Tag: work

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1 Timothy

That God and the gospel not be slandered

1 Timothy

I talked last time about how pastors are held to a high standard so that God and the church might not be slandered.

But as you look throughout this letter, you see that all Christians are Christ’s representatives. And as such, we are to be careful how we behave.

In chapter 5, he talked about how the younger widows (and looking at the context, all housewives) were not to give the enemy room for slander by their behavior (1 Timothy 5:14).

Now here in chapter 6, he says the same concerning slaves. He says,

All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered.

Those who have believing masters are not to show less respect for them because they are brothers.

Instead, they are to serve them even better, because those who benefit from their service are believers, and dear to them. (1 Timothy 6:1-2)

We don’t have slavery in our country now, but the principal still holds in our workplaces. And so not only for those who stay at home, but for those who work, we are to be Christ’s representatives.

We are to honor our bosses and always do our utter best as if we were serving Christ himself.

When people see us at our jobs, they should see us uncomplainingly doing all that is required of us, and when necessary even more.

How terrible it would be for people to look at the Christians in their workplace and say, “Boy, that’s a substandard worker. He’s just a total cancer in this place. We’re better off without him.”

If people think that of us, will that draw them to Christ? Of course not.

But if people see us working harder than everyone else, with a good attitude, and doing our job well, it draws their respect, and then if they find out we’re Christians, it brings glory to Christ and the gospel.

We’ll be like stars shining in this dark world that we live in. (Philippians 2:15)

How about you? Do you bring glory to God by how you work in your workplace? Or do you bring disgrace to his name and the gospel?

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1 Thessalonians

That we may win respect

1 Thessalonians

Hypocrisy.

If there is a word that people like to throw at Christians, it’s hypocrisy.

And too often, it’s all too fitting.

Unfortunately, it was also true in the time of Paul. By the way some Christians were living, they were bringing Christ into disrepute. And so Paul dealt with that in writing to the Thessalonians.

In chapter 4, he’s talking about how we should walk in a manner that pleases God.

Yesterday, we talked about being a clean temple for God.

In the first century, as is true today, sexual morals were extremely loose, and so Paul exhorted the Thessalonians to be sexually pure, and not defile their bodies which are the temple of God.

When we live impure lives, we blend into society rather than standing out from it. And as God’s temple among unbelievers, we are called to stand out.

Paul then shows the Thessalonians another positive way to stand out from society. He told them,

Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia.

Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more. (1 Thessalonians 4:9-10)

The world knows all about lust. They know much less about what true love really is, and most spend much of their lives trying to find it as a result. But Jesus said,

By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. (John 13:35)

When we as Christ’s church love each other, it attracts them.

When the the world sees Christians couples who still love each other even after years of marriage it attracts them.

When the world sees such diverse people in one church caring for each other despite their differences, it attracts them.

When the world sees the church reaching out to touch the lives of those who are hurting, it attracts them.

Why? Because they see something we have that they don’t.

And so Paul tells the Thessalonians, “You do love each other. But do so more and more. Let your light shine ever brighter through the love that you have.”

But there was another problem that the Thessalonians had. A number of them were lazy. Perhaps they thought the Lord was coming soon, so they thought, “Why work?” And they were just leeching off of other Christians.

In doing so, however, they brought disrepute to the name of Christ.

And so Paul says,

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. (11-12)

We cannot live as leeches and shine the light of Christ. Nobody likes a leech.

Further, we’ll see in 2 Thessalonians that not only were people leeching off others, they were being busybodies. And people were looking at them, and saying, “Is this what a Christian is?”

And so Paul admonishes them, “Work. Don’t be dependent on anyone. For in doing so, you’ll win the respect of those unbelievers around you.”

How about you? When others see you, what do they see? Do they see a person filled with the love of Christ? Do they see people who are diligent in all they do?

Do you stand out in this world for the right reasons?

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1 Corinthians

How we approach our work for the Lord

1 Corinthians

In a lot of ways, I’m kind of reiterating what I said yesterday, but certain things kind of struck me as I reread the passage today and I wanted to highlight them.

One thing is the privilege that we have to work hand in hand with God. Paul said,

We are God’s fellow workers. (1 Corinthians 3:9)

Think about that for a minute. God doesn’t really need us. He could do everything he wanted to accomplish without us.

But he chooses to use us. And he invites us to join him in his work. I read that and just say, “Wow!”

God doesn’t just save us to sit down and bask in his grace. He wants us to also become an active part of his Kingdom.

And so he stretches out his hand toward us and says, “Won’t you join me in this work? Let’s work together on this.”

The second thing we need to remember though is he doesn’t call us into this work to bring glory to ourselves. Paul said,

What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe–as the Lord has assigned to each his task. (1 Corinthians 3:5)

A servant doesn’t draw attention to himself. For the most part, the best servant is invisible. You barely notice he’s there, and yet all that needs to get done is done. And in the end, he should say humbly,

We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty. (Luke 17:10)

Still, though an earthly master might not show any appreciation for his servant and even treat him as a nobody, God again sees us as his fellow workers. And he gets down into the mud with us to do the things he has asked of us.

