Like Your Labor

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LIKE YOUR LABOR

 

COLOSSIANS 3:23-24 (NIV)
23 WHATEVER YOU DO, WORK AT IT WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AS WORKING FOR THE LORD, NOT FOR MEN,

24 SINCE YOU KNOW THAT YOU WILL RECEIVE AN INHERITANCE FROM THE LORD AS A REWARD.

IT IS THE LORD CHRIST YOU ARE SERVING.

INTRO.- ILL.- WHEN JOHN F. KENNEDY WAS CAMPAIGNING FOR THE PRESIDENCY

HE VISITED A COAL MINE IN WEST VIRGINIA.

ONE OF THE COAL MINERS SAID,

“MR. KENNEDY, IS IT TRUE THAT YOU’RE THE SON

OF ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST MEN IN AMERICA?”

KENNEDY SAID, “YES, IT IS.”

THE MAN CONTINUED, “MR. KENNEDY, IS IT TRUE

THAT YOU’VE NEVER REALLY WANTED FOR ANYTHING

IN YOUR LIFE?”

KENNEDY SAID, “WELL, I GUESS SO.”

THE MAN SAID, “MR. KENNEDY, IS IT TRUE

THAT YOU’VE NEVER DONE A HARD DAY’S WORK

IN YOUR WHOLE LIFE?”

KENNEDY NODDED IN AGREEMENT.

THEN THE COAL MINER SAID, “MR. KENNEDY,

I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING,

SIR - YOU HAVEN’T MISSED A THING!”


ILL.- A MAN BY THE NAME OF BILL GOLD SAID IT LIKE THIS:

 

“I’VE MET A FEW PEOPLE IN MY TIME WHO WERE ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT HARD WORK.

 

AND IT WAS JUST MY LUCK

THAT EVERYONE OF THEM HAPPENED TO BE MEN

I WAS WORKING FOR AT THE TIME.”

ILL.- ABRAHAM LINCOLN SAID,

“MY FATHER TAUGHT ME TO WORK.

BUT, HE DIDN'T TEACH ME TO LOVE IT.”

SOUNDS LIKE LINCOLN WASN’T ALL THAT THRILLED

ABOUT WORKING.
-----------------------------------------------

EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE

THAT HAVE THAT ATTITUDE ABOUT WORK

THERE ARE ALSO PEOPLE  WHO THRIVE ON WORK.

ILL.- DR. CHARLES MAYO

OF THE FAMOUS MAYO CLINIC ONCE SAID,

“THERE IS NO FUN LIKE WORK.”


ILL.- THOMAS EDISON SAID,

“I NEVER DID A DAY’S WORK IN MY LIFE. IT WAS ALL FUN.”

ILL.- SIR THEODORE MARTIN SAID THAT,

“WORK IS THE TRUE ELIXIR OF LIFE.                                                          THE BUSIEST MAN IS THE HAPPIEST  MAN.”

HOW MANY HERE,  WOULD LIKE TO BE A NURSE?

HOW MANY OF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE BEEN A NURSE

IN BACK IN 1887?

ILL.- THESE ARE THE DUTIES OF A NURSE IN 1887.

IN ADDITION TO CARING FOR 50 PATIENTS,

EACH NURSE HAD TO FOLLOW THESE REGULATIONS.

EVERY DAY SHE HAD TO:
SWEEP AND MOP THE FLOORS OF HER WARD,

SHE HAD TO DUST THE PATIENT’S FURNITURE     AND WINDOW SILLS.


MAINTAIN AN EVEN TEMPERATURE IN THE WARD

BY BRINGING IN A SCUTTLE OF COAL FOR THE DAY.


EACH DAY SHE WAS TO FILL THE KEROSENE LAMPS,

CLEAN THE CHIMNEYS, AND TRIM THE WICKS.

SHE WAS TO WASH THE WINDOWS ONCE A WEEK.


THE NURSES’ NOTES WERE IMPORTANT IN HELPING THE PHYSICIAN’S WORK.    SO SHE HAD TO MAKE HER PEN CAREFULLY;

BUT SHE WAS ALLOWED TO  WHITTLE THE NIBS

TO HER INDIVIDUAL TASTE.


EACH NURSE WAS TO REPORT FOR DUTY AT 7 A.M.

AND NOT LEAVE UNTIL 8 P.M.,

EXCEPT FOR THE SABBATH, WHERE SHE WAS ALLOWED TO BE OFF FROM 12 NOON TO 2 P.M.            WOW!

