WEBVTT

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 Well, happy Labor Day weekend to you all.

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 Those of us who find ourselves in D.C. and not traveling this weekend,

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 it's a great time to be in D.C.

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 because so many people go elsewhere.

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 So I find the traffic lightens up a little bit.

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 The vibe kind of comes down a little bit.

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 People feel a little more relaxed on Labor Day weekend.

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 It's like the last time to catch your breath before the fall is racing away.

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 So I love Labor Day weekend in D.C.

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 And it's become our custom in this church to take Labor Day weekend

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 to focus a little bit on work,

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 to talk a little bit about our understanding of our work, our vocation.

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 For some of us, it's a career.

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 For some of us, it's much bigger than a career.

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 Regardless of what work looks like for you,

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 I would imagine that work is a huge part of all of our lives.

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 But as I said, it looks different.

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 Some of us do paid work and some of us do unpaid work.

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 Some of us, work means we're commuting to an office.

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 Others mean opening a laptop at the kitchen table.

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 Some of us work, but we're volunteering.

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 Some of us are caring for raising children.

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 Some of us are studying.

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 Some of us are teaching.

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 Some of us are looking for work.

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 But regardless of what it looks like for you,

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 work is a huge part of our lives.

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 And yet, from just many conversations I've had over the years,

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 in the roughly 20 years I've been a pastor,

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 my sense is that many Christians still experience a kind of disconnect

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 between their professional life and their religious life.

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 There's a gap between Sunday and Monday that we often talk about

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 where people tend to have their religious compartment,

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 their religious self,

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 and then they have their professional compartment

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 or their professional self,

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 and there's not a lot of overlap.

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 You just learn to code switch between those two modes of being.

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 And that's why we're going to look at Paul's letter to the Colossians this morning.

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 Because if I had to summarize the point of Colossians in one sentence,

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 it would be this,

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 that the gospel changes everything.

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 The gospel changes everything.

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 So it doesn't just change what we do

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 or how we spend time on a Sunday morning or a Wednesday evening.

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 It changes the way we respond to email.

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 The gospel changes the way we deal with success

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 and the way we deal with failure.

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 It changes the way we build and manage budgets.

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 The gospel changes the way we lead teams and organizations.

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 It changes the way sometimes we change diapers.

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 It changes the way we serve clients or customers.

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 It changes the way we find meaning in our daily work.

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 And so this is what we're going to be looking at.

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 The gospel transforms our work.

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 And in Colossians, this passage that we just heard read by Kyla,

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 we're going to see that it changes our work

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 by giving us a new who, a new why, and a new how.

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 It changes who we work for.

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 It changes why we work in the first place,

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 and it changes how we go about our work.

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 So we're looking at Colossians 3.

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 Please pray with me,

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 and then we're going to open God's word together.

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 Lord, we thank you for your word.

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 And we thank you just moments ago singing.

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 Lord, being so aware of your presence here.

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 Lord, thank you for the blessing of your presence.

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 And now we're here not just to consider human words or wisdom,

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 but we're here actually to hear from you.

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 Lord, I need to hear your voice.

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 We need to hear your voice.

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 And so we pray that as we open your word,

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 we would hear your voice.

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 That you would speak to us in the ways that we need to hear,

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 that only you can do.

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 And that as we open your written word,

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 we would come face to face with your living word, Jesus Christ.

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 It's in his name that we pray.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 So the gospel changes everything.

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 It gives us a new who when it comes to our work.

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 I would imagine that most of us,

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 regardless of what your work is,

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 we work for somebody.

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 You know, there's somebody that we're aiming at

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 when we are going about the tasks of our job, right?

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 So it could be a boss, or it could be a client,

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 or it could be a customer.

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 It could be a board that you answer to.

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 It could be regulators.

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 It could be shareholders.

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 It could be a child, right?

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 But there's somebody that you're aiming at

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 with your work and your performance.

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 And maybe that's a good relationship,

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 and you love your boss.

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 Or maybe, as is probably often the case,

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 it's a fraught relationship,

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 and maybe your boss drives you crazy.

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 That's not uncommon.

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 But I guarantee you,

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 whatever the conditions of your work may be,

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 as hard as it may be,

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 we probably have it better than the people

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 Paul was writing to in Colossians.

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 Because he is talking to,

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 in this particular place in his letter,

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 Christians who are slaves.

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 Sometimes we try to sugarcoat it

00:05:08.500 --> 00:05:10.060
 by translating it as bond servants,

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 but really what he's talking about

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 are Christians who are slaves.

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 Now, I want to be clear here.

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 Paul is not endorsing slavery.

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 In other letters,

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 Paul makes it very clear

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 that if Christians who are slaves

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 have any opportunity to gain their freedom,

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 they should gain their freedom.

00:05:27.300 --> 00:05:28.079
 In one of his letters,

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 he encourages a master

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 to set his slave free

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 so that they can live out their equality

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 as Christian brothers.

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 He forbids Christians

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 from voluntarily entering into slavery.

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 So Paul is not pro-slavery.

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 But at this point in history,

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 slavery was universally practiced

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 in every society.

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 And Christians made up

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 a tiny percentage of the population

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 with absolutely no influence.

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 And so Paul's role as a pastor

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 is to try to help these Christians

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 navigate life in a world

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 full of brokenness and injustice

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 over which they have no control.

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 We also need to understand

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 that slavery was different

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 in the ancient world

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 than the kind of slavery

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 that we think of

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 in the last couple of centuries

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 in the West,

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 in Britain and in the U.S.,

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 the chattel slavery that we think of.

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 Slavery in the ancient world

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 wasn't racially based.

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 It also wasn't a kind of

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 socioeconomic category

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 like we might think of it today.

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 You had slaves who could be very powerful,

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 very highly educated,

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 very influential.

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 And you also had many instances

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 where people would voluntarily

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 enter into a period of slavery

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 because it was one of the best ways

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 to get an education

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 and to socially advance,

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 to find opportunities

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 to gain greater security

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 and status in society.

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 So different,

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 and yet, let's make no mistake,

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 this was slavery.

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 They were somebody's property.

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 They had no rights.

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 They had no HR department

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 that they could appeal to.

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 Right?

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 So they had it probably worse than we do.

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 And I think it's important

00:07:08.579 --> 00:07:09.319
 to understand that

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 in order to get the force

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 of what Paul is saying here.

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 He's just,

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 in this point of the letter,

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 laid out the gospel.

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 He's basically said,

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 Jesus came,

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 he died,

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 he rose again,

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 he conquered sin and death,

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 and now he's the Lord of all creation.

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 And at this point in his letter,

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 he's saying,

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 if that is true,

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 if Jesus is Lord,

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 it means that Jesus isn't just Lord

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 over the religious part of our lives.

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 Right?

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 He's Lord over everything.

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 It's not like you just have

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 a table of advisors in your life

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 and Jesus gets one chair

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 and one vote.

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 Right?

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 There is no counsel.

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 Right?

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 There are no advisors.

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 He's saying Jesus is the Lord

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 over everything.

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 And therefore,

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 in Colossians 3 verse 17,

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 he says,

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 therefore,

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 whatever you do,

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 whether in word or deed,

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 do it all in the name of

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 the Lord Jesus,

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 giving thanks to God the Father

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 through him.

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 So he's saying very clearly,

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 everything that we do

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 should be done

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 in the name of the Lord.

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 Right?

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 With our eye toward him.

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 And as shocking as it is,

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 a few verses later,

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 he applies this to slaves and masters.

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 In verse 22,

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 slaves,

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 obey your earthly masters

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 in everything.

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 And do it not only

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 when their eye is on you

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 and to curry their favor,

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 but with sincerity of heart

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 and reverence for the Lord.

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 So what's he saying?

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 You know,

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 there's no division

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 between Christian work

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 and secular work

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 in Paul's mind

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 or in God's mind,

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 rather.

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 Paul's saying,

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 do you want to be

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 a faithful Christian at work?

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 Then work faithfully,

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 work hard,

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 be obedient,

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 and do it with sincerity of heart.

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 That's a Christian job.

00:08:58.259 --> 00:08:58.779
 And you say,

00:08:58.860 --> 00:08:58.980
 well,

00:08:59.220 --> 00:09:00.879
 the slavery and the masters,

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 and none of that's right.

00:09:01.759 --> 00:09:01.919
 Yeah,

00:09:02.440 --> 00:09:03.440
 Paul's not saying it's right.

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 The Bible doesn't endorse it

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 in any way,

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 shape,

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 or form.

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 This is not because slavery

00:09:07.519 --> 00:09:08.360
 is good or right.

00:09:09.320 --> 00:09:10.759
 It's because as Christians,

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 everything we do

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 is ultimately done

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 in service to Christ.

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 He says in verse 24,

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 it is the Lord Christ

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 you are serving.

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 So what's he saying?

00:09:19.740 --> 00:09:20.220
 Ultimately,

00:09:21.220 --> 00:09:22.960
 you may have a master

00:09:22.960 --> 00:09:24.200
 who claims ownership

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 over you,

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 but in reality,

00:09:26.180 --> 00:09:27.200
 you belong to Christ.

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 You're his.

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 Right?

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 Your master may control

00:09:33.220 --> 00:09:34.100
 the conditions

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 under which you work,

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 but he cannot determine

00:09:37.720 --> 00:09:38.480
 who you are,

00:09:39.440 --> 00:09:40.960
 he cannot determine

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 what your work means,

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 and he cannot determine

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 what you are worth.

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 Only Christ can

00:09:48.379 --> 00:09:50.120
 because you belong to him.

00:09:50.439 --> 00:09:51.019
 So he's saying,

00:09:51.159 --> 00:09:52.320
 Christ sees you.

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 Christ sees your work.

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 Christ was willing

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 to give everything for you.

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 So when you work,

00:09:58.559 --> 00:09:59.860
 even under these incredibly

00:09:59.860 --> 00:10:00.879
 unjust conditions,

00:10:01.700 --> 00:10:02.539
 serve him.

00:10:03.480 --> 00:10:04.299
 And there's a kind of

00:10:04.299 --> 00:10:05.799
 liberation in that.

00:10:06.860 --> 00:10:07.120
 Right?

00:10:07.240 --> 00:10:08.460
 There's a dignity

00:10:08.460 --> 00:10:09.519
 that is imparted

00:10:09.519 --> 00:10:11.659
 even to the most menial tasks.

00:10:12.379 --> 00:10:14.720
 Because when Christ sees you

00:10:14.720 --> 00:10:15.939
 rendering those tasks

00:10:15.939 --> 00:10:16.740
 unto him,

00:10:17.700 --> 00:10:17.919
 right,

00:10:17.960 --> 00:10:19.220
 he delights in it.

00:10:20.439 --> 00:10:20.559
 Right?

00:10:20.700 --> 00:10:21.960
 In the Old Testament,

00:10:22.100 --> 00:10:22.899
 the word avodah,

00:10:22.980 --> 00:10:23.139
 right,

00:10:23.179 --> 00:10:24.120
 it's used both

00:10:24.120 --> 00:10:25.419
 to describe our work,

00:10:26.159 --> 00:10:26.320
 right,

00:10:26.559 --> 00:10:27.519
 manual labor,

00:10:27.679 --> 00:10:28.419
 and it's also used

00:10:28.419 --> 00:10:29.320
 to describe art

00:10:29.320 --> 00:10:30.159
 and craftsmanship,

00:10:30.379 --> 00:10:31.240
 and it's also used

00:10:31.240 --> 00:10:32.700
 to describe worship.

00:10:33.820 --> 00:10:34.019
 Right?

00:10:34.139 --> 00:10:35.000
 Work and worship,

00:10:35.179 --> 00:10:35.899
 same word.

