Ponderings on "Why Work?"

We might be well-served to remember the ancient Hebrew word "avodah;" the Old Testament translates it three different ways - to work, to worship and to serve.

- David W. Miller 

Why work?

In some form or fashion I assume everyone asks himself this question. While in high school (40+) years ago(!) I remember a teacher, Mr. Casper, asking the question "if you were wealthy and didn't have to work, would you?"

My answer was "absolutely!" Johnny Snead snickered and said "no way."

All these years later, I don't know what made Mr. Casper ask this question but I can only assume he wasn't just wanting to plant the subject into his students' thoughts, but was pondering the question himself. Johnny? Well, he was much closer to reality than me.

Why Work? is the title to a small book Dorothy Sayers (1893-1957) wrote in 1947. Some would say Ms. Sayers, crime writer, poet, playwright and Christian humanist, was "ahead of her time." Without debating that right now, I will give in and say her style and thoughts resonated with many during her lifetime and many theology of work writers (Doug Sherman, R. Paul Stevens, David Miller, Os Guinness, etc) since. Resonates with me too.

This is the first in at least 12 posts where I'll be pondering the subject and Ms. Sayers writings on that question....Why Work?

Why work? What's the purpose of work? Should one ever stop working? Where's the balance to working your tail off, but depending upon God?

Augustine reportedly said work like it depends upon you and pray like it depends upon God.

I say "huh?, really?, work like it depends upon me?" Is that right, or is it pray AND work like it depends on God.

To that end....let's see what Dorothy has to say about this subject of Why Work? and the path these ponderings take.

PS...thanks to the Britt Harris and The Austin Christian Business Summit for the copy of Dorothy Sayers' Why Work?

Thank You Lord

The post I did on "integrating work into faith" has been impactful. On me.

I've been studying faith at work for over 20 years and I've never turned it around. Until now.

Work at faith.

I know. It doesn't sound the same. "Work at faith." There's something not right about it. I'm reminded of Jerry Bridges book "The Discipline of Grace." When Nolan Egbert gave me the book, I was taken back by the title. Still am.

Work at faith.

The thought takes on a meaning not entirely about "integrating work into faith." Work at faith.

That, I need to do more. Working on my faith. Growing my faith. Depending more upon my faith.

Integrating more of my work into my faith.

And the discipline of grace.

How does all this live out? How does it practice? How does it look and feel in living?

God Doesn't Care Who Wins the Football Game

There's been a lot of talk about Tim Tebow and his talk about his faith in Jesus.

There's been a lot written about what it means to be called to work but I've never heard it expressed as well as when I heard my friend Nolan Egbert describe Tim Tebow's actions on a recent football field; "Tebow was putting everything he had into every play. He was giving it his all and was physically and mentally wasted at the end. He was so exhausted he could hardly breathe on the sideline."

And this is from a man (Tebow) that has emphatically said "God doesn't care who wins."

Tebow's blend of prayer and work is an important example of being called to work and let's not let the hype over him and his faith cloud that practice.

I like the way a recent Wall Street Journal article about Tebow ended.... "But win or lose, Tim Tebow will compete hard—and when he's done, he will thank God and remind all of us that it's just a game." Click here to connect to article.

Blessed be Jesus' name and I pray that I will put as much into my work as Tim does.

Work, Faith and Integration

Integrate faith into work, or integrate work into faith?


Much has been said and written about faith and work in recent years, yet, most of it seems to be about integrating our faith into our work. Googling the subject also shows numerous intro lines with...."integrate faith into work" or something to that affect.

Is that not backwards?

Aren't we supposed to be integrating our work into our faith?

On Luke 9:25...will my work today show a wasted life? Not if I'm working for His eternal glory, and I'm satisfied in that.

What Matters?

I spoke to a group of business peolple this week about.....well, my intent was to talk about how they view their work but I'm not sure that is what came across.

I asked the questions -

Why do you go to work? Do you see your work as part of your ministry?

How do people use their work as ministry? When you think about your purpose of work, and its impact on ministry, how does that play out?

As it pertains to ministry, studies tell us that most people feel they go to work to -

A. Earn money to give to the church or ministries,
B. Witness to co-workers, and/or
C. Have a Bible study
D. Provide for family and ourselves

That's all right on, but there is another very Biblical reason to work; the work itself.

This "the work itself" being part of big picture was met with some blank looks.

It's interesting that the "provide for our family and ourselves" is also met with uneasy eyes, but for now..my point being is....God made the heavens, light, the earth, creatures and mankind. Then He gave man and woman the command to work and that has never stopped. He created and we are to take that creation and do something with it.

The 1st record of God instilling the Holy Spirit into someone was Bezalel for the work on the temple.

What a calling God Gave Bezalel. What a calling He has given you and I! A Calling to work.

