WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.360
 Thank you everyone, thanks very much to Fiona and the band for leading us so well in our worship.

00:00:06.240 --> 00:00:09.160
 As Fiona said, we're continuing our series on work this evening,

00:00:09.580 --> 00:00:13.780
 and it's maybe worth beginning by reminding ourselves what we mean when we talk about work.

00:00:14.320 --> 00:00:17.780
 Work for me has always been in office, I spend most of my life doing pensions,

00:00:18.160 --> 00:00:22.920
 and I've spent my time doing church management, whatever that means, in the office through the back.

00:00:23.120 --> 00:00:28.580
 And that is my environment, and what I talk about this evening will be based on that,

00:00:28.579 --> 00:00:30.359
 and based on my experience of it.

00:00:31.479 --> 00:00:39.140
 That probably translates reasonably easily to those of you who work in a hospital or a school or even in a church.

00:00:40.079 --> 00:00:41.859
 But in a way, that is not everybody here.

00:00:42.879 --> 00:00:45.959
 And work for you could be at university or college.

00:00:46.599 --> 00:00:49.219
 It could be volunteering that you do in various ways.

00:00:49.599 --> 00:00:52.340
 It could be at home if you're a homemaker looking after family.

00:00:52.500 --> 00:00:56.299
 I hope a lot of what we have to say will also be relevant for you.

00:00:56.299 --> 00:01:02.699
 So whatever work means to you, whatever you do to contribute towards society or towards the good of others,

00:01:02.939 --> 00:01:08.200
 please think of that this evening, and hopefully a lot of what we say will be of help.

00:01:09.140 --> 00:01:11.879
 We're going to refer to quite a number of pastors as we go through this evening,

00:01:11.959 --> 00:01:16.959
 but I want to read to begin with from Ephesians chapter 6, and it will come up on the screen.

00:01:17.039 --> 00:01:18.599
 There's a few verses from Ephesians 6.

00:01:19.019 --> 00:01:24.700
 This is talking about slaves and masters, which is obviously a slightly different environment from what most of us are in,

00:01:24.700 --> 00:01:28.780
 but it translates reasonably well to the world of work today as well.

00:01:28.879 --> 00:01:32.140
 So it's Ephesians chapter 6, and reading from verse 5.

00:01:32.920 --> 00:01:33.840
 And Paul writes,

00:01:33.840 --> 00:02:03.840


00:02:03.840 --> 00:02:25.340
 I'm sure God will bless his word as we consider it together.

00:02:26.620 --> 00:02:29.939
 I want to start by thinking about a house with two rooms.

00:02:29.939 --> 00:02:35.639
 It might look a bit like that, might not, but the key thing is it's got two rooms.

00:02:35.800 --> 00:02:38.759
 And if we move on to the next slide, we can see what the rooms are.

00:02:39.219 --> 00:02:42.099
 The rooms are called faith and work.

00:02:42.579 --> 00:02:45.979
 And as you can see in that picture, it's two separate rooms.

00:02:47.240 --> 00:02:51.419
 And there are lots of different ways in which people might look at these rooms.

00:02:52.259 --> 00:02:55.439
 Some people are very comfortable in the room of faith.

00:02:55.439 --> 00:02:59.579
 They find they come to church and have fellowship with other Christians.

00:02:59.900 --> 00:03:03.960
 That gives them a great joy as they worship God and enjoy him together.

00:03:04.859 --> 00:03:10.639
 There's the security that comes from knowing that our eternal future is secure and that we're in God's hands.

00:03:11.219 --> 00:03:17.319
 And churches are places where, by and large, there is great love and concern and support for one another.

00:03:17.319 --> 00:03:26.819
 And many people are very comfortable in the world of faith, as we would look at it as being among Christians, perhaps in church.

00:03:27.900 --> 00:03:32.439
 But some people who find that real comfort and joy and security and love and faith,

00:03:32.939 --> 00:03:36.699
 they have a very different experience and attitude towards work.

00:03:37.419 --> 00:03:40.959
 Work for them might be a place where there's tedium, where it's not very exciting.

00:03:41.099 --> 00:03:45.319
 They're doing things that are repetitive and they really don't enjoy it very much.

00:03:45.319 --> 00:03:53.039
 It might be a place where there's stress, where there is constant pressure on them to produce more or to do things differently,

00:03:53.359 --> 00:03:55.419
 and they find that really difficult.

00:03:55.879 --> 00:03:58.620
 And perhaps even there's hostility towards them as Christians.

00:03:58.919 --> 00:04:03.959
 If they're trying to live for the Lord Jesus, there are those who just don't understand or don't want to understand

00:04:03.959 --> 00:04:06.859
 and are actively hostile to them.

00:04:07.699 --> 00:04:10.859
 And to someone who has that feeling, these feelings about faith and work,

00:04:10.860 --> 00:04:15.120
 work becomes something that you have to do because you need to earn a living,

00:04:15.540 --> 00:04:18.240
 but it's not anything that has any joy to it,

00:04:18.520 --> 00:04:23.800
 and it really isn't something that they would associate as being connected with their faith.

00:04:23.920 --> 00:04:29.280
 Work is something that's a chore, that is difficult, that they go to out of necessity,

00:04:29.660 --> 00:04:36.020
 but they'll come back as quickly as they can to the security of their faith and to life in church.

00:04:36.560 --> 00:04:38.819
 So that's one potential way of looking at it.

00:04:38.819 --> 00:04:43.899
 Second group of people, in some ways, are the opposite.

00:04:44.939 --> 00:04:48.699
 A lot of people find that work is a really good place to be.

00:04:49.319 --> 00:04:52.899
 They have jobs that they enjoy and they like being in them.

00:04:53.339 --> 00:04:56.279
 So they get some fulfillment out of what they do.

00:04:57.120 --> 00:04:59.699
 All of us, if we're working, if we're employment,

00:05:00.319 --> 00:05:02.620
 hopefully what we do is some kind of purpose,

00:05:02.620 --> 00:05:07.720
 and if we fulfill that purpose, then there should be fulfillment for us as well.

00:05:08.240 --> 00:05:09.800
 For some people, work means status.

00:05:10.340 --> 00:05:13.720
 Having a bit of importance, perhaps particularly if you're in a fairly senior position,

00:05:14.100 --> 00:05:16.759
 and the status is important to them.

00:05:17.340 --> 00:05:20.519
 And some people really enjoy the company of work.

00:05:20.579 --> 00:05:23.660
 Being among people who are from different backgrounds, different environments,

00:05:23.660 --> 00:05:28.480
 a bit of banter going on that maybe you don't get so much in a church environment,

00:05:28.960 --> 00:05:31.120
 and it's something they really enjoy.

00:05:31.240 --> 00:05:35.220
 For when work is somewhere where they're really quite comfortable.

00:05:35.220 --> 00:05:41.880
 And perhaps for them, faith, church, whatever you want to think of it as,

00:05:42.000 --> 00:05:42.980
 is almost the opposite.

00:05:44.140 --> 00:05:47.360
 They feel that their life as a Christian is a bit of a duty.

00:05:47.440 --> 00:05:49.060
 I should go to church on Sundays.

00:05:49.140 --> 00:05:50.720
 I should get involved in things.

00:05:50.880 --> 00:05:53.100
 But it's not something that gives them great joy,

00:05:53.420 --> 00:05:55.020
 and something they really want to do.

00:05:55.960 --> 00:05:57.720
 Perhaps they find that faith is demanding.

00:05:58.520 --> 00:06:00.960
 They're being told lots of things that they should do,

00:06:01.100 --> 00:06:02.860
 and they find that difficult.

00:06:02.860 --> 00:06:07.400
 And maybe they even question the relevance of what happens on Sunday

00:06:07.400 --> 00:06:09.319
 to what happens the rest of the week.

00:06:09.819 --> 00:06:12.060
 They're quite comfortable with what they do at work.

00:06:12.400 --> 00:06:15.639
 It's something they feel is suitable for them,

00:06:15.920 --> 00:06:19.300
 but they don't see the relevance of faith to that.

00:06:20.840 --> 00:06:21.879
 One final group.

00:06:23.280 --> 00:06:24.879
 And this group of people you might look at and say,

00:06:24.939 --> 00:06:26.340
 well, they've got the best of both worlds.

00:06:27.000 --> 00:06:29.939
 They enjoy faith, they enjoy church and being part of it,

00:06:30.080 --> 00:06:32.420
 and they also enjoy work.

00:06:32.860 --> 00:06:36.020
 So both of them are places where they are comfortable.

00:06:36.840 --> 00:06:38.139
 But there's a wall between them.

00:06:38.759 --> 00:06:40.040
 They're separate rooms.

00:06:40.759 --> 00:06:42.400
 So they come to church on a Sunday,

00:06:42.740 --> 00:06:44.139
 and they enjoy the worship,

00:06:44.680 --> 00:06:46.300
 and they enjoy the fellowship,

00:06:46.759 --> 00:06:47.740
 and the teaching.

00:06:48.400 --> 00:06:49.800
 And then they go to work on a Monday,

00:06:49.879 --> 00:06:51.120
 and they enjoy doing that,

00:06:51.400 --> 00:06:52.920
 and whatever they're involved in.

00:06:52.920 --> 00:06:55.639
 But they really don't link the two together.

00:06:56.160 --> 00:06:58.920
 They are living effectively two separate lives.

00:06:58.920 --> 00:07:01.360
 Both good, both fulfilling,

00:07:01.819 --> 00:07:03.759
 but largely separate.

00:07:05.259 --> 00:07:07.540
 I guess that's where it becomes relevant as we ask,

00:07:07.819 --> 00:07:09.460
 who are we working for?

00:07:09.520 --> 00:07:11.540
 When we go into the world of work,

00:07:11.700 --> 00:07:13.259
 what is it we're trying to achieve?

00:07:13.340 --> 00:07:14.240
 What is our ambition?

00:07:14.379 --> 00:07:16.240
 That was the other kind of subheading

00:07:16.240 --> 00:07:17.259
 for this evening,

00:07:17.400 --> 00:07:18.100
 work's ambition.

00:07:18.100 --> 00:07:19.020
 What is our ambition?

00:07:19.580 --> 00:07:24.400
 What relevance does our Christian faith have to our work?

00:07:25.200 --> 00:07:27.500
 I want to try to answer the question,

00:07:27.920 --> 00:07:29.220
 who are we working for,

00:07:29.360 --> 00:07:31.600
 with four separate answers.

00:07:32.200 --> 00:07:33.879
 And I think they're all true.

00:07:34.300 --> 00:07:35.540
 Now, you'll be waiting for the last one,

00:07:35.580 --> 00:07:37.040
 which will be quite predictable,

00:07:37.040 --> 00:07:38.939
 but let's not lose focus

00:07:38.939 --> 00:07:41.080
 as we look at the other ones as well.

00:07:41.640 --> 00:07:43.960
 Who am I working for?

00:07:45.980 --> 00:07:47.400
 And the answer, first of all,

00:07:47.720 --> 00:07:51.680
 is I am working to some extent for myself.

00:07:51.840 --> 00:07:52.900
 And that sounds very selfish,

00:07:53.080 --> 00:07:55.020
 so let's talk a little bit more about it.

00:07:56.060 --> 00:07:57.939
 Paul writes to the Thessalonians,

00:07:58.259 --> 00:07:58.720
 he says,

00:07:58.860 --> 00:08:00.620
 the one who is unwilling to work

00:08:00.620 --> 00:08:02.460
 shall not eat.

00:08:03.500 --> 00:08:05.740
 So work is very much about breadwinning.

00:08:05.740 --> 00:08:07.160
 Not everyone's able to work.

00:08:07.460 --> 00:08:09.100
 Not everyone can get a job.

00:08:09.780 --> 00:08:12.420
 And they're hopefully reasonably well provided for

00:08:12.420 --> 00:08:13.780
 by the state, not always.

00:08:14.460 --> 00:08:15.600
 But for many people,

00:08:15.939 --> 00:08:16.600
 going to work,

00:08:16.680 --> 00:08:18.120
 one of the key things for it

00:08:18.120 --> 00:08:20.240
 is that we can have enough

00:08:20.240 --> 00:08:22.240
 for ourselves to live on,

00:08:22.420 --> 00:08:25.259
 and usually quite a bit more as well.

00:08:25.939 --> 00:08:27.740
 So going to work is about breadwinning.

00:08:28.620 --> 00:08:30.120
 It's about getting the wages

00:08:30.120 --> 00:08:31.280
 that come at the end of the week

00:08:31.280 --> 00:08:32.480
 or the month or the fees

00:08:32.480 --> 00:08:34.740
 or whatever it is that we get from work.

00:08:34.740 --> 00:08:36.240
 And that is important.

00:08:36.659 --> 00:08:39.960
 We work so that we can earn a living,

00:08:40.299 --> 00:08:42.500
 so that we can look after ourselves.

00:08:43.919 --> 00:08:45.259
 Something that I suggest

00:08:45.259 --> 00:08:49.340
 is that work is about fulfillment for ourselves.

00:08:50.200 --> 00:08:52.440
 God doesn't intend that our work

00:08:52.440 --> 00:08:54.139
 should be all tedium

00:08:54.139 --> 00:08:56.340
 and something that we dread.

00:08:56.740 --> 00:08:57.820
 Now we thought a couple of weeks ago

00:08:57.820 --> 00:08:58.600
 about the fall.

00:08:58.980 --> 00:09:00.740
 And yes, as a result of the fall,

00:09:01.000 --> 00:09:02.100
 many aspects of work

00:09:02.100 --> 00:09:04.220
 aren't what we might ideally want.

00:09:04.700 --> 00:09:05.960
 But God wants us,

00:09:06.100 --> 00:09:07.080
 through what we do,

00:09:07.399 --> 00:09:08.920
 to get a sense of fulfillment

00:09:08.920 --> 00:09:11.620
 and to bring about the fulfillment

00:09:11.620 --> 00:09:12.940
 of our gifts,

00:09:13.360 --> 00:09:16.360
 our abilities in the workplace.

00:09:16.920 --> 00:09:18.700
 I put Nehemiah 3 to 6 up there

00:09:18.700 --> 00:09:19.779
 as a reference.

00:09:19.940 --> 00:09:21.159
 We've been looking at Nehemiah

00:09:21.159 --> 00:09:22.540
 in the staff team

00:09:22.540 --> 00:09:23.800
 over the last month or two.

