WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:22.160 It is really good to be back. I took about four weeks off at the end of the summer because we had a baby and the church blessed me with some time just to go and be with my boys and our new little girl and to support Laura and to just kind of be around the house. 00:00:22.160 --> 00:00:29.519 So it was almost four weeks of doing that and it was absolutely wonderful and a rich, rich blessing. 00:00:30.679 --> 00:00:39.019 And as that sort of fourth week sort of drew near, I would be lying if I didn't say I was kind of itching to get back. 00:00:40.159 --> 00:00:44.920 I was missing work quite a bit and so I'm really happy to be back. 00:00:44.920 --> 00:00:55.560 But in that time away, it also struck me how odd it is to be in a place like D.C. around all the kinds of people that we interact with and not working. 00:00:56.359 --> 00:01:06.219 At least not outside of the responsibilities around the house. That felt very odd and I realized how work-centric our culture is, especially here in D.C. 00:01:07.159 --> 00:01:12.900 I meet very few people who say, you know, I moved to D.C. because I heard it's just a really great place to start a family. 00:01:12.900 --> 00:01:14.740 You just don't hear that that often. 00:01:15.200 --> 00:01:18.140 I mean, you hear, you know, what are you here? Why did you move to D.C.? 00:01:18.140 --> 00:01:23.740 I mean, if you didn't grow up here, well, I moved for school or for an internship or I got a job here. 00:01:24.180 --> 00:01:27.799 And you ask people, well, why are you staying in D.C.? You've been here a few years. Why? 00:01:27.960 --> 00:01:30.019 Well, I have a great job. I love my job. That's why I'm here. 00:01:30.320 --> 00:01:34.719 And then typically, you know, if people leave, it's because there's a job somewhere else, right? 00:01:35.240 --> 00:01:38.280 So we're very work-centric in our culture. 00:01:38.280 --> 00:01:47.820 And I began to wonder, how do people think about the relationship between the work that they spend probably the majority of their waking hours doing and their faith? 00:01:47.819 --> 00:01:57.399 You know, for generations, the implicit message in the church was, it's great that you have a job. 00:01:57.479 --> 00:01:58.780 It's great that you're doing all that. 00:01:58.780 --> 00:02:03.780 But the way that connects to your faith is you just need to make money that you can then give to the church, right? 00:02:04.159 --> 00:02:06.840 And so make money, give it to the church, and that's the faith-work connection. 00:02:08.240 --> 00:02:17.000 I want to go deeper than that today because one of our values in this church is what we talk about being missionary faithfulness. 00:02:17.000 --> 00:02:24.080 And that means that we want to live all of our lives in reference to the mission of God. 00:02:24.979 --> 00:02:34.120 All spheres of life lived in reference to God and His mission in the world, which very much includes our work, what we do on a daily basis. 00:02:34.639 --> 00:02:36.520 And so we're going to look at Colossians 3. 00:02:36.639 --> 00:02:38.319 We're going to come back to the end of Colossians. 00:02:38.420 --> 00:02:41.840 We did a series earlier in this year on Colossians. 00:02:41.939 --> 00:02:43.420 We're going to kind of come back to it now. 00:02:43.419 --> 00:02:51.359 And we're going to look at Colossians 3, verse 17, and then we'll jump down to verse 22, and we'll go all the way to chapter 4, verse 1. 00:02:51.439 --> 00:02:52.899 You just heard that read a moment ago. 00:02:53.539 --> 00:02:57.299 But at this place in Paul's letter to the Colossians, he's laid out the gospel. 00:02:57.500 --> 00:03:05.599 He's already made the point that Jesus has come, and through His death and resurrection, He's made forgiveness for sin possible. 00:03:06.319 --> 00:03:10.819 And that means that people have been grafted into His great renewal project. 00:03:10.819 --> 00:03:14.099 He's come to restore all of creation. 00:03:14.400 --> 00:03:18.359 And Christians are swept up into that death and resurrection and renewal. 00:03:19.139 --> 00:03:22.799 And so now we're at the part of the letter where he's essentially saying, so what? 00:03:22.840 --> 00:03:24.180 What does that mean for Christians? 00:03:25.680 --> 00:03:29.319 And this so what includes our work. 00:03:29.659 --> 00:03:34.959 And the claim Paul is making is essentially that the gospel, even though it talks about future renewal, 00:03:35.599 --> 00:03:39.340 it actually begins to change everything here and now. 00:03:39.340 --> 00:03:46.280 The transformation that the gospel brings is something that we can experience here and now. 00:03:46.460 --> 00:03:48.920 And that includes the transformation of our work. 00:03:49.819 --> 00:03:59.800 So this passage shows us what becomes possible in your work and in my work when the gospel becomes central. 00:04:00.620 --> 00:04:02.280 And three things become possible. 00:04:02.379 --> 00:04:05.580 It becomes possible to serve God by our work. 00:04:05.580 --> 00:04:08.920 So whatever you're doing, it becomes a way to serve God. 00:04:09.940 --> 00:04:15.920 It becomes possible to be able to pour out our hearts into our work fully, to pour our hearts fully into our work. 00:04:16.379 --> 00:04:20.420 And then lastly, it becomes possible to seek justice through our work. 00:04:20.900 --> 00:04:27.660 So serve God by our work, pour out our hearts into our work, and then seek justice through our work. 00:04:27.699 --> 00:04:30.680 And we're going to talk about each of those more and what they mean. 00:04:31.000 --> 00:04:32.080 Let's pray as we get started. 00:04:32.079 --> 00:04:37.399 Our Father, we thank you for the work of your hand. 00:04:37.560 --> 00:04:42.959 We thank you that at creation you didn't create human beings to lounge around. 00:04:43.699 --> 00:04:47.060 You didn't create human beings to meet your needs. 00:04:47.120 --> 00:04:48.079 You don't have any needs. 00:04:48.579 --> 00:04:51.279 But you created human beings and you blessed them with work. 00:04:51.279 --> 00:04:54.959 And you gave them a job to do in your creation. 00:04:55.719 --> 00:04:58.379 And all of the dignity and joy that comes with that. 00:04:59.099 --> 00:05:02.839 And we thank you for the work of Jesus restoring our vocation. 00:05:03.500 --> 00:05:10.899 Lord, help us to understand what it means to follow you in the specific ways that you wire us and gift us and equip us and call us. 00:05:11.059 --> 00:05:12.719 For your glory and your son's name. 00:05:12.959 --> 00:05:13.219 Amen. 00:05:13.220 --> 00:05:13.300 Amen. 00:05:15.540 --> 00:05:23.500 So through the gospel, it becomes possible for your day-to-day work to become a means by which you serve God directly. 00:05:24.660 --> 00:05:26.340 That's the first thing I want to focus on. 00:05:26.700 --> 00:05:29.980 But before we really get into that, we've got to address a kind of elephant in the room. 00:05:30.400 --> 00:05:37.060 And that is, if you look at this, if we can skip down to verse 22, the ESV says, 00:05:37.060 --> 00:05:45.620 Now, I like the ESV. It's a little nuanced. It says bond servants. 00:05:45.860 --> 00:05:47.620 But let's just be honest about this. 00:05:47.720 --> 00:05:48.699 What's it talking about? 00:05:49.819 --> 00:05:50.300 Slaves. 00:05:50.740 --> 00:05:50.860 Yeah. 00:05:51.360 --> 00:05:55.060 Slaves obey in everything those who are your earthly masters. 00:05:55.759 --> 00:05:57.980 Now, if you read this, it should strike you. 00:05:58.120 --> 00:06:00.340 You should be taken aback by that. 00:06:00.399 --> 00:06:01.720 Maybe even offended by it. 00:06:01.720 --> 00:06:06.040 How in the world can Paul, in good conscience, say, 00:06:06.280 --> 00:06:11.540 Jesus came, the gospel is true, therefore slaves, obey your masters. 00:06:12.480 --> 00:06:13.560 That doesn't make any sense. 00:06:13.680 --> 00:06:17.840 Didn't Jesus talk about liberation for the captives, right? 00:06:18.020 --> 00:06:19.680 Loosing the bonds of the oppressed. 00:06:19.900 --> 00:06:22.680 How in the world can Paul say this in good conscience? 00:06:22.820 --> 00:06:28.020 Why weren't early Christians going around fighting to abolish slavery at every turn? 00:06:28.020 --> 00:06:29.720 Why would they continue to put up with it? 00:06:30.060 --> 00:06:31.320 Is this just cultural blindness? 00:06:32.720 --> 00:06:34.760 So let's talk about this for just a couple of minutes. 00:06:35.700 --> 00:06:39.360 It helps to understand that slavery in the ancient world, in many ways, 00:06:39.420 --> 00:06:43.220 was very, very, very different than what we think of as slavery, 00:06:43.340 --> 00:06:48.560 the African slave trade in the 18th and 19th centuries in the U.S. and in Europe and the Caribbean. 00:06:48.900 --> 00:06:50.040 Very, very, very different. 00:06:50.120 --> 00:06:50.740 I'll tell you why. 00:06:50.840 --> 00:06:51.820 A few key differences. 00:06:52.560 --> 00:06:57.540 First of all, slavery in Paul's day was not racially based at all. 00:06:57.640 --> 00:06:59.460 It didn't happen along racial lines. 00:06:59.459 --> 00:07:06.259 And along with that, there was no socioeconomic difference necessarily between slaves and free people. 00:07:06.259 --> 00:07:14.680 So you had slaves who could be very highly educated and wealthy and have a lot of privilege and political power. 00:07:14.680 --> 00:07:18.980 And so the socioeconomic differences were really not there. 00:07:19.500 --> 00:07:22.780 Another key difference is that slavery in Paul's day was not lifelong. 