00:10:36.039 --> 00:10:37.440
 So when we do these things

00:10:37.440 --> 00:10:38.240
 in the name

00:10:38.240 --> 00:10:39.639
 of our Lord Jesus Christ,

00:10:40.480 --> 00:10:41.000
 it is a way

00:10:41.000 --> 00:10:42.179
 of worshiping him.

00:10:42.379 --> 00:10:46.299
 The same,

00:10:46.419 --> 00:10:46.840
 I would say,

00:10:46.879 --> 00:10:47.980
 is true for you and me.

00:10:48.220 --> 00:10:48.399
 I mean,

00:10:48.439 --> 00:10:49.600
 if you have a supervisor

00:10:49.600 --> 00:10:50.399
 you don't like,

00:10:50.639 --> 00:10:51.620
 if you have a boss

00:10:51.620 --> 00:10:53.200
 who you don't respect,

00:10:54.840 --> 00:10:55.519
 Paul would say,

00:10:55.620 --> 00:10:56.080
 as Christians,

00:10:56.220 --> 00:10:56.740
 we are called

00:10:56.740 --> 00:10:57.580
 to work hard

00:10:57.580 --> 00:10:59.159
 and to work with integrity

00:10:59.159 --> 00:11:00.580
 no matter what.

00:11:00.799 --> 00:11:02.179
 Not because your boss

00:11:02.179 --> 00:11:02.879
 deserves it,

00:11:03.340 --> 00:11:04.179
 maybe they don't,

00:11:05.460 --> 00:11:06.720
 but because Christ

00:11:06.720 --> 00:11:07.620
 deserves it.

00:11:07.620 --> 00:11:11.000
 So if you feel unseen

00:11:11.000 --> 00:11:11.759
 in your job,

00:11:11.820 --> 00:11:13.100
 if you feel undervalued

00:11:13.100 --> 00:11:13.700
 in your work,

00:11:13.759 --> 00:11:14.399
 if you feel like

00:11:14.399 --> 00:11:15.039
 other people

00:11:15.039 --> 00:11:16.060
 always get the credit

00:11:16.060 --> 00:11:17.060
 for your hard work,

00:11:17.539 --> 00:11:19.019
 Christ sees you.

00:11:20.460 --> 00:11:22.080
 Christ sees your work,

00:11:22.759 --> 00:11:23.840
 and his opinion

00:11:23.840 --> 00:11:24.519
 is the only one

00:11:24.519 --> 00:11:25.039
 that matters.

00:11:26.340 --> 00:11:26.639
 Now,

00:11:26.700 --> 00:11:27.299
 to be clear,

00:11:27.460 --> 00:11:28.139
 one final thing

00:11:28.139 --> 00:11:28.759
 before we move on,

00:11:28.820 --> 00:11:29.580
 this does not mean

00:11:29.580 --> 00:11:30.560
 passive submission

00:11:30.560 --> 00:11:31.200
 to everything

00:11:31.200 --> 00:11:31.980
 your boss says.

00:11:31.980 --> 00:11:34.460
 precisely because

00:11:34.460 --> 00:11:36.300
 Christ is our true Lord,

00:11:36.480 --> 00:11:37.460
 human authority

00:11:37.460 --> 00:11:38.240
 has limits.

00:11:39.860 --> 00:11:41.180
 When Paul says

00:11:41.180 --> 00:11:41.879
 that we are to do

00:11:41.879 --> 00:11:42.940
 everything in the name

00:11:42.940 --> 00:11:43.800
 of the Lord Jesus,

00:11:43.899 --> 00:11:44.440
 that means

00:11:44.440 --> 00:11:45.480
 we represent

00:11:45.480 --> 00:11:46.279
 his character

00:11:46.279 --> 00:11:47.000
 and his heart

00:11:47.000 --> 00:11:48.340
 and what he stands for.

00:11:48.460 --> 00:11:49.240
 So if you have

00:11:49.240 --> 00:11:50.019
 a supervisor

00:11:50.019 --> 00:11:51.539
 or a higher up

00:11:51.539 --> 00:11:52.620
 who asks you

00:11:52.620 --> 00:11:53.399
 to do something

00:11:53.399 --> 00:11:54.379
 that is wrong

00:11:54.379 --> 00:11:55.220
 or unethical

00:11:55.220 --> 00:11:56.259
 or harmful

00:11:56.259 --> 00:11:57.180
 in some way,

00:11:57.519 --> 00:11:58.580
 ultimately you have

00:11:58.580 --> 00:11:59.200
 as a Christian

00:11:59.200 --> 00:11:59.659
 to say,

00:11:59.779 --> 00:11:59.940
 you know,

00:11:59.980 --> 00:12:00.960
 I answer to Christ.

00:12:01.980 --> 00:12:03.320
 And what does that mean?

00:12:03.460 --> 00:12:04.340
 The question you have

00:12:04.340 --> 00:12:04.720
 to ask is,

00:12:04.860 --> 00:12:05.800
 what does it look like

00:12:05.800 --> 00:12:07.500
 to serve Christ

00:12:07.500 --> 00:12:08.560
 faithfully

00:12:08.560 --> 00:12:10.840
 in this situation?

00:12:10.840 --> 00:12:11.779
 That may mean

00:12:11.779 --> 00:12:12.539
 you have to do

00:12:12.539 --> 00:12:13.399
 unpleasant work

00:12:13.399 --> 00:12:14.180
 without complaining.

00:12:15.860 --> 00:12:17.000
 It might mean

00:12:17.000 --> 00:12:17.860
 you refuse

00:12:17.860 --> 00:12:19.580
 an unethical command.

00:12:19.800 --> 00:12:20.500
 It might mean

00:12:20.500 --> 00:12:21.659
 you report

00:12:21.659 --> 00:12:22.360
 an injustice.

00:12:22.600 --> 00:12:23.500
 It might mean

00:12:23.500 --> 00:12:24.279
 you have to find

00:12:24.279 --> 00:12:24.940
 another job.

00:12:26.500 --> 00:12:27.560
 But the gospel

00:12:27.560 --> 00:12:28.879
 gives us a new who.

00:12:29.320 --> 00:12:29.860
 There's a new

00:12:29.860 --> 00:12:31.779
 person in mind

00:12:31.980 --> 00:12:33.100
 that we think of

00:12:33.100 --> 00:12:33.940
 when we do our work.

00:12:34.600 --> 00:12:35.740
 We're serving Christ

00:12:35.740 --> 00:12:36.519
 and Christ alone.

00:12:38.200 --> 00:12:38.600
 Also,

00:12:38.720 --> 00:12:39.279
 as we move down

00:12:39.279 --> 00:12:39.840
 in the passage,

00:12:40.180 --> 00:12:41.139
 the gospel gives us

00:12:41.139 --> 00:12:41.639
 in our work

00:12:41.639 --> 00:12:42.620
 a new why.

00:12:43.639 --> 00:12:45.039
 A new why.

00:12:45.159 --> 00:12:45.300
 Now,

00:12:45.360 --> 00:12:45.720
 everybody,

00:12:45.940 --> 00:12:46.379
 I would say,

00:12:46.460 --> 00:12:47.460
 has a why

00:12:47.460 --> 00:12:48.639
 when it comes

00:12:48.639 --> 00:12:49.139
 to your work.

00:12:49.200 --> 00:12:50.180
 A reason that you

00:12:50.180 --> 00:12:51.399
 get up out of the bed

00:12:51.399 --> 00:12:52.259
 and you go do

00:12:52.259 --> 00:12:53.279
 the work that you do.

00:12:53.480 --> 00:12:54.680
 Unless you're a child,

00:12:55.580 --> 00:12:55.700
 right,

00:12:55.740 --> 00:12:56.300
 one of the things

00:12:56.300 --> 00:12:57.060
 about being an adult

00:12:57.060 --> 00:12:57.659
 is you realize

00:12:57.659 --> 00:12:58.360
 that work matters.

00:12:58.500 --> 00:12:58.899
 It's important

00:12:58.899 --> 00:12:59.740
 and it's necessary.

00:13:00.279 --> 00:13:00.399
 Right?

00:13:00.679 --> 00:13:00.919
 So,

00:13:01.000 --> 00:13:02.199
 everybody has a why,

00:13:02.679 --> 00:13:03.759
 a motivator

00:13:03.759 --> 00:13:04.659
 to get out of bed

00:13:04.659 --> 00:13:05.159
 and go to work.

00:13:05.399 --> 00:13:06.819
 One of my first jobs

00:13:06.819 --> 00:13:07.579
 as a teenager,

00:13:07.699 --> 00:13:08.840
 I think I was about 16,

00:13:09.799 --> 00:13:11.480
 I was bussing tables

00:13:11.480 --> 00:13:13.000
 at a seafood restaurant.

00:13:13.860 --> 00:13:15.519
 And I would show up

00:13:15.519 --> 00:13:16.000
 and my job

00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:16.519
 was essentially

00:13:16.519 --> 00:13:17.740
 to stand in the corner

00:13:17.740 --> 00:13:18.399
 and then when people

00:13:18.399 --> 00:13:18.740
 got up,

00:13:18.799 --> 00:13:19.659
 I would clear their tables

00:13:19.659 --> 00:13:20.519
 and then when things

00:13:20.519 --> 00:13:20.980
 were slow,

00:13:21.139 --> 00:13:22.399
 I would clean.

00:13:22.500 --> 00:13:22.899
 I would clean

00:13:22.899 --> 00:13:23.419
 the bathrooms

00:13:23.419 --> 00:13:24.159
 or I would go.

00:13:24.799 --> 00:13:25.819
 My least favorite job

00:13:25.819 --> 00:13:26.600
 was where they prepped

00:13:26.600 --> 00:13:27.159
 all the seafood

00:13:27.159 --> 00:13:28.580
 and I would have

00:13:28.580 --> 00:13:29.000
 to get down

00:13:29.000 --> 00:13:29.639
 under the table

00:13:29.639 --> 00:13:30.379
 where all the scraps

00:13:30.379 --> 00:13:30.800
 fell down

00:13:30.800 --> 00:13:31.240
 and I'd have to

00:13:31.240 --> 00:13:32.460
 pull all that out.

00:13:33.100 --> 00:13:33.460
 So,

00:13:33.639 --> 00:13:35.320
 it was my first job

00:13:35.320 --> 00:13:36.360
 but my why

00:13:36.360 --> 00:13:37.139
 was very clear.

00:13:38.180 --> 00:13:39.180
 I wanted to make money

00:13:39.180 --> 00:13:40.960
 and as a teenager

00:13:40.960 --> 00:13:41.820
 that money was great.

00:13:42.300 --> 00:13:43.139
 It helped me do

00:13:43.139 --> 00:13:43.500
 all the things

00:13:43.500 --> 00:13:44.060
 I wanted to do.

00:13:44.159 --> 00:13:44.240
 So,

00:13:44.320 --> 00:13:44.659
 for me,

00:13:44.899 --> 00:13:45.080
 you know,

00:13:45.180 --> 00:13:46.180
 and for a lot of people,

00:13:46.639 --> 00:13:47.860
 your why can simply be

00:13:47.860 --> 00:13:48.639
 wanting to make money.

00:13:50.120 --> 00:13:50.480
 Also,

00:13:50.700 --> 00:13:51.379
 there were perks

00:13:51.379 --> 00:13:52.080
 that came to the job.

00:13:53.040 --> 00:13:53.399
 So,

00:13:53.580 --> 00:13:54.259
 I would stand

00:13:54.259 --> 00:13:54.660
 in the corner

00:13:54.660 --> 00:13:56.000
 and I had my little bus cart

00:13:56.000 --> 00:13:57.799
 and you wouldn't believe

00:13:57.799 --> 00:13:58.340
 how many people

00:13:58.340 --> 00:13:58.840
 would go to this

00:13:58.840 --> 00:13:59.419
 seafood restaurant

00:13:59.419 --> 00:13:59.799
 and they'd order

00:13:59.799 --> 00:14:00.779
 a big seafood platter

00:14:00.779 --> 00:14:02.019
 and they'd barely touch it.