00:09:24.159 --> 00:09:26.100
 And it's a great example of work,

00:09:26.100 --> 00:09:29.019
 of the people building,

00:09:29.159 --> 00:09:31.800
 rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem.

00:09:32.639 --> 00:09:33.519
 And you get the list

00:09:33.519 --> 00:09:34.740
 in Nehemiah 3

00:09:34.740 --> 00:09:36.500
 of all the different groups of people

00:09:36.500 --> 00:09:38.560
 and all the things that they did

00:09:38.560 --> 00:09:40.100
 to build the wall.

00:09:40.460 --> 00:09:41.440
 One of the key things there

00:09:41.440 --> 00:09:42.800
 is they tended to be building

00:09:42.800 --> 00:09:44.580
 near where they lived.

00:09:44.820 --> 00:09:46.259
 So the building they did

00:09:46.259 --> 00:09:49.440
 had a real benefit to them personally.

00:09:49.899 --> 00:09:50.740
 You then have the account

00:09:50.740 --> 00:09:52.519
 of all those who would come out

00:09:52.519 --> 00:09:54.259
 and would try to destroy the work

00:09:54.259 --> 00:09:56.860
 and to do away what Nehemiah

00:09:56.860 --> 00:09:57.899
 was trying to build

00:09:57.899 --> 00:09:59.379
 and the people were trying to build.

00:09:59.700 --> 00:10:00.939
 But then in chapter 6,

00:10:01.019 --> 00:10:03.559
 it says they finished the wall.

00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:04.879
 They built it right around

00:10:04.879 --> 00:10:06.179
 the city of Jerusalem again.

00:10:06.519 --> 00:10:09.340
 It was restored to what it should be.

00:10:09.980 --> 00:10:11.340
 And you can think that people then

00:10:11.340 --> 00:10:13.580
 must have a real sense of fulfillment,

00:10:14.240 --> 00:10:15.259
 of achievement,

00:10:15.840 --> 00:10:17.319
 of having done something

00:10:17.319 --> 00:10:19.580
 that was really worthwhile.

00:10:20.620 --> 00:10:21.519
 And for many of us,

00:10:21.799 --> 00:10:22.879
 when we go to work,

00:10:22.879 --> 00:10:24.100
 there is the opportunity

00:10:24.100 --> 00:10:25.320
 to do something

00:10:25.320 --> 00:10:26.759
 that is really worthwhile.

00:10:26.920 --> 00:10:28.300
 It makes a difference to others

00:10:28.300 --> 00:10:30.000
 and we can come away thinking,

00:10:30.279 --> 00:10:31.120
 what I've done

00:10:31.120 --> 00:10:33.680
 has been God working through me

00:10:33.680 --> 00:10:36.600
 to fulfill his will in me.

00:10:37.159 --> 00:10:39.420
 And it helps us with our self-esteem

00:10:39.420 --> 00:10:42.019
 and our understanding

00:10:42.019 --> 00:10:44.060
 of how we can serve God

00:10:44.060 --> 00:10:45.879
 and live for him.

00:10:46.120 --> 00:10:48.820
 So work can be a place of fulfillment.

00:10:48.820 --> 00:10:52.200
 And then Paul says in Ephesians

00:10:52.200 --> 00:10:55.800
 that work also can bring us God's reward.

00:10:56.160 --> 00:10:57.980
 This is part of the passage we read.

00:10:58.100 --> 00:10:58.400
 It said,

00:10:58.540 --> 00:11:00.300
 you know that the Lord will reward

00:11:00.300 --> 00:11:01.600
 each one of you

00:11:01.600 --> 00:11:04.560
 for whatever good they do.

00:11:05.420 --> 00:11:07.060
 So if we are good workers,

00:11:07.879 --> 00:11:09.800
 if we go into the workplace

00:11:09.800 --> 00:11:13.340
 and we do what God has planned for us to do,

00:11:13.340 --> 00:11:14.620
 and we do it well,

00:11:14.700 --> 00:11:16.860
 and we do it in a way that serves others,

00:11:17.360 --> 00:11:19.100
 then God will reward that.

00:11:19.560 --> 00:11:21.060
 God sees us just as much

00:11:21.060 --> 00:11:21.980
 when we're at work

00:11:21.980 --> 00:11:23.379
 and what we do there

00:11:23.379 --> 00:11:24.840
 as when we're in church

00:11:24.840 --> 00:11:26.440
 and when we're more consciously

00:11:26.440 --> 00:11:27.720
 serving him.

00:11:28.220 --> 00:11:29.820
 There is a reward from God

00:11:29.820 --> 00:11:32.440
 for those who work well.

00:11:33.620 --> 00:11:34.440
 Now each of my fours,

00:11:34.480 --> 00:11:35.440
 who am I working for?

00:11:35.620 --> 00:11:37.100
 I've got kind of one negative,

00:11:37.340 --> 00:11:38.800
 just something for us to think about

00:11:38.800 --> 00:11:40.440
 and to ponder on.

00:11:40.440 --> 00:11:42.640
 And one of the great dangers

00:11:42.640 --> 00:11:43.980
 for many of us at work

00:11:43.980 --> 00:11:46.660
 is what I've called selfish ambition.

00:11:47.660 --> 00:11:48.280
 In the NIV,

00:11:48.540 --> 00:11:51.440
 the word ambition appears eight times

00:11:51.440 --> 00:11:52.620
 in the New Testament.

00:11:53.500 --> 00:11:55.200
 And on six of these eight occasions,

00:11:55.440 --> 00:11:57.400
 the word before it is selfish.

00:11:58.540 --> 00:11:59.840
 People who are doing things

00:11:59.840 --> 00:12:01.180
 out of selfish ambition

00:12:01.180 --> 00:12:03.240
 to benefit themselves

00:12:03.240 --> 00:12:05.040
 and as a consequence,

00:12:05.440 --> 00:12:07.080
 to do down others.

00:12:07.080 --> 00:12:10.800
 So is ambition a bad thing?

00:12:11.600 --> 00:12:12.520
 I would suggest not.

00:12:12.620 --> 00:12:13.600
 There are two occasions

00:12:13.600 --> 00:12:14.360
 in the New Testament

00:12:14.360 --> 00:12:15.820
 when the word ambition

00:12:15.820 --> 00:12:17.820
 is used positively.

00:12:18.379 --> 00:12:19.920
 One is about Paul's ambition

00:12:19.920 --> 00:12:20.879
 to preach the gospel

00:12:20.879 --> 00:12:22.500
 to those who haven't heard it yet.

00:12:23.000 --> 00:12:25.120
 And the other is that

00:12:25.120 --> 00:12:26.720
 our ambition should be

00:12:26.720 --> 00:12:29.680
 to lead quiet and peaceable lives.

00:12:30.680 --> 00:12:31.360
 Very striking.

00:12:31.700 --> 00:12:33.320
 These and the other uses

00:12:33.320 --> 00:12:34.340
 of the word ambition,

00:12:34.340 --> 00:12:36.240
 they're to do with relationships

00:12:36.240 --> 00:12:39.280
 and are dealing with other people.

00:12:41.019 --> 00:12:42.580
 And so ambition, I think,

00:12:42.700 --> 00:12:45.300
 is not in itself wrong.

00:12:46.180 --> 00:12:47.620
 And indeed, I think most of us,

00:12:47.899 --> 00:12:49.600
 as we set out in life,

00:12:49.639 --> 00:12:50.780
 as we set out for work,

00:12:51.160 --> 00:12:52.420
 it's not unrealistic

00:12:52.420 --> 00:12:53.860
 to have some ambition

00:12:53.860 --> 00:12:55.820
 in terms of where we get to.

00:12:56.580 --> 00:12:57.639
 For many of us,

00:12:57.879 --> 00:12:59.879
 before we start paid work,

00:13:00.139 --> 00:13:01.639
 we spent a period studying,

00:13:01.759 --> 00:13:03.379
 perhaps at university or college,

00:13:03.379 --> 00:13:04.299
 or we've been through

00:13:04.299 --> 00:13:05.939
 an apprenticeship of some kind,

00:13:06.519 --> 00:13:08.139
 and we know that we are able

00:13:08.139 --> 00:13:10.240
 to do more than perhaps we are

00:13:10.240 --> 00:13:12.720
 as we begin in our workplace.

00:13:13.059 --> 00:13:14.519
 As we gain experience,

00:13:14.879 --> 00:13:16.679
 as we gain extra knowledge,

00:13:17.039 --> 00:13:18.039
 there is an expectation

00:13:18.039 --> 00:13:19.720
 that we should be able to progress.

00:13:20.240 --> 00:13:22.379
 And I think that is right and proper.

00:13:22.500 --> 00:13:23.299
 We're able more,

00:13:23.779 --> 00:13:24.919
 better to fulfill

00:13:24.919 --> 00:13:27.299
 what God has planned for us

00:13:27.299 --> 00:13:29.259
 if we are conscientious workers

00:13:29.259 --> 00:13:30.879
 and if through that

00:13:30.879 --> 00:13:33.159
 we are able to make progress.

00:13:34.019 --> 00:13:35.059
 But there does come a point

00:13:35.059 --> 00:13:35.819
 for many of us

00:13:35.819 --> 00:13:36.779
 where we have to say,

00:13:37.200 --> 00:13:38.439
 well, is my ambition

00:13:38.439 --> 00:13:40.759
 now good ambition?

00:13:41.700 --> 00:13:43.919
 Am I only really wanting

00:13:43.919 --> 00:13:45.220
 more for myself

00:13:45.220 --> 00:13:48.919
 or am I concerned about others?

00:13:49.519 --> 00:13:50.259
 And for many people,

00:13:50.319 --> 00:13:51.139
 I think there's a point

00:13:51.139 --> 00:13:52.799
 where they have to take that call

00:13:52.799 --> 00:13:53.779
 and to say,

00:13:53.860 --> 00:13:55.220
 well, where is my ambition?

00:13:55.220 --> 00:13:55.740
 Leading me,

00:13:55.840 --> 00:13:58.440
 what is my ambition for?

00:13:59.480 --> 00:14:00.540
 Now, I'm not holding myself up

00:14:00.540 --> 00:14:01.680
 as a great example.

00:14:01.779 --> 00:14:02.879
 I've made many, many mistakes

00:14:02.879 --> 00:14:03.580
 over my career,

00:14:03.680 --> 00:14:04.879
 but let me talk a little bit

00:14:04.879 --> 00:14:06.860
 about how my career went.

00:14:07.660 --> 00:14:08.399
 I started off,

00:14:08.480 --> 00:14:09.340
 I trained as an actuary,

00:14:09.860 --> 00:14:11.560
 and when I qualified an actuary,

00:14:11.620 --> 00:14:12.340
 I happened to have a list

00:14:12.340 --> 00:14:13.019
 of all the actuaries

00:14:13.019 --> 00:14:13.960
 who work in my office,

00:14:14.279 --> 00:14:15.180
 and I looked at that

00:14:15.180 --> 00:14:16.560
 and the level each of them was at,

00:14:16.800 --> 00:14:17.680
 and I looked and thought

00:14:17.680 --> 00:14:19.440
 a reasonable level for me

00:14:19.440 --> 00:14:20.720
 possibly to get to

00:14:20.720 --> 00:14:22.560
 would be such and such.

00:14:23.540 --> 00:14:24.460
 Not chief executive,

00:14:24.460 --> 00:14:25.940
 not anywhere near chief executive,

00:14:26.639 --> 00:14:27.980
 but above the basic level,

00:14:28.080 --> 00:14:28.879
 somewhere where I felt

00:14:28.879 --> 00:14:29.879
 my gifts,

00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:31.660
 the abilities that God had given me

00:14:31.660 --> 00:14:33.780
 could appropriately be used.

00:14:33.860 --> 00:14:34.920
 And over a period of time,

00:14:34.960 --> 00:14:36.580
 I wouldn't say deliberately set out

00:14:36.580 --> 00:14:37.860
 along that

00:14:37.860 --> 00:14:40.000
 with a determination to get there,

00:14:40.200 --> 00:14:41.280
 but over a period of time,

00:14:41.340 --> 00:14:42.680
 I got to broadly the level

00:14:42.680 --> 00:14:44.120
 that I thought I might

00:14:44.120 --> 00:14:45.340
 at the beginning.

00:14:46.160 --> 00:14:47.580
 There was then a decision to be made.

00:14:48.200 --> 00:14:48.960
 I'd reached a level,

00:14:49.019 --> 00:14:49.800
 I had a good job,

00:14:49.840 --> 00:14:51.440
 I had a job that I'd really enjoyed

00:14:51.440 --> 00:14:53.600
 and that I felt I was reasonably good at,

00:14:53.600 --> 00:14:55.379
 and the question would then be,

00:14:55.659 --> 00:14:56.980
 well, what about the next level?

00:14:57.340 --> 00:14:58.460
 Because that's what people do ask.

00:14:58.680 --> 00:15:00.920
 People are looking at the next level up.

00:15:01.659 --> 00:15:02.500
 And for me,

00:15:03.040 --> 00:15:05.019
 it wasn't right to aim for the next level.

00:15:05.580 --> 00:15:07.180
 I don't think I would have enjoyed it,

00:15:07.220 --> 00:15:08.840
 it wouldn't have been just fulfilling for me,

00:15:09.240 --> 00:15:10.840
 and my motivation for doing it

00:15:10.840 --> 00:15:11.720
 just wouldn't be right.

00:15:12.700 --> 00:15:14.320
 I had physically, financially,

00:15:14.420 --> 00:15:15.060
 all that I needed,

00:15:15.620 --> 00:15:17.800
 I had a job that was really good for me

00:15:17.800 --> 00:15:19.040
 and where I could,

00:15:19.100 --> 00:15:19.680
 I believed,

00:15:19.820 --> 00:15:20.560
 serve the Lord,

00:15:20.559 --> 00:15:22.099
 and I didn't believe it would be right

00:15:22.099 --> 00:15:23.159
 for me to move further.

00:15:24.500 --> 00:15:25.879
 Let's go forward a few years

00:15:25.879 --> 00:15:27.119
 and I reached the point

00:15:27.119 --> 00:15:27.659
 where I thought,

00:15:27.859 --> 00:15:28.339
 actually,

00:15:28.779 --> 00:15:29.879
 what I should be doing

00:15:29.879 --> 00:15:31.619
 is maybe easing back a bit

00:15:31.619 --> 00:15:32.979
 in terms of my work.