00:07:23.800 --> 00:07:29.139 The majority of people who became slaves had gained their freedom by the time they were around 30. 00:07:29.139 --> 00:07:35.259 And then lastly, many people, and this may be hard to understand, 00:07:35.819 --> 00:07:41.199 but many people actually voluntarily entered into bond servant status. 00:07:42.539 --> 00:07:44.279 And the reasons are many. 00:07:45.060 --> 00:07:47.819 In the ancient world, there was no guaranteed way to get an education, 00:07:48.360 --> 00:07:53.519 to get social connections, to get a good-paying job. 00:07:53.519 --> 00:07:56.379 And so many people would work just day to day. 00:07:56.479 --> 00:07:56.979 You would go out. 00:07:57.039 --> 00:07:58.439 You would try to find odd jobs to do. 00:07:58.659 --> 00:08:00.779 You never knew what you were going to be able to bring home that night. 00:08:00.839 --> 00:08:01.680 It was very unpredictable. 00:08:02.519 --> 00:08:05.500 But a bond servant status provided job security. 00:08:05.639 --> 00:08:06.120 You could go. 00:08:06.199 --> 00:08:09.759 And many times, if you found a good arrangement, you could have job security. 00:08:10.019 --> 00:08:12.419 You could have a guaranteed livelihood. 00:08:12.740 --> 00:08:13.979 You could get educated. 00:08:14.159 --> 00:08:15.959 You could make connections and meet people. 00:08:15.959 --> 00:08:18.419 And sort of climb the ladder, so to speak. 00:08:18.479 --> 00:08:20.060 And so a lot of people would do that. 00:08:20.060 --> 00:08:27.920 And so in many ways, these people were not slaves as we think of slaves in the U.S. 00:08:28.199 --> 00:08:30.139 So I just want to be as clear as I can on this point. 00:08:30.379 --> 00:08:33.220 Not only does the Bible not endorse slavery, 00:08:33.960 --> 00:08:38.419 but in fact, when that form of slavery did arise in the 18th and 19th centuries, 00:08:38.980 --> 00:08:43.580 the people who led the way in fighting slavery, fighting to abolish it, 00:08:44.159 --> 00:08:45.259 were actually Christians. 00:08:46.340 --> 00:08:49.860 Christians who read their Bibles realized that it's not possible for one human being 00:08:49.860 --> 00:08:52.960 to own another, the inherent dignity and worth of every human being. 00:08:52.980 --> 00:08:54.220 And they began to realize this is wrong. 00:08:54.399 --> 00:08:55.120 And they fought it. 00:08:55.139 --> 00:08:56.080 And they fought to abolish it. 00:08:56.100 --> 00:08:58.279 And that battle continues to this day. 00:08:58.340 --> 00:09:01.139 And God willing, Christians will continue to lead the charge. 00:09:02.680 --> 00:09:04.700 So these people were not slaves the way we think of it. 00:09:04.700 --> 00:09:09.539 So a call for slaves in the ancient time to kind of unify and fight for their freedom, 00:09:09.700 --> 00:09:12.440 that would not have made sense to people. 00:09:13.340 --> 00:09:18.360 Because many people did it voluntarily because it actually was seen as a beneficial strategic decision. 00:09:18.360 --> 00:09:22.200 So on the one hand, it's not the same. 00:09:22.560 --> 00:09:27.960 On the other hand, I do also want to make clear that these people probably had it worse than you and me. 00:09:28.980 --> 00:09:30.200 They didn't have rights. 00:09:31.200 --> 00:09:33.220 They couldn't go and complain to HR. 00:09:34.300 --> 00:09:37.700 They couldn't quit and find another job if they didn't like what they were doing. 00:09:38.440 --> 00:09:40.659 They didn't have a whole lot of control over how they spent their time. 00:09:40.659 --> 00:09:41.059 Right? 00:09:41.799 --> 00:09:44.719 They were very vulnerable to mistreatment and abuse and injustice. 00:09:45.439 --> 00:09:47.179 So they had it worse than most of us. 00:09:48.539 --> 00:09:53.600 And yet what I want to highlight is what Paul is saying to these Christian bond servants. 00:09:53.799 --> 00:09:54.480 Verse 23. 00:09:54.860 --> 00:10:00.120 Whatever you do, work heartily as for the Lord and not for men. 00:10:00.799 --> 00:10:03.159 You are serving the Lord Christ. 00:10:03.159 --> 00:10:06.019 So in other words, what's Paul saying? 00:10:06.079 --> 00:10:09.419 He's saying to these slaves, and some of whom did very menial work. 00:10:09.519 --> 00:10:15.259 You know, scrubbing toilets and washing dishes and, you know, thankless, menial work. 00:10:15.959 --> 00:10:19.600 He's saying to these people, no matter how menial, no matter how thankless, 00:10:19.699 --> 00:10:22.980 no matter how grueling your daily work is, 00:10:23.679 --> 00:10:27.959 you are in fact rendering service directly to God. 00:10:29.179 --> 00:10:31.059 You're serving God when you do that. 00:10:31.059 --> 00:10:37.059 In other words, serving God isn't just something reserved for monks and nuns and pastors. 00:10:39.339 --> 00:10:39.739 Right? 00:10:39.779 --> 00:10:41.199 You say, I'm going to go serve God. 00:10:41.279 --> 00:10:43.719 What do most people think when they hear that? 00:10:43.799 --> 00:10:47.059 They think, oh, he's going to leave his secular job, 00:10:47.779 --> 00:10:50.099 and he's going to go, and he's going to get a religious job. 00:10:50.279 --> 00:10:50.479 Right? 00:10:51.739 --> 00:10:54.219 But a biblical view of work means understanding, actually, 00:10:54.279 --> 00:10:58.059 that there's no division between sacred work and secular work. 00:10:58.739 --> 00:11:00.000 There's no line there. 00:11:00.000 --> 00:11:03.159 That's a human way of thinking about work. 00:11:04.019 --> 00:11:06.659 So whether you lead a church or you work in retail, 00:11:06.820 --> 00:11:10.860 whether you build overseas orphanages or build spreadsheets all day, right? 00:11:10.899 --> 00:11:16.259 Whether you are out on street corners preaching or serving in a nonprofit somewhere, 00:11:16.460 --> 00:11:18.919 or you're washing dishes or waiting tables, 00:11:19.399 --> 00:11:22.840 any of that work that is done in the Lord's name 00:11:22.840 --> 00:11:27.440 is a means of worshiping the Lord himself. 00:11:27.660 --> 00:11:29.060 That's the biblical view of work. 00:11:29.060 --> 00:11:33.440 And you see this really clearly in this wonderful Hebrew word, Avodah. 00:11:34.000 --> 00:11:37.000 And Avodah is an Old Testament Hebrew word. 00:11:37.100 --> 00:11:38.000 It shows up a lot. 00:11:38.540 --> 00:11:40.639 And it's used a bunch of different ways. 00:11:40.820 --> 00:11:44.440 In Genesis 2, Avodah means farming or cultivation. 00:11:44.440 --> 00:11:49.020 And then in Exodus 1, Avodah is the work of brick making. 00:11:49.820 --> 00:11:52.040 And then in Exodus, later in Exodus 35, 00:11:52.340 --> 00:11:56.340 it refers to the artisanal work that was done to beautify the tabernacle. 00:11:56.600 --> 00:11:57.440 So, artistry. 00:11:58.320 --> 00:12:02.220 And then in 1 Chronicles, Avodah means fine craftsmanship. 00:12:02.220 --> 00:12:05.480 So, you see, Avodah means all these different kinds of work, right? 00:12:05.519 --> 00:12:09.940 Fine craftsmanship, artistic work, and also hard, back-breaking labor, cultivation. 00:12:10.259 --> 00:12:11.800 It's all work, all Avodah. 00:12:12.300 --> 00:12:17.920 But it's also used a bunch of other times to mean worship, right? 00:12:17.960 --> 00:12:19.440 It means work and worship. 00:12:19.680 --> 00:12:20.300 Same word. 00:12:20.480 --> 00:12:23.100 And what that shows us is, in the biblical understanding, 00:12:23.500 --> 00:12:27.480 there is a seamless flow between work and worship. 00:12:27.700 --> 00:12:30.220 From the very beginning, God created human beings to work. 00:12:30.220 --> 00:12:35.460 And when they worked, they were worshiping him in that labor. 00:12:37.100 --> 00:12:40.740 So, I want to stop and I want to just apply this in a couple of ways, 00:12:40.840 --> 00:12:44.899 just so you get the implications of this before we move on to the second point. 00:12:44.960 --> 00:12:47.720 So, I have a couple of implications of this idea that, 00:12:48.340 --> 00:12:51.879 because of the gospel, all of our work becomes worship. 00:12:52.320 --> 00:12:52.860 So what? 00:12:53.759 --> 00:12:58.580 Number one, this means that God values our work and your work 00:12:58.580 --> 00:13:00.540 work very differently than we do. 00:13:01.660 --> 00:13:04.180 God's economy is vastly different. 00:13:05.139 --> 00:13:06.740 You move to a place like D.C., 00:13:06.740 --> 00:13:11.800 it is very, very, very easy to start comparing yourself 00:13:11.800 --> 00:13:14.320 and what you do to other people. 00:13:15.139 --> 00:13:15.379 Right? 00:13:15.440 --> 00:13:17.500 So, you move here and you get a job 00:13:17.500 --> 00:13:19.160 and then you start going to parties and meeting 00:13:19.160 --> 00:13:20.139 and everybody starts asking, 00:13:20.240 --> 00:13:20.720 what do you do? 00:13:20.759 --> 00:13:21.240 Well, what do you do? 00:13:21.259 --> 00:13:21.720 Well, what do you do? 00:13:21.720 --> 00:13:24.259 And you start hearing about all these things that other people are doing 00:13:24.259 --> 00:13:26.220 and they're doing some amazing things 00:13:26.220 --> 00:13:28.560 and they're meeting all these people 00:13:28.560 --> 00:13:29.519 and making a difference 00:13:29.519 --> 00:13:31.259 and working for these amazing organizations. 00:13:31.820 --> 00:13:32.899 And then you look at what you do 00:13:32.899 --> 00:13:35.740 and you just kind of start, 00:13:35.899 --> 00:13:37.360 after a while, avoiding the question. 