00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:03.460
 So,

00:14:03.559 --> 00:14:04.360
 I would just be sitting there

00:14:04.360 --> 00:14:05.179
 watching these people,

00:14:05.519 --> 00:14:05.740
 right,

00:14:05.840 --> 00:14:06.600
 and they would get up

00:14:06.600 --> 00:14:07.059
 to leave

00:14:07.059 --> 00:14:08.720
 and I would kind of

00:14:08.720 --> 00:14:09.100
 look around

00:14:09.100 --> 00:14:10.360
 and I had taken a bowl,

00:14:10.480 --> 00:14:11.679
 I got a bowl from the kitchen

00:14:11.679 --> 00:14:12.740
 and I called it

00:14:12.740 --> 00:14:13.559
 my snack bowl

00:14:13.559 --> 00:14:15.240
 and I would put it

00:14:15.240 --> 00:14:15.759
 on the cart

00:14:15.759 --> 00:14:16.740
 under my towel

00:14:16.740 --> 00:14:18.340
 and I would roll over

00:14:18.340 --> 00:14:18.840
 to the table

00:14:18.840 --> 00:14:19.740
 and when nobody was looking,

00:14:20.500 --> 00:14:21.600
 I would take the,

00:14:21.679 --> 00:14:22.480
 and I would put some

00:14:22.480 --> 00:14:24.779
 of the fried seafood

00:14:24.779 --> 00:14:25.679
 in my snack bowl

00:14:25.679 --> 00:14:27.479
 and then when nobody

00:14:27.479 --> 00:14:27.939
 was looking,

00:14:28.039 --> 00:14:28.579
 I would just kind of

00:14:28.579 --> 00:14:29.199
 be snacking

00:14:29.199 --> 00:14:30.579
 on those fried shrimp

00:14:30.579 --> 00:14:31.799
 and fried scallops.

00:14:31.859 --> 00:14:32.379
 You wouldn't believe

00:14:32.379 --> 00:14:32.919
 the waste.

00:14:33.919 --> 00:14:34.099
 So,

00:14:35.259 --> 00:14:36.819
 growing teenage boy,

00:14:37.299 --> 00:14:38.339
 insatiable appetite

00:14:38.339 --> 00:14:39.179
 was one of my favorite

00:14:39.179 --> 00:14:39.899
 parts of the job.

00:14:40.019 --> 00:14:40.179
 So,

00:14:40.299 --> 00:14:41.120
 that was my why.

00:14:41.159 --> 00:14:41.899
 I wanted to make money

00:14:41.899 --> 00:14:42.719
 and I liked to eat

00:14:42.719 --> 00:14:43.299
 the snacks

00:14:43.299 --> 00:14:43.939
 on the side.

00:14:45.059 --> 00:14:45.500
 So,

00:14:45.599 --> 00:14:46.519
 everybody has their why

00:14:46.519 --> 00:14:47.799
 and I,

00:14:47.859 --> 00:14:48.019
 you know,

00:14:48.079 --> 00:14:49.179
 I think that when it comes

00:14:49.179 --> 00:14:50.799
 to your why,

00:14:51.579 --> 00:14:52.219
 these are all

00:14:52.219 --> 00:14:53.299
 very legitimate reasons

00:14:53.299 --> 00:14:53.759
 to work.

00:14:53.759 --> 00:14:53.939
 I mean,

00:14:53.980 --> 00:14:54.759
 I think some people

00:14:54.759 --> 00:14:55.720
 just may need money

00:14:55.720 --> 00:14:57.200
 to pay the bills

00:14:57.200 --> 00:14:58.120
 and provide for the people

00:14:58.120 --> 00:14:58.559
 under them.

00:14:58.639 --> 00:14:59.379
 That's a very honorable

00:14:59.379 --> 00:15:00.059
 reason to work.

00:15:00.740 --> 00:15:01.840
 You're providing for yourself

00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:02.819
 and those who depend on you,

00:15:02.879 --> 00:15:03.059
 right?

00:15:03.500 --> 00:15:04.240
 Some of us work

00:15:04.240 --> 00:15:05.179
 just because we enjoy

00:15:05.179 --> 00:15:05.899
 the satisfaction

00:15:05.899 --> 00:15:06.840
 that comes from using

00:15:06.840 --> 00:15:07.960
 our gifts and talents well.

00:15:08.019 --> 00:15:09.139
 That's a great reason to work.

00:15:09.179 --> 00:15:10.039
 Just a sense of a job

00:15:10.039 --> 00:15:10.480
 well done.

00:15:11.220 --> 00:15:11.939
 And there is a kind

00:15:11.939 --> 00:15:13.019
 of godly ambition,

00:15:13.240 --> 00:15:13.659
 I think,

00:15:13.960 --> 00:15:15.200
 wanting to be in a place

00:15:15.200 --> 00:15:16.340
 where you're maximizing

00:15:16.340 --> 00:15:17.059
 who you are

00:15:17.059 --> 00:15:18.539
 and contributing meaningfully,

00:15:19.019 --> 00:15:19.179
 right?

00:15:19.379 --> 00:15:20.500
 Others want to feel like

00:15:20.500 --> 00:15:21.259
 they're making a difference

00:15:21.259 --> 00:15:21.659
 in the world.

00:15:21.740 --> 00:15:22.819
 A lot of people come to D.C.

00:15:22.840 --> 00:15:23.919
 and they work for peanuts

00:15:23.919 --> 00:15:24.399
 because they want

00:15:24.399 --> 00:15:24.980
 to make a difference.

00:15:26.179 --> 00:15:27.179
 Those are great reasons

00:15:27.179 --> 00:15:27.679
 to work.

00:15:29.200 --> 00:15:29.559
 Hopefully,

00:15:29.720 --> 00:15:30.700
 you can find work

00:15:30.700 --> 00:15:31.159
 that gives you

00:15:31.159 --> 00:15:31.899
 some of all of that.

00:15:32.580 --> 00:15:32.740
 You know,

00:15:32.759 --> 00:15:33.720
 you're making decent money,

00:15:34.000 --> 00:15:34.759
 you're using your gifts

00:15:34.759 --> 00:15:35.220
 and talents,

00:15:35.279 --> 00:15:35.700
 and you're making

00:15:35.700 --> 00:15:36.120
 a difference.

00:15:37.340 --> 00:15:38.620
 But good reasons

00:15:38.620 --> 00:15:39.200
 to work

00:15:39.200 --> 00:15:40.220
 can gradually,

00:15:40.379 --> 00:15:41.019
 over time,

00:15:41.220 --> 00:15:42.059
 start to become

00:15:42.059 --> 00:15:43.700
 ultimate reasons.

00:15:44.960 --> 00:15:46.399
 Work can gradually

00:15:46.399 --> 00:15:47.659
 become the source

00:15:47.659 --> 00:15:48.759
 of your security,

00:15:48.860 --> 00:15:49.600
 not just a way

00:15:49.600 --> 00:15:50.180
 to pay the bills,

00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:51.159
 but the source

00:15:51.159 --> 00:15:51.860
 of your security.

00:15:52.680 --> 00:15:53.540
 Not just a way

00:15:53.540 --> 00:15:54.080
 to communicate,

00:15:54.399 --> 00:15:55.200
 to contribute

00:15:55.200 --> 00:15:56.420
 with your gifts

00:15:56.420 --> 00:15:56.820
 and talents,

00:15:56.920 --> 00:15:57.500
 but a source

00:15:57.500 --> 00:15:58.019
 of identity.

00:15:59.220 --> 00:16:00.180
 Not just a way

00:16:00.180 --> 00:16:01.200
 to sort of

00:16:01.200 --> 00:16:02.120
 make a difference,

00:16:02.259 --> 00:16:02.940
 but a source

00:16:02.940 --> 00:16:03.740
 of self-worth.

00:16:04.240 --> 00:16:05.100
 And when your work

00:16:05.100 --> 00:16:05.720
 starts to become

00:16:05.720 --> 00:16:06.980
 a source of security

00:16:06.980 --> 00:16:07.659
 and identity

00:16:07.659 --> 00:16:08.700
 and self-worth,

00:16:08.759 --> 00:16:09.519
 it is becoming

00:16:09.519 --> 00:16:10.740
 something altogether

00:16:10.740 --> 00:16:11.240
 different,

00:16:11.519 --> 00:16:12.019
 something it was

00:16:12.019 --> 00:16:12.800
 never meant to be.

00:16:14.019 --> 00:16:14.960
 And in D.C.,

00:16:14.960 --> 00:16:15.540
 for those of us

00:16:15.540 --> 00:16:16.139
 who live here,

00:16:16.259 --> 00:16:16.740
 if you're visiting

00:16:16.740 --> 00:16:17.460
 from out of town,

00:16:18.300 --> 00:16:19.300
 D.C. is a place

00:16:19.299 --> 00:16:20.179
 where the culture

00:16:20.179 --> 00:16:22.579
 rewards and encourages

00:16:22.579 --> 00:16:25.399
 people who view

00:16:25.399 --> 00:16:26.219
 their work as ultimate.

00:16:27.659 --> 00:16:29.199
 You're incentivized

00:16:29.199 --> 00:16:30.939
 to be that kind

00:16:30.939 --> 00:16:31.439
 of person.

00:16:31.839 --> 00:16:32.639
 For many of us,

00:16:32.679 --> 00:16:33.519
 it is normal

00:16:33.519 --> 00:16:34.559
 to put in a seven-day

00:16:34.559 --> 00:16:35.000
 work week.

00:16:35.979 --> 00:16:36.879
 For many of us,

00:16:36.939 --> 00:16:37.459
 it is normal

00:16:37.459 --> 00:16:38.039
 for the phone

00:16:38.039 --> 00:16:38.879
 to never be off,

00:16:39.559 --> 00:16:40.339
 for the texting

00:16:40.339 --> 00:16:41.339
 to never stop,

00:16:41.979 --> 00:16:42.740
 for the work

00:16:42.740 --> 00:16:43.519
 to really never

00:16:43.519 --> 00:16:44.479
 have an end point.

00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:45.579
 Right?

00:16:45.939 --> 00:16:46.759
 In D.C.,

00:16:46.759 --> 00:16:47.459
 it's very normal

00:16:47.460 --> 00:16:48.040
 for work

00:16:48.040 --> 00:16:48.500
 to be

00:16:48.500 --> 00:16:50.180
 the non-negotiable

00:16:50.180 --> 00:16:51.400
 center of your schedule.

00:16:52.560 --> 00:16:53.360
 And then everything

00:16:53.360 --> 00:16:54.340
 gets built in

00:16:54.340 --> 00:16:55.000
 around that.

00:16:55.120 --> 00:16:55.200
 You know,

00:16:55.240 --> 00:16:55.900
 you fit in

00:16:55.900 --> 00:16:56.800
 some friend time,

00:16:56.900 --> 00:16:57.780
 you fit in time

00:16:57.780 --> 00:16:58.500
 with your family,

00:16:58.940 --> 00:17:00.460
 you maybe fit in

00:17:00.460 --> 00:17:01.580
 some church involvement.

00:17:02.519 --> 00:17:02.820
 Right?

00:17:03.019 --> 00:17:03.860
 But work

00:17:03.860 --> 00:17:04.940
 is the non-negotiable

00:17:04.940 --> 00:17:05.259
 center.

00:17:06.259 --> 00:17:06.960
 And the hardest

00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:07.620
 thing is you feel

00:17:07.620 --> 00:17:08.140
 like if you're

00:17:08.140 --> 00:17:09.000
 not doing that,

00:17:09.059 --> 00:17:09.700
 then you're falling

00:17:09.700 --> 00:17:10.120
 behind.