GRADUATE NURSES

IN GOOD STANDING WITH THE DIRECTOR OF NURSES

WERE GIVEN AN EVENING OFF EACH

FOR COURTING PURPOSES

 OR TWO EVENINGS A WEEK IF YOU GO REGULARLY TO CHURCH.


- EACH NURSE WERE SUPPOSED TO LAY ASIDE FROM THEIR PAY

A GOODLY SUM OF THEIR EARNINGS

FOR HER BENEFITS DURING HER DECLINING YEARS

SO THAT SHE WOULD NOT BECOME A BURDEN.

FOR EXAMPLE, IF SHE EARNED $30 A MONTH,

SHE SHOULD SET ASIDE $15.


- ANY NURSE WHO SMOKES, USES LIQUOR IN ANY FORM,

GETS HER HAIR DONE AT A BEAUTY SHOP,

OR FREQUENTS DANCE HALLS

WILL GIVE THE DIRECTOR OF NURSES GOOD REASON

TO SUSPECT HER WORK,      INTENTIONS      AND INTEGRITY.


- THE NURSE WHO PERFORMS HER LABORS

AND SERVES HER PATIENTS AND DOCTORS FAITHFULLY

AND WITHOUT FAULT FOR A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS

WILL BE GIVEN AN INCREASE IN PAY OF FIVE CENTS A DAY,

PROVIDING THE HOSPITAL DOES NOT HAVE DEBTS OUTSTANDING.

WOW! AREN’T YOU GLAD YOU WEREN’T A NURSE IN 1887? TALK ABOUT WORK.            THEY WORKED HARD.


SINCE THIS IS LABOR DAY WEEKEND

I WANT TO CONSIDER A NUMBER OF BIBLICAL THOUGHTS ON THE SUBJECT OF WORK.

I. THE COMMAND TO WORK

EXODUS 20:9 “SIX DAYS YOU SHALL LABOR AND DO ALL YOUR WORK.”


ILL.- THERE WAS A PREACHER WHO WAS PREACHING

ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF WORK.

 

HE TOLD THE CONGREGATION THAT THEY SHOULD PRAISE GOD FOR THE OPPORTUNITY OF WORKING FOR THEIR DAILY BREAD.

BUT, HE ADDED

THAT THE LORD HAS SEEN TO IT,

THAT YOU DON’T HAVE TO WORK EVERY DAY.

 

BECAUSE OF MOSES YOU HAVE SATURDAYS OFF,

AND THANKS TO JESUS YOU HAVE SUNDAYS OFF.

ISN’T THAT WONDERFUL?”

“SURE IS,” SAID A VOICE FROM THE BACK.  

 

 “FIVE MORE JEWISH BOYS LIKE THAT

AND WE’D NEVER HAVE TO WORK AGAIN.”
__________________________________________________________


AGAIN,   GOD SAID;

“SIX DAYS YOU SHALL LABOR AND DO ALL YOUR WORK.”

UGH!

SIX DAYS...      WE HAVE TO WORK!

MOST PEOPLE DON’T WORK SIX DAYS A WEEK.

MOST PEOPLE WORK FIVE DAYS A WEEK

AND WE'D LIKE TO MAKE IT EVEN LESS.

A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE ARE THRILLED

TO HAVE THIS THREE-DAY WEEKEND OFF OF WORK.
______________________________________________________


WHY WOULD GOD COMMAND US TO WORK SIX DAYS A WEEK ANYWAY?


THERE ARE SEVERAL REASONS.

ONE REASON WHY GOD WANTS US TO WORK

IS BECAUSE HE'S A WORKER!

GEN. 1:1 “IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH.”

GEN. 2:2 “BY THE SEVENTH DAY GOD HAD FINISHED THE WORK HE HAD BEEN DOING...”

PS. 19:1 “THE HEAVENS DECLARE THE GLORY OF GOD; THE SKIES PROCLAIM THE WORK OF HIS HANDS.”

JOHN 5:17 JESUS SAID, “MY FATHER IS ALWAYS AT HIS WORK TO THIS VERY DAY, AND I, TOO, AM WORKING.”

GOD WORKED WHEN HE CREATED THE HEAVENS

AND THE EARTH,

AND HE'S BEEN WORKING THROUGHOUT ALL OF HISTORY!

HE'S STILL AT WORK.