00:13:38.060 --> 00:13:38.240 You know? 00:13:38.519 --> 00:13:41.800 And you start to kind of feel like what you do is kind of lame. 00:13:42.740 --> 00:13:43.860 And then you get really insecure 00:13:43.860 --> 00:13:45.340 and you want to change jobs 00:13:45.340 --> 00:13:45.779 and you go, man, 00:13:45.940 --> 00:13:47.259 all these people are doing amazing things 00:13:47.259 --> 00:13:48.779 and I feel like I'm wasting my life. 00:13:48.779 --> 00:13:49.779 Right? 00:13:50.500 --> 00:13:53.079 So, it can make you really insecure living here. 00:13:53.839 --> 00:13:54.699 On the other hand, 00:13:54.899 --> 00:13:56.559 some of you who, you know, 00:13:56.679 --> 00:13:58.799 once you start to get jobs 00:13:58.799 --> 00:14:00.539 and ascend and get promoted 00:14:00.539 --> 00:14:02.379 and work for great organizations, 00:14:03.019 --> 00:14:04.220 it can also be kind of tempting 00:14:04.220 --> 00:14:06.000 to sort of look down on other people. 00:14:06.480 --> 00:14:06.759 You know? 00:14:06.799 --> 00:14:08.559 And say, well, I'm so glad I don't have to do that. 00:14:09.100 --> 00:14:10.500 I'm so glad I'm not stuck there. 00:14:10.799 --> 00:14:11.019 Right? 00:14:11.899 --> 00:14:14.100 And so, if we think like that, 00:14:14.120 --> 00:14:15.819 if we begin to compare our work 00:14:15.819 --> 00:14:17.439 and to rate our work 00:14:17.440 --> 00:14:19.260 in terms of what seems more important 00:14:19.260 --> 00:14:20.160 or more impressive, 00:14:20.360 --> 00:14:21.840 that's a very human way 00:14:21.840 --> 00:14:23.760 of thinking about work. 00:14:24.100 --> 00:14:25.020 God sees it differently. 00:14:26.480 --> 00:14:26.940 God says, 00:14:27.180 --> 00:14:29.520 how dare you doubt the significance of your work? 00:14:31.280 --> 00:14:32.600 How dare you doubt it? 00:14:33.360 --> 00:14:34.400 You know, especially people who, 00:14:34.660 --> 00:14:35.520 maybe you're unemployed 00:14:35.520 --> 00:14:39.280 or maybe you're the spouse in the marriage 00:14:39.280 --> 00:14:40.840 who has elected to stay home 00:14:40.840 --> 00:14:41.900 and take care of the kids. 00:14:42.080 --> 00:14:45.020 That can be incredibly, incredibly challenging. 00:14:45.180 --> 00:14:46.560 A lot of insecurity for some people. 00:14:46.559 --> 00:14:48.419 People making that hard choice. 00:14:49.479 --> 00:14:51.159 Who am I if I don't have a job? 00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:53.219 Who am I if all I'm doing all day 00:14:53.219 --> 00:14:55.039 is changing diapers and scrubbing dishes? 00:14:55.559 --> 00:14:55.899 God says, 00:14:55.979 --> 00:14:59.659 how dare you doubt the significance of that work? 00:14:59.819 --> 00:15:01.259 How dare you doubt the significance 00:15:01.259 --> 00:15:02.419 of other people's work? 00:15:02.679 --> 00:15:03.359 How dare you? 00:15:05.239 --> 00:15:06.439 You know, a dish washed 00:15:06.439 --> 00:15:08.559 or a toilet scrubbed 00:15:09.139 --> 00:15:11.399 in the name of the Lord 00:15:11.399 --> 00:15:14.600 glorifies God infinitely more 00:15:14.600 --> 00:15:16.720 than all of the orphanages 00:15:16.720 --> 00:15:17.740 and the churches 00:15:17.740 --> 00:15:19.159 and the non-profits 00:15:19.159 --> 00:15:20.360 in the world 00:15:20.360 --> 00:15:22.699 built in the name of human beings. 00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:25.419 That's God's economy. 00:15:27.860 --> 00:15:28.819 Radically different. 00:15:29.519 --> 00:15:31.039 That's the first implication. 00:15:31.179 --> 00:15:31.899 Second implication, 00:15:32.840 --> 00:15:34.899 God doesn't just value our work. 00:15:35.639 --> 00:15:36.179 Listen to this. 00:15:36.500 --> 00:15:38.100 God works through our work. 00:15:38.100 --> 00:15:40.580 God works through your work. 00:15:41.300 --> 00:15:42.920 Now, I really want you to understand this. 00:15:43.000 --> 00:15:44.480 Nobody said it better than Martin Luther. 00:15:45.220 --> 00:15:46.560 The Reformation theologian 00:15:46.560 --> 00:15:48.920 is really the one 00:15:48.920 --> 00:15:51.159 who got this vocational, 00:15:51.420 --> 00:15:55.779 the role that God plays in our vocation. 00:15:55.960 --> 00:15:57.240 And his term for it is, 00:15:57.279 --> 00:15:57.560 he says, 00:15:57.639 --> 00:15:59.759 vocations are the mask of God. 00:16:00.860 --> 00:16:01.560 Think about that. 00:16:02.040 --> 00:16:04.519 He's saying that behind human vocations, 00:16:04.519 --> 00:16:06.600 God is at work. 00:16:06.799 --> 00:16:08.759 God is working through those vocations. 00:16:08.879 --> 00:16:09.960 His work is happening 00:16:09.960 --> 00:16:12.639 through your daily labor. 00:16:13.899 --> 00:16:14.039 Right? 00:16:14.159 --> 00:16:15.659 So Gene Veith summarizes 00:16:15.659 --> 00:16:16.939 Luther's thinking in this way. 00:16:17.039 --> 00:16:17.379 He says, 00:16:17.759 --> 00:16:19.379 when we pray the Lord's Prayer, 00:16:20.059 --> 00:16:21.919 we ask God to give us this day 00:16:21.919 --> 00:16:22.960 our daily bread. 00:16:23.439 --> 00:16:24.319 And he does. 00:16:25.079 --> 00:16:26.779 The way he gives us our daily bread 00:16:26.779 --> 00:16:28.419 is through the vocations 00:16:28.419 --> 00:16:29.319 of farmers, 00:16:29.980 --> 00:16:30.500 millers, 00:16:30.980 --> 00:16:31.460 bakers. 00:16:31.980 --> 00:16:33.360 We might add truck drivers, 00:16:33.360 --> 00:16:34.580 factory workers, 00:16:34.899 --> 00:16:35.460 bankers, 00:16:35.800 --> 00:16:36.779 warehouse attendants, 00:16:36.940 --> 00:16:38.300 the lady at the checkout counter. 00:16:39.159 --> 00:16:40.480 Virtually every step 00:16:40.480 --> 00:16:42.320 of our whole economic system 00:16:42.320 --> 00:16:44.500 contributes to that piece of toast 00:16:44.500 --> 00:16:45.800 that you had for breakfast. 00:16:47.100 --> 00:16:47.879 And then he says, 00:16:48.180 --> 00:16:49.399 and when you thanked God 00:16:49.399 --> 00:16:50.820 for the food that he provided, 00:16:51.300 --> 00:16:52.519 you were right to do so. 00:16:53.700 --> 00:16:55.180 God, give me my daily bread. 00:16:55.259 --> 00:16:56.000 How does God do it? 00:16:56.019 --> 00:16:58.700 Through all of the different roles 00:16:58.700 --> 00:16:59.420 and vocations 00:16:59.420 --> 00:17:02.420 that make up our human economy. 00:17:02.419 --> 00:17:03.959 God works through those things. 00:17:04.240 --> 00:17:05.819 Can God heal people miraculously? 00:17:05.960 --> 00:17:06.460 Can I just say, 00:17:06.759 --> 00:17:07.680 boom, be healed. 00:17:07.779 --> 00:17:08.899 And Dan is healed. 00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:10.559 Absolutely. 00:17:10.740 --> 00:17:11.539 God can do that. 00:17:12.220 --> 00:17:13.440 Does God always do that? 00:17:14.180 --> 00:17:15.059 Tragically, no. 00:17:15.599 --> 00:17:16.940 How does God most often 00:17:16.940 --> 00:17:20.559 work works of healing? 00:17:21.220 --> 00:17:22.480 Through the vocations 00:17:22.480 --> 00:17:24.399 of all of the healthcare professionals, 00:17:24.639 --> 00:17:26.420 which I consider to be 00:17:26.420 --> 00:17:28.059 every bit as miraculous 00:17:28.059 --> 00:17:29.879 as an instantaneous healing. 00:17:29.880 --> 00:17:32.280 The fact that God conscripts 00:17:32.280 --> 00:17:33.460 and partners with 00:17:33.460 --> 00:17:34.360 and works through 00:17:34.360 --> 00:17:35.800 the hands of women and men 00:17:35.800 --> 00:17:36.740 all over the world 00:17:36.740 --> 00:17:37.480 and their training 00:17:37.480 --> 00:17:38.660 and their years of practice 00:17:38.660 --> 00:17:39.700 to bring healing. 00:17:39.860 --> 00:17:41.580 That's God's work 00:17:41.580 --> 00:17:43.200 happening through human hands. 00:17:43.800 --> 00:17:45.260 That's vocation as a mask 00:17:45.260 --> 00:17:46.820 for the work of the Lord. 00:17:47.920 --> 00:17:49.040 So all of our work 00:17:49.040 --> 00:17:50.660 is service rendered to God 00:17:50.660 --> 00:17:52.280 and God can and does work 00:17:52.280 --> 00:17:53.640 through our work. 00:17:54.160 --> 00:17:55.200 So that's the first point. 00:17:56.840 --> 00:17:58.280 Second point is this. 00:17:58.279 --> 00:18:01.160 the gospel frees us 00:18:01.160 --> 00:18:03.359 not only to serve God 00:18:03.359 --> 00:18:04.220 in our work, 00:18:04.299 --> 00:18:06.139 but to pour all of our hearts 00:18:06.139 --> 00:18:08.019 into what we do. 00:18:08.720 --> 00:18:09.039 Now you say, 00:18:09.119 --> 00:18:10.379 why would I need the gospel 00:18:10.379 --> 00:18:10.940 for that? 00:18:10.960 --> 00:18:11.680 I do that anyway. 00:18:11.940 --> 00:18:13.000 Let's think about it for a second. 00:18:14.759 --> 00:18:15.799 What are the reasons 00:18:15.799 --> 00:18:16.559 that you work? 00:18:17.839 --> 00:18:18.440 Now maybe you say, 00:18:18.500 --> 00:18:19.180 well, I have to. 00:18:19.460 --> 00:18:20.579 Okay, fair enough. 00:18:21.399 --> 00:18:22.059 But beyond that, 00:18:22.099 --> 00:18:23.079 what motivates you? 00:18:23.160 --> 00:18:24.139 What gets you up in the morning? 00:18:24.259 --> 00:18:25.240 What drives you? 00:18:25.240 --> 00:18:28.140 I think for most of us, 00:18:28.660 --> 00:18:30.099 our work is motivated 00:18:30.099 --> 00:18:31.480 by maybe some combination 00:18:31.480 --> 00:18:32.359 of three things. 00:18:33.839 --> 00:18:34.859 We work because 00:18:34.859 --> 00:18:35.720 we need to make money. 00:18:37.019 --> 00:18:38.420 We work because 00:18:38.420 --> 00:18:39.620 we want respect. 00:18:40.339 --> 00:18:41.359 We want to be, 00:18:41.660 --> 00:18:41.859 you know, 00:18:41.940 --> 00:18:42.880 to feel like we're doing 00:18:42.880 --> 00:18:43.539 something important 00:18:43.539 --> 00:18:44.120 in the world. 