00:17:10.299 --> 00:17:10.920
 And that the people

00:17:10.920 --> 00:17:11.860
 that you're in competition

00:17:11.859 --> 00:17:13.399
 with are racing ahead

00:17:13.399 --> 00:17:14.079
 because they're more

00:17:14.079 --> 00:17:15.979
 ruthless and more

00:17:15.979 --> 00:17:16.779
 willing to sacrifice.

00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:19.199
 So we live in a culture

00:17:19.199 --> 00:17:21.559
 that is malforming us

00:17:21.559 --> 00:17:23.599
 to elevate work

00:17:23.599 --> 00:17:25.679
 to ultimate status.

00:17:26.479 --> 00:17:27.839
 So we have to ask

00:17:27.839 --> 00:17:28.219
 as Christians,

00:17:28.359 --> 00:17:29.119
 how do I know

00:17:29.119 --> 00:17:29.899
 when this is starting

00:17:29.899 --> 00:17:31.059
 to happen in my life?

00:17:31.299 --> 00:17:32.519
 What is the litmus test

00:17:32.519 --> 00:17:33.299
 for when I know

00:17:33.299 --> 00:17:34.359
 I'm crossing that line

00:17:34.359 --> 00:17:35.179
 from vocational

00:17:35.179 --> 00:17:35.659
 diligence

00:17:35.659 --> 00:17:37.439
 to vocational

00:17:37.440 --> 00:17:38.080
 idolatry?

00:17:39.900 --> 00:17:40.340
 Well,

00:17:40.380 --> 00:17:41.480
 it's when we

00:17:41.480 --> 00:17:42.299
 start to,

00:17:42.420 --> 00:17:42.940
 for instance,

00:17:43.160 --> 00:17:44.120
 allow our work

00:17:44.120 --> 00:17:44.860
 to determine

00:17:44.860 --> 00:17:45.640
 our worth.

00:17:47.920 --> 00:17:48.480
 You know,

00:17:48.559 --> 00:17:49.380
 when you're either

00:17:49.380 --> 00:17:50.200
 overly eager

00:17:50.200 --> 00:17:50.799
 to tell people

00:17:50.799 --> 00:17:51.340
 what you do

00:17:51.340 --> 00:17:52.620
 because it's going

00:17:52.620 --> 00:17:53.440
 to impress them

00:17:53.440 --> 00:17:54.100
 or you don't want

00:17:54.100 --> 00:17:54.539
 to tell people

00:17:54.539 --> 00:17:54.960
 what you do

00:17:54.960 --> 00:17:55.580
 because you're afraid

00:17:55.580 --> 00:17:56.340
 they will look down

00:17:56.340 --> 00:17:56.720
 on you.

00:17:57.220 --> 00:17:58.220
 Or when you look down

00:17:58.220 --> 00:17:58.779
 on other people

00:17:58.779 --> 00:17:59.539
 because their job

00:17:59.539 --> 00:18:00.620
 isn't impressive enough.

00:18:01.460 --> 00:18:02.500
 Or when you get

00:18:02.500 --> 00:18:04.120
 success in your work

00:18:04.120 --> 00:18:05.320
 and it gives you

00:18:05.320 --> 00:18:06.019
 a swelled head.

00:18:06.400 --> 00:18:07.420
 Or when you get

00:18:07.420 --> 00:18:08.200
 critical feedback

00:18:08.200 --> 00:18:08.980
 in your job

00:18:08.980 --> 00:18:09.820
 or you fail

00:18:09.820 --> 00:18:11.019
 and it destroys you.

00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:13.900
 That's a sign, right?

00:18:14.259 --> 00:18:14.980
 Another sign

00:18:14.980 --> 00:18:15.920
 is if you really

00:18:15.920 --> 00:18:16.740
 cannot rest.

00:18:17.880 --> 00:18:19.140
 If you can't stop.

00:18:19.980 --> 00:18:21.180
 Either because of guilt

00:18:21.180 --> 00:18:22.800
 or anxiety

00:18:22.800 --> 00:18:23.759
 or ambition.

00:18:25.120 --> 00:18:26.240
 If you find yourself

00:18:26.240 --> 00:18:27.180
 remaining mentally

00:18:27.180 --> 00:18:28.560
 at work all the time,

00:18:29.440 --> 00:18:30.680
 even on a Sunday afternoon

00:18:30.680 --> 00:18:31.360
 with your family

00:18:31.360 --> 00:18:32.019
 or your friends,

00:18:33.100 --> 00:18:34.000
 but your mind

00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:34.920
 is always at work,

00:18:35.800 --> 00:18:36.640
 you cannot rest.

00:18:37.440 --> 00:18:37.540
 You know,

00:18:37.580 --> 00:18:38.200
 we often say

00:18:38.200 --> 00:18:38.740
 that's, you know,

00:18:38.880 --> 00:18:40.120
 God says again and again

00:18:40.120 --> 00:18:40.700
 in the Old Testament,

00:18:40.800 --> 00:18:41.220
 I'm the Lord,

00:18:41.280 --> 00:18:41.680
 your God,

00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:42.540
 who freed you

00:18:42.540 --> 00:18:43.340
 from slavery in Egypt,

00:18:43.460 --> 00:18:43.720
 right?

00:18:44.340 --> 00:18:45.160
 And he says that

00:18:45.160 --> 00:18:45.640
 in connection

00:18:45.640 --> 00:18:46.440
 with one very

00:18:46.440 --> 00:18:47.240
 specific command.

00:18:48.759 --> 00:18:49.080
 Sabbath.

00:18:51.060 --> 00:18:51.580
 It's like when you're

00:18:51.580 --> 00:18:52.520
 not taking a Sabbath,

00:18:52.680 --> 00:18:53.220
 you're forgetting

00:18:53.220 --> 00:18:54.120
 that you're not a slave.

00:18:55.340 --> 00:18:56.380
 Slaves can't say no.

00:18:56.440 --> 00:18:57.360
 They can't take a Sabbath.

00:18:57.540 --> 00:18:58.780
 A mark of a free person

00:18:58.780 --> 00:18:59.820
 is that they can take

00:18:59.820 --> 00:19:00.180
 a Sabbath.

00:19:02.920 --> 00:19:03.560
 Another sign

00:19:03.560 --> 00:19:04.320
 is that you sacrifice

00:19:04.319 --> 00:19:05.220
 things that God

00:19:05.220 --> 00:19:06.159
 has entrusted to you.

00:19:07.899 --> 00:19:08.700
 You sacrifice

00:19:08.700 --> 00:19:09.319
 your integrity,

00:19:09.460 --> 00:19:09.919
 you sacrifice

00:19:09.919 --> 00:19:10.539
 your health,

00:19:10.639 --> 00:19:11.159
 your friendships,

00:19:11.619 --> 00:19:12.179
 your marriage,

00:19:12.720 --> 00:19:13.220
 your relationship

00:19:13.220 --> 00:19:13.879
 with your kids,

00:19:14.319 --> 00:19:15.079
 your compassion

00:19:15.079 --> 00:19:16.539
 toward your coworkers.

00:19:18.019 --> 00:19:18.799
 And in your mind

00:19:18.799 --> 00:19:19.279
 and your heart,

00:19:19.379 --> 00:19:20.639
 you defend these sacrifices

00:19:20.639 --> 00:19:21.779
 as necessary

00:19:21.779 --> 00:19:23.200
 for the goal

00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:24.019
 you're aiming at.

00:19:24.299 --> 00:19:24.740
 Is it?

00:19:26.079 --> 00:19:27.299
 Or you feel diminished

00:19:27.299 --> 00:19:28.559
 by other people's success.

00:19:28.879 --> 00:19:29.000
 You know,

00:19:29.039 --> 00:19:29.559
 you're constantly

00:19:29.559 --> 00:19:30.500
 comparing yourself.

00:19:30.659 --> 00:19:30.700
 Well,

00:19:30.839 --> 00:19:31.779
 this person's only been

00:19:31.779 --> 00:19:32.240
 in this job

00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:33.019
 for three years

00:19:33.019 --> 00:19:33.379
 and I've been

00:19:33.379 --> 00:19:33.839
 in this job

00:19:33.839 --> 00:19:34.680
 for eight years

00:19:34.680 --> 00:19:35.420
 and look how far

00:19:35.420 --> 00:19:36.099
 they've advanced

00:19:36.099 --> 00:19:37.079
 and they overlooked

00:19:37.079 --> 00:19:37.839
 me for this

00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:40.000
 and when other people

00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:40.660
 have success

00:19:40.660 --> 00:19:41.379
 or they get promoted,

00:19:41.660 --> 00:19:42.759
 you can't celebrate it

00:19:42.759 --> 00:19:43.680
 really because you

00:19:43.680 --> 00:19:44.559
 feel threatened by it.

00:19:45.819 --> 00:19:46.899
 These are signs

00:19:46.899 --> 00:19:47.359
 that work

00:19:47.359 --> 00:19:48.399
 that we're in that

00:19:48.399 --> 00:19:49.139
 gray area

00:19:49.139 --> 00:19:50.220
 that we've crossed from.

00:19:50.339 --> 00:19:51.139
 I'm not just diligent

00:19:51.139 --> 00:19:52.160
 and working hard

00:19:52.160 --> 00:19:53.519
 and serving the Lord

00:19:53.519 --> 00:19:54.619
 but my work

00:19:54.619 --> 00:19:55.299
 has started to become

00:19:55.299 --> 00:19:56.279
 something more.

00:19:56.859 --> 00:19:57.980
 I'm looking to my job

00:19:57.980 --> 00:19:58.680
 to give me things

00:19:58.680 --> 00:20:00.660
 only God can give me.

00:20:00.660 --> 00:20:01.340
 And this, friends,

00:20:01.400 --> 00:20:02.220
 is why we need

00:20:02.220 --> 00:20:03.000
 a new why.

00:20:04.420 --> 00:20:05.320
 Because there are

00:20:05.320 --> 00:20:06.160
 some things

00:20:06.160 --> 00:20:07.259
 that work can give you.

00:20:07.380 --> 00:20:07.940
 Sometimes you hear

00:20:07.940 --> 00:20:08.620
 a sermon like this

00:20:08.620 --> 00:20:08.980
 and it's like,

00:20:09.060 --> 00:20:09.120
 well,

00:20:09.140 --> 00:20:10.740
 don't look to your work

00:20:10.740 --> 00:20:11.240
 for anything.

00:20:11.680 --> 00:20:12.019
 No, no, no.

00:20:12.019 --> 00:20:12.779
 Work is good.

00:20:14.019 --> 00:20:14.940
 But God loves

00:20:14.940 --> 00:20:15.840
 when we work.

00:20:15.940 --> 00:20:16.620
 God created us

00:20:16.620 --> 00:20:17.759
 to work before the fall.

00:20:17.900 --> 00:20:18.920
 Work is a good thing.

00:20:19.000 --> 00:20:19.380
 It's a part

00:20:19.380 --> 00:20:20.660
 of a good creation, right?

00:20:21.140 --> 00:20:22.220
 So being able

00:20:22.220 --> 00:20:23.320
 to pay your bills

00:20:23.320 --> 00:20:24.080
 and meet your needs

00:20:24.080 --> 00:20:26.320
 because you work

00:20:26.320 --> 00:20:26.920
 is good.

00:20:28.220 --> 00:20:28.980
 The satisfaction

00:20:28.980 --> 00:20:29.920
 of a job well done

00:20:29.920 --> 00:20:30.480
 is good.

00:20:31.660 --> 00:20:32.820
 But the deepest

00:20:32.820 --> 00:20:33.680
 things in life,

00:20:34.980 --> 00:20:35.980
 ultimate security,

00:20:36.380 --> 00:20:36.759
 identity,

00:20:36.980 --> 00:20:37.460
 self-worth

00:20:37.460 --> 00:20:38.320
 can only be found

00:20:38.320 --> 00:20:38.880
 in Christ.

