The Value of Work
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· 106 viewsThe value of our work rests in the fact that God calls us to be co-workers with Him — to see His plan come to pass in our world
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
What is the value of work?
I was looking online at unusual and weird jobs that really do exist. You would be surprised at what some people get paid to do.
Water slide tester — Deodorant tester (a.k.a., “pit sniffer”) — Professional pusher (trains in Japan) — Dog surfing instructor — chocolate taster — baby ostrich watcher — poisonous snake milker — professional stand-in-liner — bridesmaid
If we are not careful, we can resent work — it’s easy to do. Maybe you think work is a punishment?
In Genesis 3, Adam and Eve sinned by eating of the one tree from which God commanded them not to eat — the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God caught them — Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the serpent
What were the results?
God cursed the serpent “You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life…man will crush your head and your will strike his heal.”
God judged Eve, “pains in childbirth will be very severe...”
God judged Adam, “cursed is the ground b/c of you…through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. By the sweat of your brow you will eat of it...”
Does this mean every time we do any work is punishment?
No! Yes, life is quite the challenge because of sin.
However, work itself is not bad…in fact, it is very good and valuable.
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
Day and night
Sky — separated the water under the vault from the water above the vault
Land and seas, vegetation (seed-bearing, after its own kind)
Sun, moon, and stars
Sea creatures and birds
Land creatures & Man
SCRIPTURE
And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.
PRAYER
We are created in the image of God — God is a worker — shouldn’t we be workers?
Although sin has effaced human nature and work, it has not erased the divine nature in people and the ability to bring good to the world - Dr. Charlie Self
Today’s lesson for the kids is from Genesis 1 — “God is my Creator” — He is our maker and the builder of the universe
Expressed creativity does require work - Leonardo da Vinci - Renaissance painter, engineer, scientist, theorist, sculptor, and architect
Let me say this to you today — your work matters! It is important!
Even if you don’t work a paying job, if you are retired, or a stay at home parent…your work matters
A lot of people feel like their work doesn’t make a difference or it doesn’t matter to God — this is wrong
Some Christians may look at their time here on earth as something to be endured while they wait to go to Heaven — this is wrong
What is the value of our work?
The value of our work rests in the fact that God calls us to be co-workers with Him — to see His plan come to pass in our world
Interrogatory: How can we gain a right perspective when it comes to work?
Transitional: We must learn from the Master
GOD’S WORK IS THE MODEL FOR OUR WORK
GOD’S WORK IS THE MODEL FOR OUR WORK
We read earlier (2:1-3)
“...on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done”
“…he rested from all his work that he had done”
“…God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all his work he had done.”
God is a worker
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
God’s work informs our work
God’s work informs our work through...
Community
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”
Eve became Adam’s partner and coworker - not inferior in any way
Relationships are essential to our work — opportunities (bosses, coworkers, suppliers, customers, fellow community members)
God’s work informs our work through...
Stewardship
God told them to be fruitful and multiply — to fill the earth and subdue it — to have dominion over all living things
Dominion doesn’t mean they were to become God…but that they were to be fully responsible and accountable stewards of everything God entrusted to them
Dominion doesn’t mean we have freedom to use and abuse God’s creation — we are entrusted to care for it
The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
Adam and Eve’s work in the garden was meant to bring joy and fulfillment — unfortunately, sin through a monkey wrench into the picture
God’s work informs our work through...
Fruitfulness
God could have created and sustained everything He created but He chose to create humans to work with Him...
Physical work …like gardening
Intellectual work…like naming the animals
Fruitful work results in fruit — whether literal vegetation or products we created and build with our hands
When our work produces fruit, that is an act of worship — He is the one that enables us to do anything we do
God’s work informs our work through...
Provision
God’s work laid the groundwork for us to have provision through the labor of our minds and hands
“…I give you every plant…and every tree…you shall have them for food”
Everything on earth that we use to meet our needs was created by God — He is our ultimate provider
God’s work informs our work through...
Limits
And on the seventh day...
He made it a day of rest…a holy day
Although work is good, it does not define us — Our relationship with Christ is what defines us
God has provided rhythms of life - we need them in order to stay healthy
Transitional: We could not have a relationship with Christ if not for the work He accomplished on our behalf
CHRIST’S WORK IS THE MOST IMPORTANT WORK IN HISTORY
CHRIST’S WORK IS THE MOST IMPORTANT WORK IN HISTORY
Christ is the mediator between God and man
For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
Jesus is the only pathway for any person to have access to the Father
And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
He is the sacrificial Lamb of God — we no longer depend on the blood of bulls and goats
Jesus is our high priest of the New Covenant
Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.
Christ’s work on the Cross paid the price for our freedom
knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
Christ works as our intercessor
Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
CHALLENGE
The value of our work rests in the fact that God calls us to be co-workers with Him — to see His plan come to pass in our world
What about your work and mine?
At the work place?
In the community, among our neighbors?
In the home?
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
God has called us to represent Him well in every area of our lives
God has given us the privilege, as His children, to share the message of Jesus
By going
By staying
Being faithful