00:18:44.839 --> 00:18:45.259 Thirdly, 00:18:45.319 --> 00:18:46.259 we work because 00:18:46.259 --> 00:18:47.359 we want a sense of purpose 00:18:47.359 --> 00:18:47.819 and meaning. 00:18:48.900 --> 00:18:49.339 Right? 00:18:49.400 --> 00:18:50.279 And those are good reasons. 00:18:50.420 --> 00:18:50.620 Right? 00:18:51.059 --> 00:18:52.180 You need enough money 00:18:52.180 --> 00:18:52.839 to pay your bills 00:18:52.839 --> 00:18:53.599 and to have what you need 00:18:53.599 --> 00:18:54.419 and what you want. 00:18:54.480 --> 00:18:55.079 That's very important. 00:18:56.079 --> 00:18:56.899 It's important 00:18:56.899 --> 00:18:57.699 and right and good 00:18:57.699 --> 00:18:58.619 to want to be respected 00:18:58.619 --> 00:18:59.179 and to feel like 00:18:59.179 --> 00:19:00.199 what you're doing matters 00:19:00.199 --> 00:19:02.419 and that people affirm 00:19:02.419 --> 00:19:04.339 your contribution to society. 00:19:05.559 --> 00:19:06.219 And thirdly, 00:19:06.279 --> 00:19:07.459 it's important 00:19:07.459 --> 00:19:09.240 to have a sense of meaning. 00:19:09.980 --> 00:19:10.779 How great it is 00:19:10.779 --> 00:19:11.480 if you have a job 00:19:11.480 --> 00:19:13.000 that offers you 00:19:13.000 --> 00:19:13.759 a sense of fulfillment. 00:19:14.519 --> 00:19:15.139 Now if you're one 00:19:15.139 --> 00:19:15.939 of those rare people 00:19:15.939 --> 00:19:17.019 and you have all three 00:19:17.019 --> 00:19:18.519 in your job, 00:19:19.019 --> 00:19:19.839 hold on to that job. 00:19:20.619 --> 00:19:21.799 If you're making good money 00:19:21.799 --> 00:19:23.119 and everybody respects you 00:19:23.119 --> 00:19:24.159 and you find meaning 00:19:24.159 --> 00:19:24.659 and fulfillment 00:19:24.659 --> 00:19:25.440 in what you're doing, 00:19:26.220 --> 00:19:26.919 go you. 00:19:27.980 --> 00:19:29.399 Keep on keeping on. 00:19:31.159 --> 00:19:32.659 Most of us don't get that 00:19:32.659 --> 00:19:33.159 in our work. 00:19:33.240 --> 00:19:33.980 Most of us hopefully 00:19:33.980 --> 00:19:35.379 get one or two of those. 00:19:35.639 --> 00:19:36.799 At least if nobody likes you 00:19:36.799 --> 00:19:37.359 and nobody cares 00:19:37.359 --> 00:19:37.839 what you're doing, 00:19:37.919 --> 00:19:38.700 you're making good money. 00:19:38.960 --> 00:19:40.399 I hope that's true for you. 00:19:42.579 --> 00:19:42.980 Right? 00:19:43.599 --> 00:19:44.359 And some of you 00:19:44.359 --> 00:19:44.940 are stuck in jobs 00:19:44.940 --> 00:19:45.839 where none of that's happening 00:19:45.839 --> 00:19:46.779 and maybe you need 00:19:46.779 --> 00:19:47.819 to find another job. 00:19:48.220 --> 00:19:48.319 Right? 00:19:48.500 --> 00:19:50.059 These are good reasons. 00:19:50.059 --> 00:19:51.819 But here's where we go wrong. 00:19:54.679 --> 00:19:56.779 If you pour your whole heart 00:19:56.779 --> 00:19:58.799 into your job 00:19:58.799 --> 00:20:00.799 for any of those reasons, 00:20:01.419 --> 00:20:02.799 you're going to be 00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:03.559 in serious trouble. 00:20:04.759 --> 00:20:05.399 Here's why. 00:20:05.919 --> 00:20:07.279 If your primary motivation 00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:08.119 is to make money 00:20:08.119 --> 00:20:09.159 and you say, 00:20:09.259 --> 00:20:09.700 I'm going to pour 00:20:09.700 --> 00:20:11.639 my whole heart and soul 00:20:11.639 --> 00:20:13.519 into wealth building, 00:20:14.539 --> 00:20:15.839 then what happens? 00:20:16.559 --> 00:20:17.839 You begin to realize 00:20:17.839 --> 00:20:19.379 what many people 00:20:19.380 --> 00:20:19.860 have realized 00:20:19.860 --> 00:20:20.940 way too late in life. 00:20:22.120 --> 00:20:23.060 It's never enough. 00:20:23.680 --> 00:20:23.920 Right? 00:20:23.960 --> 00:20:24.620 You have in your mind 00:20:24.620 --> 00:20:25.540 that at some point 00:20:25.540 --> 00:20:26.300 you'll arrive. 00:20:26.600 --> 00:20:27.660 You'll hit that plateau 00:20:27.660 --> 00:20:29.120 and you'll finally, 00:20:29.260 --> 00:20:29.560 you'll say, 00:20:29.640 --> 00:20:30.440 I've made enough. 00:20:31.080 --> 00:20:32.080 I don't need to make anymore. 00:20:32.780 --> 00:20:33.440 But that rarely 00:20:33.440 --> 00:20:34.620 if ever actually happens. 00:20:34.780 --> 00:20:35.660 There's always more 00:20:35.660 --> 00:20:36.060 to be made. 00:20:36.140 --> 00:20:37.180 There's always another deal. 00:20:37.420 --> 00:20:38.580 There's always another commission. 00:20:38.840 --> 00:20:39.980 There's always another opportunity. 00:20:40.160 --> 00:20:41.040 And it's just around 00:20:41.040 --> 00:20:41.700 that next corner. 00:20:41.900 --> 00:20:42.900 And if you just keep trying 00:20:42.900 --> 00:20:44.140 and put in a few more weeks, 00:20:44.140 --> 00:20:45.300 put in a few more years, 00:20:45.400 --> 00:20:46.040 you'll get there. 00:20:46.100 --> 00:20:47.100 And you never get there. 00:20:47.099 --> 00:20:49.500 And people sacrifice 00:20:49.500 --> 00:20:50.379 their friends 00:20:50.379 --> 00:20:51.279 and their families 00:20:51.279 --> 00:20:52.500 and their health 00:20:52.500 --> 00:20:53.779 and their values. 00:20:55.839 --> 00:20:56.240 Chasing, 00:20:56.459 --> 00:20:56.819 chasing, 00:20:57.059 --> 00:20:57.399 chasing. 00:20:59.599 --> 00:21:00.519 You're going to be in trouble. 00:21:02.659 --> 00:21:03.179 You say, 00:21:03.259 --> 00:21:03.339 okay, 00:21:03.359 --> 00:21:04.299 I don't care about money, 00:21:04.759 --> 00:21:05.439 but I do want to do 00:21:05.439 --> 00:21:06.219 something that's important. 00:21:07.319 --> 00:21:07.519 You know? 00:21:07.799 --> 00:21:08.039 I mean, 00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:09.019 people will come to D.C. 00:21:09.039 --> 00:21:10.480 and work for 15,000 a year 00:21:10.480 --> 00:21:11.339 and pack eight people 00:21:11.339 --> 00:21:11.980 into a bedroom 00:21:11.980 --> 00:21:12.919 to work on the hill. 00:21:13.759 --> 00:21:14.460 And that's great. 00:21:15.580 --> 00:21:16.840 It feels good to be around that. 00:21:16.900 --> 00:21:17.920 It feels good to be 00:21:17.920 --> 00:21:19.060 in the place 00:21:19.060 --> 00:21:19.680 where decisions 00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:20.500 that affect the world 00:21:20.500 --> 00:21:21.160 are being made, 00:21:21.240 --> 00:21:22.060 the seat of power. 00:21:23.380 --> 00:21:23.800 You know, 00:21:23.820 --> 00:21:24.460 you will sleep, 00:21:24.620 --> 00:21:24.840 you know, 00:21:24.840 --> 00:21:26.039 five people in a bunk bed. 00:21:26.160 --> 00:21:26.720 You know, 00:21:26.800 --> 00:21:28.180 to do that. 00:21:28.240 --> 00:21:29.100 And that's amazing. 00:21:29.360 --> 00:21:30.400 And we need you there. 00:21:31.140 --> 00:21:32.360 The church needs you there. 00:21:32.920 --> 00:21:34.120 The world needs you there. 00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:37.580 But if you pour your whole heart 00:21:37.580 --> 00:21:39.720 into having a job 00:21:39.720 --> 00:21:40.900 that makes you feel important, 00:21:40.900 --> 00:21:42.980 where you have a sense of respect 00:21:42.980 --> 00:21:44.960 and have a sense of impact, 00:21:45.480 --> 00:21:47.000 if that's your thing, 00:21:48.440 --> 00:21:49.880 guess what? 00:21:49.940 --> 00:21:50.980 You're never going to get there. 00:21:52.480 --> 00:21:53.759 You're never going to get there. 00:21:54.640 --> 00:21:55.960 Because there's always going to be 00:21:55.960 --> 00:21:56.660 somebody out there 00:21:56.660 --> 00:21:57.600 who's better than you, 00:21:58.420 --> 00:21:59.480 who's more important than you, 00:21:59.519 --> 00:22:00.660 who's more accomplished than you. 00:22:00.980 --> 00:22:01.820 You move to D.C. 00:22:01.900 --> 00:22:02.920 and maybe you move 00:22:02.920 --> 00:22:04.280 from kind of like a smaller place 00:22:04.280 --> 00:22:05.700 and you were like the valedictorian 00:22:05.700 --> 00:22:06.620 and all of that 00:22:06.620 --> 00:22:07.280 and then you move here 00:22:07.280 --> 00:22:09.180 and everybody's a valedictorian. 00:22:09.580 --> 00:22:09.940 Everybody. 00:22:09.940 --> 00:22:11.200 I mean, I'm not, 00:22:11.440 --> 00:22:12.299 but most people are. 00:22:14.019 --> 00:22:14.880 Most people here, 00:22:15.240 --> 00:22:15.440 you know, 00:22:15.500 --> 00:22:15.779 people, 00:22:15.960 --> 00:22:16.820 they've succeeded. 00:22:17.140 --> 00:22:18.299 They're impressive. 00:22:18.460 --> 00:22:19.600 Their resumes are incredible. 00:22:20.259 --> 00:22:21.140 There's always somebody 00:22:21.140 --> 00:22:21.820 better out there. 00:22:22.059 --> 00:22:22.980 There's this great play 00:22:22.980 --> 00:22:23.900 by Peter Schaeffer 00:22:23.900 --> 00:22:25.240 called Amadeus. 00:22:25.660 --> 00:22:26.480 And in Amadeus, 00:22:26.559 --> 00:22:27.080 the play, 00:22:27.539 --> 00:22:29.140 there's a man named 00:22:29.140 --> 00:22:30.279 Antonio Salieri. 00:22:30.680 --> 00:22:32.559 And Salieri is a court composer 00:22:32.559 --> 00:22:34.320 for the Habsburg Emperor. 00:22:34.620 --> 00:22:35.660 And he's wealthy 00:22:35.660 --> 00:22:36.860 and he's accomplished 00:22:36.859 --> 00:22:38.799 and he's a successful writer 00:22:38.799 --> 00:22:39.519 of operas 00:22:39.519 --> 00:22:40.939 and he's very well known. 00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:42.159 But inside, 00:22:42.559 --> 00:22:43.979 he's painfully aware 00:22:43.979 --> 00:22:46.519 that all of his work 00:22:46.519 --> 00:22:47.819 is mediocre. 