00:20:39.800 --> 00:20:40.480
 So look again

00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:41.940
 at verses 23 and 24.

00:20:42.100 --> 00:20:42.800
 Whatever you do,

00:20:42.920 --> 00:20:43.700
 work heartily.

00:20:44.320 --> 00:20:44.500
 You know,

00:20:44.640 --> 00:20:45.900
 that literally translates

00:20:45.900 --> 00:20:47.460
 work from the soul.

00:20:49.019 --> 00:20:50.019
 I love that.

00:20:50.220 --> 00:20:51.080
 Work from the soul.

00:20:51.180 --> 00:20:51.680
 Whatever you do,

00:20:51.800 --> 00:20:52.759
 work from the soul

00:20:52.759 --> 00:20:53.900
 as for the Lord

00:20:53.900 --> 00:20:54.680
 and not for men,

00:20:55.040 --> 00:20:56.080
 knowing that from the Lord

00:20:56.080 --> 00:20:56.700
 you will receive

00:20:56.700 --> 00:20:57.259
 the inheritance

00:20:57.259 --> 00:20:58.800
 as your reward.

00:20:58.799 --> 00:21:00.159
 I want you to catch

00:21:00.159 --> 00:21:00.740
 that word.

00:21:00.740 --> 00:21:01.519
 You'll receive

00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:03.339
 the inheritance.

00:21:05.079 --> 00:21:06.119
 The gospel says

00:21:06.119 --> 00:21:06.839
 that when we turn

00:21:06.839 --> 00:21:07.339
 to Jesus,

00:21:07.339 --> 00:21:08.480
 we become part

00:21:08.480 --> 00:21:09.680
 of a spiritual family.

00:21:10.200 --> 00:21:10.839
 You're not just

00:21:10.839 --> 00:21:11.919
 adopting a new set

00:21:11.919 --> 00:21:12.319
 of beliefs.

00:21:13.359 --> 00:21:14.879
 You are grafted

00:21:14.879 --> 00:21:16.940
 into a spiritual family.

00:21:18.059 --> 00:21:18.899
 J.I. Packer,

00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:19.519
 the late,

00:21:19.619 --> 00:21:20.599
 great Anglican pastor,

00:21:20.740 --> 00:21:21.599
 says that the best

00:21:21.599 --> 00:21:22.460
 definition he knows

00:21:22.460 --> 00:21:22.940
 of what it means

00:21:22.940 --> 00:21:23.539
 to be a Christian

00:21:23.539 --> 00:21:24.720
 is that a Christian

00:21:24.720 --> 00:21:25.139
 is someone

00:21:25.140 --> 00:21:25.780
 who can call

00:21:25.780 --> 00:21:26.540
 God father.

00:21:27.580 --> 00:21:29.060
 You gain a new father.

00:21:30.340 --> 00:21:32.100
 And with that new father

00:21:32.100 --> 00:21:33.180
 and that new family

00:21:33.180 --> 00:21:35.120
 comes an inheritance.

00:21:36.300 --> 00:21:36.860
 An inheritance

00:21:36.860 --> 00:21:37.740
 is not a reward.

00:21:37.860 --> 00:21:38.360
 You can't earn

00:21:38.360 --> 00:21:38.840
 an inheritance.

00:21:39.040 --> 00:21:39.520
 The only way

00:21:39.520 --> 00:21:40.100
 to get an inheritance

00:21:40.100 --> 00:21:41.020
 is by being a part

00:21:41.020 --> 00:21:41.860
 of the right family.

00:21:43.080 --> 00:21:44.300
 You gain an inheritance.

00:21:45.320 --> 00:21:46.280
 And the best way

00:21:46.280 --> 00:21:46.900
 to understand

00:21:46.900 --> 00:21:47.580
 when the Bible

00:21:47.580 --> 00:21:48.920
 talks about this inheritance

00:21:48.920 --> 00:21:50.060
 is the best way

00:21:50.060 --> 00:21:50.560
 to understand it

00:21:50.560 --> 00:21:51.300
 is this is like

00:21:51.300 --> 00:21:51.960
 talking about

00:21:51.960 --> 00:21:52.980
 ultimate security,

00:21:53.380 --> 00:21:54.120
 ultimate identity,

00:21:54.119 --> 00:21:55.519
 ultimate self-worth.

00:21:56.099 --> 00:21:58.219
 You gain the assurance

00:21:58.219 --> 00:21:59.279
 that you will be

00:21:59.279 --> 00:22:00.799
 in eternity with Christ.

00:22:01.859 --> 00:22:02.819
 All those things

00:22:02.819 --> 00:22:04.159
 you're looking for here

00:22:04.159 --> 00:22:06.339
 in these shadowed forms

00:22:06.339 --> 00:22:07.519
 you will one day have

00:22:07.519 --> 00:22:08.479
 in abundance

00:22:08.479 --> 00:22:09.959
 in Christ

00:22:09.959 --> 00:22:12.519
 because you're

00:22:12.519 --> 00:22:13.379
 a child of God.

00:22:14.079 --> 00:22:14.799
 And what this means

00:22:14.799 --> 00:22:15.659
 for us practically

00:22:15.659 --> 00:22:16.699
 as we think about our work,

00:22:16.799 --> 00:22:17.859
 think about what you do

00:22:17.859 --> 00:22:19.159
 week in and week out.

00:22:19.559 --> 00:22:20.799
 Nothing that you get

00:22:20.799 --> 00:22:21.799
 from that work

00:22:21.799 --> 00:22:22.939
 will ever come close

00:22:22.940 --> 00:22:24.660
 to what you already have

00:22:24.660 --> 00:22:25.880
 in Christ.

00:22:26.960 --> 00:22:28.340
 You will get to the end

00:22:28.340 --> 00:22:29.880
 of a 50 year career

00:22:29.880 --> 00:22:31.039
 and you will look back

00:22:31.039 --> 00:22:31.900
 and you will never

00:22:31.900 --> 00:22:32.960
 have gained anything

00:22:32.960 --> 00:22:35.200
 that comes close

00:22:35.200 --> 00:22:37.660
 to what you had

00:22:37.660 --> 00:22:38.320
 all along

00:22:38.320 --> 00:22:40.100
 in Christ.

00:22:41.039 --> 00:22:43.000
 So if you think that way

00:22:43.000 --> 00:22:45.559
 then it changes the why.

00:22:45.980 --> 00:22:47.680
 If I don't get the respect

00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:48.920
 that I think I'm owed

00:22:48.920 --> 00:22:49.820
 from my coworkers

00:22:49.820 --> 00:22:50.640
 and my boss

00:22:50.640 --> 00:22:53.500
 who cares?

00:22:54.380 --> 00:22:55.700
 I have the delight

00:22:55.700 --> 00:22:57.259
 of the only one

00:22:57.259 --> 00:22:57.940
 whose opinion

00:22:57.940 --> 00:22:58.920
 really matters.

00:23:00.240 --> 00:23:01.279
 Who cares?

00:23:01.560 --> 00:23:02.480
 If I don't achieve

00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:03.580
 everything that I hope

00:23:03.580 --> 00:23:04.500
 to in this life

00:23:04.500 --> 00:23:07.700
 you know I just turned 49

00:23:07.700 --> 00:23:08.580
 so I'm right on the cusp

00:23:08.580 --> 00:23:09.019
 of 50

00:23:09.019 --> 00:23:10.380
 and right in that zone

00:23:10.380 --> 00:23:11.960
 where you're really grappling

00:23:11.960 --> 00:23:12.460
 with the fact

00:23:12.460 --> 00:23:13.240
 that many of the things

00:23:13.240 --> 00:23:14.259
 you thought you might accomplish

00:23:14.259 --> 00:23:15.480
 are never going to happen.

00:23:16.019 --> 00:23:16.220
 Right?

00:23:16.300 --> 00:23:17.200
 I threw out my back

00:23:17.200 --> 00:23:18.480
 this morning getting into the car.

00:23:18.600 --> 00:23:19.620
 I'm barely standing

00:23:19.620 --> 00:23:20.299
 at this point.

00:23:20.400 --> 00:23:20.559
 Right?

00:23:20.660 --> 00:23:21.740
 It's not looking good

00:23:21.740 --> 00:23:23.059
 for my sense of accomplishment.

00:23:23.279 --> 00:23:23.440
 Right?

00:23:26.019 --> 00:23:27.259
 You grapple with that

00:23:27.259 --> 00:23:27.720
 but you say you know

00:23:27.720 --> 00:23:28.440
 if I don't achieve

00:23:28.440 --> 00:23:29.220
 everything I hope to

00:23:29.220 --> 00:23:29.580
 in this life

00:23:29.580 --> 00:23:30.259
 who cares?

00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:32.720
 One day I'm going to share

00:23:32.720 --> 00:23:33.519
 in the renewal

00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:34.519
 of the heavens

00:23:34.519 --> 00:23:35.360
 and the earth.

00:23:35.500 --> 00:23:36.319
 I'm going to dance

00:23:36.319 --> 00:23:37.100
 on the streets

00:23:37.100 --> 00:23:38.160
 of the new Jerusalem.

00:23:40.440 --> 00:23:41.180
 It's okay.

00:23:41.740 --> 00:23:42.460
 So it gives us

00:23:42.460 --> 00:23:43.319
 a new why.

00:23:43.440 --> 00:23:44.259
 Instead of working

00:23:44.259 --> 00:23:45.539
 to get what we want

00:23:45.539 --> 00:23:49.720
 what does a Christian job

00:23:49.720 --> 00:23:50.159
 look like?

00:23:50.200 --> 00:23:51.200
 It looks like somebody

00:23:51.200 --> 00:23:52.319
 who works out

00:23:52.319 --> 00:23:53.220
 of the security

00:23:53.220 --> 00:23:54.639
 of what they already have.

00:23:55.539 --> 00:23:56.819
 There's a lightness

00:23:56.819 --> 00:23:57.500
 of being.

00:23:57.920 --> 00:23:58.839
 There's an ability

00:23:58.839 --> 00:23:59.899
 to like plunge in

00:23:59.899 --> 00:24:00.859
 and work from the soul

00:24:00.859 --> 00:24:02.079
 but to at the same time

00:24:02.079 --> 00:24:03.000
 hold it lightly.

00:24:03.779 --> 00:24:05.339
 To see it relative

00:24:05.339 --> 00:24:06.440
 to eternity.

00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:07.859
 Right?

00:24:08.019 --> 00:24:08.920
 And so you know

00:24:08.920 --> 00:24:09.519
 you say

00:24:09.519 --> 00:24:11.079
 once you work

00:24:11.079 --> 00:24:12.200
 from that security

00:24:12.200 --> 00:24:12.940
 then you begin

00:24:12.940 --> 00:24:13.619
 to see work

00:24:13.619 --> 00:24:15.180
 the way God sees it.

00:24:15.180 --> 00:24:16.320
 This is not a way

00:24:16.320 --> 00:24:17.200
 for us to get identity

00:24:17.200 --> 00:24:17.720
 and security

00:24:17.720 --> 00:24:18.519
 and self-worth.

00:24:18.799 --> 00:24:20.000
 It's simply a way

00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:21.000
 for us to love

00:24:21.000 --> 00:24:22.220
 and serve other people.

00:24:23.299 --> 00:24:24.279
 It's a way for us

00:24:24.279 --> 00:24:24.920
 to love and serve.

00:24:25.019 --> 00:24:25.920
 So what does that look like?

00:24:26.039 --> 00:24:26.180
 Well,

00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:27.840
 a couple of examples.

