I hope & trust this post finds you having a great day as a beautiful new day begins to dawn! Additionally, I sincerely hope you have all had a great week.
This morning I want to provide us with a little perspective shift. Have you ever heard, or have you ever said, something like this; "I have to go to work tomorrow" (dread dripping from your tongue)? Or how about, "Tomorrow's Monday" (dread not only dripping from your tongue but also oozing from every pour of your body as you contemplate going to work the next day)? Yeah, me neither!!! :)
It's funny, every morning when I go to work I grab a cup of coffee and then walk around the office and say good morning to every member of our team. I tell people all the time, and it is incredibly true, that you could drop me down in the offices without telling me the day and I would be able to tell you the day by people's countenance and attitude. On Monday it seems as though everyone got a root canal the day before, they did not get one wink of sleep the night before and they not only fought with their spouse that morning but also their kids and oh yeah, the dog peed on the floor as well!!! Friday? Well on Friday's there is not a care in the world, the biggest problem is a little bump in the road and the largest of offenses are very easily overlooked. How in the world did we get here Friends?!?!
I am sorry (not really) however I am going to provide a little perspective shift for all of us this morning. And please, before I start, let me share a quote that one of our Pastors used to always share...right before he hit us with a zinger; "It is the spirit that convicts, not me!" :)
Did you know/realize that work is actually God's idea? Yeah, it is right there in the Bible! Genesis 2:15 says, "The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it." It wasn't Adam, thinking of all the cool stuff he wanted to buy or places he wanted to go, who said to God, "Hey, I need a job so I can work myself into the ground so I can have some money to buy all kinds of stuff!" No, it was simply God putting Adam in the Garden with orders to work it and take care of it.
This concept of work hit me a few months ago, I may or may not have mentioned it in a Happy Friday, when I heard someone speak about the concept of work and, more specifically, retirement. The speaker pointed out that retirement is man's idea...there is no mention of it in the Bible. We were created on purpose for a purpose and nowhere within that purpose is for us to sit back for the last 20 - 30 years of our lives and do nothing. And let's be clear, we are not talking about what you do vocationally. As hard as we might try, our vocational jobs do not define us...they are simply what we do as we fulfill our purpose. This is in part why so many lives, and families, are so broken...men and women killing themselves at a job that will never define or validate them.
So back on point, our work is the platform we are given to fulfill our purpose! Think about that and please let it sink in for a moment... Wherever the place you will go today to earn a paycheck is your mission field. The people you are blessed to do life with in your workplace are the ones you are given during this season of life to love and serve. Your workplace is your Garden of Eden that God has placed you in to work and take care of.
There are several other verses in the Bible that address work and what it means to take care of...
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters," - Colossians 3: 23
"God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them." - Hebrews 6: 10
"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." - Mark 10: 45
"But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded." - 2 Chronicles 15: 7
"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms." - 1 Peter 4: 10
And don't forget, "It's the spirit that convicts..." :) Go out and be the amazing you that you were created to be today Friends!
Please don't hesitate to contact me if there is ever anything I can do for you or your family. I will always help you any way I can. You can reach me at kevin@whatwillyourinfluencebe.com.
Have a great day, a wonderful weekend and please cherish your precious families!
Kev
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