00:22:49.279 --> 00:22:50.740 And he struggles with that. 00:22:51.579 --> 00:22:52.500 And then one day, 00:22:52.619 --> 00:22:53.359 he hears 00:22:53.359 --> 00:22:56.599 a relatively unknown, 00:22:57.299 --> 00:22:58.059 impoverished 00:22:58.059 --> 00:23:00.319 man named Mozart. 00:23:00.319 --> 00:23:00.460 Mozart. 00:23:01.319 --> 00:23:02.659 And he hears the beauty 00:23:02.659 --> 00:23:04.379 of his music. 00:23:04.980 --> 00:23:05.919 And in that instant, 00:23:06.039 --> 00:23:06.819 he knows that 00:23:06.819 --> 00:23:07.759 no matter how hard 00:23:07.759 --> 00:23:08.319 he works, 00:23:08.559 --> 00:23:09.700 he will never be able 00:23:09.700 --> 00:23:11.179 to produce anything 00:23:11.179 --> 00:23:12.879 close to that. 00:23:13.099 --> 00:23:14.259 And it crushes him. 00:23:15.899 --> 00:23:16.960 Welcome to D.C. 00:23:17.899 --> 00:23:18.779 That's what it's like 00:23:18.779 --> 00:23:19.339 to live here. 00:23:20.720 --> 00:23:22.179 Your parents raised you 00:23:22.179 --> 00:23:22.519 and said, 00:23:22.679 --> 00:23:23.700 you can be the best. 00:23:24.359 --> 00:23:26.019 They were lying to you. 00:23:26.759 --> 00:23:27.720 You're never going 00:23:27.720 --> 00:23:28.460 to be the best. 00:23:29.420 --> 00:23:30.279 Uplifting sermon? 00:23:30.579 --> 00:23:30.900 Maybe. 00:23:32.039 --> 00:23:33.000 You're never going 00:23:33.000 --> 00:23:33.700 to be the best. 00:23:34.200 --> 00:23:35.140 You're never going 00:23:35.140 --> 00:23:35.680 to be the best. 00:23:35.779 --> 00:23:36.480 It's impossible. 00:23:36.920 --> 00:23:38.039 There will always be 00:23:38.039 --> 00:23:38.840 somebody out there 00:23:38.840 --> 00:23:39.660 better than you 00:23:39.660 --> 00:23:40.620 at whatever it is 00:23:40.620 --> 00:23:41.079 you do. 00:23:41.799 --> 00:23:42.100 Do you know 00:23:42.100 --> 00:23:42.900 how you be the best? 00:23:43.180 --> 00:23:44.440 Don't ever have any friends 00:23:44.440 --> 00:23:45.900 or ever talk to anybody. 00:23:46.279 --> 00:23:47.079 Live by yourself 00:23:47.079 --> 00:23:48.240 in an isolated shack 00:23:48.240 --> 00:23:48.579 in the middle 00:23:48.579 --> 00:23:49.100 of the wilderness. 00:23:49.519 --> 00:23:50.720 You can be the best there. 00:23:51.400 --> 00:23:52.100 But the minute 00:23:52.100 --> 00:23:52.759 you start meeting 00:23:52.759 --> 00:23:53.340 other people, 00:23:53.480 --> 00:23:54.460 eventually you will meet 00:23:54.460 --> 00:23:55.240 somebody who's better 00:23:55.240 --> 00:23:55.720 than you. 00:23:56.740 --> 00:23:57.480 And if you've poured 00:23:57.480 --> 00:23:58.140 your whole heart 00:23:58.140 --> 00:23:58.620 into that, 00:23:59.340 --> 00:24:00.259 being the best, 00:24:01.120 --> 00:24:02.180 being the most impressive, 00:24:03.080 --> 00:24:04.160 you meet that person, 00:24:04.800 --> 00:24:05.259 you're going to be 00:24:05.259 --> 00:24:05.920 like Salieri. 00:24:06.100 --> 00:24:06.960 It's going to crush you. 00:24:07.580 --> 00:24:08.620 You won't survive it 00:24:08.620 --> 00:24:09.940 if you've put 00:24:09.940 --> 00:24:10.420 your whole heart 00:24:10.420 --> 00:24:10.860 into that. 00:24:12.160 --> 00:24:12.759 So you say, 00:24:12.860 --> 00:24:13.000 okay, 00:24:13.040 --> 00:24:14.200 I don't care about money. 00:24:14.300 --> 00:24:14.960 I don't even care 00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:15.880 about being the best. 00:24:15.980 --> 00:24:16.720 I know that. 00:24:16.860 --> 00:24:17.560 I don't care about 00:24:17.560 --> 00:24:18.140 being the best. 00:24:18.420 --> 00:24:19.640 But I want a job 00:24:19.640 --> 00:24:20.380 that is meaningful. 00:24:20.380 --> 00:24:21.380 I want a job 00:24:22.060 --> 00:24:23.080 that fulfills me. 00:24:23.660 --> 00:24:24.880 That's a good reason, right? 00:24:25.000 --> 00:24:25.880 Yeah, that's a good reason. 00:24:26.060 --> 00:24:26.700 But don't pour 00:24:26.700 --> 00:24:27.240 your whole heart 00:24:27.240 --> 00:24:27.799 into it. 00:24:28.319 --> 00:24:28.620 Why? 00:24:30.039 --> 00:24:30.859 Because sooner or later 00:24:30.859 --> 00:24:31.579 you will realize 00:24:31.579 --> 00:24:32.500 that no job 00:24:32.500 --> 00:24:33.319 can provide 00:24:33.319 --> 00:24:34.519 the kind of fulfillment 00:24:34.519 --> 00:24:35.779 that you're looking for. 00:24:36.019 --> 00:24:37.200 No job can. 00:24:38.359 --> 00:24:39.980 I recently heard 00:24:39.980 --> 00:24:41.480 this great panel discussion 00:24:41.480 --> 00:24:43.519 and this guy 00:24:43.519 --> 00:24:45.279 was sort of talking 00:24:45.279 --> 00:24:45.940 very honestly 00:24:45.940 --> 00:24:46.539 about the fact 00:24:46.539 --> 00:24:47.000 that he had had 00:24:47.000 --> 00:24:47.819 this really lucrative, 00:24:47.980 --> 00:24:49.319 amazing job, 00:24:49.400 --> 00:24:50.079 made a lot of money, 00:24:50.400 --> 00:24:51.220 but he really wanted 00:24:51.220 --> 00:24:51.579 to leave 00:24:51.579 --> 00:24:52.960 and do something meaningful, 00:24:53.220 --> 00:24:54.480 a more fulfilling job. 00:24:54.480 --> 00:24:55.180 And so he left 00:24:55.180 --> 00:24:56.000 and he started 00:24:56.000 --> 00:24:56.700 a non-profit. 00:24:57.259 --> 00:24:57.740 And he said 00:24:57.740 --> 00:24:58.400 he very soon 00:24:58.400 --> 00:24:59.079 came to realize 00:24:59.079 --> 00:24:59.779 that this kind of 00:24:59.779 --> 00:25:01.200 Christian non-profit work 00:25:01.200 --> 00:25:02.440 wasn't really nearly 00:25:02.440 --> 00:25:03.000 as fulfilling 00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:03.920 as he thought it would be. 00:25:04.839 --> 00:25:05.339 And you know 00:25:05.339 --> 00:25:06.039 what he called it? 00:25:06.240 --> 00:25:06.539 He said, 00:25:06.640 --> 00:25:07.380 listen to this. 00:25:07.480 --> 00:25:07.920 I love, 00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:08.620 so brilliant. 00:25:08.700 --> 00:25:09.200 I wrote it down. 00:25:09.480 --> 00:25:09.839 He said, 00:25:10.220 --> 00:25:11.039 we had bought into 00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:11.900 the emotional 00:25:11.900 --> 00:25:13.099 prosperity gospel. 00:25:14.700 --> 00:25:15.339 Isn't that awesome? 00:25:15.759 --> 00:25:16.079 You know what 00:25:16.079 --> 00:25:17.200 the prosperity gospel is? 00:25:17.599 --> 00:25:18.799 It's this way of thinking. 00:25:18.920 --> 00:25:20.000 It's kind of a strain 00:25:20.000 --> 00:25:21.599 or thinking that says, 00:25:21.819 --> 00:25:22.980 I give money 00:25:22.980 --> 00:25:23.900 and pray to God 00:25:23.900 --> 00:25:24.759 and give money to God 00:25:24.759 --> 00:25:26.039 and then God will bless me 00:25:26.039 --> 00:25:27.039 even more abundantly. 00:25:27.140 --> 00:25:27.980 I'll get ten times 00:25:27.980 --> 00:25:28.759 the money that I give 00:25:28.759 --> 00:25:29.740 to God back, right? 00:25:29.960 --> 00:25:30.920 God wants me to have 00:25:30.920 --> 00:25:31.660 lots of money 00:25:31.660 --> 00:25:32.220 and nice cars 00:25:32.220 --> 00:25:32.740 and all that. 00:25:32.980 --> 00:25:34.099 So if I give my ten dollars 00:25:34.099 --> 00:25:34.500 to God, 00:25:34.599 --> 00:25:35.640 God will give me a hundred back. 00:25:36.220 --> 00:25:37.119 It's kind of the basics 00:25:37.119 --> 00:25:38.140 of the prosperity gospel. 00:25:38.759 --> 00:25:39.240 This guy said, 00:25:39.279 --> 00:25:39.819 I bought into 00:25:39.819 --> 00:25:41.480 an emotional version of that. 00:25:41.599 --> 00:25:41.799 You know, 00:25:42.099 --> 00:25:43.660 I leave my secular job 00:25:43.660 --> 00:25:44.619 and my secular world 00:25:44.619 --> 00:25:46.660 and I go and I work for God 00:25:46.660 --> 00:25:48.299 and then God's going to bless me 00:25:48.299 --> 00:25:49.400 with emotional fulfillment. 00:25:50.799 --> 00:25:52.059 And I'm going to feel fulfilled 00:25:52.059 --> 00:25:53.140 and meaningful and happy 00:25:53.140 --> 00:25:53.980 and my job is going to, 00:25:54.099 --> 00:25:54.920 I'm going to have purpose 00:25:54.920 --> 00:25:55.480 and identity. 00:25:55.680 --> 00:25:56.059 He realized, 00:25:56.220 --> 00:25:57.359 it's a prosperity gospel. 00:25:57.480 --> 00:25:57.960 It's fake. 00:25:58.059 --> 00:25:59.059 It doesn't happen that way. 00:25:59.579 --> 00:26:00.759 See, a lot of people quit, 00:26:00.980 --> 00:26:01.259 you know, 00:26:01.380 --> 00:26:02.779 great jobs 00:26:02.779 --> 00:26:03.900 because they want to go 00:26:03.900 --> 00:26:04.839 into a helping profession 00:26:04.839 --> 00:26:05.960 or go into ministry 00:26:05.960 --> 00:26:06.940 or go do something 00:26:06.940 --> 00:26:07.579 that, you know, 00:26:07.640 --> 00:26:08.880 makes a difference. 00:26:09.039 --> 00:26:09.799 And then they get there 00:26:09.799 --> 00:26:10.400 and they realize, 00:26:10.660 --> 00:26:12.319 there's not a whole lot 00:26:12.319 --> 00:26:13.079 of fulfillment here. 00:26:14.019 --> 00:26:15.099 Nothing like what I thought 00:26:15.099 --> 00:26:15.640 there would be. 00:26:16.440 --> 00:26:16.799 Right? 00:26:16.880 --> 00:26:17.700 And if you work 00:26:17.700 --> 00:26:18.519 in the helping professions 00:26:18.519 --> 00:26:19.519 or the non-profit world, 00:26:19.519 --> 00:26:20.680 which a lot of you do, 00:26:21.119 --> 00:26:22.220 you know people like this 00:26:22.220 --> 00:26:23.139 and you know the truth 00:26:23.139 --> 00:26:24.339 that many of those people 00:26:24.339 --> 00:26:25.420 flame out really quickly. 00:26:26.700 --> 00:26:27.619 They flame out 00:26:27.619 --> 00:26:28.220 because they, 00:26:28.900 --> 00:26:29.079 you know, 00:26:29.160 --> 00:26:30.559 once the fulfillment's not there, 00:26:31.440 --> 00:26:32.359 so you've got to check 00:26:32.359 --> 00:26:33.259 your motives, right? 