00:15:33.079 --> 00:15:35.000
 The children were more or less grown up,

00:15:35.419 --> 00:15:36.059
 and financially,

00:15:36.399 --> 00:15:37.539
 we didn't need as much

00:15:37.539 --> 00:15:39.339
 as I might have been earning at that time,

00:15:39.519 --> 00:15:40.399
 and at that point,

00:15:40.559 --> 00:15:42.019
 I started reining back

00:15:42.019 --> 00:15:43.219
 my working life.

00:15:43.879 --> 00:15:45.379
 Went to work four days a week,

00:15:45.439 --> 00:15:46.239
 four long days a week,

00:15:46.240 --> 00:15:47.960
 and then gradually went down

00:15:47.960 --> 00:15:49.560
 until last year I retired

00:15:49.560 --> 00:15:51.600
 from secular employment.

00:15:52.460 --> 00:15:53.139
 And for me,

00:15:53.259 --> 00:15:54.279
 that was the right way,

00:15:54.340 --> 00:15:54.659
 I think,

00:15:54.700 --> 00:15:56.100
 overall to go.

00:15:56.580 --> 00:15:56.720
 Now,

00:15:56.759 --> 00:15:57.039
 for others,

00:15:57.100 --> 00:15:57.720
 it would be different.

00:15:58.220 --> 00:15:58.899
 Others are capable

00:15:58.899 --> 00:15:59.820
 of going far further

00:15:59.820 --> 00:16:00.440
 than I could

00:16:00.440 --> 00:16:01.659
 in their employment

00:16:01.659 --> 00:16:02.659
 and using their gifts

00:16:02.659 --> 00:16:04.379
 at a higher level.

00:16:05.259 --> 00:16:06.019
 But what I would say

00:16:06.019 --> 00:16:06.879
 is we need to be,

00:16:06.919 --> 00:16:07.680
 if we're in the workplace,

00:16:07.799 --> 00:16:09.200
 if we're thinking about the future,

00:16:09.639 --> 00:16:10.779
 we need to be realistic

00:16:10.779 --> 00:16:12.639
 about what it is

00:16:12.639 --> 00:16:15.340
 that we can sensibly aim for,

00:16:15.340 --> 00:16:17.000
 and we need to make sure

00:16:17.000 --> 00:16:17.980
 that our motivation

00:16:17.980 --> 00:16:19.259
 for doing it is right

00:16:19.259 --> 00:16:20.920
 and that we're not motivated

00:16:20.920 --> 00:16:22.540
 by selfish ambition.

00:16:22.660 --> 00:16:23.560
 We don't just want

00:16:23.560 --> 00:16:24.540
 to get more money

00:16:24.540 --> 00:16:25.620
 or more status

00:16:25.620 --> 00:16:26.460
 or more power.

00:16:26.700 --> 00:16:28.340
 We want to do what it is

00:16:28.340 --> 00:16:30.720
 that God has called us to do.

00:16:31.040 --> 00:16:31.960
 So we need to be careful

00:16:31.960 --> 00:16:33.280
 about ambition,

00:16:33.399 --> 00:16:34.139
 but ambition itself,

00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:36.399
 trying to do the best you can

00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:38.540
 and to make the biggest contribution

00:16:38.540 --> 00:16:39.259
 you can,

00:16:39.259 --> 00:16:40.440
 that in itself

00:16:40.440 --> 00:16:42.139
 is not wrong.

00:16:43.000 --> 00:16:44.440
 Let's move on.

00:16:45.340 --> 00:16:46.180
 Kind of struggle

00:16:46.180 --> 00:16:46.840
 with what the heading

00:16:46.840 --> 00:16:48.379
 for the second thing should be.

00:16:48.420 --> 00:16:49.800
 I've ended up just saying others.

00:16:50.360 --> 00:16:52.100
 So others is people

00:16:52.100 --> 00:16:53.740
 who might be affected

00:16:53.740 --> 00:16:56.300
 by the work that I do.

00:16:57.200 --> 00:16:58.000
 And three groups

00:16:58.000 --> 00:16:59.180
 I've come up with in that.

00:16:59.600 --> 00:17:00.740
 I've called them customers,

00:17:01.080 --> 00:17:01.500
 colleagues,

00:17:01.680 --> 00:17:02.379
 and juniors.

00:17:02.460 --> 00:17:03.480
 Juniors are kind of funny term.

00:17:03.560 --> 00:17:03.960
 I mean people

00:17:03.960 --> 00:17:05.539
 who you're responsible for.

00:17:05.660 --> 00:17:06.840
 People who are junior to you

00:17:06.840 --> 00:17:08.440
 in whatever organization you are.

00:17:08.440 --> 00:17:09.100
 And some people

00:17:09.100 --> 00:17:10.880
 do manage others.

00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:13.079
 So most of us,

00:17:13.440 --> 00:17:13.900
 in fact,

00:17:13.900 --> 00:17:14.740
 all of us,

00:17:14.780 --> 00:17:16.140
 if we're doing some kind of work,

00:17:16.420 --> 00:17:17.160
 there are people

00:17:17.160 --> 00:17:18.620
 who benefit from it.

00:17:19.120 --> 00:17:19.800
 There are people

00:17:19.800 --> 00:17:21.280
 who are the end users,

00:17:21.440 --> 00:17:21.860
 if you like,

00:17:21.880 --> 00:17:22.840
 of what we do.

00:17:23.340 --> 00:17:24.759
 And whether it is customers

00:17:24.759 --> 00:17:26.240
 in the traditional sense,

00:17:26.640 --> 00:17:28.019
 or it might be patients,

00:17:28.240 --> 00:17:29.360
 or it might be pupils,

00:17:29.740 --> 00:17:30.960
 or it might be children,

00:17:31.080 --> 00:17:31.840
 whatever it is,

00:17:32.060 --> 00:17:32.780
 there are people

00:17:32.780 --> 00:17:33.840
 who benefit

00:17:33.840 --> 00:17:35.720
 from what we do.

00:17:36.820 --> 00:17:37.840
 And we are working

00:17:37.840 --> 00:17:38.880
 in a real sense

00:17:38.880 --> 00:17:40.120
 for them.

00:17:40.119 --> 00:17:41.559
 We are working

00:17:41.559 --> 00:17:43.219
 so that we can serve them

00:17:43.219 --> 00:17:44.939
 and that we can improve

00:17:44.939 --> 00:17:46.379
 things for them.

00:17:47.659 --> 00:17:48.239
 The two verses

00:17:48.239 --> 00:17:48.959
 I put up there

00:17:48.959 --> 00:17:50.759
 from Luke chapter 6

00:17:50.759 --> 00:17:52.839
 are from quite a long discourse

00:17:52.839 --> 00:17:53.899
 from Lord Jesus,

00:17:54.079 --> 00:17:54.739
 particularly looking at

00:17:54.739 --> 00:17:55.279
 relationships

00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:56.539
 with others.

00:17:57.879 --> 00:17:58.779
 Verse 31,

00:17:59.119 --> 00:18:00.179
 very familiar words,

00:18:00.339 --> 00:18:01.099
 do to others

00:18:01.099 --> 00:18:02.739
 as you would have them

00:18:02.739 --> 00:18:04.379
 do to you.

00:18:04.380 --> 00:18:07.140
 And then verse 39,

00:18:08.000 --> 00:18:09.320
 38 rather,

00:18:09.880 --> 00:18:11.180
 where the Lord says,

00:18:11.280 --> 00:18:12.180
 given it will be given

00:18:12.180 --> 00:18:12.780
 to you,

00:18:13.300 --> 00:18:14.640
 and what will you receive,

00:18:14.880 --> 00:18:16.060
 what you would want to receive,

00:18:16.160 --> 00:18:17.380
 what you should be giving others,

00:18:17.820 --> 00:18:18.560
 a good measure,

00:18:18.740 --> 00:18:19.460
 pressed down,

00:18:19.780 --> 00:18:20.460
 shaken together,

00:18:20.600 --> 00:18:21.380
 and running over,

00:18:21.840 --> 00:18:22.720
 will be poured

00:18:22.720 --> 00:18:24.380
 into your lap.

00:18:24.420 --> 00:18:25.320
 I think that's a great picture.

00:18:25.400 --> 00:18:26.100
 A good measure,

00:18:26.580 --> 00:18:27.140
 pressed down,

00:18:27.300 --> 00:18:28.000
 shaken together,

00:18:28.340 --> 00:18:30.080
 and running over.

00:18:31.040 --> 00:18:32.020
 In other words,

00:18:32.019 --> 00:18:33.660
 God will give you

00:18:33.660 --> 00:18:34.779
 abundantly

00:18:34.779 --> 00:18:36.420
 what it is that you need

00:18:36.420 --> 00:18:37.839
 and what you want.

00:18:38.599 --> 00:18:39.519
 And it is the measure

00:18:39.519 --> 00:18:40.759
 that we give to others

00:18:40.759 --> 00:18:42.039
 that we will be given.

00:18:42.900 --> 00:18:43.160
 So,

00:18:43.480 --> 00:18:45.420
 God's desire for us

00:18:45.420 --> 00:18:47.379
 is that if we are serving others

00:18:47.379 --> 00:18:48.279
 in whatever sense

00:18:48.279 --> 00:18:49.879
 they are customers of us,

00:18:50.220 --> 00:18:52.039
 we should go the extra mile.

00:18:52.519 --> 00:18:53.460
 We should be generous

00:18:53.460 --> 00:18:54.480
 with our time

00:18:54.480 --> 00:18:56.599
 and with the talents

00:18:56.599 --> 00:18:57.980
 that God has given us.

00:18:58.400 --> 00:18:59.319
 And we should seek

00:18:59.319 --> 00:19:00.460
 to glorify Him

00:19:00.460 --> 00:19:02.480
 by giving the maximum benefit

00:19:02.480 --> 00:19:03.500
 to those

00:19:03.500 --> 00:19:04.559
 who are depending

00:19:04.559 --> 00:19:05.680
 on us.

00:19:06.400 --> 00:19:07.039
 Very important

00:19:07.039 --> 00:19:07.860
 if we're at work

00:19:07.860 --> 00:19:09.380
 that we recognize

00:19:09.380 --> 00:19:10.559
 that there are people

00:19:10.559 --> 00:19:11.620
 who depend on us

00:19:11.620 --> 00:19:12.960
 and we do our best

00:19:12.960 --> 00:19:14.220
 we can for them

00:19:14.220 --> 00:19:15.620
 because that is a way

00:19:15.620 --> 00:19:17.980
 in which we glorify God.

00:19:19.059 --> 00:19:20.100
 Then there's our colleagues,

00:19:20.220 --> 00:19:22.019
 people we work with.

00:19:22.840 --> 00:19:22.980
 Now,

00:19:23.059 --> 00:19:23.600
 as I said,

00:19:23.660 --> 00:19:24.680
 in an office environment.

00:19:25.279 --> 00:19:26.059
 In an office environment,

00:19:26.160 --> 00:19:26.740
 you typically have

00:19:26.740 --> 00:19:27.700
 two kinds of colleagues.

00:19:27.819 --> 00:19:28.319
 You've got people

00:19:28.319 --> 00:19:29.100
 who work with you

00:19:29.099 --> 00:19:29.899
 in your team

00:19:29.899 --> 00:19:31.079
 and you've got people

00:19:31.079 --> 00:19:31.699
 who are in the kind

00:19:31.699 --> 00:19:32.379
 of wider team,

00:19:32.459 --> 00:19:32.980
 different teams

00:19:32.980 --> 00:19:33.679
 around the office

00:19:33.679 --> 00:19:35.719
 who you interact with.

00:19:36.359 --> 00:19:37.079
 And sometimes

00:19:37.079 --> 00:19:37.699
 the relationships

00:19:37.699 --> 00:19:38.419
 within them

00:19:38.419 --> 00:19:39.719
 are a little bit different.

00:19:40.259 --> 00:19:41.259
 My company used to do

00:19:41.259 --> 00:19:42.319
 fairly regular surveys

00:19:42.319 --> 00:19:43.019
 of staff

00:19:43.019 --> 00:19:44.259
 and the results

00:19:44.259 --> 00:19:45.319
 tended to say

00:19:45.319 --> 00:19:46.319
 that people felt

00:19:46.319 --> 00:19:47.299
 they worked really well

00:19:47.299 --> 00:19:47.939
 with the team,

00:19:48.219 --> 00:19:49.240
 their immediate team,

00:19:49.519 --> 00:19:50.659
 but less well so

00:19:50.659 --> 00:19:52.000
 with the wider team

00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:53.439
 with other departments.

00:19:55.039 --> 00:19:55.919
 I was struck thinking

00:19:55.920 --> 00:19:57.880
 of this by the chapters

00:19:57.880 --> 00:19:58.380
 in Exodus

00:19:58.380 --> 00:19:59.240
 I put up there.

00:19:59.800 --> 00:20:01.620
 This was a huge project

00:20:01.620 --> 00:20:02.620
 for the Israelites

00:20:02.620 --> 00:20:04.060
 as they were in the desert.

00:20:04.740 --> 00:20:05.720
 It was building

00:20:05.720 --> 00:20:07.019
 the tabernacle

00:20:07.019 --> 00:20:08.740
 and it required

00:20:08.740 --> 00:20:10.420
 everyone to come together

00:20:10.420 --> 00:20:12.220
 and to work together

00:20:12.220 --> 00:20:13.920
 and to use the gifts

00:20:13.920 --> 00:20:15.380
 that God had given them

00:20:15.380 --> 00:20:17.320
 for his glory.

00:20:18.800 --> 00:20:19.800
 And there are some

00:20:19.800 --> 00:20:21.039
 really special people

00:20:21.039 --> 00:20:21.320
 in that.

00:20:21.380 --> 00:20:21.779
 There's a guy

00:20:21.779 --> 00:20:23.259
 called Bezalel.

00:20:24.480 --> 00:20:24.920
 Bezalel,

00:20:25.240 --> 00:20:26.700
 it says in the scripture,

00:20:26.920 --> 00:20:27.680
 Moses says

00:20:27.680 --> 00:20:29.259
 that God has filled him

00:20:29.259 --> 00:20:30.440
 with the spirit of God,

00:20:30.539 --> 00:20:31.039
 with wisdom,

00:20:31.220 --> 00:20:31.940
 with understanding,

00:20:32.119 --> 00:20:32.819
 with knowledge

00:20:32.819 --> 00:20:34.920
 and with all kinds

00:20:34.920 --> 00:20:35.519
 of skills.