00:24:28.980 --> 00:24:29.320
 Joey,

00:24:29.600 --> 00:24:30.140
 who is a member

00:24:30.140 --> 00:24:30.680
 of our church,

00:24:31.320 --> 00:24:32.299
 he works at the

00:24:32.299 --> 00:24:33.279
 Department of Labor

00:24:33.279 --> 00:24:34.620
 and he helps

00:24:34.620 --> 00:24:35.299
 other people

00:24:35.299 --> 00:24:36.100
 find pathways

00:24:36.100 --> 00:24:37.400
 into meaningful careers.

00:24:38.560 --> 00:24:39.920
 But if you know

00:24:39.920 --> 00:24:40.360
 his story,

00:24:40.420 --> 00:24:40.960
 he grew up

00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:42.060
 in a working class family.

00:24:42.640 --> 00:24:43.799
 Money was always tight.

00:24:44.480 --> 00:24:45.119
 The Great Recession

00:24:45.119 --> 00:24:45.500
 happened.

00:24:45.659 --> 00:24:46.980
 His father lost his job.

00:24:47.079 --> 00:24:48.059
 Mother was injured

00:24:48.059 --> 00:24:48.659
 at work.

00:24:48.819 --> 00:24:49.720
 They had years

00:24:49.720 --> 00:24:51.059
 of unemployment

00:24:51.059 --> 00:24:52.539
 and struggling

00:24:52.539 --> 00:24:54.359
 and not having

00:24:54.359 --> 00:24:55.299
 enough money

00:24:55.299 --> 00:24:56.460
 and at one point

00:24:56.460 --> 00:24:57.440
 they lost their house.

00:24:58.059 --> 00:24:59.619
 And if you grow up

00:24:59.619 --> 00:24:59.960
 like that

00:24:59.960 --> 00:25:00.519
 as a child

00:25:00.519 --> 00:25:01.180
 looking at that

00:25:01.180 --> 00:25:02.639
 kind of reality

00:25:02.639 --> 00:25:03.259
 happening,

00:25:03.339 --> 00:25:03.680
 it would be

00:25:03.680 --> 00:25:04.440
 very understandable

00:25:04.440 --> 00:25:05.220
 for you to see

00:25:05.220 --> 00:25:06.519
 work as a means

00:25:06.519 --> 00:25:07.639
 to get financial security.

00:25:08.639 --> 00:25:08.899
 Right?

00:25:08.980 --> 00:25:09.500
 And there could be

00:25:09.500 --> 00:25:10.240
 a lot of fear

00:25:10.240 --> 00:25:11.159
 and a lot of anxiety

00:25:11.159 --> 00:25:12.139
 around not having enough.

00:25:12.140 --> 00:25:12.960
 And so work could become

00:25:12.960 --> 00:25:13.780
 that thing for you.

00:25:14.820 --> 00:25:15.520
 But then if you know

00:25:15.520 --> 00:25:16.180
 Joey's story,

00:25:17.220 --> 00:25:18.660
 he meets Christ.

00:25:19.140 --> 00:25:20.220
 He comes to faith

00:25:20.220 --> 00:25:21.460
 and he will tell you

00:25:21.460 --> 00:25:23.580
 work completely changed

00:25:23.580 --> 00:25:25.060
 after that.

00:25:25.640 --> 00:25:26.920
 He says after he met Jesus,

00:25:27.040 --> 00:25:27.540
 his whole view

00:25:27.540 --> 00:25:28.620
 of work expanded.

00:25:29.580 --> 00:25:30.360
 So it's not like

00:25:30.360 --> 00:25:31.120
 financial security

00:25:31.120 --> 00:25:31.740
 doesn't matter.

00:25:31.820 --> 00:25:32.200
 As we said,

00:25:32.320 --> 00:25:33.100
 we need to make money.

00:25:33.180 --> 00:25:34.060
 We need to pay our bills.

00:25:34.200 --> 00:25:34.800
 But now,

00:25:35.300 --> 00:25:36.040
 if you ask him,

00:25:36.120 --> 00:25:37.060
 he sees his work

00:25:37.060 --> 00:25:38.840
 as part of the larger story

00:25:38.840 --> 00:25:39.740
 of God's work

00:25:39.740 --> 00:25:40.420
 in the world.

00:25:41.240 --> 00:25:42.400
 He sees it as a way

00:25:42.400 --> 00:25:43.319
 to love and serve

00:25:43.319 --> 00:25:44.000
 other people.

00:25:44.180 --> 00:25:44.779
 So he says,

00:25:44.819 --> 00:25:44.960
 you know,

00:25:45.019 --> 00:25:46.319
 his work isn't merely

00:25:46.319 --> 00:25:47.019
 a way for him

00:25:47.019 --> 00:25:48.200
 to secure his own future.

00:25:48.579 --> 00:25:49.480
 Now his work

00:25:49.480 --> 00:25:50.319
 is about securing

00:25:50.319 --> 00:25:51.359
 other people's future.

00:25:52.380 --> 00:25:52.579
 Right?

00:25:52.680 --> 00:25:53.759
 Helping them figure out

00:25:53.759 --> 00:25:54.400
 what their future

00:25:54.400 --> 00:25:55.140
 is going to look like.

00:25:55.380 --> 00:25:56.220
 That's what it looks like

00:25:56.220 --> 00:25:57.059
 to have a new why.

00:25:57.160 --> 00:25:58.140
 There's a turning outward.

00:25:58.559 --> 00:25:59.420
 There's an aligning

00:25:59.420 --> 00:26:00.420
 with God's purposes.

00:26:00.900 --> 00:26:01.059
 There's,

00:26:01.220 --> 00:26:02.359
 it's seeing your work

00:26:02.359 --> 00:26:03.500
 as a part of God's work

00:26:03.500 --> 00:26:04.019
 in the world.

00:26:04.099 --> 00:26:04.359
 I'll give you

00:26:04.359 --> 00:26:05.019
 one more example.

00:26:05.960 --> 00:26:06.279
 Jennifer

00:26:06.279 --> 00:26:09.779
 works in pediatric oncology.

00:26:10.599 --> 00:26:11.220
 Every day,

00:26:11.359 --> 00:26:12.460
 she has to deal with pain.

00:26:12.599 --> 00:26:12.960
 Every day,

00:26:13.039 --> 00:26:13.539
 she has to deal

00:26:13.539 --> 00:26:14.420
 with broken systems.

00:26:14.579 --> 00:26:14.920
 Every day,

00:26:15.000 --> 00:26:15.519
 she has to deal

00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:17.399
 with unimaginable grief.

00:26:17.700 --> 00:26:18.139
 She's working

00:26:18.139 --> 00:26:18.740
 with children

00:26:18.740 --> 00:26:19.940
 who are dying

00:26:19.940 --> 00:26:21.180
 of cancer.

00:26:21.359 --> 00:26:21.799
 And sometimes,

00:26:21.920 --> 00:26:22.799
 she has to tell people

00:26:22.799 --> 00:26:24.839
 the worst possible news.

00:26:25.920 --> 00:26:26.879
 And she says people

00:26:26.879 --> 00:26:27.879
 often ask her,

00:26:28.359 --> 00:26:29.359
 how do you do it?

00:26:29.359 --> 00:26:30.619
 That just sounds so hard.

00:26:30.740 --> 00:26:31.420
 And inside,

00:26:31.539 --> 00:26:31.940
 she thinks,

00:26:32.119 --> 00:26:33.119
 it's actually probably

00:26:33.119 --> 00:26:34.299
 harder than you think.

00:26:34.299 --> 00:26:36.659
 And she says,

00:26:36.740 --> 00:26:36.859
 you know,

00:26:37.019 --> 00:26:37.859
 anybody,

00:26:38.180 --> 00:26:38.480
 doctors,

00:26:38.639 --> 00:26:38.859
 nurses,

00:26:38.980 --> 00:26:39.779
 anybody who works

00:26:39.779 --> 00:26:40.940
 in that field

00:26:40.940 --> 00:26:41.919
 will tell you

00:26:41.919 --> 00:26:42.680
 it's so easy

00:26:42.680 --> 00:26:43.720
 to become overwhelmed

00:26:43.720 --> 00:26:45.680
 by the suffering

00:26:45.680 --> 00:26:47.759
 because you can't prevent it,

00:26:47.839 --> 00:26:48.480
 you can't cure it,

00:26:48.519 --> 00:26:49.299
 you can't fix it.

00:26:51.539 --> 00:26:52.720
 And so for her,

00:26:53.139 --> 00:26:54.259
 work could easily

00:26:54.259 --> 00:26:55.019
 become a place

00:26:55.019 --> 00:26:55.539
 of burnout

00:26:55.539 --> 00:26:56.379
 and exhaustion

00:26:56.379 --> 00:26:57.240
 and cynicism

00:26:57.240 --> 00:26:57.859
 and despair.

00:26:59.440 --> 00:26:59.960
 But,

00:27:00.460 --> 00:27:01.639
 she says that

00:27:01.639 --> 00:27:03.559
 her relationship

00:27:03.559 --> 00:27:04.259
 with Christ

00:27:04.259 --> 00:27:05.599
 has changed

00:27:05.599 --> 00:27:06.119
 the way

00:27:06.119 --> 00:27:06.720
 she thinks

00:27:06.720 --> 00:27:07.419
 about her work.

00:27:07.899 --> 00:27:08.899
 She has a new why.

00:27:09.259 --> 00:27:10.460
 And I'll just quote her here.

00:27:10.539 --> 00:27:10.919
 She says,

00:27:11.220 --> 00:27:11.899
 I often say

00:27:11.899 --> 00:27:12.940
 that I love my job

00:27:12.940 --> 00:27:13.440
 but I wish

00:27:13.440 --> 00:27:14.200
 it didn't exist.

00:27:15.159 --> 00:27:16.200
 And I'm pretty sure

00:27:16.200 --> 00:27:17.279
 that in the new creation

00:27:17.279 --> 00:27:17.980
 it won't.

00:27:18.500 --> 00:27:19.259
 Because we won't

00:27:19.259 --> 00:27:20.299
 have childhood cancer

00:27:20.299 --> 00:27:21.599
 and won't need chemotherapy.

00:27:22.399 --> 00:27:23.599
 My work has made me

00:27:23.599 --> 00:27:24.940
 long even more deeply

00:27:24.940 --> 00:27:25.720
 for that day

00:27:25.720 --> 00:27:26.299
 when the Lord

00:27:26.299 --> 00:27:27.259
 heals all

00:27:27.259 --> 00:27:29.019
 and makes all things new.

00:27:30.319 --> 00:27:31.519
 That's what it looks like

00:27:31.519 --> 00:27:32.839
 to have a new why.

00:27:33.559 --> 00:27:34.980
 You see your work

00:27:34.980 --> 00:27:36.700
 as part of the larger story

00:27:36.700 --> 00:27:37.779
 of God's work

00:27:37.779 --> 00:27:38.419
 in the world.

00:27:39.099 --> 00:27:39.859
 And for her,

00:27:40.200 --> 00:27:41.059
 she is anchored

00:27:41.059 --> 00:27:41.720
 in the hope

00:27:41.720 --> 00:27:43.759
 of that imperishable inheritance

00:27:43.759 --> 00:27:45.440
 that will one day

00:27:45.440 --> 00:27:46.059
 be ours.

00:27:46.859 --> 00:27:47.679
 So the gospel

00:27:47.679 --> 00:27:48.839
 gives us a new who,

00:27:49.019 --> 00:27:50.399
 it gives us a new why,

00:27:50.559 --> 00:27:51.179
 and lastly,

00:27:51.480 --> 00:27:52.419
 and very briefly,

00:27:52.679 --> 00:27:53.940
 it gives us a new how.

00:27:55.019 --> 00:27:55.960
 A new how.

00:27:56.299 --> 00:27:57.240
 Because God doesn't just

00:27:57.240 --> 00:27:58.319
 call us to work hard

00:27:58.319 --> 00:27:59.419
 but to work well.