00:26:33.859 --> 00:26:34.700 It's good to want 00:26:34.700 --> 00:26:35.480 a fulfilling job 00:26:35.480 --> 00:26:36.059 and we can have 00:26:36.059 --> 00:26:37.319 partially fulfilling jobs, 00:26:37.559 --> 00:26:38.139 but if you pour 00:26:38.139 --> 00:26:39.099 your whole heart into that, 00:26:40.379 --> 00:26:41.139 you're going to be 00:26:41.139 --> 00:26:42.019 very disappointed. 00:26:43.420 --> 00:26:44.319 Very disappointed. 00:26:44.319 --> 00:26:46.339 So the truth is, 00:26:46.379 --> 00:26:47.299 if you pour your heart out 00:26:47.299 --> 00:26:48.720 for any earthly reason, 00:26:49.539 --> 00:26:51.700 you're never going to find 00:26:51.700 --> 00:26:52.740 what you're looking for. 00:26:53.179 --> 00:26:54.000 And what you're going to do 00:26:54.000 --> 00:26:54.619 is you're going to try 00:26:54.619 --> 00:26:55.439 harder and harder 00:26:55.439 --> 00:26:56.259 and harder and harder 00:26:56.259 --> 00:26:57.839 to get that reward 00:26:57.839 --> 00:26:59.740 and you're never going to get it. 00:27:00.019 --> 00:27:00.879 And you're going to realize 00:27:00.879 --> 00:27:01.799 at the end of your life 00:27:01.799 --> 00:27:02.460 that you were just 00:27:02.460 --> 00:27:03.980 a hamster on a wheel. 00:27:05.480 --> 00:27:06.179 Another word for that 00:27:06.179 --> 00:27:07.740 would be bond servant. 00:27:09.019 --> 00:27:09.419 Slave. 00:27:10.119 --> 00:27:10.919 You live your life 00:27:10.919 --> 00:27:11.619 like a slave. 00:27:11.619 --> 00:27:13.279 So what's the answer? 00:27:13.559 --> 00:27:15.699 Well, here's what Paul says 00:27:15.699 --> 00:27:16.399 in verse 23. 00:27:17.519 --> 00:27:18.439 Whatever you do, 00:27:18.699 --> 00:27:19.519 work heartily. 00:27:20.159 --> 00:27:20.799 And you know what that 00:27:20.799 --> 00:27:21.839 literally says in the Greek? 00:27:22.719 --> 00:27:23.939 Work from the soul. 00:27:24.859 --> 00:27:25.519 Isn't that great? 00:27:25.939 --> 00:27:27.119 Work from the soul. 00:27:28.419 --> 00:27:29.179 Whatever you do, 00:27:29.319 --> 00:27:30.519 work from the soul 00:27:30.519 --> 00:27:32.099 as for the Lord 00:27:32.099 --> 00:27:33.299 and not for men. 00:27:33.619 --> 00:27:34.239 Here's the key. 00:27:34.699 --> 00:27:35.819 Knowing that from the Lord 00:27:35.819 --> 00:27:36.539 you will receive 00:27:36.539 --> 00:27:37.399 the inheritance 00:27:37.399 --> 00:27:39.359 as your reward. 00:27:39.359 --> 00:27:41.679 So if you see your work 00:27:41.679 --> 00:27:43.019 as a way of serving the Lord 00:27:43.019 --> 00:27:44.399 rather than human bosses, 00:27:44.979 --> 00:27:46.240 then that frees you 00:27:46.240 --> 00:27:47.500 to pour your whole heart 00:27:47.500 --> 00:27:48.639 into your work. 00:27:48.719 --> 00:27:50.179 To work from the soul. 00:27:50.419 --> 00:27:50.919 Now why, 00:27:51.119 --> 00:27:52.359 what difference does it make? 00:27:53.500 --> 00:27:54.319 Here's the key. 00:27:54.899 --> 00:27:55.819 Because Christians 00:27:55.819 --> 00:27:57.219 do not work 00:27:57.219 --> 00:27:58.679 to seek a reward. 00:28:00.779 --> 00:28:02.059 We don't ultimately 00:28:02.059 --> 00:28:03.339 pour our hearts out 00:28:03.339 --> 00:28:04.339 because we're hoping 00:28:04.339 --> 00:28:05.199 to build wealth 00:28:05.199 --> 00:28:07.119 or to be important 00:28:07.119 --> 00:28:07.799 and respected 00:28:07.799 --> 00:28:09.379 or to find fulfillment. 00:28:09.579 --> 00:28:11.039 That doesn't motivate us. 00:28:12.079 --> 00:28:13.159 We don't pour our hearts out 00:28:13.159 --> 00:28:13.960 because we're seeking 00:28:13.960 --> 00:28:14.879 a reward. 00:28:15.139 --> 00:28:16.339 We pour our hearts out 00:28:16.339 --> 00:28:17.180 because we work 00:28:17.180 --> 00:28:18.460 in the security 00:28:18.460 --> 00:28:20.079 of an inheritance. 00:28:21.559 --> 00:28:22.399 What's the difference 00:28:22.399 --> 00:28:23.539 between a reward 00:28:23.539 --> 00:28:24.279 and an inheritance? 00:28:25.379 --> 00:28:26.180 Well, a reward 00:28:26.180 --> 00:28:27.240 is something you earn. 00:28:27.460 --> 00:28:28.859 It's that carrot out there 00:28:28.859 --> 00:28:29.579 and you strive 00:28:29.579 --> 00:28:30.039 and you strive 00:28:30.039 --> 00:28:30.500 and you strive 00:28:30.500 --> 00:28:31.539 and hopefully one day 00:28:31.539 --> 00:28:32.220 you're going to get 00:28:32.220 --> 00:28:32.740 that carrot. 00:28:33.339 --> 00:28:34.099 That's a reward. 00:28:35.379 --> 00:28:36.240 You can't earn 00:28:36.240 --> 00:28:36.759 an inheritance. 00:28:38.799 --> 00:28:39.700 You can't earn it. 00:28:40.380 --> 00:28:40.859 How do you get 00:28:40.859 --> 00:28:41.279 an inheritance? 00:28:42.140 --> 00:28:42.700 Well, you have 00:28:42.700 --> 00:28:43.240 very little say 00:28:43.240 --> 00:28:43.640 in the matter. 00:28:44.279 --> 00:28:45.099 You have to be born 00:28:45.099 --> 00:28:45.839 into it. 00:28:46.980 --> 00:28:47.980 You get an inheritance 00:28:47.980 --> 00:28:49.380 because of your family name. 00:28:50.359 --> 00:28:51.099 You get old enough 00:28:51.099 --> 00:28:51.799 and people say 00:28:51.799 --> 00:28:52.559 you've got an inheritance 00:28:52.559 --> 00:28:53.259 waiting for you 00:28:53.259 --> 00:28:53.920 and then eventually 00:28:53.920 --> 00:28:54.640 when you come of age 00:28:54.640 --> 00:28:55.220 that inheritance 00:28:55.220 --> 00:28:56.859 becomes yours. 00:28:56.980 --> 00:28:57.519 You claim it. 00:28:58.519 --> 00:28:59.440 Nobody can take it away 00:28:59.440 --> 00:29:00.660 because it's tied 00:29:00.660 --> 00:29:01.220 to your identity, 00:29:01.359 --> 00:29:01.779 your blood, 00:29:02.019 --> 00:29:02.579 who you are. 00:29:03.099 --> 00:29:03.640 It doesn't matter 00:29:03.640 --> 00:29:04.640 if you screw around 00:29:04.640 --> 00:29:05.280 all life. 00:29:06.300 --> 00:29:06.880 That inheritance 00:29:06.880 --> 00:29:07.420 is yours. 00:29:07.800 --> 00:29:08.500 It's unshakable. 00:29:09.720 --> 00:29:10.740 And so the gospel says 00:29:10.740 --> 00:29:11.500 that when we turn 00:29:11.500 --> 00:29:11.940 to Jesus 00:29:11.940 --> 00:29:13.120 and when we confess 00:29:13.120 --> 00:29:13.640 our sin 00:29:13.640 --> 00:29:14.600 and accept his forgiveness 00:29:14.600 --> 00:29:15.380 and begin to be 00:29:15.380 --> 00:29:16.440 followers of him 00:29:16.440 --> 00:29:17.380 when we're baptized 00:29:17.380 --> 00:29:18.700 that at that moment 00:29:18.700 --> 00:29:20.400 we are adopted 00:29:20.400 --> 00:29:21.960 into his family. 00:29:22.140 --> 00:29:22.860 We take on 00:29:22.860 --> 00:29:23.940 a new family name 00:29:23.940 --> 00:29:24.920 that his blood 00:29:24.920 --> 00:29:26.280 flows in our veins. 00:29:26.420 --> 00:29:26.940 We are literally 00:29:26.940 --> 00:29:27.960 born again 00:29:27.960 --> 00:29:29.140 and because of that 00:29:29.140 --> 00:29:29.720 we gain 00:29:29.720 --> 00:29:30.560 what the Bible says 00:29:30.560 --> 00:29:31.840 is an imperishable 00:29:31.840 --> 00:29:32.740 inheritance. 00:29:33.640 --> 00:29:35.580 everything that matters 00:29:35.580 --> 00:29:36.300 in eternity 00:29:36.300 --> 00:29:38.540 everything that really matters 00:29:38.540 --> 00:29:39.180 all the stuff 00:29:39.180 --> 00:29:40.300 that doesn't fade 00:29:40.300 --> 00:29:41.759 like the grass withers 00:29:41.759 --> 00:29:43.020 but all of the stuff 00:29:43.020 --> 00:29:43.980 that remains 00:29:43.980 --> 00:29:45.920 that all of that 00:29:45.920 --> 00:29:46.560 is ours. 00:29:47.660 --> 00:29:48.740 That in God's 00:29:48.740 --> 00:29:49.840 kingdom economy 00:29:49.840 --> 00:29:52.140 in the new world 00:29:52.140 --> 00:29:53.540 our inheritance 00:29:53.540 --> 00:29:54.540 is secure. 00:29:55.280 --> 00:29:56.320 We have absolutely 00:29:56.320 --> 00:29:57.440 nothing to worry about. 00:29:57.500 --> 00:29:58.720 The future is secure. 00:30:00.180 --> 00:30:01.560 So because of that 00:30:01.559 --> 00:30:03.000 we can pour our hearts 00:30:03.000 --> 00:30:03.779 out now 00:30:03.779 --> 00:30:05.240 and if we make money 00:30:05.240 --> 00:30:06.740 or we don't make money 00:30:06.740 --> 00:30:08.579 if we gain the respect 00:30:08.579 --> 00:30:09.200 and admiration 00:30:09.200 --> 00:30:09.740 of others 00:30:09.740 --> 00:30:10.679 or if nobody 00:30:10.679 --> 00:30:11.339 gives a rip 00:30:11.339 --> 00:30:12.139 right? 00:30:12.220 --> 00:30:13.919 If we have a fulfilling job 00:30:13.919 --> 00:30:15.099 or if it's menial 00:30:15.099 --> 00:30:15.779 and grueling 00:30:15.779 --> 00:30:17.039 we can still 00:30:17.039 --> 00:30:18.299 pour our hearts out 00:30:18.299 --> 00:30:18.899 because we know 00:30:18.899 --> 00:30:19.539 that there's no 00:30:19.539 --> 00:30:20.759 reward here 00:30:20.759 --> 00:30:22.259 that can hold a candle 00:30:22.259 --> 00:30:23.460 to the inheritance 00:30:23.460 --> 00:30:24.899 that is already ours. 00:30:24.900 --> 00:30:27.920 So we work 00:30:27.920 --> 00:30:28.860 and we pour our hearts 00:30:28.860 --> 00:30:29.120 out 00:30:29.120 --> 00:30:29.759 because we know 00:30:29.759 --> 00:30:30.580 that God sees 00:30:30.580 --> 00:30:31.500 everything we do 00:30:31.500 --> 00:30:32.640 like a father 00:30:32.640 --> 00:30:33.420 sees a child 00:30:33.420 --> 00:30:36.500 and he delights in it. 00:30:37.259 --> 00:30:37.400 You know 00:30:37.400 --> 00:30:38.340 I see Riley 00:30:38.340 --> 00:30:39.060 and I see Riley 00:30:39.060 --> 00:30:39.780 trying to learn 00:30:39.780 --> 00:30:40.620 to ride his bike 00:30:40.620 --> 00:30:42.000 and tie his shoes 00:30:42.000 --> 00:30:43.300 and fix his own breakfast 00:30:43.300 --> 00:30:44.759 and get dressed 00:30:44.759 --> 00:30:47.440 and put his laundry away 00:30:47.440 --> 00:30:48.400 and buy presents 00:30:48.400 --> 00:30:49.180 for his little brother 00:30:49.180 --> 00:30:49.880 and I see him 00:30:49.880 --> 00:30:51.019 doing all these things 00:30:51.019 --> 00:30:52.060 and that's the work 00:30:52.060 --> 00:30:52.640 of a child. 