We will learn how to succeed at work while doing a job we may hate.
Be Focused
Be Focused
Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
On obedience to God by obeying the boss
Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words Obedience, Obedient, Obey
1. hupakouo (ὑπακούω, 5219), “to listen, attend” (as in Acts 12:13), and so, “to submit, to obey,” is used of “obedience”
Not on unfairness
Not on appearance (eye service)
Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
Not on being a manpleaser
MEN-PLEASERS
anthropareskos (ἀνθρωπάρεσκος, 441), an adjective signifying “studying to please men” (anthropos, “man,” aresko, “to please”), designates, “not simply one who is pleasing to men …, but one who endeavors to please men and not God”
to avoid punishment
to outshine others
to avoid punishment
Singleness of heart
Wuest’s Word Studies in the Greek New Testament Chapter Three
The words, “in singleness of heart,” are contrasted to the idea of the double-dealing of eyeservice (Expositors). Lightfoot explains; “with undivided service.” As to fearing the Lord (”Lord,” not “God” in best texts), they are to do that as fearing “the one Lord and Master, as contrasted with the masters according to the flesh” (Lightfoot).
And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
Be Fervant
Be Fervant
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
Since you are doing this to please God, not get a promotion or avoid being fired
Serve heartily - literally with all your soul… with zest and passion.
Not because men are watching
Because God is watching
What time you show up
What time you clock out
How much you respect the boss behind his back.
How much time you give the job as opposed to how much time is given to politics, sports, Amazon or Facebook.
The late great American Methodist clergyman and author, Rev. Charles Livingstone Allen (1913 - 2005), told this story in his sermon entitled "How To Sleep Well On A Windy Night:" "A boy went to a farmer and asked to be given a job as a hired hand. The farmer asked, ’Are you willing to work?’ ’Please sir, yes sir, I can sleep well on a windy night,’ was his strange reply. ’Can I trust you to look after my things,’ said the farmer, Again, the boy gave the same answer.The farmer asked several questions seeking to determine if the boy was honest and trustworthy; but, to each question, he received the same reply! Deciding that the boy might be a little simple-minded, the farmer hired him anyway; because, there was something about that boy that he liked! The boy proved to be a willing worker and everything went well until one night a big storm came up! The farmer heard the howling wind and rushed to the boy’s room, ’Get up,’ he shouted, ’let’s go tie down the hay stacks, put up the tools, and secure the barn doors!’ The boy was so sound asleep that the farmer could not wake him! Fearing to waste time trying to wake the boy and get him up, the farmer rushed out see about his things! When he came to the haystacks, he found them already firmly tied. He found the tools in their proper places in the barn; and, the barn doors securely closed! As he went back into his house, he realized what the boy meant about sleeping well on a windy night! He meant that each day, he did his work well; and, even in the midst of a storm, he could sleep!
From a sermon by George Dillahunty, The Joy Of The Lord! 10/17/2009
Start your work day with a prayer of dedication, committing all your efforts as a sacrifice of praise to God and ask Him to use them to further His kingdom.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Be Faithful
Be Faithful
God will reward the good, even if your boss doesn’t.
Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
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And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
God will punish the wrong doer.
But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
so if you are ever the boss, remember God is watching.
Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
Bill Hybels in, The Christian in the Marketplace, says, "Dignity is available to every person in every legitimate profession. The farmer who plows the straight furrow, the accountant whose books balance, the trucker who backs a 40’ rig into a narrow loading dock, the teacher who delivers a well-prepared lesson, the carpenter who crafts a piece of furniture, the secretary who types the paper accurately, the mother who tends to her children faithfully.. all experience dignity as they commit themselves to their labors. A lot of our self worth comes from our jobs."