00:20:35.660 --> 00:20:36.899
 To make artistic designs

00:20:36.899 --> 00:20:37.799
 for works in gold,

00:20:37.980 --> 00:20:38.759
 silver and bronze

00:20:38.759 --> 00:20:39.779
 and he goes on and on.

00:20:40.399 --> 00:20:41.160
 And then

00:20:41.160 --> 00:20:42.680
 at the end of that

00:20:42.680 --> 00:20:43.759
 he talks about

00:20:43.759 --> 00:20:44.879
 how he has also

00:20:44.879 --> 00:20:46.039
 given them the gift

00:20:46.039 --> 00:20:47.539
 to teach others.

00:20:48.180 --> 00:20:49.000
 What a great person

00:20:49.000 --> 00:20:49.480
 to have

00:20:49.480 --> 00:20:50.579
 as part of

00:20:50.579 --> 00:20:51.740
 your team.

00:20:52.259 --> 00:20:53.039
 Someone who really

00:20:53.039 --> 00:20:54.039
 understands what

00:20:54.039 --> 00:20:54.599
 they're doing,

00:20:54.699 --> 00:20:55.259
 they're an expert

00:20:55.259 --> 00:20:56.419
 in what they're doing

00:20:56.419 --> 00:20:58.139
 but they're also there

00:20:58.139 --> 00:20:59.159
 to teach others

00:20:59.159 --> 00:21:00.240
 and to help

00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:02.099
 and develop them.

00:21:02.500 --> 00:21:03.319
 That's the kind

00:21:03.319 --> 00:21:03.879
 of people

00:21:03.879 --> 00:21:05.019
 that we want

00:21:05.019 --> 00:21:05.579
 to be

00:21:05.579 --> 00:21:07.119
 in our workplace,

00:21:07.240 --> 00:21:08.079
 whatever it is.

00:21:08.539 --> 00:21:09.439
 To show real

00:21:09.439 --> 00:21:10.000
 consideration

00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:10.839
 and help

00:21:10.839 --> 00:21:11.359
 for others,

00:21:11.559 --> 00:21:12.579
 to use the gifts

00:21:12.579 --> 00:21:13.859
 that God has given us

00:21:13.859 --> 00:21:15.199
 but also to help

00:21:15.199 --> 00:21:16.220
 to develop others

00:21:16.220 --> 00:21:17.759
 and to bring them on.

00:21:18.019 --> 00:21:18.679
 And you go right

00:21:18.679 --> 00:21:19.139
 through Exodus

00:21:19.140 --> 00:21:21.340
 35 to 39

00:21:21.340 --> 00:21:22.140
 and you see

00:21:22.140 --> 00:21:23.100
 so many examples

00:21:23.100 --> 00:21:23.620
 of people

00:21:23.620 --> 00:21:24.759
 using the gifts

00:21:24.759 --> 00:21:25.980
 that God has given them

00:21:25.980 --> 00:21:26.800
 to produce

00:21:26.800 --> 00:21:28.540
 this wonderful thing

00:21:28.540 --> 00:21:28.980
 which would be

00:21:28.980 --> 00:21:29.840
 the tabernacle

00:21:29.840 --> 00:21:30.680
 which would be

00:21:30.680 --> 00:21:31.240
 the centre

00:21:31.240 --> 00:21:32.440
 of their worship

00:21:32.440 --> 00:21:34.440
 for many generations.

00:21:35.360 --> 00:21:36.120
 We need

00:21:36.120 --> 00:21:37.020
 to have a real

00:21:37.020 --> 00:21:38.220
 respect and regard

00:21:38.220 --> 00:21:39.140
 for our colleagues

00:21:39.140 --> 00:21:40.259
 whoever they may be

00:21:40.259 --> 00:21:41.259
 and to seek

00:21:41.259 --> 00:21:41.900
 the best

00:21:41.900 --> 00:21:42.940
 for them.

00:21:43.300 --> 00:21:44.060
 And that's not always

00:21:44.060 --> 00:21:44.900
 the case in offices.

00:21:45.600 --> 00:21:46.220
 Very easy

00:21:46.220 --> 00:21:47.259
 to become political

00:21:47.259 --> 00:21:48.980
 and to trade

00:21:48.980 --> 00:21:49.980
 one department

00:21:49.980 --> 00:21:50.480
 off against

00:21:50.480 --> 00:21:51.440
 another department

00:21:51.440 --> 00:21:52.559
 and full of

00:21:52.559 --> 00:21:53.079
 suspicion

00:21:53.079 --> 00:21:54.039
 and other things.

00:21:54.119 --> 00:21:54.619
 I'm sure it's not

00:21:54.619 --> 00:21:55.079
 just offices

00:21:55.079 --> 00:21:55.859
 but other places

00:21:55.859 --> 00:21:56.299
 of work

00:21:56.299 --> 00:21:57.160
 are similar.

00:21:57.299 --> 00:21:57.940
 That's not how

00:21:57.940 --> 00:21:58.559
 we should be

00:21:58.559 --> 00:21:59.200
 as Christians.

00:21:59.720 --> 00:22:00.460
 We are working

00:22:00.460 --> 00:22:01.920
 for our colleagues

00:22:01.920 --> 00:22:03.319
 for their best,

00:22:03.660 --> 00:22:04.480
 for their good,

00:22:04.640 --> 00:22:06.339
 for their support.

00:22:07.640 --> 00:22:08.140
 And then finally

00:22:08.140 --> 00:22:08.759
 what I've called

00:22:08.759 --> 00:22:09.400
 juniors,

00:22:09.599 --> 00:22:10.099
 some might call

00:22:10.099 --> 00:22:10.859
 them subordinates

00:22:10.859 --> 00:22:11.519
 or staff,

00:22:11.920 --> 00:22:12.599
 people who work

00:22:12.599 --> 00:22:12.839
 for you.

00:22:12.879 --> 00:22:13.559
 Now some of us

00:22:13.559 --> 00:22:14.960
 are entrusted

00:22:14.960 --> 00:22:15.460
 with those

00:22:15.460 --> 00:22:16.120
 who work under

00:22:16.120 --> 00:22:16.319
 us,

00:22:16.340 --> 00:22:17.039
 whom we manage,

00:22:17.360 --> 00:22:18.019
 some of us

00:22:18.019 --> 00:22:18.799
 aren't.

00:22:19.579 --> 00:22:20.279
 But it's quite

00:22:20.279 --> 00:22:20.960
 striking at the

00:22:20.960 --> 00:22:21.660
 end of the passage

00:22:21.660 --> 00:22:22.440
 in Ephesians

00:22:22.440 --> 00:22:23.420
 that Paul

00:22:23.420 --> 00:22:23.940
 addresses

00:22:23.940 --> 00:22:24.940
 masters.

00:22:26.019 --> 00:22:26.660
 And he says

00:22:26.660 --> 00:22:26.940
 to them,

00:22:27.019 --> 00:22:27.680
 treat your slaves

00:22:27.680 --> 00:22:28.759
 in the same way,

00:22:29.340 --> 00:22:30.200
 do not threaten

00:22:30.200 --> 00:22:30.579
 them,

00:22:30.960 --> 00:22:31.579
 since you know

00:22:31.579 --> 00:22:32.160
 that he who is

00:22:32.160 --> 00:22:33.279
 both their master

00:22:33.279 --> 00:22:34.059
 and yours is in

00:22:34.059 --> 00:22:35.200
 heaven and there

00:22:35.200 --> 00:22:36.700
 is no favoritism

00:22:36.700 --> 00:22:37.600
 with them.

00:22:38.299 --> 00:22:38.880
 Two key things

00:22:38.880 --> 00:22:39.700
 for bosses there,

00:22:39.799 --> 00:22:40.360
 one is don't

00:22:40.360 --> 00:22:40.700
 threaten,

00:22:40.880 --> 00:22:41.579
 don't be a bully,

00:22:42.139 --> 00:22:42.899
 and the second

00:22:42.899 --> 00:22:44.259
 is don't show

00:22:44.259 --> 00:22:45.419
 favoritism.

00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:46.599
 And these,

00:22:46.679 --> 00:22:47.179
 if any of us

00:22:47.179 --> 00:22:48.220
 are involved

00:22:48.220 --> 00:22:48.960
 in looking after

00:22:48.960 --> 00:22:49.359
 others,

00:22:49.639 --> 00:22:50.299
 these are very

00:22:50.299 --> 00:22:51.339
 good principles.

00:22:51.460 --> 00:22:51.740
 And I'm not

00:22:51.740 --> 00:22:52.319
 able to go

00:22:52.319 --> 00:22:53.559
 into great detail

00:22:53.559 --> 00:22:53.960
 this evening

00:22:53.960 --> 00:22:54.619
 of what it means

00:22:54.619 --> 00:22:55.179
 to be a good

00:22:55.179 --> 00:22:55.599
 boss,

00:22:55.960 --> 00:22:56.519
 but let's just

00:22:56.519 --> 00:22:57.379
 recognize if we

00:22:57.379 --> 00:22:57.980
 are in a position

00:22:57.980 --> 00:22:58.539
 of managing

00:22:58.539 --> 00:22:58.980
 others,

00:22:59.339 --> 00:23:00.079
 that is a position

00:23:00.079 --> 00:23:00.899
 of responsibility

00:23:00.899 --> 00:23:02.079
 before God.

00:23:02.359 --> 00:23:02.859
 We have to have

00:23:02.859 --> 00:23:03.799
 a real concern

00:23:03.799 --> 00:23:04.480
 for them

00:23:04.480 --> 00:23:05.539
 and seek the

00:23:05.539 --> 00:23:06.319
 best for them

00:23:06.319 --> 00:23:07.399
 and it needs

00:23:07.399 --> 00:23:08.480
 particular training

00:23:08.480 --> 00:23:09.519
 and particular

00:23:09.519 --> 00:23:10.399
 skills to do

00:23:10.399 --> 00:23:11.359
 that and to

00:23:11.359 --> 00:23:11.939
 ensure that

00:23:11.939 --> 00:23:13.139
 we can please

00:23:13.139 --> 00:23:14.519
 God in that

00:23:14.519 --> 00:23:15.219
 work.

00:23:16.539 --> 00:23:17.219
 So what about

00:23:17.219 --> 00:23:17.699
 difficulties?

00:23:18.659 --> 00:23:19.199
 Well I guess

00:23:19.199 --> 00:23:20.099
 in any of these

00:23:20.099 --> 00:23:21.079
 groups you will

00:23:21.079 --> 00:23:21.959
 get some people

00:23:21.959 --> 00:23:22.779
 who it is really

00:23:22.779 --> 00:23:24.059
 difficult to get

00:23:24.059 --> 00:23:24.639
 on with.

00:23:25.179 --> 00:23:25.819
 Customers who

00:23:25.819 --> 00:23:26.379
 are awkward

00:23:26.379 --> 00:23:27.859
 or colleagues

00:23:27.859 --> 00:23:28.639
 who do engage

00:23:28.639 --> 00:23:29.579
 in that politicking

00:23:29.579 --> 00:23:30.500
 and they're trying

00:23:30.500 --> 00:23:31.139
 to do things

00:23:31.139 --> 00:23:31.779
 their way and

00:23:31.779 --> 00:23:32.639
 to do you down

00:23:32.639 --> 00:23:34.359
 and staff who

00:23:34.359 --> 00:23:35.419
 are having

00:23:35.419 --> 00:23:36.299
 difficulties perhaps

00:23:36.299 --> 00:23:36.859
 in work or

00:23:36.859 --> 00:23:37.599
 not quite up to

00:23:37.599 --> 00:23:38.659
 the job or

00:23:38.659 --> 00:23:39.199
 who are a bit

00:23:39.199 --> 00:23:40.659
 awkward with you.

00:23:41.359 --> 00:23:42.619
 And that is

00:23:42.619 --> 00:23:43.539
 when our

00:23:43.539 --> 00:23:44.759
 Christian grace

00:23:44.759 --> 00:23:45.959
 and our

00:23:45.959 --> 00:23:47.039
 attitudes towards

00:23:47.039 --> 00:23:48.059
 others can

00:23:48.059 --> 00:23:48.819
 really be

00:23:48.819 --> 00:23:49.459
 tested.

00:23:50.279 --> 00:23:51.059
 We are still

00:23:51.059 --> 00:23:52.219
 working for

00:23:52.219 --> 00:23:53.119
 these people

00:23:53.119 --> 00:23:53.740
 and we should

00:23:53.740 --> 00:23:54.500
 still be seeking

00:23:54.500 --> 00:23:56.039
 the best for

00:23:56.039 --> 00:23:56.339
 them.

00:23:56.839 --> 00:23:57.719
 And there's no

00:23:57.719 --> 00:23:59.339
 excuse if we're

00:23:59.339 --> 00:24:00.039
 in a work

00:24:00.039 --> 00:24:00.719
 situation for

00:24:00.719 --> 00:24:01.179
 saying well

00:24:01.179 --> 00:24:02.179
 that person

00:24:02.179 --> 00:24:02.799
 is a bit awkward

00:24:02.799 --> 00:24:03.339
 let's just

00:24:03.339 --> 00:24:03.859
 ignore them

00:24:03.859 --> 00:24:04.459
 and do nothing

00:24:04.459 --> 00:24:05.079
 for them.

00:24:05.439 --> 00:24:05.979
 They are still

00:24:05.979 --> 00:24:06.559
 people whom

00:24:06.559 --> 00:24:07.299
 Christ loved

00:24:07.299 --> 00:24:07.799
 and whom he

00:24:07.799 --> 00:24:08.479
 died for

00:24:08.480 --> 00:24:09.120
 and we

00:24:09.120 --> 00:24:09.500
 should have

00:24:09.500 --> 00:24:10.140
 the same

00:24:10.140 --> 00:24:11.200
 regard and

00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:12.519
 concern for

00:24:12.519 --> 00:24:13.259
 them.

00:24:14.759 --> 00:24:15.079
 But let's

00:24:15.079 --> 00:24:15.360
 move on.

00:24:15.440 --> 00:24:15.680
 Our time's

00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:16.000
 gone quite

00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:16.380
 quickly.

