Talk on work by Anton van der Merwe

1. What is significant about 100,000HOURS Or 1/3 of your adult life!

2. If 1/3 (or 8 hours a day) is spent sleeping, it leaves 2/3’s of the day Out of the remaining 2/3’s – if half of this is spent doing other things e.g. Family & home obligations, church, hobbies, travelling etc THEN, The 1/3 of our time we spend at work must be significant and God has a plan for us with our work! The majority of the time we have for God to use us, us to worship him etc

3. What does the world say about work? “I get the Sunday blues when I think about going to work”. “Can’t wait for Friday – I live for my weekends”. “When I WIN the Lotto, then life will be great – I won’t have to work and can do things I enjoy”. “Work is a necessary evil – have to do it. Have no choice”. “I owe, I owe, its off to work I go..” (Amazing how the view changes when you don’t have work).

4. God’s view? What was God’s very first conversation to man about... “God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” (Gen 1:28) Our first calling has not changed but our view influences how we see it. Work is a vital part of God’s mission in the world and is holy ground for those who follow Christ. We just need to recognise it as such.

5. Good role models in the secular job market! Noah was a ship builder, zookeeper and ship's captain. Abraham was an estate developer. Daniel become president of Iraq. Joseph was the Chief Operating Officer of Egypt. Samson – a “bouncer” of note?

6. Jesus in Business? Jesus was a carpenter – and would have spent spent 85% of His working life as a carpenter (in those days like a “secular job”). Probably in a for-profit business. “My Father is always at His work to this very day, and I, too, am working” (John 5:17)

7. What else? How should we work? Excellence and worship to God “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, working as if for the Lord, not for men”.(Col 3:23) “.. whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor 10:31) “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Col 3:17) The highest calling is not to be a pastor but becoming all God has called you to be – namely a man who glorifies God in all you do. Our work is a way to worship God. It has value and demonstrates God’s character when we do good work. Work is an expression of our life in Christ. Sweeper or president – it does not matter.

8. Men on a mission = missionaries. Matthew 20 – servants told to work in the vineyard and them receiving a reward for their work. Our “vineyard” is our places of work. For many people, the only Christians they will ever meet or see – is at the work place.

9. Good stewards and the role of work. A timeline of good steward looks like.. 1. The commission of the Steward Luke 19. 3 servants, different responses. God has great expectations! Immediate and eternal view. 2. The Master Leaves 3. The Opportunity of the Steward 4. The Master Returns One step where the steward has a chance to either fail or succeed at his mission or task! Delegated to us – we manage the asset of our lives – the sum of our talents, strengths, gifts, personality. 5. The Reward of the Steward

10. Some Insights God created work and we are His co-workers. Adam was instructed to work in the Garden of Eden and take care of it (Genesis) Matthew 24:45-47, Eph 6:8 – rewards us for our work and provides for us through our work. Work, or not, – we learn and grow through our work. “A place to be refined as Gold?”. We go through some BIG growth curves and in our walk with God through situations related to work. We are men with a mission (i.e. missionaries) and is an opportunity to witness by what we do (be servants, good stewards, salt of the earth) Work is a worship to God and an expression of the unique talents and gifts He has given to us. He wants us to enjoy work, be fulfilled and have success. Have an eternal view of what we do here and now! Think BIG.

11. Think about it, pray about it. What role has work, or even not having work, played in your Christian life and walk with God? Have you learnt anything about yourself or God through work? What do you struggle with at work? What is God’s plan for your life at work? Pray for one another: Those who need work / don’t have work. That God will use and reveal all our talents and gifts and our work will be fruitful and glorify Him. That we will operate in the fullness of His plans for us regarding work and that our work will go well. If struggling with something at work, pray for that situation and encourage one another.