More without him working in us and through us, we wouldn’t be able to accomplish anything. For as Paul writes,

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. (1 Corinthians 3:6)

So where is the room for pride? There is none. Paul tells us,

So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. (1 Corinthians 3:7)

One final thing to remember in whatever ministry we’re in is that the people we’re working with are not, “my people.” Rather they are God’s field, God’s building. (1 Corinthians 3:9)

Too often, we get wrapped up with marking out our territory in ministry. And if we’ve been doing certain things in the church for a number of years, we mark those duties as our territory, and the people we’re working with as our people.

But the Lord assigns each person their own task, and sometimes those tasks change as he invites other people to join in his work. And he does that for the betterment of his kingdom.

Yet many Christians become upset when Christ calls others into work that “encroaches” on their territory. And they become jealous when they find that others are more skilled or talented than they are.

Let us remember, however, that each person has their part in the body of Christ. Each person has been assigned their task. And as much as we are fellow workers with God, we are also fellow workers with each other.

So let us work with one another, casting aside our jealousy and territorial way of thinking, realizing that it is God’s field, not ours. It is God’s building, not ours.

Most importantly, let us focus on the relationship we have with God.

One of the main reasons he calls us to join him in his work is so that we can spend more time together with him. And as we do, we will find joy.

How do you approach the work God has given you?

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Proverbs

Being secure financially

I’m definitely not one to talk about how to improve your finances.  My family’s doing okay, but we’re definitely not rolling in green or anything, so I feel a little weird talking about financial matters. 

But Solomon does, so here we go.

There’s lots of financial advice in the Proverbs, and two pieces of advice are found in these verses.

One is not putting up security for another person, particularly when it comes to loans.

This is a pretty tough one, particularly in Japan.  Real estate agencies always ask for a guarantor when renting an apartment, and immigration also asks for one when someone wants to stay in Japan.

The question is, does this passage mean we should never put up security for someone?  My answer would be no.

However.

It is never wise to put up security for someone if you don’t have the financial resources to pay if they default. 

If God has blessed you with financial resources, and it would not hurt you financially if you actually have to pay, then I would say to go ahead and do it, if God so leads.

But if you don’t have the resources to pay if they default, you should tell the person, “I’m sorry.  I like you.  I trust you.  But you don’t know the future and neither do I.  And if something happens to you, and I have to pay, then I’m going to be dead financially.”

I think the principal is the same for investments as well.  I have some mutual funds (I wish I had more), but if they get wiped out, it won’t kill me financially.  It’ll hurt, but it won’t kill me. 

But if we put all our money into investments that go sour, then we’re dead.  So don’t invest more than you afford to lose.

The other advice Solomon gives is mere common financial sense.  Unfortunately, not everyone follows it.  Namely, work as long as you can, and make sure you save up for your future.

In Japan, we have people called “freeters.”  Basically, these are people without stable jobs. 

Some of them are that way because of their low education, while others simply don’t want to work so much.  I’ve read of some “freeters” that get a job, make some money, quit, and when the money runs out, they find another job.

But Solomon says of such people,

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!  It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.

How long will you lie there, you sluggard?  When will you get up from your sleep? 

A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest — and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.  (Proverbs 6:6-11)

In other words, to live that way is very short-sighted, and it will impoverish those who live that way in the end.

But just as importantly, it’s dishonoring to God to waste the skills and talents that he has given you.  And he will call you to account for it on judgment day.

So the two pieces of financial wisdom for the day:

  • Don’t put up security for someone when you don’t have the financial resources to back it up, and don’t invest so much of your money that you would lose everything should things go sour.
  • Work while you can, and save for your future.
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Psalms

The limits of our own efforts

Psalms

Psalm 127 was written by Solomon, but it reminds me of a later time in Israel’s history when Nehemiah was trying to rebuild the walls.

Solomon wrote,

Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain.  Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.  (Psalm 127:1)

Nehemiah made his plans.  When opposition came, he came up with strategies to deal with them.  But ultimately, had God not been with them, everything would have fallen apart.

There is a balance between doing our part and letting God do his.  We can’t expect God’s blessing if we just sit and do nothing.

On the other hand, all our efforts are in vain if God is not an integral part of what we’re doing.

Too often, we say to God, “This is what we’re going to do.  Please bless it,” when what we should be praying is, “Lord, what would you have us do?  How should we proceed?”

When you look at Nehemiah’s life, he constantly bathed all he did in prayer.  We should too.

Solomon goes on to say,

In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat– for he grants sleep to those he loves.  (2)

One problem with many people is that they make work the center of their lives, to the neglect of their family and to their health.

Of course, work is important, but we should make sure we keep our priorities straight.  That we get enough sleep, and that we’re eating healthily.  And that we also spend time with our families.

For as Solomon said,

Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him.  (3)

If our jobs don’t allow these things, we should be praying for a new job.

But in everything, let’s put God at the center.  For if he is, nothing we do will be in vain.  If he isn’t, everything we do is in vain.