00:24:16.759 --> 00:24:17.059
 So let's

00:24:17.059 --> 00:24:17.799
 move on to

00:24:17.799 --> 00:24:18.240
 number three.

00:24:18.299 --> 00:24:18.640
 Number three

00:24:18.640 --> 00:24:18.900
 is the

00:24:18.900 --> 00:24:19.240
 boss.

00:24:19.860 --> 00:24:20.279
 And not all

00:24:20.279 --> 00:24:20.599
 of us have

00:24:20.599 --> 00:24:21.099
 a boss but

00:24:21.099 --> 00:24:21.740
 many of us

00:24:21.740 --> 00:24:22.140
 do.

00:24:22.460 --> 00:24:22.960
 The person

00:24:22.960 --> 00:24:23.240
 who is

00:24:23.240 --> 00:24:24.599
 responsible for

00:24:24.599 --> 00:24:24.819
 us.

00:24:24.860 --> 00:24:25.200
 And of course

00:24:25.200 --> 00:24:25.680
 in Ephesians

00:24:25.680 --> 00:24:26.779
 6 that was

00:24:26.779 --> 00:24:27.460
 exactly what

00:24:27.460 --> 00:24:27.880
 Paul was

00:24:27.880 --> 00:24:28.519
 writing to

00:24:28.519 --> 00:24:29.700
 as he

00:24:29.700 --> 00:24:30.279
 wrote to

00:24:30.279 --> 00:24:30.779
 people who

00:24:30.779 --> 00:24:31.160
 were slaves

00:24:31.160 --> 00:24:31.519
 and said

00:24:31.519 --> 00:24:32.120
 well here's

00:24:32.120 --> 00:24:32.519
 how you

00:24:32.519 --> 00:24:33.500
 should behave

00:24:33.500 --> 00:24:34.740
 towards your

00:24:34.740 --> 00:24:35.559
 boss.

00:24:35.559 --> 00:24:38.519
 Three things

00:24:38.519 --> 00:24:38.899
 I think I

00:24:38.899 --> 00:24:39.339
 would say

00:24:39.339 --> 00:24:39.980
 about that.

00:24:40.799 --> 00:24:41.220
 The first

00:24:41.220 --> 00:24:42.079
 Paul says

00:24:42.079 --> 00:24:42.639
 is we

00:24:42.639 --> 00:24:43.339
 should be

00:24:43.339 --> 00:24:44.139
 obedient.

00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:45.779
 Says slaves

00:24:45.779 --> 00:24:46.440
 obey your

00:24:46.440 --> 00:24:47.319
 earthly masters

00:24:47.319 --> 00:24:48.519
 with respect

00:24:48.519 --> 00:24:49.019
 and fear

00:24:49.019 --> 00:24:49.299
 and with

00:24:49.299 --> 00:24:50.079
 sincerity of

00:24:50.079 --> 00:24:51.359
 heart just

00:24:51.359 --> 00:24:52.000
 as you

00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:53.279
 would obey

00:24:53.279 --> 00:24:54.259
 Christ.

00:24:55.639 --> 00:24:56.200
 Sometimes

00:24:56.200 --> 00:24:56.659
 our bosses

00:24:56.659 --> 00:24:57.559
 aren't very

00:24:57.559 --> 00:24:58.220
 easy to get

00:24:58.220 --> 00:24:58.740
 on with.

00:24:59.319 --> 00:24:59.480
 I was

00:24:59.480 --> 00:24:59.940
 thinking back

00:24:59.940 --> 00:25:00.299
 I think I

00:25:00.299 --> 00:25:00.539
 had about

00:25:00.539 --> 00:25:01.659
 25 bosses

00:25:01.659 --> 00:25:02.519
 over my

00:25:02.519 --> 00:25:03.259
 period working

00:25:03.259 --> 00:25:03.899
 in the

00:25:03.899 --> 00:25:04.240
 commercial

00:25:04.240 --> 00:25:04.720
 world.

00:25:04.960 --> 00:25:05.240
 Some of

00:25:05.240 --> 00:25:05.440
 them were

00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:06.099
 very good

00:25:06.099 --> 00:25:06.680
 but I

00:25:06.680 --> 00:25:06.940
 think of

00:25:06.940 --> 00:25:07.220
 one or

00:25:07.220 --> 00:25:07.559
 two who

00:25:07.559 --> 00:25:07.740
 were

00:25:07.740 --> 00:25:08.279
 bullies

00:25:08.279 --> 00:25:09.039
 or who

00:25:09.039 --> 00:25:09.319
 were very

00:25:09.319 --> 00:25:09.880
 lazy and

00:25:09.880 --> 00:25:10.359
 took credit

00:25:10.359 --> 00:25:11.319
 for other

00:25:11.319 --> 00:25:12.279
 things they

00:25:12.279 --> 00:25:12.900
 didn't do.

00:25:13.400 --> 00:25:14.059
 I think of

00:25:14.059 --> 00:25:14.519
 at least one

00:25:14.519 --> 00:25:14.759
 who showed

00:25:14.759 --> 00:25:15.299
 a great deal

00:25:15.299 --> 00:25:15.920
 of favouritism

00:25:15.920 --> 00:25:16.339
 to some

00:25:16.339 --> 00:25:17.299
 groups and

00:25:17.299 --> 00:25:17.680
 not to

00:25:17.680 --> 00:25:18.059
 others.

00:25:18.740 --> 00:25:19.079
 And it

00:25:19.079 --> 00:25:19.480
 can be

00:25:19.480 --> 00:25:19.859
 difficult

00:25:19.859 --> 00:25:20.680
 working with

00:25:20.680 --> 00:25:21.500
 a boss

00:25:21.500 --> 00:25:22.500
 as it

00:25:22.500 --> 00:25:22.819
 could be

00:25:22.819 --> 00:25:23.160
 for a

00:25:23.160 --> 00:25:23.779
 slave working

00:25:23.779 --> 00:25:24.140
 with a

00:25:24.140 --> 00:25:24.500
 master.

00:25:25.180 --> 00:25:25.759
 Paul says

00:25:25.759 --> 00:25:26.359
 your duty

00:25:26.359 --> 00:25:27.140
 if you're

00:25:27.140 --> 00:25:27.519
 in a work

00:25:27.519 --> 00:25:27.980
 environment

00:25:27.980 --> 00:25:28.279
 however

00:25:28.279 --> 00:25:28.740
 difficult

00:25:28.740 --> 00:25:29.359
 your boss

00:25:29.359 --> 00:25:30.579
 is to

00:25:30.579 --> 00:25:31.279
 be obedient

00:25:31.279 --> 00:25:31.960
 to them

00:25:31.960 --> 00:25:33.519
 because you

00:25:33.519 --> 00:25:34.480
 are obeying

00:25:34.480 --> 00:25:34.900
 them

00:25:34.900 --> 00:25:35.820
 just as

00:25:35.820 --> 00:25:36.320
 you would

00:25:36.320 --> 00:25:36.860
 obey

00:25:36.860 --> 00:25:37.880
 Christ.

00:25:39.840 --> 00:25:40.540
 He then

00:25:40.540 --> 00:25:41.000
 says we

00:25:41.000 --> 00:25:41.720
 should be

00:25:41.720 --> 00:25:42.960
 conscientious.

00:25:43.860 --> 00:25:44.400
 So we

00:25:44.400 --> 00:25:44.840
 obey them

00:25:44.840 --> 00:25:45.620
 not only to

00:25:45.620 --> 00:25:46.120
 win favour

00:25:46.120 --> 00:25:46.540
 when their

00:25:46.540 --> 00:25:46.880
 eyes

00:25:46.880 --> 00:25:48.280
 is on us

00:25:48.280 --> 00:25:50.280
 but also

00:25:50.280 --> 00:25:51.540
 when their

00:25:51.540 --> 00:25:52.420
 eye is not

00:25:52.420 --> 00:25:52.920
 on us.

00:25:53.160 --> 00:25:53.560
 We are to

00:25:53.560 --> 00:25:54.000
 serve

00:25:54.000 --> 00:25:55.180
 wholeheartedly.

00:25:55.980 --> 00:25:56.320
 And it's

00:25:56.320 --> 00:25:56.900
 not just a

00:25:56.900 --> 00:25:57.620
 case of doing

00:25:57.620 --> 00:25:58.140
 the minimum

00:25:58.140 --> 00:25:58.820
 we can get

00:25:58.820 --> 00:25:59.440
 away with

00:25:59.440 --> 00:26:00.019
 for our

00:26:00.019 --> 00:26:01.019
 boss and

00:26:01.019 --> 00:26:01.500
 trying to

00:26:01.500 --> 00:26:01.980
 please them,

00:26:02.060 --> 00:26:02.580
 trying to do

00:26:02.579 --> 00:26:03.099
 what we

00:26:03.099 --> 00:26:03.539
 think they

00:26:03.539 --> 00:26:04.079
 will like

00:26:04.079 --> 00:26:04.919
 but actually

00:26:04.919 --> 00:26:05.259
 to do

00:26:05.259 --> 00:26:05.779
 the minimum

00:26:05.779 --> 00:26:06.720
 that is

00:26:06.720 --> 00:26:07.439
 feasible

00:26:07.439 --> 00:26:08.579
 for them.

00:26:09.039 --> 00:26:09.299
 We are

00:26:09.299 --> 00:26:09.799
 to serve

00:26:09.799 --> 00:26:10.759
 wholeheartedly

00:26:10.759 --> 00:26:11.699
 and we are

00:26:11.699 --> 00:26:12.119
 to serve

00:26:12.119 --> 00:26:12.859
 wholeheartedly

00:26:12.859 --> 00:26:13.720
 says Paul

00:26:13.720 --> 00:26:14.939
 as if you

00:26:14.939 --> 00:26:15.779
 were serving

00:26:15.779 --> 00:26:16.779
 the Lord

00:26:16.779 --> 00:26:18.359
 not people.

00:26:19.319 --> 00:26:19.779
 Again

00:26:19.779 --> 00:26:20.299
 you look at

00:26:20.299 --> 00:26:20.879
 your boss

00:26:20.879 --> 00:26:21.980
 and you

00:26:21.980 --> 00:26:22.599
 think I

00:26:22.599 --> 00:26:23.099
 need to

00:26:23.099 --> 00:26:23.699
 serve that

00:26:23.699 --> 00:26:24.299
 person and

00:26:24.299 --> 00:26:24.779
 work for

00:26:24.779 --> 00:26:25.559
 them in

00:26:25.559 --> 00:26:26.079
 the same

00:26:26.079 --> 00:26:26.879
 way as

00:26:26.879 --> 00:26:27.500
 if I was

00:26:27.500 --> 00:26:28.039
 serving

00:26:28.039 --> 00:26:28.859
 Christ.

00:26:28.859 --> 00:26:30.019
 because God

00:26:30.019 --> 00:26:30.619
 has chosen

00:26:30.619 --> 00:26:31.039
 to put

00:26:31.039 --> 00:26:31.459
 them over

00:26:31.459 --> 00:26:31.759
 me in

00:26:31.759 --> 00:26:32.279
 the situation

00:26:32.279 --> 00:26:32.579
 I am

00:26:32.579 --> 00:26:32.759
 in just

00:26:32.759 --> 00:26:33.579
 now and

00:26:33.579 --> 00:26:34.240
 I need

00:26:34.240 --> 00:26:35.219
 to work

00:26:35.219 --> 00:26:35.799
 for them

00:26:35.799 --> 00:26:36.459
 in the

00:26:36.459 --> 00:26:37.099
 same way

00:26:37.099 --> 00:26:38.079
 as if I

00:26:38.079 --> 00:26:39.199
 was working

00:26:39.199 --> 00:26:40.799
 for Christ.

00:26:42.659 --> 00:26:42.979
 And then

00:26:42.979 --> 00:26:43.319
 the final

00:26:43.319 --> 00:26:43.819
 thing I'd

00:26:43.819 --> 00:26:44.959
 suggest is

00:26:44.959 --> 00:26:45.319
 that we

00:26:45.319 --> 00:26:45.939
 should be

00:26:45.939 --> 00:26:47.199
 uncomplaining.

00:26:47.979 --> 00:26:48.639
 Titus 2

00:26:48.639 --> 00:26:49.199
 again talking

00:26:49.199 --> 00:26:49.619
 to slaves

00:26:49.619 --> 00:26:50.039
 he says

00:26:50.039 --> 00:26:50.679
 teach the

00:26:50.679 --> 00:26:51.119
 slaves to

00:26:51.119 --> 00:26:51.599
 be subject

00:26:51.599 --> 00:26:52.000
 to their

00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:52.539
 masters and

00:26:52.539 --> 00:26:52.939
 everything

00:26:52.939 --> 00:26:54.259
 to try to

00:26:54.259 --> 00:26:54.939
 please them

00:26:54.939 --> 00:26:56.019
 not to

00:26:56.019 --> 00:26:56.899
 talk back

00:26:56.899 --> 00:26:57.879
 to them.

00:26:58.859 --> 00:26:59.419
 For me

00:26:59.419 --> 00:26:59.979
 one of the

00:26:59.979 --> 00:27:00.639
 key things

00:27:00.639 --> 00:27:01.099
 in terms

00:27:01.099 --> 00:27:01.859
 of serving

00:27:01.859 --> 00:27:02.519
 God and

00:27:02.519 --> 00:27:02.939
 of being

00:27:02.939 --> 00:27:03.819
 a witness

00:27:03.819 --> 00:27:04.319
 if you like

00:27:04.319 --> 00:27:04.639
 to my

00:27:04.639 --> 00:27:05.679
 bosses was

00:27:05.679 --> 00:27:06.039
 to be

00:27:06.039 --> 00:27:06.839
 someone who

00:27:06.839 --> 00:27:07.819
 was obedient

00:27:07.819 --> 00:27:08.259
 who was

00:27:08.259 --> 00:27:09.139
 conscientious

00:27:09.139 --> 00:27:09.759
 and who

00:27:09.759 --> 00:27:10.479
 didn't argue

00:27:10.479 --> 00:27:10.819
 if I was

00:27:10.819 --> 00:27:11.279
 given something

00:27:11.279 --> 00:27:11.599
 I didn't

00:27:11.599 --> 00:27:12.219
 really fancy

00:27:12.219 --> 00:27:13.559
 or that I

00:27:13.559 --> 00:27:14.319
 felt I

00:27:14.319 --> 00:27:14.799
 shouldn't be

00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:15.199
 doing.