00:27:59.420 --> 00:28:00.420
 Again,

00:28:01.539 --> 00:28:02.340
 there's no such thing

00:28:02.340 --> 00:28:03.220
 as a sacred job

00:28:03.220 --> 00:28:04.100
 or a secular job.

00:28:05.800 --> 00:28:06.279
 I think it was

00:28:06.279 --> 00:28:07.140
 Dorothy Sayers

00:28:07.140 --> 00:28:07.500
 who said,

00:28:07.580 --> 00:28:08.140
 a Christian job

00:28:08.140 --> 00:28:08.940
 is a job done well.

00:28:12.220 --> 00:28:13.900
 So for Christian employees,

00:28:15.080 --> 00:28:16.279
 it says in verse 22,

00:28:16.440 --> 00:28:17.360
 obey in everything

00:28:17.360 --> 00:28:18.100
 those who are

00:28:18.100 --> 00:28:18.960
 earthly masters.

00:28:19.560 --> 00:28:20.759
 Not by way of eye service

00:28:20.759 --> 00:28:21.620
 as people pleasers

00:28:21.620 --> 00:28:22.920
 but with sincerity of heart.

00:28:23.340 --> 00:28:24.220
 For the wrongdoer

00:28:24.220 --> 00:28:25.120
 will be paid back

00:28:25.120 --> 00:28:26.360
 for the wrong he has done

00:28:26.359 --> 00:28:28.259
 and there is no partiality.

00:28:29.179 --> 00:28:30.199
 So if you feel

00:28:30.199 --> 00:28:31.159
 unappreciated

00:28:31.159 --> 00:28:32.619
 or mistreated

00:28:32.619 --> 00:28:33.839
 or overlooked

00:28:33.839 --> 00:28:35.259
 or overworked,

00:28:35.619 --> 00:28:36.240
 if you think

00:28:36.240 --> 00:28:37.619
 your boss is incompetent

00:28:37.619 --> 00:28:38.319
 and that you should

00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:39.279
 have their job,

00:28:40.619 --> 00:28:40.799
 right,

00:28:40.859 --> 00:28:41.879
 it's very easy

00:28:41.879 --> 00:28:42.879
 if you feel that way

00:28:42.879 --> 00:28:44.559
 to justify slacking off.

00:28:45.719 --> 00:28:46.559
 It's easy

00:28:46.559 --> 00:28:47.219
 to sort of

00:28:47.219 --> 00:28:48.259
 think that

00:28:48.259 --> 00:28:49.059
 that injustice

00:28:49.059 --> 00:28:49.979
 that you feel

00:28:49.979 --> 00:28:51.379
 gives you license

00:28:51.379 --> 00:28:52.719
 to work half-heartedly

00:28:52.719 --> 00:28:55.259
 because you don't think

00:28:55.259 --> 00:28:56.379
 your boss deserves

00:28:56.379 --> 00:28:57.119
 anything more

00:28:57.119 --> 00:28:58.220
 or you're disillusioned

00:28:58.220 --> 00:28:59.000
 with the institution

00:28:59.000 --> 00:28:59.660
 and you don't think

00:28:59.660 --> 00:29:00.640
 they deserve any more

00:29:00.640 --> 00:29:02.140
 and so you kind of

00:29:02.140 --> 00:29:02.759
 phoned it in

00:29:02.759 --> 00:29:03.559
 at a bare minimum.

00:29:04.779 --> 00:29:06.079
 But what this is saying

00:29:06.079 --> 00:29:06.779
 and this is kind of

00:29:06.779 --> 00:29:07.599
 we need to hear this,

00:29:07.980 --> 00:29:09.240
 there is no excuse

00:29:09.240 --> 00:29:09.900
 for Christians.

00:29:11.119 --> 00:29:12.259
 There is no excuse.

00:29:12.980 --> 00:29:13.819
 We should always

00:29:13.819 --> 00:29:14.759
 work our hardest

00:29:14.759 --> 00:29:15.700
 from the heart

00:29:15.700 --> 00:29:16.420
 and do our best

00:29:16.420 --> 00:29:17.319
 not just when we're

00:29:17.319 --> 00:29:17.940
 being watched

00:29:17.940 --> 00:29:19.319
 but all the time.

00:29:19.839 --> 00:29:20.680
 And just to come back

00:29:20.680 --> 00:29:21.240
 to it for a moment,

00:29:21.359 --> 00:29:22.099
 that actually means

00:29:22.099 --> 00:29:23.059
 no snack bowls.

00:29:23.059 --> 00:29:27.599
 No, what was I really doing?

00:29:27.679 --> 00:29:30.139
 I was taking liberties, right?

00:29:30.200 --> 00:29:31.599
 I was justifying it

00:29:31.599 --> 00:29:33.019
 and I was thinking,

00:29:33.619 --> 00:29:34.679
 well, I'm here

00:29:34.679 --> 00:29:35.659
 cleaning the bathrooms

00:29:35.659 --> 00:29:36.519
 and I'm getting paid

00:29:36.519 --> 00:29:37.319
 minimum wage

00:29:37.319 --> 00:29:38.440
 and this is getting

00:29:38.440 --> 00:29:39.099
 thrown out

00:29:39.099 --> 00:29:40.839
 and who cares

00:29:40.839 --> 00:29:42.179
 if I take a little

00:29:42.179 --> 00:29:43.359
 of this for myself, right?

00:29:43.639 --> 00:29:44.779
 Now, hopefully

00:29:44.779 --> 00:29:45.839
 that didn't do any harm

00:29:45.839 --> 00:29:46.379
 to anybody

00:29:46.379 --> 00:29:47.119
 but ultimately,

00:29:48.319 --> 00:29:49.259
 ultimately I'm taking

00:29:49.259 --> 00:29:49.960
 a little liberty

00:29:49.960 --> 00:29:52.119
 that's really not okay

00:29:52.119 --> 00:29:52.779
 for me to do.

00:29:53.899 --> 00:29:54.960
 And over time,

00:29:55.039 --> 00:29:55.779
 those little liberties

00:29:55.779 --> 00:29:56.359
 add up

00:29:56.359 --> 00:29:57.639
 and that way

00:29:57.639 --> 00:29:58.159
 of approaching

00:29:58.159 --> 00:29:58.980
 your work

00:29:58.980 --> 00:30:00.440
 adds up

00:30:00.440 --> 00:30:01.759
 and over time,

00:30:01.859 --> 00:30:02.279
 it's not just

00:30:02.279 --> 00:30:03.079
 individuals doing that,

00:30:03.119 --> 00:30:03.899
 that begins to affect

00:30:03.899 --> 00:30:04.539
 a community

00:30:04.539 --> 00:30:05.879
 and a work culture,

00:30:06.599 --> 00:30:06.740
 right?

00:30:06.779 --> 00:30:07.720
 And you can easily

00:30:07.720 --> 00:30:08.419
 have a work culture

00:30:08.419 --> 00:30:09.000
 where everybody's

00:30:09.000 --> 00:30:09.819
 taking little liberties

00:30:09.819 --> 00:30:10.819
 and skimming a little bit

00:30:10.819 --> 00:30:11.419
 here and there

00:30:11.419 --> 00:30:12.440
 and cutting corners

00:30:12.440 --> 00:30:13.059
 here and there

00:30:13.059 --> 00:30:14.639
 and all justifying it

00:30:14.639 --> 00:30:17.159
 and over time,

00:30:17.240 --> 00:30:18.179
 that can really do damage

00:30:18.179 --> 00:30:18.879
 and even if it doesn't

00:30:18.879 --> 00:30:20.079
 do damage to the institution,

00:30:20.200 --> 00:30:21.099
 it does damage in here.

00:30:21.099 --> 00:30:23.219
 It does damage

00:30:23.219 --> 00:30:23.839
 to my relationship

00:30:23.839 --> 00:30:24.419
 with Christ.

00:30:25.079 --> 00:30:25.859
 So, I would actually

00:30:25.859 --> 00:30:26.419
 encourage you,

00:30:26.659 --> 00:30:28.279
 do you have any snack bowls?

00:30:29.740 --> 00:30:30.319
 Now, you're probably

00:30:30.319 --> 00:30:31.519
 not as nasty as I was

00:30:31.519 --> 00:30:32.159
 doing that but

00:30:32.159 --> 00:30:35.279
 what is your version

00:30:35.279 --> 00:30:36.119
 of a snack bowl

00:30:36.119 --> 00:30:36.879
 in your work?

00:30:37.619 --> 00:30:37.759
 Right?

00:30:37.799 --> 00:30:38.339
 Little liberties

00:30:38.339 --> 00:30:39.000
 that you take

00:30:39.000 --> 00:30:39.579
 because you think

00:30:39.579 --> 00:30:40.399
 that's what you're owed.

00:30:42.079 --> 00:30:43.359
 Not so with Christians.

00:30:43.359 --> 00:30:45.259
 And then,

00:30:45.419 --> 00:30:46.479
 Paul addresses

00:30:46.479 --> 00:30:47.479
 Christian bosses

00:30:47.479 --> 00:30:48.199
 or masters.

00:30:48.339 --> 00:30:49.279
 He says in chapter 4,

00:30:49.319 --> 00:30:49.579
 verse 1,

00:30:49.859 --> 00:30:50.219
 Masters,

00:30:50.439 --> 00:30:51.559
 treat your bondservants

00:30:51.559 --> 00:30:52.759
 justly and fairly

00:30:52.759 --> 00:30:54.399
 knowing that you also

00:30:54.399 --> 00:30:55.719
 have a master in heaven.

00:30:56.159 --> 00:30:56.399
 Mm.

00:30:57.059 --> 00:30:57.479
 Right?

00:30:57.619 --> 00:30:58.219
 For those of us

00:30:58.219 --> 00:30:59.019
 who are in positions

00:30:59.019 --> 00:30:59.619
 of authority,

00:31:00.539 --> 00:31:01.719
 who lead teams

00:31:01.719 --> 00:31:02.619
 or institutions,

00:31:03.819 --> 00:31:04.859
 Paul reminds us

00:31:04.859 --> 00:31:06.159
 that no one is above,

00:31:07.039 --> 00:31:09.159
 no one is above the law.

00:31:09.919 --> 00:31:11.519
 We are all under to,

00:31:11.519 --> 00:31:12.559
 and answer to,

00:31:12.680 --> 00:31:13.339
 the authority

00:31:13.339 --> 00:31:15.099
 of our Lord Jesus Christ.

00:31:15.220 --> 00:31:15.480
 He says,

00:31:15.559 --> 00:31:15.879
 so therefore,

00:31:16.119 --> 00:31:16.859
 treat others

00:31:16.859 --> 00:31:17.940
 justly and fairly.

00:31:20.259 --> 00:31:21.720
 Don't take credit

00:31:21.720 --> 00:31:23.500
 for work that other people do

00:31:23.500 --> 00:31:24.619
 who work for you.

00:31:25.660 --> 00:31:26.519
 Give credit

00:31:26.519 --> 00:31:27.579
 where credit is due.

00:31:29.059 --> 00:31:30.139
 Show grace

00:31:30.139 --> 00:31:31.480
 when people make mistakes.

00:31:32.639 --> 00:31:33.980
 See those as opportunities

00:31:33.980 --> 00:31:35.220
 to build them up

00:31:35.220 --> 00:31:36.240
 whenever you can.

00:31:37.460 --> 00:31:39.259
 Fight for equal pay

00:31:39.259 --> 00:31:40.579
 and equal opportunities,

00:31:40.579 --> 00:31:41.819
 especially for people

00:31:41.819 --> 00:31:42.699
 who are least likely

00:31:42.699 --> 00:31:44.159
 to have those things

00:31:44.159 --> 00:31:45.079
 in our society.

00:31:45.480 --> 00:31:46.679
 If you have any influence

00:31:46.679 --> 00:31:47.619
 in your institution,

00:31:47.779 --> 00:31:48.879
 ensure that those things

00:31:48.879 --> 00:31:49.379
 are happening.