00:30:52.800 --> 00:30:53.780 I see him playing 00:30:53.779 --> 00:30:55.099 and learning how to build Legos 00:30:55.099 --> 00:30:56.220 and tracks for his marbles 00:30:56.220 --> 00:30:58.220 that's work for kids 00:30:58.220 --> 00:30:59.299 that's their job 00:30:59.299 --> 00:31:00.960 is to do all that stuff 00:31:00.960 --> 00:31:02.960 and when he spills Cheerios 00:31:02.960 --> 00:31:03.619 and messes up 00:31:03.619 --> 00:31:04.379 do I say 00:31:04.379 --> 00:31:05.500 God get it right 00:31:05.500 --> 00:31:06.379 what is your problem? 00:31:06.579 --> 00:31:07.019 No. 00:31:08.160 --> 00:31:08.480 No. 00:31:08.639 --> 00:31:10.019 Because I'm crazy about him 00:31:10.019 --> 00:31:11.859 and I almost love him more 00:31:11.859 --> 00:31:13.099 when he makes the mistakes. 00:31:13.819 --> 00:31:13.940 You know 00:31:13.940 --> 00:31:14.619 it's endearing 00:31:14.619 --> 00:31:15.339 those are the times 00:31:15.339 --> 00:31:15.839 when I just want to 00:31:15.839 --> 00:31:16.940 grab him in my arms 00:31:16.940 --> 00:31:18.039 and tell him how much I love him. 00:31:18.759 --> 00:31:19.839 That's how God views us. 00:31:20.619 --> 00:31:21.420 Scrubbing toilets 00:31:21.420 --> 00:31:22.639 or making spreadsheets 00:31:22.639 --> 00:31:23.379 or running a company 00:31:23.380 --> 00:31:24.140 God doesn't care 00:31:24.140 --> 00:31:25.540 God delights in us 00:31:25.540 --> 00:31:26.920 doing what he created us to do. 00:31:27.140 --> 00:31:27.920 That's what brings him 00:31:27.920 --> 00:31:28.440 great pleasure. 00:31:30.380 --> 00:31:31.440 So the gospel means 00:31:31.440 --> 00:31:32.340 that we serve God 00:31:32.340 --> 00:31:33.120 by our work 00:31:33.120 --> 00:31:34.800 and it means that we can 00:31:34.800 --> 00:31:35.440 pour our hearts 00:31:35.440 --> 00:31:36.420 into our work 00:31:36.420 --> 00:31:37.240 freely. 00:31:37.960 --> 00:31:38.600 The third way 00:31:38.600 --> 00:31:39.500 the gospel transforms 00:31:39.500 --> 00:31:40.500 our work is this 00:31:40.500 --> 00:31:40.960 and I realize 00:31:40.960 --> 00:31:41.740 we're out of time 00:31:41.740 --> 00:31:43.420 so just a couple of minutes 00:31:43.420 --> 00:31:43.900 on this. 00:31:44.940 --> 00:31:45.800 It compels us 00:31:45.800 --> 00:31:46.580 to seek justice 00:31:46.580 --> 00:31:47.900 through our work. 00:31:48.140 --> 00:31:49.540 I gotta say this 00:31:49.540 --> 00:31:51.940 we gotta hit this. 00:31:51.940 --> 00:31:53.940 This is amazing 00:31:53.940 --> 00:31:54.380 because 00:31:54.380 --> 00:31:56.539 the call to justice 00:31:56.539 --> 00:31:57.019 that we see 00:31:57.019 --> 00:31:58.320 in Colossians 3 and 4 00:31:58.320 --> 00:31:59.200 is aimed both 00:31:59.200 --> 00:32:00.059 at bond servants 00:32:00.059 --> 00:32:01.240 and masters 00:32:01.240 --> 00:32:03.000 both employees 00:32:03.000 --> 00:32:04.400 and employers. 00:32:05.740 --> 00:32:06.880 So to Christian employees 00:32:06.880 --> 00:32:07.400 it says 00:32:07.400 --> 00:32:08.600 in verse 22 00:32:08.600 --> 00:32:10.559 obey in everything 00:32:10.559 --> 00:32:11.360 those who are 00:32:11.360 --> 00:32:12.360 your earthly masters 00:32:12.360 --> 00:32:14.220 not by way of eye service 00:32:14.220 --> 00:32:15.140 as people pleasers 00:32:15.140 --> 00:32:16.039 but with sincerity 00:32:16.039 --> 00:32:16.600 of heart 00:32:16.600 --> 00:32:17.940 for the wrongdoer 00:32:17.940 --> 00:32:18.840 will be paid back 00:32:18.840 --> 00:32:20.000 for the wrong he has done 00:32:20.000 --> 00:32:21.539 and there is no partiality. 00:32:22.500 --> 00:32:23.420 So let's just look at 00:32:23.420 --> 00:32:24.019 what this is saying 00:32:24.019 --> 00:32:24.539 really quick. 00:32:25.079 --> 00:32:26.599 If you feel unappreciated 00:32:26.599 --> 00:32:28.700 think about your job. 00:32:29.019 --> 00:32:30.000 If you feel unappreciated 00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:32.220 boss doesn't care 00:32:32.220 --> 00:32:32.779 what you're doing. 00:32:33.619 --> 00:32:34.700 If you feel mistreated 00:32:34.700 --> 00:32:37.000 if you feel harassed 00:32:37.000 --> 00:32:38.400 if you feel 00:32:38.400 --> 00:32:41.180 like there's injustice 00:32:41.180 --> 00:32:42.000 if you feel overworked 00:32:43.000 --> 00:32:44.740 if you think that your boss 00:32:44.740 --> 00:32:45.440 is incompetent 00:32:45.440 --> 00:32:47.799 you know that's a hard one. 00:32:47.799 --> 00:32:50.440 If I took a poll 00:32:50.440 --> 00:32:51.220 which I'm not going to do 00:32:51.220 --> 00:32:51.579 and I said 00:32:51.579 --> 00:32:52.240 how many of you feel 00:32:52.240 --> 00:32:52.779 like your boss 00:32:52.779 --> 00:32:53.740 is pretty much incompetent 00:32:53.740 --> 00:32:54.659 I would say that probably 00:32:54.659 --> 00:32:55.519 at least half the hands 00:32:55.519 --> 00:32:56.299 in the room would go up. 00:32:56.779 --> 00:32:57.919 It's a pretty common complaint. 00:32:58.200 --> 00:32:58.859 I mean not for the 00:32:58.859 --> 00:32:59.839 Church of the Advent team 00:32:59.839 --> 00:33:00.659 but for most people 00:33:00.659 --> 00:33:01.599 this is a struggle. 00:33:02.559 --> 00:33:03.299 It's a struggle. 00:33:03.399 --> 00:33:04.039 It's a real struggle. 00:33:05.159 --> 00:33:06.419 And so if any of those 00:33:06.419 --> 00:33:06.839 things are true 00:33:06.839 --> 00:33:07.779 it is so easy 00:33:07.779 --> 00:33:09.740 to justify slacking off. 00:33:10.259 --> 00:33:11.799 My boss doesn't care. 00:33:11.879 --> 00:33:12.500 My boss doesn't know 00:33:12.500 --> 00:33:13.000 what they're doing. 00:33:13.919 --> 00:33:14.740 Why should I care? 00:33:15.440 --> 00:33:15.599 Right? 00:33:15.599 --> 00:33:16.659 It's easy to just start 00:33:16.659 --> 00:33:17.339 phoning it in 00:33:17.339 --> 00:33:17.899 because why? 00:33:18.199 --> 00:33:18.679 Who cares? 00:33:18.779 --> 00:33:19.399 Nobody cares. 00:33:20.000 --> 00:33:20.179 You know? 00:33:20.419 --> 00:33:21.839 My boss doesn't deserve 00:33:21.839 --> 00:33:23.299 any better from me. 00:33:24.099 --> 00:33:25.219 My boss isn't working 00:33:25.219 --> 00:33:26.579 half as hard as I am. 00:33:27.339 --> 00:33:29.019 Very easy to justify that. 00:33:29.699 --> 00:33:30.079 In other words 00:33:30.079 --> 00:33:30.959 it's easy to think 00:33:30.959 --> 00:33:31.819 that injustice 00:33:31.819 --> 00:33:33.319 committed toward us 00:33:33.319 --> 00:33:34.439 gives us license. 00:33:35.319 --> 00:33:35.799 Right? 00:33:35.879 --> 00:33:37.079 To work half-heartedly. 00:33:37.579 --> 00:33:38.500 Because we don't think 00:33:38.500 --> 00:33:39.299 our bosses deserve 00:33:39.299 --> 00:33:39.879 anything more. 00:33:40.899 --> 00:33:41.959 But what this is saying 00:33:41.959 --> 00:33:43.179 if I'm reading this correctly 00:33:43.180 --> 00:33:44.080 this is saying 00:33:44.080 --> 00:33:45.100 that there's no excuse 00:33:45.100 --> 00:33:45.860 for the Christian. 00:33:46.600 --> 00:33:47.380 That for the Christian 00:33:47.380 --> 00:33:47.740 you want to know 00:33:47.740 --> 00:33:48.799 what a Christian job is? 00:33:48.920 --> 00:33:50.340 Here's a Christian work ethic. 00:33:50.840 --> 00:33:51.680 For the Christian 00:33:51.680 --> 00:33:54.620 we always work our hardest 00:33:54.620 --> 00:33:55.720 and do our best 00:33:55.720 --> 00:33:57.340 not just when we're being watched 00:33:57.340 --> 00:33:58.380 but all the time. 00:33:59.580 --> 00:34:00.320 Now your boss 00:34:00.320 --> 00:34:01.440 may not deserve it. 00:34:02.720 --> 00:34:04.140 May not appreciate you. 00:34:04.240 --> 00:34:05.200 May overwork you. 00:34:06.920 --> 00:34:08.240 But you're not serving 00:34:08.240 --> 00:34:08.820 your boss. 00:34:10.079 --> 00:34:10.960 You're serving 00:34:10.960 --> 00:34:11.860 Jesus Christ. 00:34:11.860 --> 00:34:14.019 the one who gave 00:34:14.019 --> 00:34:15.320 everything up for you. 00:34:16.180 --> 00:34:17.019 That's the one 00:34:17.019 --> 00:34:17.640 you're serving. 00:34:18.140 --> 00:34:19.260 And he does deserve 00:34:19.260 --> 00:34:19.860 your best. 00:34:20.140 --> 00:34:20.700 He deserves 00:34:20.700 --> 00:34:21.660 everything 00:34:21.660 --> 00:34:23.120 that you can give him 00:34:23.120 --> 00:34:24.000 every day 00:34:24.000 --> 00:34:25.079 regardless of whether 00:34:25.079 --> 00:34:26.079 anyone else is watching. 00:34:27.460 --> 00:34:28.440 And then it turns around 00:34:28.440 --> 00:34:29.380 and it says to bosses 00:34:29.380 --> 00:34:30.720 in chapter 4 verse 1 00:34:30.720 --> 00:34:32.099 Masters 00:34:32.099 --> 00:34:33.840 treat your bond servants 00:34:33.840 --> 00:34:34.539 justly 00:34:34.539 --> 00:34:35.340 and fairly 00:34:35.340 --> 00:34:36.980 knowing that you also 00:34:36.980 --> 00:34:37.720 have a master 00:34:37.720 --> 00:34:38.640 in heaven. 00:34:38.780 --> 00:34:39.740 So very clear here 00:34:39.740 --> 00:34:41.200 no matter how much 00:34:41.199 --> 00:34:42.019 authority you get 00:34:42.019 --> 00:34:42.539 no matter how much 00:34:42.539 --> 00:34:43.219 influence you get 00:34:43.219 --> 00:34:43.879 no matter how many 00:34:43.879 --> 00:34:45.460 people you are managing 00:34:45.460 --> 00:34:46.299 how many teams 00:34:46.299 --> 00:34:46.980 you oversee 00:34:46.980 --> 00:34:49.500 you are always 00:34:49.500 --> 00:34:50.619 under authority. 