No matter what one's job. No matter what your career path. No matter if you are calling someone, mixing ingredients for a cake, compiling spreadsheets, in training to defend our country, giving speeches, studying for an exam, selling houses, heading up a Fortune 500 board, or sacking groceries...every part of of every job is doing something with God's creation and impactful to your calling.

He has commanded us. We're called to obey.

God and work matters. Your work has intrinsic value. Your work really really matters at levels most of us can't even fathom.

To that end, be purposeful, be mindful.

"There is a Desperate Need for Men....." Tom Landry

"When God asks us to get involved with a venture, He charges us to do it with everything we have, with an all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. We are challenged to work energetically and wholeheartedly for the Lord. I have tried to honor those goals in my career in football.

There is a desperate need for men who take such challenges seriously in business. Unfortunately, many men today do not even realize the enemy is engaging us in battle. The lines are drawn, but so many people fail to recognize the opposition's game plan. We need men who are observant men who are committed and courageous, men who will not back down when the fighting gets rough. We need men who understand biblical principles of leadership. The world is crying out for fearless heroes who evaluate the opponent's strategy, recognize the goal, focus on the objective, and commit to prevail. We need champions who know how to get others involved and keep them motivated until the end."

Tom Landry

Looking for another book this afternoon I found myself drawn to The Transparent Leader by Dwight Johnson. The above writing/quote is in Coach Landry's Forward, or Message to the Reader.

Landry's emphasis on need is real and while many would say "in times like today," we need to remember he died in February, 2000, and this was probably penned months before. But does it really matter when it was written? These words are timeless and history proves they've always been true, and always will be. Well, until Christ comes again.

Let's take seriousy the challenge God gave us when we were cast from the garden, and when Jesus laid out His many demands upon us...let's not back down because the going gets rough. God doesn't need us, but we need Him. Or at least I do and I don't need to waste the struggles He's given me.

To that end...

".......Enjoying Life with God" by Doug Sherman

I assume we all have regrets; some minor...others about things that could have been life changers. My good friends Thomas Vetters and Bryan Anderson asked me a few months ago to go to a Bible study. This study was led by Doug Sherman and the study was focused around his new book.

Now, I'm sure they both thought I would have been all over this study because I'd read Doug's other books. His Your Work Matters to God is an incredible read and study that I've talked and written about in this blog and other venues for years.

Yet, I let "things" get in my way.

Thomas presented me with "More than Ordinary; Enjoying Life with God" as a gift recently. As I began reading it that night I expected to finish within 2 or 3 days. The depth and life applications Sherman presented in his story caused me to slow down and get a pen out. I finished a different journey than what I'd began.

It's been a week since I finished and wanted to wait before writing about what I read. I wanted to see if I thought much, or any, about Doug's writing. Ha! It has been hard not picking the book back up and tilling the pages some more.

In "More that Ordinary...." Sherman lays out an important read derived from experience and not opinion, nor theory. I've always enjoyed how Doug brings his experiences into his writing and talks. It is especially good when an author credits and talks about his own reads and you know he knows other writers have had an impact on his life.

While I don't agree with Buford that this is Doug's best (sorry Bob), I do agree with him that this is an important book (very important). I also agree (with Nuenke) that it is good to be reminded that God is always moving toward us and Peterson's comment that Doug's insights are challenging me to examine my walk with the Lord against the truth of God's Word.

Great read, great experience, a book I expect to stay in my re-read and ponder stack for a long time. Thank you Lord for men like Doug that aren't ashamed to tell us about their experiences with you (struggles and failures as well as triumphs); trust in God, step, trust in God, step. Sometimes one-day-at-a-time is too long.

Thanks Doug for this book.

As to the regret for not attending the study? Yes, but I need this now and the way in which it has come about is all good.

Thanks for this path Lord.


To that end.....make it a great day, make tomorrow greater.

When you honor God, does He bless you more?

For now we see dimily in a mirror, but in His time then face to face;

now I know in part, but then I will know him fully, as He knows me.

- 1 Cor 13:12

"When you honor God, He will bless you. That's obvious from what's happening with your business." A good friend made that well meaning statement to me a few years ago when our business was doing well and I was trying diligently to honor God. My intitial thought was along the lines of what Jesus told the rich young man about none being righteous, none just; would God really bless me just because I was practicing Christianity in my business?

