Sermon Tone Analysis

Text: “I therefore, the prisoner of the L ord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,” (, KJV)

Text: “I therefore, the prisoner of the L ord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,” (, KJV)

Theme: How does the Christian’s faith affect their work?

The Protestant Work Ethic is not merely about working hard, but understand that God has called us to a vocation — serving Christ by serving others — that we are to work out in our occupation.

Theme: How does the Christian’s faith affect their work?

The Protestant Work Ethic is not merely about working hard, but understand that God has called us to a vocation — serving Christ by serving others — that we are to work out in our occupation.

Date: 09/03/17 File name: All Jobs Matter.wpd

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Date: 09/03/17 File name: All Jobs Matter.wpd

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Tomorrow, as you know, is Labor Day.

It’s a holiday that honors the American laborer and the contributions that workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

It was President Grover Cleveland who signed the bill in 1894 making Labor Day a national holiday.

Tomorrow, as you know, is Labor Day.

It’s a holiday that honors the American laborer and the contributions that workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

It was President Grover Cleveland who signed the bill in 1894 making Labor Day a national holiday.

However, most Americans do not use the holiday to “celebrate” their labor any longer.

It is primarily considered the unofficial end of summer in the United States, and marks the beginning of many fall sports.

Amen.

and amen!

Being Labor Day weekend, I thought I’d use this morning’s message to preach on the theology of work.

As Christians we need to think theologically about how we integrate our faith and our work.

We must learn to not merely work just to live, but to live to work for the glory of God.

When thinking Christians consider the relationship between faith and work we instinctively think of what has come to be known as “the Protestant work ethic.”

It is a set of principles, drawn from the Scriptures, which emphasizes hard work, discipline in our work, and frugality as the result of one’s faith.

But there is more to it than that.

The Protestant work ethic primarily teaches that our occupation becomes an opportunity to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.

The Christian’s vocation is to represent Christ in all we do — including our occupation.

To celebrate Labor Day let me give you some tips on how to integrate your faith and your work.

I. FAITH GIVES YOU AN INNER BALLAST WITHOUT WHICH WORK COULD DESTROY YOU

YOU

ILLUS.

Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones was a British medical doctor who became a pastor and preacher.

He was very aware that some professions can consume an individual if they are not careful.

Speaking to a convention of medical doctors, Martin said "Somewhere in Pembrokeshire a tombstone is said to bear the inscription ‘John Jones, born a man, died a grocer.'

There are many whom I have had the privilege of meeting, whose tombstone might well bear the grim epitaph: " ... born a man, died a doctor.'!

The greatest danger which confronts the medical man is that he may become lost in his profession ... "

preacher.

He was very aware that some professions can consume an individual if they are not careful.

Speaking to a convention of medical doctors, Martin said "Somewhere in Pembrokeshire a tombstone is said to bear the inscription ‘John Jones, born a man, died a grocer.'

There are many whom I have had the privilege of meeting, whose tombstone might well bear the grim epitaph: " ... born a man, died a doctor.'!

The greatest danger which confronts the medical man is that he may become lost in his profession ... "

1. Martin Lloyd-Jones was referring to those individuals who are consumed by their profession to the point that it becomes their identity

profession to the point that it becomes their identity

a. you can't imagine yourself not being a doctor, or a lawyer, or a CEO

b. your whole identity is based on being what you do

ILLUS.

It's easy to sit back and think to ourselves, "Yes, I can see how that could happen to a professional."

It can happen to a lot of people.

Linda and I were living over in Adrian during the height of the Farming Crisis here in Missouri.

Land values had plummeted.

Crop prices were low.

Farmers, accustomed to getting loans for planting and purchasing equipment, could no longer do so.

When you can't get a loan to plant and fertilize your crop, you don't get a crop, and when you don't get a crop, you don't have an income, and when you don't have an income you're not paying off the bills from the last planting season.

There were any number of suicides in our community and the communities surrounding us — farmers taking their own lives.

You see, their whole identity was based around, "I'm a farmer."

That was their identity, and when they lost that identity because they could no longer farm or they were losing their farms it destroyed them.

Their self-worth, their self-importance, their sense of self competence was tied up in the work that they did.

happen to a professional."

It can happen to a lot of people.

Linda and I were living over in Adrian during the height of the Farming Crisis here in Missouri.

Land values had plummeted.

Crop prices were low.

Farmers, accustomed to getting loans for planting and purchasing equipment, could no longer do so.

When you can't get a loan to plant and fertilize your crop, you don't get a crop, and when you don't get a crop, you don't have an income, and when you don't have an income you're not paying off the bills from the last planting season.

There were any number of suicides in our community and the communities surrounding us — farmers taking their own lives.

You see, their whole identity was based around, "I'm a farmer."

That was their identity, and when they lost that identity because they could no longer farm or they were losing their farms it destroyed them.

Their self-worth, their self-importance, their sense of self competence was tied up in the work that they did.

c. in our culture, work as become an end to itself

2. the result is that the vast majority of Americans — whether you are a man or a woman — get their sense of self worth through their work

— get their sense of self worth through their work

a. work becomes their identity — I am a doctor, or I am a lawyer, or I am a teacher, or I'll make it more personal — I am a pastor

I'll make it more personal — I am a pastor

b. but there’s a problem when your work becomes your identity

1) If you are successful it goes to your head

2) If you are a failure at it, it goes to your heart

c. the problem, from a biblical point of view, is when your work becomes your identity you are enslaved to your work

you are enslaved to your work

3. you need to have your life grounded, you need to have a deep sense of your identity, and self-worth in something other than your work, in something that is not based on your performance

and self-worth in something other than your work, in something that is not based on your performance

a. and for the Christian that is Christ — Christ is your life

b.

God never intended for work to become your source of identify

1) our acceptance before God is not based on our work record, or our sales record, or our production record, or our promotions record, but on His Son's record

or our production record, or our promotions record, but on His Son's record

2) if you're a Christian the hunt for personal worth ought to be over

a) you need to understand that, in Christ and in his Gospel, the only One in the universe Who’s opinion matters, has fully accepted you

universe Who’s opinion matters, has fully accepted you

4. your identity is that you are a child of the living God

5. Faith Gives You an Inner Ballast Without Which Work Could Destroy You

II.

FAITH GIVES YOU A CONCEPT OF THE DIGNITY AND WORTH OF ALL WORK, WITHOUT WHICH WORK WOULD BORE YOU

WITHOUT WHICH WORK WOULD BORE YOU

1.

Americans seem to have a love-hate relationship with their jobs

a. many Americans gain their sense of identity and self-worth from their jobs

b. at the same time, most Americans find their jobs boring

ILLUS.

In 2013 The Gallup Organization did a nation-wide survey on “Employee Engagement.”

Gallup defines engaged employees as workers who are “involved in, enthusiastic about, and committed to their work, and contribute in a positive manner.”