00:34:51.980 --> 00:34:53.059 You are always 00:34:53.059 --> 00:34:53.739 under authority. 00:34:54.039 --> 00:34:54.739 You have a boss. 00:34:55.219 --> 00:34:55.980 You have a master. 00:34:57.339 --> 00:34:58.139 And he has a heart 00:34:58.139 --> 00:34:58.679 of justice. 00:35:00.319 --> 00:35:00.919 He says 00:35:00.919 --> 00:35:01.779 remember that 00:35:01.779 --> 00:35:02.919 treat those under you 00:35:02.919 --> 00:35:03.960 justly and fairly. 00:35:04.079 --> 00:35:04.659 What does that mean? 00:35:04.759 --> 00:35:04.960 Well 00:35:04.960 --> 00:35:05.839 lots of things. 00:35:05.919 --> 00:35:06.539 Let's just take a few 00:35:06.539 --> 00:35:07.000 examples. 00:35:08.059 --> 00:35:09.019 Don't take credit 00:35:09.019 --> 00:35:09.719 for the work 00:35:09.719 --> 00:35:10.139 that people 00:35:10.139 --> 00:35:11.000 under you do. 00:35:13.300 --> 00:35:14.239 Give credit 00:35:14.239 --> 00:35:14.820 away. 00:35:15.539 --> 00:35:16.300 Give credit 00:35:16.300 --> 00:35:17.280 away as much 00:35:17.280 --> 00:35:17.860 as you can. 00:35:19.320 --> 00:35:19.460 Right? 00:35:19.619 --> 00:35:20.360 Show grace 00:35:20.360 --> 00:35:20.840 when people 00:35:20.840 --> 00:35:21.639 make mistakes. 00:35:22.679 --> 00:35:23.460 And take every 00:35:23.460 --> 00:35:23.940 opportunity 00:35:23.940 --> 00:35:24.860 to build people 00:35:24.860 --> 00:35:25.159 up 00:35:25.159 --> 00:35:26.239 when and 00:35:26.239 --> 00:35:26.820 wherever you 00:35:26.820 --> 00:35:27.179 can. 00:35:29.400 --> 00:35:30.259 If people 00:35:30.259 --> 00:35:30.880 under you 00:35:30.880 --> 00:35:32.079 mess up 00:35:32.079 --> 00:35:32.860 and make mistakes 00:35:32.860 --> 00:35:34.059 be willing 00:35:34.059 --> 00:35:34.960 to take the fall 00:35:34.960 --> 00:35:36.380 and take the blame. 00:35:36.380 --> 00:35:39.720 fight to ensure 00:35:39.720 --> 00:35:40.579 equal pay 00:35:40.579 --> 00:35:41.740 and equal 00:35:41.740 --> 00:35:42.320 opportunities 00:35:42.320 --> 00:35:43.200 especially for 00:35:43.200 --> 00:35:43.720 women and 00:35:43.720 --> 00:35:44.119 minorities 00:35:44.119 --> 00:35:45.200 to the best 00:35:45.200 --> 00:35:45.800 of your ability. 00:35:46.860 --> 00:35:47.760 Don't just hire 00:35:47.760 --> 00:35:48.340 from your own 00:35:48.340 --> 00:35:48.720 networks. 00:35:48.840 --> 00:35:49.340 If you actually 00:35:49.340 --> 00:35:49.980 have the ability 00:35:49.980 --> 00:35:50.760 to make a hire 00:35:50.760 --> 00:35:52.300 don't just hire 00:35:52.300 --> 00:35:52.920 an insider 00:35:52.920 --> 00:35:54.280 but take the 00:35:54.280 --> 00:35:54.940 extra time and 00:35:54.940 --> 00:35:55.539 energy to look 00:35:55.539 --> 00:35:56.140 outside your 00:35:56.140 --> 00:35:56.480 networks. 00:35:56.599 --> 00:35:56.980 Try to fund 00:35:56.980 --> 00:35:57.619 somebody maybe 00:35:57.619 --> 00:35:58.220 who doesn't 00:35:58.220 --> 00:35:58.720 have as much 00:35:58.720 --> 00:36:00.220 privilege as 00:36:00.220 --> 00:36:01.000 most of the 00:36:01.000 --> 00:36:01.500 people we know 00:36:01.500 --> 00:36:03.519 have but maybe 00:36:03.519 --> 00:36:03.980 has a lot of 00:36:03.980 --> 00:36:04.380 potential. 00:36:04.380 --> 00:36:06.000 Try to hire 00:36:06.000 --> 00:36:06.480 from outside 00:36:06.480 --> 00:36:07.079 your networks 00:36:07.079 --> 00:36:07.539 if at all 00:36:07.539 --> 00:36:08.019 possible. 00:36:09.059 --> 00:36:09.700 Be generous 00:36:09.700 --> 00:36:10.099 with your 00:36:10.099 --> 00:36:10.500 policies. 00:36:10.619 --> 00:36:10.940 If you can 00:36:10.940 --> 00:36:11.579 set policies 00:36:11.579 --> 00:36:12.119 about sick 00:36:12.119 --> 00:36:12.539 leave and 00:36:12.539 --> 00:36:13.260 parental leave 00:36:13.260 --> 00:36:14.099 and vacation 00:36:14.099 --> 00:36:15.079 be as generous 00:36:15.079 --> 00:36:15.800 as you can. 00:36:16.780 --> 00:36:17.720 Don't overwork 00:36:17.720 --> 00:36:18.260 your people 00:36:18.260 --> 00:36:19.599 but make sure 00:36:19.599 --> 00:36:20.180 they have time 00:36:20.180 --> 00:36:20.740 for friends 00:36:20.740 --> 00:36:21.559 and family. 00:36:21.660 --> 00:36:22.300 It could go 00:36:22.300 --> 00:36:22.940 on and on 00:36:22.940 --> 00:36:23.300 and on 00:36:23.300 --> 00:36:23.640 and on 00:36:23.640 --> 00:36:23.940 and on. 00:36:24.079 --> 00:36:24.400 But let's 00:36:24.400 --> 00:36:24.860 just ask this 00:36:24.860 --> 00:36:25.340 question because 00:36:25.340 --> 00:36:25.680 we've got to 00:36:25.680 --> 00:36:25.900 close. 00:36:26.180 --> 00:36:26.640 Why does God 00:36:26.640 --> 00:36:27.099 care about 00:36:27.099 --> 00:36:27.619 these things? 00:36:28.160 --> 00:36:28.640 Why is this 00:36:28.640 --> 00:36:29.059 in the Bible? 00:36:31.160 --> 00:36:31.980 Because God 00:36:31.980 --> 00:36:32.579 is a God 00:36:32.579 --> 00:36:33.280 of justice. 00:36:33.820 --> 00:36:34.000 And do you 00:36:34.000 --> 00:36:34.139 know what 00:36:34.139 --> 00:36:34.519 the kingdom 00:36:34.519 --> 00:36:35.079 is? 00:36:36.079 --> 00:36:36.619 The kingdom 00:36:36.619 --> 00:36:37.139 is all about 00:36:37.139 --> 00:36:37.519 the king 00:36:37.519 --> 00:36:38.260 and it's all 00:36:38.260 --> 00:36:38.539 about the 00:36:38.539 --> 00:36:38.860 coming of 00:36:38.860 --> 00:36:39.159 the king. 00:36:39.360 --> 00:36:39.539 And do you 00:36:39.539 --> 00:36:39.800 know what's 00:36:39.800 --> 00:36:40.000 going to 00:36:40.000 --> 00:36:40.440 happen when 00:36:40.440 --> 00:36:40.780 the king 00:36:40.780 --> 00:36:41.280 comes? 00:36:42.699 --> 00:36:43.099 Justice 00:36:43.099 --> 00:36:43.639 will fill 00:36:43.639 --> 00:36:44.119 the earth. 00:36:45.559 --> 00:36:45.920 It will 00:36:45.920 --> 00:36:46.679 roll down. 00:36:48.679 --> 00:36:49.460 And so if 00:36:49.460 --> 00:36:50.219 we seek to 00:36:50.219 --> 00:36:51.039 serve the 00:36:51.039 --> 00:36:51.500 Lord in 00:36:51.500 --> 00:36:52.059 our work 00:36:52.059 --> 00:36:53.159 and we 00:36:53.159 --> 00:36:53.579 know that 00:36:53.579 --> 00:36:54.000 about his 00:36:54.000 --> 00:36:54.360 heart 00:36:54.360 --> 00:36:56.519 then we 00:36:56.519 --> 00:36:57.139 work whether 00:36:57.139 --> 00:36:57.500 we are 00:36:57.500 --> 00:36:58.380 employers or 00:36:58.380 --> 00:36:59.019 employees 00:36:59.019 --> 00:36:59.880 with an 00:36:59.880 --> 00:37:00.460 eye toward 00:37:00.460 --> 00:37:01.360 that justice 00:37:01.360 --> 00:37:02.579 because we 00:37:02.579 --> 00:37:02.800 want to 00:37:02.800 --> 00:37:03.480 reflect his 00:37:03.480 --> 00:37:03.800 heart. 00:37:03.940 --> 00:37:04.320 That's what 00:37:04.320 --> 00:37:04.820 it means to 00:37:04.820 --> 00:37:05.260 do it in 00:37:05.260 --> 00:37:05.860 his name. 00:37:06.619 --> 00:37:07.139 To do it in 00:37:07.139 --> 00:37:07.559 ways that 00:37:07.559 --> 00:37:08.300 reflect his 00:37:08.300 --> 00:37:08.780 heart and 00:37:08.780 --> 00:37:09.500 his priorities 00:37:09.500 --> 00:37:10.019 and his 00:37:10.019 --> 00:37:11.579 values for 00:37:11.579 --> 00:37:12.079 human beings 00:37:12.079 --> 00:37:12.380 in this 00:37:12.380 --> 00:37:12.679 world. 00:37:14.240 --> 00:37:14.579 And by the 00:37:14.579 --> 00:37:17.079 way, if 00:37:17.079 --> 00:37:17.460 you're this 00:37:17.460 --> 00:37:17.800 kind of 00:37:17.800 --> 00:37:18.440 employee and 00:37:18.440 --> 00:37:18.840 you work 00:37:18.840 --> 00:37:19.460 this hard no 00:37:19.460 --> 00:37:19.900 matter if 00:37:19.900 --> 00:37:20.380 people are 00:37:20.380 --> 00:37:20.800 watching or 00:37:20.800 --> 00:37:21.719 not, everybody 00:37:21.719 --> 00:37:22.440 is going to 00:37:22.440 --> 00:37:22.900 want to hire 00:37:22.900 --> 00:37:23.179 you. 00:37:23.920 --> 00:37:24.380 Word will get 00:37:24.380 --> 00:37:24.699 around. 00:37:24.920 --> 00:37:25.340 It's a small 00:37:25.340 --> 00:37:26.019 town, D.C. 00:37:26.079 --> 00:37:26.559 Small town. 00:37:27.019 --> 00:37:27.440 Doesn't feel 00:37:27.440 --> 00:37:27.820 like it. 00:37:28.219 --> 00:37:28.780 Live here a few 00:37:28.780 --> 00:37:29.000 years. 00:37:29.059 --> 00:37:29.460 It's a small 00:37:29.460 --> 00:37:29.699 town. 00:37:29.699 --> 00:37:31.739 Everybody's 00:37:31.739 --> 00:37:31.879 going to 00:37:31.879 --> 00:37:32.219 want you. 00:37:32.480 --> 00:37:32.819 If you're 00:37:32.819 --> 00:37:33.139 this kind 00:37:33.139 --> 00:37:33.839 of boss, if 00:37:33.839 --> 00:37:34.119 you're this 00:37:34.119 --> 00:37:34.559 kind of team 00:37:34.559 --> 00:37:35.679 leader, everybody's 00:37:35.679 --> 00:37:36.039 going to want to 00:37:36.039 --> 00:37:36.439 be on your 00:37:36.439 --> 00:37:36.719 team. 00:37:38.460 --> 00:37:39.199 It'll go well 00:37:39.199 --> 00:37:39.539 for you. 00:37:41.439 --> 00:37:42.439 So this is how 00:37:42.439 --> 00:37:42.939 the gospel 00:37:42.939 --> 00:37:43.960 transforms our 00:37:43.960 --> 00:37:44.839 work and this 00:37:44.839 --> 00:37:45.279 is, I think, 00:37:45.339 --> 00:37:45.919 what a Christian 00:37:45.919 --> 00:37:46.839 job really is. 00:37:46.899 --> 00:37:48.039 It's a job done 00:37:48.039 --> 00:37:48.799 in service to 00:37:48.799 --> 00:37:49.819 the Lord with 00:37:49.819 --> 00:37:50.539 our whole heart 00:37:50.539 --> 00:37:51.599 and with an 00:37:51.599 --> 00:37:52.000 aim toward 00:37:52.000 --> 00:37:52.460 justice. 00:37:52.460 --> 00:38:01.519 Thank you. 00:38:01.519 --> 00:38:02.079 Thank you.