00:27:15.559 --> 00:27:16.000
 It was to

00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:17.039
 be uncomplaining

00:27:17.039 --> 00:27:18.000
 and here's the

00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:18.619
 difficult bit

00:27:18.619 --> 00:27:19.539
 it wasn't just

00:27:19.539 --> 00:27:20.179
 to be uncomplaining

00:27:20.179 --> 00:27:20.979
 to my boss

00:27:20.979 --> 00:27:22.019
 it was also

00:27:22.019 --> 00:27:22.619
 not to go

00:27:22.619 --> 00:27:23.279
 back and

00:27:23.279 --> 00:27:23.779
 complain to

00:27:23.779 --> 00:27:24.279
 others about

00:27:24.279 --> 00:27:25.059
 what my boss

00:27:25.059 --> 00:27:26.000
 had told me

00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:26.619
 to do.

00:27:26.719 --> 00:27:27.059
 A lot of that

00:27:27.059 --> 00:27:27.459
 goes on in the

00:27:27.459 --> 00:27:27.979
 offices and they're

00:27:27.979 --> 00:27:28.839
 complaining about

00:27:28.839 --> 00:27:29.599
 the boss.

00:27:30.319 --> 00:27:31.059
 I'd suggest

00:27:31.059 --> 00:27:31.519
 by and

00:27:31.519 --> 00:27:31.980
 large as

00:27:31.980 --> 00:27:32.539
 Christians it's

00:27:32.539 --> 00:27:33.199
 not our

00:27:33.199 --> 00:27:33.720
 place to

00:27:33.720 --> 00:27:34.799
 complain about

00:27:34.799 --> 00:27:35.480
 those whom

00:27:35.480 --> 00:27:36.119
 God has put

00:27:36.119 --> 00:27:36.779
 over us

00:27:36.779 --> 00:27:37.559
 whom we

00:27:37.559 --> 00:27:37.939
 should be

00:27:37.939 --> 00:27:38.519
 serving as

00:27:38.519 --> 00:27:38.859
 if they

00:27:38.859 --> 00:27:39.259
 were the

00:27:39.259 --> 00:27:39.639
 Lord.

00:27:40.039 --> 00:27:40.399
 We should

00:27:40.399 --> 00:27:41.000
 work in a

00:27:41.000 --> 00:27:41.439
 way that

00:27:41.439 --> 00:27:43.240
 is uncomplaining.

00:27:43.240 --> 00:27:43.859
 people

00:27:43.859 --> 00:27:46.579
 but there

00:27:46.579 --> 00:27:47.000
 can be

00:27:47.000 --> 00:27:47.839
 difficulties with

00:27:47.839 --> 00:27:48.120
 bosses.

00:27:48.120 --> 00:27:48.539
 I've called

00:27:48.539 --> 00:27:49.220
 it ethical

00:27:49.220 --> 00:27:50.319
 dilemmas.

00:27:51.279 --> 00:27:51.700
 There are

00:27:51.700 --> 00:27:52.680
 situations

00:27:52.680 --> 00:27:53.519
 which you

00:27:53.519 --> 00:27:53.940
 might come

00:27:53.940 --> 00:27:54.380
 across in

00:27:54.380 --> 00:27:54.920
 the workplace

00:27:54.920 --> 00:27:55.960
 where we're

00:27:55.960 --> 00:27:56.500
 asked to do

00:27:56.500 --> 00:27:57.579
 something and

00:27:57.579 --> 00:27:58.460
 we think that

00:27:58.460 --> 00:27:59.539
 is absolutely

00:27:59.539 --> 00:28:00.259
 wrong.

00:28:00.720 --> 00:28:01.180
 As a

00:28:01.180 --> 00:28:01.720
 Christian I

00:28:01.720 --> 00:28:02.640
 don't think I

00:28:02.640 --> 00:28:03.440
 should be doing

00:28:03.440 --> 00:28:03.859
 that.

00:28:04.440 --> 00:28:05.120
 So the boss

00:28:05.120 --> 00:28:05.839
 might say

00:28:05.839 --> 00:28:06.700
 let's just

00:28:06.700 --> 00:28:07.299
 change these

00:28:07.299 --> 00:28:07.960
 figures a little

00:28:07.960 --> 00:28:08.559
 bit to make

00:28:08.559 --> 00:28:08.940
 them look

00:28:08.940 --> 00:28:09.380
 better.

00:28:09.380 --> 00:28:10.960
 Or let's

00:28:10.960 --> 00:28:11.680
 discharge this

00:28:11.680 --> 00:28:12.400
 customer a bit

00:28:12.400 --> 00:28:12.960
 more because

00:28:12.960 --> 00:28:14.360
 we can and

00:28:14.360 --> 00:28:14.840
 they probably

00:28:14.840 --> 00:28:15.520
 won't notice

00:28:15.520 --> 00:28:15.960
 that we've

00:28:15.960 --> 00:28:16.660
 overcharged

00:28:16.660 --> 00:28:16.960
 them.

00:28:17.160 --> 00:28:17.640
 And lots of

00:28:17.640 --> 00:28:18.260
 other examples

00:28:18.260 --> 00:28:18.980
 we could give

00:28:18.980 --> 00:28:20.000
 like that.

00:28:20.660 --> 00:28:21.020
 And in these

00:28:21.020 --> 00:28:21.720
 situations I

00:28:21.720 --> 00:28:22.740
 suggest we're

00:28:22.740 --> 00:28:23.560
 not called to

00:28:23.560 --> 00:28:24.380
 be obedient to

00:28:24.380 --> 00:28:24.940
 our boss.

00:28:25.300 --> 00:28:25.760
 There is the

00:28:25.760 --> 00:28:26.540
 higher calling

00:28:26.540 --> 00:28:27.420
 that we need

00:28:27.420 --> 00:28:28.460
 to obey God

00:28:28.460 --> 00:28:29.780
 rather than

00:28:29.780 --> 00:28:30.120
 men.

00:28:30.220 --> 00:28:30.760
 For most of

00:28:30.760 --> 00:28:31.200
 us there are

00:28:31.200 --> 00:28:31.820
 very rare

00:28:31.820 --> 00:28:33.200
 situations that

00:28:33.200 --> 00:28:33.700
 we do need

00:28:33.700 --> 00:28:34.100
 to be aware

00:28:34.100 --> 00:28:34.300
 of them.

00:28:34.360 --> 00:28:34.780
 It's not

00:28:34.780 --> 00:28:36.160
 uncritical

00:28:36.160 --> 00:28:37.400
 obedience to

00:28:37.400 --> 00:28:37.820
 a human

00:28:37.820 --> 00:28:38.280
 boss.

00:28:38.279 --> 00:28:39.379
 it is

00:28:39.379 --> 00:28:39.819
 seeing them

00:28:39.819 --> 00:28:40.279
 as God's

00:28:40.279 --> 00:28:40.940
 representer

00:28:40.940 --> 00:28:41.460
 and serving

00:28:41.460 --> 00:28:41.899
 them as if

00:28:41.899 --> 00:28:42.160
 they were

00:28:42.160 --> 00:28:42.700
 the Lord

00:28:42.700 --> 00:28:43.480
 by and

00:28:43.480 --> 00:28:44.019
 large.

00:28:44.420 --> 00:28:44.700
 But if

00:28:44.700 --> 00:28:45.039
 they ask

00:28:45.039 --> 00:28:45.339
 us to

00:28:45.339 --> 00:28:45.819
 do things

00:28:45.819 --> 00:28:46.279
 we know

00:28:46.279 --> 00:28:46.779
 are wrong

00:28:46.779 --> 00:28:48.000
 then we

00:28:48.000 --> 00:28:48.399
 need to

00:28:48.399 --> 00:28:48.799
 opt out

00:28:48.799 --> 00:28:49.160
 of that

00:28:49.160 --> 00:28:49.519
 and say

00:28:49.519 --> 00:28:50.539
 no that's

00:28:50.539 --> 00:28:51.399
 not for

00:28:51.399 --> 00:28:51.720
 me.

00:28:52.139 --> 00:28:52.779
 And hopefully

00:28:52.779 --> 00:28:53.180
 they will

00:28:53.180 --> 00:28:53.899
 respect us

00:28:53.899 --> 00:28:54.940
 for it and

00:28:54.940 --> 00:28:55.480
 if they don't

00:28:55.480 --> 00:28:55.899
 they're probably

00:28:55.899 --> 00:28:56.299
 the wrong

00:28:56.299 --> 00:28:57.059
 boss for us

00:28:57.059 --> 00:28:57.799
 to begin

00:28:57.799 --> 00:28:58.000
 with.

00:28:58.059 --> 00:28:58.579
 Very difficult

00:28:58.579 --> 00:28:59.700
 sometimes but

00:28:59.700 --> 00:29:00.220
 we need to

00:29:00.220 --> 00:29:00.700
 have that

00:29:00.700 --> 00:29:01.220
 distinction

00:29:01.220 --> 00:29:02.519
 as well.

00:29:04.799 --> 00:29:05.559
 Very quickly

00:29:05.559 --> 00:29:06.119
 I suppose this

00:29:06.119 --> 00:29:07.079
 is in many

00:29:07.079 --> 00:29:07.339
 ways the

00:29:07.339 --> 00:29:07.879
 biggest point

00:29:07.880 --> 00:29:08.140
 but we're

00:29:08.140 --> 00:29:08.380
 going to

00:29:08.380 --> 00:29:08.780
 cover it

00:29:08.780 --> 00:29:09.280
 reasonably

00:29:09.280 --> 00:29:09.900
 quickly because

00:29:09.900 --> 00:29:10.240
 we do have

00:29:10.240 --> 00:29:10.600
 an interview

00:29:10.600 --> 00:29:11.180
 coming up

00:29:11.180 --> 00:29:12.160
 in a few

00:29:12.160 --> 00:29:12.420
 minutes.

00:29:12.480 --> 00:29:12.820
 Who am I

00:29:12.820 --> 00:29:13.520
 working for?

00:29:14.080 --> 00:29:15.280
 Ultimately I

00:29:15.280 --> 00:29:15.800
 am working

00:29:15.800 --> 00:29:16.820
 for my

00:29:16.820 --> 00:29:17.220
 Lord.

00:29:19.500 --> 00:29:20.140
 And how

00:29:20.140 --> 00:29:20.460
 am I

00:29:20.460 --> 00:29:21.300
 working for

00:29:21.300 --> 00:29:22.220
 the Lord?

00:29:23.600 --> 00:29:24.280
 Well in

00:29:24.280 --> 00:29:24.960
 Colossians 3

00:29:24.960 --> 00:29:25.280
 which is a

00:29:25.280 --> 00:29:25.520
 kind of

00:29:25.520 --> 00:29:26.360
 parallel passage

00:29:26.360 --> 00:29:27.200
 to what Paul

00:29:27.200 --> 00:29:27.980
 talks about

00:29:27.980 --> 00:29:28.860
 in Ephesians

00:29:28.860 --> 00:29:29.920
 he says very

00:29:29.920 --> 00:29:31.280
 clearly it is

00:29:31.280 --> 00:29:31.880
 the Lord

00:29:31.880 --> 00:29:32.940
 Christ you

00:29:32.940 --> 00:29:33.460
 are serving.

00:29:33.540 --> 00:29:33.840
 That's the

00:29:33.840 --> 00:29:34.420
 context of

00:29:34.420 --> 00:29:34.860
 works of

00:29:34.860 --> 00:29:35.300
 slaves and

00:29:35.300 --> 00:29:35.680
 masters.

00:29:35.680 --> 00:29:36.779
 So he's

00:29:36.779 --> 00:29:37.140
 not just

00:29:37.140 --> 00:29:37.560
 saying here

00:29:37.560 --> 00:29:37.779
 you should

00:29:37.779 --> 00:29:38.220
 treat them

00:29:38.220 --> 00:29:39.000
 as if they

00:29:39.000 --> 00:29:39.440
 were the

00:29:39.440 --> 00:29:40.200
 Lord but

00:29:40.200 --> 00:29:40.600
 you're working

00:29:40.600 --> 00:29:41.140
 for someone

00:29:41.140 --> 00:29:41.600
 else.

00:29:42.060 --> 00:29:42.840
 Ultimately you

00:29:42.840 --> 00:29:43.440
 are working

00:29:43.440 --> 00:29:44.519
 for the

00:29:44.519 --> 00:29:44.940
 Lord.

00:29:45.200 --> 00:29:45.880
 Colossians 3

00:29:45.880 --> 00:29:47.039
 verse 24.

00:29:47.700 --> 00:29:48.060
 And what

00:29:48.060 --> 00:29:48.460
 does that

00:29:48.460 --> 00:29:49.440
 affect in

00:29:49.440 --> 00:29:49.920
 our workplace

00:29:49.920 --> 00:29:50.560
 if we say

00:29:50.560 --> 00:29:51.039
 I am

00:29:51.039 --> 00:29:52.140
 working for

00:29:52.140 --> 00:29:52.660
 the Lord?

00:29:53.400 --> 00:29:53.740
 Well it

00:29:53.740 --> 00:29:54.400
 affects first

00:29:54.400 --> 00:29:54.920
 of all our

00:29:54.920 --> 00:29:55.420
 attitudes.

00:29:56.140 --> 00:29:56.600
 What is my

00:29:56.600 --> 00:29:57.400
 attitude towards

00:29:57.400 --> 00:29:57.840
 work?

00:29:58.460 --> 00:29:58.920
 And more

00:29:58.920 --> 00:29:59.360
 importantly

00:29:59.360 --> 00:30:00.480
 perhaps what

00:30:00.480 --> 00:30:00.860
 is my

00:30:00.860 --> 00:30:02.340
 attitude towards

00:30:02.340 --> 00:30:03.220
 others?

00:30:03.220 --> 00:30:04.660
 passage from

00:30:04.660 --> 00:30:05.039
 Philippians

00:30:05.039 --> 00:30:05.259
 will be

00:30:05.259 --> 00:30:05.720
 very familiar

00:30:05.720 --> 00:30:06.299
 just let me

00:30:06.299 --> 00:30:06.680
 read these

00:30:06.680 --> 00:30:07.160
 two verses

00:30:07.160 --> 00:30:07.700
 to you.