It was well meaning, but wrong. For starters, I wasn't sure I was honoring God in everything. I mean..really, that's hard to do; hundreds of employees, lots of money exchanging hands and there were more than a few "opinions" even about what, when and how Christianity should even be practiced in the work place. Some said my intentions were good but nothing more than dreams. Most just nodded and gave me space. I'd read over 3,000 pages about practicing Christianity in the workplace, had taken classes that ranged from bible studies to auditing a seminary course. Yet, I wondered "do I we really know what it means to honor God?" To just try and think deeply about what it must take to "honor" God can be excruciating for the melancholy. Tony Reinke compares that depth to a vacationing Nebraskan's knowledge of the ocean; A vacationer on the shore, a shepherd on the cliff—neither can see the breadth and length and height and depth of the ocean. Nor do we yet fully comprehend the breadth and length and height and depth of God’s love for us shown in the gospel (Ephesians 3:18–19). Like a wide-eyed shepherd looking out from a window seat on a clear day from 40,000 feet over the ocean, one day we will more fully comprehend the dimensions (1 John 3:2).

Does God bless us when we honor Him? The business owner with increased wealth, or the healthy family, is tempted to think so. But what about the owner who has devoted her life and business to honoring God, sought Christian counsel in setting company policies. Yet, she's lost that business? Or the family that prays and seeks Christ's ways and has lost a child or parent way too early?

Is one more blessed than the other?

No. Maybe..from our earthly view of blessings. But Heavenly? Left to our own, we reap what we sow and the one who sows from the flesh will reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life (Galatians 6:7-8). Left to our own....we will sow from the flesh.  But through Christ we can sow from the spirit and reap eternal life.

We don't begin to comprehend God's plan for us.

Doug Sherman, in his new book "More than Ordinary'" writes "what would it be like to live fully confident that He will never waiver in his devotion to me, never stop being loyal to me, or never fail to do what is perfect for me?"

....never fail to do what is perfect for me.
....never fail to do what is perfect for me.

For years I've heard John Piper say, "God is most glorified, when I'm most satisfied in Him." and for years I just didn't get-it. It took problems that brought me to my knees, problems that made living one-day-at-a-time way too long...not challenges, but problems....for me to understand.

God is most glorified, when I'm most satisfied in Him....and he will never waiver in his devotion to me, never stop being loyal to me, or never fail to do what is perfect for me.

Thank you Lord that Your grace is sufficient, you will never fail to do what is perfect for me and I pray that I remain satisfied in you.

Amen

Talking Straight

The following is from a posting at Speed of Trust: In God's Eyes and was a huge part of a problem I walked a client through recently. Forutunately, this client was seeking not just my guidance but also God's.

What Talking Straight is (see this link and learn a bit more about the behavior Covey explains and how I'm comparing it to scripture) -


•Tellling the truth and leave the right impression
•Being honest
•Letin g people know where you stand
•Not manipulating people or distort facts
•Not spinning the truth
•Not leaving false impressions

What Talking Straight is not -

•Beating around the bush
•Spinning the truth
•Being technical and leave a false impression
•Double-talking
•Withholding information

Scripture

•Colossains 4:6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer everyone.

•Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue

Positive Profile

1 Samuel 10:3 – 12:25; While Samuel wasn’t “King,” he was the King of Communication. Samuel….

a. spoke words of revelation (back in 7:3)
b. spoke words of inspiration (10:3-6)
c. spoke words of exhortation (10:24)
d. spoke words of affirmation (10:24)
e. spoke words of information (10L25)
f. spoke words of declaration (12:20-25)

Samuel kept his message simple, knew his audience, lived what he preached and looked for a response from the people by urging them to obey God.


Negative Profile

Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-6; communication was one of many ways that Adam failed by…

a. ignoring some details in the message he was supposed to communicate
b. allowed himself to be influenced more by Eve than God
c. failing to remember, or ignoring, the consequences of disobeying God
d. not taking responsibility for his communication failure

In this example the king’s hunger for power, unreasonable demands, poor decision and unwillingness to listen ultimately led to his destruction.

Listening and hearing are two separate things. While we all hear as it’s a function of our ears, listening is a willingness, even a response to hearing.

Application Points-to-Ponder

- you may be a good speaker, but are you a good communicator?
- do you pay close attention to what God is telling you?
- regardless of your temperament, skill or gifts, do you give appropriate attention to detail?
- as a leader and a follower are you clear about the message your speaking and hearing?

To that end...talk straight in such a way that you are satisfied with God's plan for your words.

Evaluation and Correction

Do not quench the Spirit. Test everything; hold fast to what is good. Flee from what is evil.

1 Thessalonians 5: 19-21

Do not quench the Spirit...test everything....hold fast what is good...flee from what is evil. These are words to seriously read, ponder, and pray on. Peter is talking about the same Spirit Jesus referred to when He said He had to leave so the Spirit could come. I ponder and pray on that and I'm drawn to how the Spirit must groan in me..us; He groans because He sees and feels us going against God's will and He is trying to correct us.

As I ponder and pray about this verse, I have to assume that anyone who believes in Christ wants to follow Him well. To do anything well takes practice and practicing well takes a good discipline of evaluation and correction. Practicing Christianity well is different only in the aspect that it is the most important aspect of an evaluation and correction process, or discipline.