00:31:50.199 --> 00:31:51.259
 Make sure that all of your

00:31:51.259 --> 00:31:52.779
 leave and family policies

00:31:52.779 --> 00:31:54.099
 are generous,

00:31:54.579 --> 00:31:55.500
 erring on the side

00:31:55.500 --> 00:31:57.079
 of being overly generous

00:31:57.079 --> 00:31:58.159
 if you can.

00:31:59.000 --> 00:31:59.099
 Right?

00:31:59.240 --> 00:32:00.240
 Don't just hire

00:32:00.240 --> 00:32:01.839
 from your own networks,

00:32:02.460 --> 00:32:03.720
 but look for opportunities

00:32:03.720 --> 00:32:04.699
 to hire people

00:32:04.699 --> 00:32:05.919
 with less privilege.

00:32:05.920 --> 00:32:09.279
 don't overwork your people,

00:32:09.380 --> 00:32:09.980
 but treat them

00:32:09.980 --> 00:32:11.060
 as human beings

00:32:11.060 --> 00:32:12.000
 and make sure

00:32:12.000 --> 00:32:12.779
 they have time

00:32:12.779 --> 00:32:14.480
 for friends and family.

00:32:14.880 --> 00:32:17.039
 If you give people PTO,

00:32:17.600 --> 00:32:19.080
 force them to take it

00:32:19.080 --> 00:32:19.920
 so that you don't have

00:32:19.920 --> 00:32:21.660
 a culture in your workplace

00:32:21.660 --> 00:32:23.000
 where people feel guilty

00:32:23.000 --> 00:32:24.080
 taking time off.

00:32:25.860 --> 00:32:27.519
 God is a God of justice.

00:32:28.200 --> 00:32:28.360
 Right?

00:32:28.560 --> 00:32:29.539
 And one day

00:32:29.539 --> 00:32:30.720
 when Jesus comes back,

00:32:30.980 --> 00:32:31.640
 God's justice

00:32:31.640 --> 00:32:32.880
 is going to fill the earth.

00:32:32.880 --> 00:32:35.680
 And if we're truly serving him

00:32:35.680 --> 00:32:36.800
 in our work here and now,

00:32:37.000 --> 00:32:37.920
 we want to do it

00:32:37.920 --> 00:32:38.920
 in a way that reflects

00:32:38.920 --> 00:32:39.700
 his heart,

00:32:40.180 --> 00:32:41.000
 his priorities,

00:32:41.500 --> 00:32:42.340
 his character,

00:32:42.580 --> 00:32:43.460
 and his vision

00:32:43.460 --> 00:32:44.100
 for the world.

00:32:45.780 --> 00:32:47.440
 So pulling all of this together,

00:32:48.440 --> 00:32:50.280
 when you go back to work

00:32:50.280 --> 00:32:51.120
 this week,

00:32:51.280 --> 00:32:52.400
 whatever that looks like

00:32:52.400 --> 00:32:52.660
 for you,

00:32:52.720 --> 00:32:53.600
 paid, unpaid,

00:32:53.720 --> 00:32:54.300
 in an office,

00:32:54.420 --> 00:32:54.820
 in a home,

00:32:54.920 --> 00:32:55.960
 whatever that might be,

00:32:56.020 --> 00:32:57.020
 if you're getting on a plane

00:32:57.020 --> 00:32:57.840
 Tuesday morning,

00:32:58.920 --> 00:33:02.100
 the gospel changes everything.

00:33:03.680 --> 00:33:04.660
 Including our work.

00:33:05.620 --> 00:33:06.400
 So it changes

00:33:06.400 --> 00:33:07.400
 who we work for.

00:33:07.540 --> 00:33:07.920
 Ultimately,

00:33:08.140 --> 00:33:08.980
 we work for Christ.

00:33:09.120 --> 00:33:10.100
 So I would encourage you,

00:33:10.360 --> 00:33:10.940
 take a moment

00:33:10.940 --> 00:33:11.720
 before you sort of

00:33:11.720 --> 00:33:12.760
 begin your day

00:33:12.760 --> 00:33:13.900
 every morning

00:33:13.900 --> 00:33:16.120
 and just take a moment

00:33:16.120 --> 00:33:16.760
 to pray

00:33:16.760 --> 00:33:18.740
 and devote the tasks

00:33:18.740 --> 00:33:19.720
 of that day

00:33:19.720 --> 00:33:20.800
 to the Lord.

00:33:21.260 --> 00:33:22.000
 When I respond

00:33:22.000 --> 00:33:22.660
 to these emails,

00:33:22.740 --> 00:33:23.300
 I'm going to do it

00:33:23.300 --> 00:33:24.020
 in your name.

00:33:24.460 --> 00:33:24.560
 Right?

00:33:24.940 --> 00:33:26.200
 When I work on this plan

00:33:26.200 --> 00:33:26.920
 for later in the week,

00:33:27.000 --> 00:33:28.400
 when I put this agenda together,

00:33:29.060 --> 00:33:30.780
 when I work on this spreadsheet

00:33:30.780 --> 00:33:31.760
 or balance these numbers,

00:33:31.759 --> 00:33:33.339
 this is for you,

00:33:33.440 --> 00:33:33.559
 Lord.

00:33:33.640 --> 00:33:34.160
 I'm going to do it

00:33:34.160 --> 00:33:35.160
 in a way that honors you.

00:33:36.980 --> 00:33:38.180
 The gospel gives us

00:33:38.180 --> 00:33:39.619
 a new why.

00:33:40.940 --> 00:33:41.779
 So think about

00:33:41.779 --> 00:33:42.680
 your own motives.

00:33:42.839 --> 00:33:43.819
 Am I working

00:33:43.819 --> 00:33:45.259
 from a place of security

00:33:45.259 --> 00:33:46.000
 in the inheritance

00:33:46.000 --> 00:33:46.940
 that I have in Christ?

00:33:47.339 --> 00:33:47.920
 And if not,

00:33:48.000 --> 00:33:48.740
 what am I chasing?

00:33:50.619 --> 00:33:51.900
 And is the fact

00:33:51.900 --> 00:33:52.940
 that I'm chasing that

00:33:52.940 --> 00:33:54.119
 leading me

00:33:54.119 --> 00:33:55.779
 to do things

00:33:55.779 --> 00:33:56.180
 that I know

00:33:56.180 --> 00:33:56.579
 are harmful

00:33:56.579 --> 00:33:57.299
 and disobedient?

00:33:57.299 --> 00:33:59.099
 Right?

00:33:59.419 --> 00:34:00.579
 Or think of it this way.

00:34:00.779 --> 00:34:02.139
 If I was working

00:34:02.139 --> 00:34:02.740
 from a place

00:34:02.740 --> 00:34:03.680
 of absolute trust

00:34:03.680 --> 00:34:04.279
 and security

00:34:04.279 --> 00:34:05.139
 in my inheritance

00:34:05.139 --> 00:34:05.639
 in Christ,

00:34:05.879 --> 00:34:06.720
 how would that

00:34:06.720 --> 00:34:07.599
 change my work?

00:34:07.779 --> 00:34:08.420
 How would it change

00:34:08.420 --> 00:34:09.259
 the number of hours

00:34:09.259 --> 00:34:09.699
 I work?

00:34:10.559 --> 00:34:11.199
 How would it change

00:34:11.199 --> 00:34:12.079
 how I treat the people

00:34:12.079 --> 00:34:12.619
 in my work?

00:34:13.179 --> 00:34:13.320
 Right?

00:34:14.320 --> 00:34:15.259
 And then finally,

00:34:15.360 --> 00:34:16.179
 the gospel gives us

00:34:16.179 --> 00:34:16.920
 a new how,

00:34:17.019 --> 00:34:17.739
 how we work.

00:34:18.259 --> 00:34:18.659
 Wholeheartedly,

00:34:18.920 --> 00:34:19.300
 honestly,

00:34:19.599 --> 00:34:20.179
 justly,

00:34:20.579 --> 00:34:21.559
 reflecting the heart

00:34:21.559 --> 00:34:21.940
 of God.

00:34:22.599 --> 00:34:23.079
 Let's pray.

00:34:23.079 --> 00:34:24.980
 Lord,

00:34:25.039 --> 00:34:25.539
 we thank you

00:34:25.539 --> 00:34:27.619
 for your grace

00:34:27.619 --> 00:34:28.000
 to us.

00:34:28.079 --> 00:34:28.500
 We thank you

00:34:28.500 --> 00:34:29.039
 for your word.

00:34:29.259 --> 00:34:29.519
 And Lord,

00:34:29.559 --> 00:34:30.059
 we thank you

00:34:30.059 --> 00:34:30.900
 for our work.

00:34:31.719 --> 00:34:32.539
 For those of us

00:34:32.539 --> 00:34:33.219
 who have it,

00:34:33.360 --> 00:34:34.000
 thank you, Lord.

00:34:34.079 --> 00:34:34.699
 And for those of us

00:34:34.699 --> 00:34:35.519
 who are seeking work,

00:34:35.579 --> 00:34:36.039
 we pray that you

00:34:36.039 --> 00:34:36.460
 would help them

00:34:36.460 --> 00:34:37.239
 to find good,

00:34:37.480 --> 00:34:38.039
 meaningful work.

00:34:39.000 --> 00:34:39.239
 Lord,

00:34:39.259 --> 00:34:39.739
 we thank you

00:34:39.739 --> 00:34:40.500
 that work is

00:34:40.500 --> 00:34:41.159
 at its best

00:34:41.159 --> 00:34:41.659
 a gift,

00:34:42.739 --> 00:34:43.699
 that it's a part

00:34:43.699 --> 00:34:44.219
 of what it means

00:34:44.219 --> 00:34:44.880
 to be human,

00:34:44.960 --> 00:34:45.360
 that we're here

00:34:45.360 --> 00:34:46.460
 to be productive,

00:34:47.460 --> 00:34:48.400
 to care for

00:34:48.400 --> 00:34:48.860
 and cultivate

00:34:48.860 --> 00:34:49.679
 all that you've made.

00:34:50.659 --> 00:34:50.880
 Lord,

00:34:50.920 --> 00:34:51.440
 we pray that you

00:34:51.440 --> 00:34:52.179
 would give us grace

00:34:52.179 --> 00:34:53.419
 to do our work

00:34:53.419 --> 00:34:54.799
 as faithful followers

00:34:54.799 --> 00:34:55.739
 of our Lord Jesus.

00:34:56.859 --> 00:34:57.899
 We pray that there

00:34:57.899 --> 00:34:58.460
 would be a kind

00:34:58.460 --> 00:34:59.259
 of saltiness,

00:34:59.579 --> 00:35:00.299
 a kind of light

00:35:00.299 --> 00:35:00.859
 that we bring

00:35:00.859 --> 00:35:01.639
 to our jobs,

00:35:02.399 --> 00:35:03.480
 Lord,

00:35:03.559 --> 00:35:04.159
 that puts you

00:35:04.159 --> 00:35:04.759
 on display.

00:35:05.000 --> 00:35:05.679
 We pray that we

00:35:05.679 --> 00:35:06.099
 would approach

00:35:06.099 --> 00:35:06.960
 our work in ways

00:35:06.960 --> 00:35:08.019
 that provoke questions

00:35:08.019 --> 00:35:09.219
 only the gospel

00:35:09.219 --> 00:35:09.739
 can answer.

00:35:10.819 --> 00:35:11.500
 And we pray this

00:35:11.500 --> 00:35:12.500
 that we might glorify you,

00:35:12.619 --> 00:35:12.699
 Lord,

00:35:12.759 --> 00:35:13.319
 and it's in your name

00:35:13.319 --> 00:35:13.779
 that we pray.

00:35:14.079 --> 00:35:14.299
 Amen.