00:30:08.400 --> 00:30:08.880
 Do nothing

00:30:08.880 --> 00:30:09.600
 out of selfish

00:30:09.600 --> 00:30:10.160
 ambition,

00:30:10.259 --> 00:30:10.660
 their selfish

00:30:10.660 --> 00:30:11.880
 ambition or

00:30:11.880 --> 00:30:12.700
 being conceit

00:30:12.700 --> 00:30:13.799
 rather than

00:30:13.799 --> 00:30:14.880
 humility value

00:30:14.880 --> 00:30:15.740
 others above

00:30:15.740 --> 00:30:17.460
 yourselves not

00:30:17.460 --> 00:30:18.000
 looking to

00:30:18.000 --> 00:30:18.440
 your own

00:30:18.440 --> 00:30:19.819
 interests but

00:30:19.819 --> 00:30:20.500
 each of you

00:30:20.500 --> 00:30:21.100
 looking to

00:30:21.100 --> 00:30:21.880
 the interests

00:30:21.880 --> 00:30:23.220
 of others.

00:30:24.039 --> 00:30:24.400
 In a work

00:30:24.400 --> 00:30:25.160
 environment where

00:30:25.160 --> 00:30:26.140
 very much often

00:30:26.140 --> 00:30:26.740
 people are looking

00:30:26.740 --> 00:30:27.319
 to their own

00:30:27.319 --> 00:30:28.519
 interests, looking

00:30:28.519 --> 00:30:29.100
 at their own

00:30:29.100 --> 00:30:30.420
 ambitions and

00:30:30.420 --> 00:30:30.920
 how they can

00:30:30.920 --> 00:30:31.519
 further their

00:30:31.519 --> 00:30:32.500
 own careers.

00:30:33.220 --> 00:30:33.839
 We can really

00:30:33.839 --> 00:30:34.660
 stand out as

00:30:34.660 --> 00:30:35.240
 Christians if

00:30:35.240 --> 00:30:35.620
 we are there

00:30:35.620 --> 00:30:36.299
 to serve the

00:30:36.299 --> 00:30:37.380
 Lord and we

00:30:37.380 --> 00:30:37.860
 come with the

00:30:37.860 --> 00:30:38.759
 attitude I am

00:30:38.759 --> 00:30:39.440
 also there to

00:30:39.440 --> 00:30:40.579
 serve others and

00:30:40.579 --> 00:30:41.299
 to look after

00:30:41.299 --> 00:30:42.400
 their interests

00:30:42.400 --> 00:30:44.200
 even more than

00:30:44.200 --> 00:30:45.160
 my own.

00:30:46.460 --> 00:30:47.000
 And then there is

00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:47.600
 the actions.

00:30:47.940 --> 00:30:48.660
 There is what we

00:30:48.660 --> 00:30:50.620
 do and how we

00:30:50.620 --> 00:30:51.160
 do it.

00:30:51.940 --> 00:30:52.600
 So in 1 Timothy

00:30:52.600 --> 00:30:53.759
 6 Paul is

00:30:53.759 --> 00:30:54.500
 talking essentially

00:30:54.500 --> 00:30:55.019
 to people who

00:30:55.019 --> 00:30:56.079
 are wealthy but

00:30:56.079 --> 00:30:56.880
 I think the

00:30:56.880 --> 00:30:58.079
 verse here would

00:30:58.079 --> 00:30:59.200
 apply to others

00:30:59.200 --> 00:30:59.960
 as well.

00:31:00.180 --> 00:31:00.920
 1 Timothy 6

00:31:00.920 --> 00:31:01.700
 verse 18 he

00:31:01.700 --> 00:31:02.259
 says command

00:31:02.259 --> 00:31:03.000
 them to do

00:31:03.000 --> 00:31:04.279
 good, to be

00:31:04.279 --> 00:31:04.980
 rich in good

00:31:04.980 --> 00:31:06.299
 deeds and to

00:31:06.299 --> 00:31:07.879
 be generous and

00:31:07.879 --> 00:31:09.000
 willing to

00:31:09.000 --> 00:31:09.420
 share.

00:31:10.539 --> 00:31:11.119
 So what we

00:31:11.119 --> 00:31:12.299
 do in our

00:31:12.299 --> 00:31:13.240
 work, whatever

00:31:13.240 --> 00:31:14.400
 work means for

00:31:14.400 --> 00:31:15.920
 us, should be

00:31:15.920 --> 00:31:17.059
 doing good,

00:31:17.460 --> 00:31:18.619
 doing good

00:31:18.619 --> 00:31:19.460
 deeds.

00:31:20.140 --> 00:31:21.140
 Not doing

00:31:21.140 --> 00:31:21.680
 things which

00:31:21.680 --> 00:31:22.119
 are under

00:31:22.119 --> 00:31:23.099
 hand or

00:31:23.099 --> 00:31:23.779
 which are

00:31:23.779 --> 00:31:24.720
 lazy or

00:31:24.720 --> 00:31:25.140
 which are

00:31:25.140 --> 00:31:26.299
 sloppy or

00:31:26.299 --> 00:31:28.000
 which we're

00:31:28.000 --> 00:31:28.379
 doing the

00:31:28.379 --> 00:31:29.039
 minimum we can

00:31:29.039 --> 00:31:29.839
 get away with.

00:31:29.839 --> 00:31:30.959
 It is doing

00:31:30.959 --> 00:31:32.419
 good deeds

00:31:32.419 --> 00:31:33.619
 and being

00:31:33.619 --> 00:31:34.500
 generous, being

00:31:34.500 --> 00:31:35.879
 rich in what

00:31:35.879 --> 00:31:37.359
 we do towards

00:31:37.359 --> 00:31:38.220
 others.

00:31:38.980 --> 00:31:39.799
 Our actions

00:31:39.799 --> 00:31:40.759
 should reflect

00:31:40.759 --> 00:31:41.419
 the fact that

00:31:41.419 --> 00:31:42.119
 we are serving

00:31:42.119 --> 00:31:43.699
 the Lord and

00:31:43.699 --> 00:31:44.199
 that we are

00:31:44.199 --> 00:31:45.379
 living for

00:31:45.379 --> 00:31:45.679
 him.

00:31:46.899 --> 00:31:47.439
 And then

00:31:47.439 --> 00:31:48.619
 finally there's

00:31:48.619 --> 00:31:49.559
 my word.

00:31:49.679 --> 00:31:50.119
 Now I think a

00:31:50.119 --> 00:31:50.500
 couple of weeks

00:31:50.500 --> 00:31:51.299
 time Graham will

00:31:51.299 --> 00:31:52.259
 be talking in a

00:31:52.259 --> 00:31:52.939
 bit more about

00:31:52.939 --> 00:31:53.819
 the witness that

00:31:53.819 --> 00:31:54.159
 we have at

00:31:54.159 --> 00:31:54.699
 work but let me

00:31:54.699 --> 00:31:55.720
 just talk briefly

00:31:55.720 --> 00:31:56.959
 about that just

00:31:56.960 --> 00:31:57.380
 now.

00:31:58.279 --> 00:31:59.220
 1 Peter 3

00:31:59.220 --> 00:32:00.100
 and verse 15

00:32:00.100 --> 00:32:00.620
 he says,

00:32:00.759 --> 00:32:01.380
 In your heart

00:32:01.380 --> 00:32:02.140
 revere Christ

00:32:02.140 --> 00:32:02.759
 as Lord.

00:32:03.539 --> 00:32:04.240
 Always be

00:32:04.240 --> 00:32:04.920
 prepared to

00:32:04.920 --> 00:32:05.579
 give an answer

00:32:05.579 --> 00:32:06.680
 to everyone

00:32:06.680 --> 00:32:07.799
 who asks you

00:32:07.799 --> 00:32:08.319
 to give the

00:32:08.319 --> 00:32:09.000
 reason for the

00:32:09.000 --> 00:32:09.600
 hope that you

00:32:09.600 --> 00:32:11.100
 have but do

00:32:11.100 --> 00:32:12.120
 this with

00:32:12.120 --> 00:32:13.840
 gentleness and

00:32:13.840 --> 00:32:14.900
 respect.

00:32:16.059 --> 00:32:16.960
 For me in many

00:32:16.960 --> 00:32:17.460
 ways in the

00:32:17.460 --> 00:32:18.180
 office environment

00:32:18.180 --> 00:32:18.860
 this was the

00:32:18.860 --> 00:32:19.460
 most difficult

00:32:19.460 --> 00:32:19.900
 one.

00:32:20.360 --> 00:32:21.019
 By and large

00:32:21.019 --> 00:32:24.620
 I felt that I

00:32:24.620 --> 00:32:25.180
 worked with

00:32:25.180 --> 00:32:26.000
 integrity and

00:32:26.000 --> 00:32:26.539
 I was reasonably

00:32:26.539 --> 00:32:27.399
 conscientious and

00:32:27.399 --> 00:32:28.339
 so on but

00:32:28.339 --> 00:32:28.980
 actually being

00:32:28.980 --> 00:32:29.859
 able to talk

00:32:29.859 --> 00:32:30.519
 and to witness

00:32:30.519 --> 00:32:31.599
 to others was

00:32:31.599 --> 00:32:32.259
 something that I

00:32:32.259 --> 00:32:33.279
 found really

00:32:33.279 --> 00:32:34.119
 difficult.

00:32:35.059 --> 00:32:35.440
 And in some

00:32:35.440 --> 00:32:36.220
 ways it is

00:32:36.220 --> 00:32:37.079
 difficult because

00:32:37.079 --> 00:32:38.159
 in many work

00:32:38.159 --> 00:32:38.859
 environments it

00:32:38.859 --> 00:32:39.399
 wouldn't really

00:32:39.399 --> 00:32:40.359
 be encouraged or

00:32:40.359 --> 00:32:41.019
 might be actively

00:32:41.019 --> 00:32:41.740
 discouraged and

00:32:41.740 --> 00:32:42.059
 we need to be

00:32:42.059 --> 00:32:43.200
 careful what we

00:32:43.200 --> 00:32:43.940
 do and how we

00:32:43.940 --> 00:32:45.399
 say it but also

00:32:45.399 --> 00:32:46.200
 there's the fear

00:32:46.200 --> 00:32:47.079
 of what people

00:32:47.079 --> 00:32:47.940
 will think of us

00:32:47.940 --> 00:32:48.420
 what they will

00:32:48.420 --> 00:32:49.720
 say about us if

00:32:49.720 --> 00:32:50.879
 we say anything

00:32:50.879 --> 00:32:51.460
 to them.

00:32:52.019 --> 00:32:52.899
 But for many of

00:32:52.899 --> 00:32:53.819
 us our workplace

00:32:53.819 --> 00:32:54.420
 wherever that

00:32:54.420 --> 00:32:55.779
 workplace is it

00:32:55.779 --> 00:32:56.399
 is the main

00:32:56.399 --> 00:32:57.059
 place where we

00:32:57.059 --> 00:32:58.639
 come in contact

00:32:58.639 --> 00:32:59.240
 with people who

00:32:59.240 --> 00:32:59.639
 aren't yet

00:32:59.639 --> 00:33:00.059
 Christians.

00:33:00.519 --> 00:33:01.180
 It is therefore

00:33:01.180 --> 00:33:02.160
 our main mission

00:33:02.160 --> 00:33:03.299
 field and is

00:33:03.299 --> 00:33:03.899
 where we should

00:33:03.899 --> 00:33:04.639
 be talking to

00:33:04.639 --> 00:33:05.720
 people about

00:33:05.720 --> 00:33:06.519
 the Lord Jesus

00:33:06.519 --> 00:33:07.920
 about the hope

00:33:07.920 --> 00:33:09.519
 that is in us.

00:33:09.899 --> 00:33:10.619
 But doing it

00:33:10.619 --> 00:33:11.500
 with gentleness

00:33:11.500 --> 00:33:13.160
 and with respect

00:33:13.160 --> 00:33:14.980
 and doing it

00:33:14.980 --> 00:33:16.119
 within as far

00:33:16.119 --> 00:33:16.619
 as we can

00:33:16.619 --> 00:33:17.619
 whatever parameters

00:33:17.619 --> 00:33:18.920
 our workplace

00:33:18.920 --> 00:33:20.559
 may set for it.

00:33:21.539 --> 00:33:21.839
 And that for

00:33:21.839 --> 00:33:22.660
 many of us can

00:33:22.660 --> 00:33:23.339
 be one of the

00:33:23.339 --> 00:33:24.659
 difficulties with

00:33:24.659 --> 00:33:25.619
 serving God

00:33:25.619 --> 00:33:26.679
 at work.

00:33:27.519 --> 00:33:28.099
 But by and

00:33:28.099 --> 00:33:28.919
 large employers

00:33:28.919 --> 00:33:29.699
 these days

00:33:29.699 --> 00:33:30.799
 wouldn't encourage

00:33:30.799 --> 00:33:31.740
 us to talk

00:33:31.740 --> 00:33:32.539
 about faith

00:33:32.539 --> 00:33:34.319
 or to seek

00:33:34.319 --> 00:33:34.859
 for each other

00:33:34.859 --> 00:33:35.919
 for the Lord

00:33:35.919 --> 00:33:36.259
 Jesus.

00:33:36.459 --> 00:33:37.079
 There can be

00:33:37.079 --> 00:33:38.059
 restrictions placed

00:33:38.059 --> 00:33:38.559
 on us.

00:33:39.099 --> 00:33:40.119
 And in general

00:33:40.119 --> 00:33:40.879
 as long as

00:33:40.879 --> 00:33:41.139
 there are not

00:33:41.139 --> 00:33:41.980
 total restrictions

00:33:41.980 --> 00:33:42.699
 in general

00:33:42.699 --> 00:33:43.699
 it's good to

00:33:43.699 --> 00:33:44.480
 go along with

00:33:44.480 --> 00:33:44.759
 them.