Many authors have touched on this discipline including Jim Collins with the Hedgehog (Good to Great) and Dennis Bakke's "robust evaluation and correction" (Joy at Work). Years ago I heard Max Anders, senior pastor at Grace Covenant Church, give a sermon where he talked extensively about looking back over your shoulder periodically to review how well your walk with Christ had been.

I like the "robust evaluation and correction" thing, but with some twists.

In the Navy, I was on a submarine and though a radioman (dit dah dit dit), I was a bit intrigued with sonar. Sonar is primarily passive and active. Active is the type you hear about in movies when the captain orders for a "ping;" the sonarman sends the single pulse (ping) out and then listens for the return. He can then evaluates the distance from the target. Passive sonar is simply listening for threats. In either case, once a sound is recognized, the captain would evaluate and take the necessary action. We would be out at sea for weeks at a time and someone would be in the sonar room at all times....listening and paying attention.

Practicing Christianity well requires a good discipline of listening, paying attention, evaluation and correction when those pings come back at us, whether invited (active), or passive (uninvited). Some behaviors to practice -

Pay attention to what is going on around you at all times.

Ask questions about how you are doing - listen to the answers

Be purposeful about your life; have a mission and a plan to carry it out.

Be aware that everyone has blind spots, including you and you can't see them from where you are at - that is why they are called blind spots.

Pray for the Holy Spirit to talk to you and be involved in your valuation and correction - this is where the real ROBUSTness kicks in. The bible tells us He is groaning inside us , wanting to help. We just need to listen and pay attention.

Don't ignore pingings you hear coming through your hulls.


Lord God, I pray that I listen to you today. I pray that I pay attention to where I am and what you want me to do - right here. Give me the wisdom and discernment to recognize the corrections that need to be made in my life. Help me to accept those evaluations and move towards the corrections. Help me to uncover and correct the blind spots. You are good and gracious and your mercy is boundless. You never said our lives would be easy and I pray that I am listening and paying attention to my surroundings, that I allow the Holy Spirit to work in my life. Blessed by your name, that I honor your name. Amen

To that end.....
 
Make it a great Sunday
 
Danny
 
(note...in the practice of "spaced repetition," this is an edited re-post from http://godandworkmatters.blogspot.com/2010/03/evaluation-active-and-passive.html)

It's Ok to Talk About Your Work

This morning I'm reminded of a post I made on 1/12/2010. Reminded because as I look back over my shoulder at this weeks work I find more than a couple of people with struggles at work.

The post....When you're asked "how's it going?" And you talk about your work, and whether it's a struggle or not, that's ok to talk about your work.

We were made to work and it was probably not a struggle before the "fall" but it sure can be now. But that's ok that it's a struggle and it's ok to talk about it.

Be someone others can talk to about their struggles at work; don't try to fix them, just be someone they can talk to. Encourage them.

I have a friend who I called and found out he'd been really struggling the past few weeks with everything (work and otherwise) and he can't figure out what's wrong.

Since then we've prayed, spent time together and just check-in with each other. During a quick cup of coffee two weeks ago, I asked him if he'd ever read a certain book and I almost choked on his response.."Danny, I haven't read a book since I got out of high-school over 20 years ago."

Ha...I just locked up again remembering the next few minutes of our conversation followed by a trip together to B&N and him buying the first book in his life!

We talked this week and he's read that book, spent more time in B&N, and bought another one!

That call to him a few weeks ago was meant to be about work, I asked "how's it going?" and he started telling me about the struggles he was having. Now he's reading books.

It's a great day.

Christians are to be the light of the world. How bright is the path you walk on your job? What you do speaks louder than your words. 7:24 AM Dec 31st from Echofon

We should pray that the work of our hands may be directed toward the goal of the good pleasure of God. Basil the Great on Ecclesiates 3:1

Created Old!

The bible tells us to be ready, to be prepared. Here's a conversation I hope to have with someone;

Talking with someone about how work came about before the fall, before sin, and as he expresses surprise at hearing this, the talk comes around to the "theory of evolution."

As we move from the subject of work into a territory I'm a bit uneasy about, I say, "the theory of evolution goes directly against the word of God." We go to the scripture and where it says God made man in His image, He made animals in their own image (this data was new to him). So, how could man have evolved from an animal if he was made in God's image. The talk then moves into even more uneasy territory as he asks where I stand on the old vs new earth? I say new.

He thinks he has me when he asks how I explain how all the fossils are millions of years old.

I refrain from "well, they seem, according to today's science to be millions of years old and instead say, what makes us think that everything started as something looking new? God made Adam, he was brand new and he looked to be about 30 years old; first day, looked 30 years old. He is God, He can make fossils!

I hope I'm able to say "ahhhhhhhhhh" as Matt Carter did when he gave this explanation in a recent sermon.