00:33:45.079 --> 00:33:45.899
 But ultimately

00:33:45.899 --> 00:33:46.480
 if the employer

00:33:46.480 --> 00:33:47.319
 says you can't

00:33:47.319 --> 00:33:47.919
 possibly share

00:33:47.919 --> 00:33:48.379
 your Christian

00:33:48.379 --> 00:33:49.779
 faith in the

00:33:49.779 --> 00:33:50.879
 workplace then

00:33:50.879 --> 00:33:51.519
 we have to say

00:33:51.519 --> 00:33:52.539
 well I'm here to

00:33:52.539 --> 00:33:53.119
 obey God

00:33:53.119 --> 00:33:53.619
 rather than

00:33:53.619 --> 00:33:54.159
 men might

00:33:54.159 --> 00:33:54.599
 be a different

00:33:54.599 --> 00:33:56.059
 employer and

00:33:56.059 --> 00:33:56.460
 might have

00:33:56.460 --> 00:33:57.399
 consequences for

00:33:57.399 --> 00:33:57.899
 us but we

00:33:57.899 --> 00:33:58.599
 can't be

00:33:58.599 --> 00:34:00.200
 totally silenced.

00:34:01.859 --> 00:34:02.619
 In my office

00:34:02.619 --> 00:34:04.000
 I for the last

00:34:04.000 --> 00:34:04.680
 10 years or so

00:34:04.680 --> 00:34:05.619
 before I retired

00:34:05.619 --> 00:34:06.659
 was the leader

00:34:06.659 --> 00:34:07.200
 of a Christian

00:34:07.200 --> 00:34:07.579
 fellowship.

00:34:07.740 --> 00:34:08.159
 I have to say

00:34:08.159 --> 00:34:08.639
 I was dragged

00:34:08.639 --> 00:34:09.119
 kicking and

00:34:09.119 --> 00:34:09.599
 screaming into

00:34:09.599 --> 00:34:09.920
 leading the

00:34:09.920 --> 00:34:10.659
 Christian fellowship

00:34:10.659 --> 00:34:11.599
 a guy called

00:34:11.599 --> 00:34:12.239
 Ian Archibald

00:34:12.239 --> 00:34:12.699
 bugged me

00:34:12.699 --> 00:34:13.159
 until I got

00:34:13.159 --> 00:34:13.779
 right to doing

00:34:13.779 --> 00:34:14.019
 it.

00:34:14.219 --> 00:34:14.679
 But it was

00:34:14.679 --> 00:34:15.179
 in many ways

00:34:15.179 --> 00:34:15.900
 quite a fulfilling

00:34:15.900 --> 00:34:16.820
 thing to do.

00:34:17.659 --> 00:34:18.099
 But it was

00:34:18.099 --> 00:34:19.400
 also quite a

00:34:19.400 --> 00:34:20.019
 difficult thing

00:34:20.019 --> 00:34:20.599
 to do in

00:34:20.599 --> 00:34:21.380
 terms of

00:34:21.380 --> 00:34:22.559
 letting people

00:34:22.559 --> 00:34:23.140
 know we were

00:34:23.140 --> 00:34:23.980
 there and

00:34:23.980 --> 00:34:24.519
 being able to

00:34:24.519 --> 00:34:25.140
 reach out to

00:34:25.140 --> 00:34:25.420
 others.

00:34:25.519 --> 00:34:26.000
 And essentially

00:34:26.000 --> 00:34:27.320
 my office and

00:34:27.320 --> 00:34:27.599
 things were

00:34:27.599 --> 00:34:28.260
 slightly changing

00:34:28.260 --> 00:34:28.740
 as I left.

00:34:28.800 --> 00:34:29.280
 My office were

00:34:29.280 --> 00:34:30.260
 happy for us to

00:34:30.260 --> 00:34:31.019
 meet together as

00:34:31.019 --> 00:34:32.420
 Christians and

00:34:32.420 --> 00:34:33.140
 to pray and to

00:34:33.140 --> 00:34:33.920
 study the Bible

00:34:33.920 --> 00:34:35.260
 but not happy for

00:34:35.260 --> 00:34:35.860
 us to advertise

00:34:35.860 --> 00:34:37.099
 it and certainly

00:34:37.099 --> 00:34:38.039
 not happy for us

00:34:38.039 --> 00:34:38.680
 to have any kind

00:34:38.680 --> 00:34:39.579
 of evangelistic

00:34:39.579 --> 00:34:41.059
 element to it.

00:34:41.119 --> 00:34:42.000
 And I felt it was

00:34:42.000 --> 00:34:42.599
 right to honour

00:34:42.599 --> 00:34:43.320
 that and we did

00:34:43.320 --> 00:34:44.099
 things by word of

00:34:44.099 --> 00:34:45.059
 mouth and we got

00:34:45.059 --> 00:34:45.880
 involved in business

00:34:45.880 --> 00:34:46.519
 alpha and encouraged

00:34:46.519 --> 00:34:47.220
 people to go there

00:34:47.220 --> 00:34:47.780
 and so on.

00:34:48.340 --> 00:34:49.360
 But your employer if

00:34:49.360 --> 00:34:49.900
 you're in an

00:34:49.900 --> 00:34:50.840
 employment may place

00:34:50.840 --> 00:34:51.640
 restrictions on

00:34:51.640 --> 00:34:52.519
 what you can do

00:34:52.519 --> 00:34:53.780
 by and large

00:34:53.780 --> 00:34:54.360
 these should be

00:34:54.360 --> 00:34:56.059
 respected but

00:34:56.059 --> 00:34:56.840
 there may be

00:34:56.840 --> 00:34:57.519
 situations where

00:34:57.519 --> 00:34:57.960
 you have to say

00:34:57.960 --> 00:34:58.340
 well I'm a

00:34:58.340 --> 00:34:59.180
 Christian I can't

00:34:59.180 --> 00:35:00.320
 be totally silent

00:35:00.320 --> 00:35:01.039
 about my faith

00:35:01.039 --> 00:35:01.559
 in the Lord

00:35:01.559 --> 00:35:02.940
 Jesus and in

00:35:02.940 --> 00:35:03.579
 seeking to win

00:35:03.579 --> 00:35:04.800
 others for him.

00:35:06.220 --> 00:35:08.180
 So four groups

00:35:08.180 --> 00:35:09.200
 of people we're

00:35:09.200 --> 00:35:09.760
 working for.

00:35:09.820 --> 00:35:10.300
 I'm working for

00:35:10.300 --> 00:35:11.720
 myself, I'm

00:35:11.720 --> 00:35:13.059
 working for others

00:35:13.059 --> 00:35:14.000
 whom I'm serving

00:35:14.000 --> 00:35:14.620
 through my work,

00:35:14.700 --> 00:35:15.320
 I'm working for my

00:35:15.320 --> 00:35:16.039
 boss if I have

00:35:16.039 --> 00:35:17.420
 one and above

00:35:17.420 --> 00:35:18.700
 all I'm working

00:35:18.699 --> 00:35:20.000
 for the Lord.

00:35:20.619 --> 00:35:21.359
 Let's return to

00:35:21.359 --> 00:35:22.119
 the rooms as we

00:35:22.119 --> 00:35:23.500
 finish and our

00:35:23.500 --> 00:35:24.539
 two rooms have

00:35:24.539 --> 00:35:25.980
 become one room

00:35:25.980 --> 00:35:27.519
 and this is how it

00:35:27.519 --> 00:35:28.859
 should be for us

00:35:28.859 --> 00:35:29.759
 if we're Christians

00:35:29.759 --> 00:35:31.779
 and we're at work

00:35:31.779 --> 00:35:32.439
 and again I say

00:35:32.439 --> 00:35:34.059
 work is as wide

00:35:34.059 --> 00:35:35.159
 as we need to

00:35:35.159 --> 00:35:35.659
 make it.

00:35:36.779 --> 00:35:37.219
 There should be

00:35:37.219 --> 00:35:38.359
 one room that

00:35:38.359 --> 00:35:39.679
 covers our faith

00:35:39.679 --> 00:35:40.539
 and our work.

00:35:40.599 --> 00:35:41.379
 We don't move

00:35:41.379 --> 00:35:42.079
 from one to the

00:35:42.079 --> 00:35:42.619
 other and leave

00:35:42.619 --> 00:35:43.460
 our faith behind

00:35:43.460 --> 00:35:44.099
 on a Monday

00:35:44.099 --> 00:35:45.699
 and have

00:35:45.699 --> 00:35:46.500
 different attitudes

00:35:46.500 --> 00:35:47.159
 and different

00:35:47.159 --> 00:35:47.960
 thoughts on the

00:35:47.960 --> 00:35:49.019
 Monday than we

00:35:49.019 --> 00:35:50.440
 do on a Sunday.

00:35:51.880 --> 00:35:52.279
 And if someone

00:35:52.279 --> 00:35:53.339
 asks us what

00:35:53.339 --> 00:35:54.099
 do you do?

00:35:54.860 --> 00:35:55.299
 Well here's a

00:35:55.299 --> 00:35:56.039
 possible answer.

00:35:56.599 --> 00:35:57.559
 What do I do?

00:35:58.119 --> 00:35:59.079
 I am a servant

00:35:59.079 --> 00:36:01.779
 of Jesus Christ.

00:36:02.940 --> 00:36:04.079
 That includes

00:36:04.079 --> 00:36:05.819
 being a doctor,

00:36:06.420 --> 00:36:07.079
 a teacher,

00:36:07.719 --> 00:36:08.219
 an actuary,

00:36:08.299 --> 00:36:09.079
 whatever it is

00:36:09.079 --> 00:36:10.319
 that you are.

00:36:11.139 --> 00:36:12.539
 Primarily serving

00:36:12.539 --> 00:36:13.059
 Christ.

00:36:13.480 --> 00:36:14.179
 He is the one

00:36:14.179 --> 00:36:15.579
 ultimately whom

00:36:15.579 --> 00:36:16.380
 we work for.

00:36:16.960 --> 00:36:17.779
 But as part of

00:36:17.779 --> 00:36:18.400
 that, part of

00:36:18.400 --> 00:36:19.159
 his calling for

00:36:19.159 --> 00:36:20.460
 us, we have

00:36:20.460 --> 00:36:21.900
 a job and in

00:36:21.900 --> 00:36:22.920
 that job we

00:36:22.920 --> 00:36:23.779
 seek to glorify

00:36:23.779 --> 00:36:25.059
 him and to

00:36:25.059 --> 00:36:26.340
 live for him.

00:36:26.960 --> 00:36:27.480
 Let's go out

00:36:27.480 --> 00:36:28.000
 and try and do

00:36:28.000 --> 00:36:28.599
 that in whatever

00:36:28.599 --> 00:36:29.500
 situation we are

00:36:29.500 --> 00:36:30.639
 this week and

00:36:30.639 --> 00:36:31.239
 to be good

00:36:31.239 --> 00:36:32.420
 servants of

00:36:32.420 --> 00:36:33.279
 Jesus Christ.

00:36:33.820 --> 00:36:34.320
 Let's pray.

00:36:38.779 --> 00:36:39.500
 Our Father,

00:36:39.579 --> 00:36:40.179
 we thank you

00:36:40.179 --> 00:36:40.679
 that you have

00:36:40.679 --> 00:36:41.259
 placed all of

00:36:41.259 --> 00:36:41.779
 us in a

00:36:41.779 --> 00:36:42.320
 situation

00:36:42.320 --> 00:36:43.200
 where we

00:36:43.200 --> 00:36:43.920
 can serve

00:36:43.920 --> 00:36:44.200
 others.

00:36:44.260 --> 00:36:44.660
 Whether it

00:36:44.660 --> 00:36:45.039
 is paid

00:36:45.039 --> 00:36:45.840
 employment or

00:36:45.840 --> 00:36:46.680
 voluntary work

00:36:46.680 --> 00:36:47.080
 or in a

00:36:47.080 --> 00:36:48.360
 home or

00:36:48.360 --> 00:36:49.600
 whatever else

00:36:49.600 --> 00:36:50.460
 it is that

00:36:50.460 --> 00:36:51.019
 you have for

00:36:51.019 --> 00:36:51.360
 us and

00:36:51.360 --> 00:36:51.940
 studying as

00:36:51.940 --> 00:36:52.100
 well.

00:36:52.180 --> 00:36:52.660
 We thank you

00:36:52.660 --> 00:36:53.320
 that these

00:36:53.320 --> 00:36:53.640
 are where

00:36:53.640 --> 00:36:54.000
 you have

00:36:54.000 --> 00:36:54.600
 placed us.

00:36:54.720 --> 00:36:55.000
 These are

00:36:55.000 --> 00:36:55.340
 in a real

00:36:55.340 --> 00:36:56.039
 sense our

00:36:56.039 --> 00:36:57.180
 workplaces.

00:36:57.720 --> 00:36:57.940
 We pray

00:36:57.940 --> 00:36:58.100
 that you

00:36:58.100 --> 00:36:58.480
 will help

00:36:58.480 --> 00:36:58.900
 us in

00:36:58.900 --> 00:36:59.580
 them to

00:36:59.580 --> 00:37:00.280
 show love

00:37:00.280 --> 00:37:01.160
 and concern

00:37:01.160 --> 00:37:01.800
 for others.

00:37:02.280 --> 00:37:02.559
 That we

00:37:02.559 --> 00:37:03.280
 may recognize

00:37:03.280 --> 00:37:03.780
 the high

00:37:03.780 --> 00:37:04.460
 value that

00:37:04.460 --> 00:37:04.960
 you place

00:37:04.960 --> 00:37:05.500
 on work

00:37:05.500 --> 00:37:06.360
 and that

00:37:06.360 --> 00:37:06.660
 we may

00:37:06.660 --> 00:37:07.180
 recognize

00:37:07.180 --> 00:37:07.880
 that ultimately

00:37:07.880 --> 00:37:09.140
 we serve

00:37:09.140 --> 00:37:09.960
 the Lord

00:37:09.960 --> 00:37:10.700
 Christ.

00:37:10.699 --> 00:37:11.500
 Help us

00:37:11.500 --> 00:37:12.039
 this week

00:37:12.039 --> 00:37:12.879
 in whatever

00:37:12.879 --> 00:37:13.399
 our work

00:37:13.399 --> 00:37:14.159
 is to

00:37:14.159 --> 00:37:15.119
 glorify him

00:37:15.119 --> 00:37:15.859
 and to

00:37:15.859 --> 00:37:16.519
 live for him.

00:37:16.859 --> 00:37:17.279
 We ask

00:37:17.279 --> 00:37:17.619
 in his

00:37:17.619 --> 00:37:17.939
 name.

00:37:18.739 --> 00:37:19.059
 Amen.

00:37:19.059 --> 00:37:19.159
 Amen.

00:37:19.159 --> 00:37:20.159
 Amen.