HE IS AT WORK DOING

“BEHIND THE SCENES” THINGS

AS WELL AS OUT IN THE OPEN THINGS.

THAT ONE THING IS CLEAR:

GOD IS A WORKER AND HE WANTS US TO WORK!

GOD IS OUR HEAVENLY FATHER

AND HE WANTS US TO IMITATE HIM,

GOD DOES GOOD THINGS AND WORK IS ONE OF THEM.

WORK IS GOOD FOR US.

GOD ALSO WANTS US TO WORK

BECAUSE IT'S JUST PLAIN GOOD FOR US.

WORK BENEFITS US.

IT'S A HEALTHY THING TO DO.

IT EXERCISES OUR BODY        AND OUR MIND.

ILL.- IT WAS SAID THAT JOHN WESLEY WAS A SMALL MAN,

HE ONLY WEIGHED 120 LBS,

BUT HE WAS A TIRELESS WORKER.

 

 HE LIVED TO BE 90 YEARS OLD.

 

SAMUEL JOHNSON SAID THAT,

“HE WAS NEVER AT LEISURE.”

 

WESLEY SAID THAT HE FELT BETTER AND STRONGER

AT THE AGE OF 73   THAN WHEN HE WAS 23.

COULD IT BE THAT WORK HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT? COULD BE!

MOST PEOPLE DON’T DIE FROM HARD WORK OR FROM BEING OVERWORKED.

THEY DIE FROM DOING NOTHING.

I THINK THAT MOST OF US WOULD AGREE

THAT WE ALL FEEL A LOT BETTER AFTER WE'VE

WORKED IN THE GARDEN

OR GONE FOR A WALK.

PHYSICAL LABOR IS GOOD FOR THE HUMAN BODY!

AND WORK IS GOOD FOR THE MIND!

WORK ALSO BENEFITS US SPIRITUALLY.


LUKE 11:24-26   SAYS  

“WHEN AN EVIL SPIRIT COMES OUT OF A MAN,

IT GOES THROUGH ARID PLACES SEEKING REST

AND DOES NOT FIND IT.

THEN IT SAYS, ‘I WILL RETURN TO THE HOUSE I LEFT.’

 

WHEN IT ARRIVES, IT FINDS THE HOUSE SWEPT CLEAN

AND PUT IN ORDER.

THEN IT GOES AND TAKES SEVEN OTHER SPIRITS

MORE WICKED THAN ITSELF,

AND THEY GO IN AND LIVE THERE...”

GET THE PICTURE?

WHAT JESUS IS SAYING IS

THAT A CLEAN BUT EMPTY HOUSE

IS A WIDE OPEN INVITATION FOR EVIL TO COME IN.

WHEN YOU HAVE NOTHING TO DO,

YOU'RE GOING TO GET INTO TROUBLE!

IDLE HANDS AND IDLE MINDS ARE A DEVIL’S WORKSHOP.

ILL.- SEVERAL YEARS AGO, A LOT OF BEE HIVES

WERE BROUGHT DOWN FROM A COLD CLIMATE

TO THE TROPICAL ISLAND OF BARBADOS.

 

RIGHT AWAY THE BEES WENT TO WORK,

GATHERING HONEY FOR THE WINTER

THAT THEIR INSTINCT TAUGHT THEM TO EXPECT.

 

BUT THE WINTER DIDN’T COME FOR THEM IN BARBADOS,

SO THE BEES BECAME LAZY.

 

THEY STOPPED WORKING.

THEY STOPPED GATHERING HONEY.

 

INSTEAD, THEY SPENT THEIR TIME FLYING AROUND

AND STINGING PEOPLE.


WHEN PEOPLE DON’T WORK,

THEY GET INTO ALL KINDS OF TROUBLE.

WORK KEEPS US OUT OF TROUBLE.

WORK IS GOOD FOR EVERYONE.

 

SIX DAYS SHALT THOU LABOR.

II. THE AMBITION OF WORK

ILL.- A COLLEGE STUDENT WAS LYING IN BED

VERY LATE ONE MORNING

WHEN HIS MOTHER CALLED HIM ON THE PHONE.

SHE SAID, “AREN’T YOU ASHAMED TO BE STAYING IN BED SO LATE?”              THE BOY REPLIED,       “YES, MOM, I AM ASHAMED, BUT I WOULD RATHER BE ASHAMED THAN TO GET UP!”

SOME PEOPLE HAVE LITTLE OR NO AMBITION AT ALL

IN LIFE.

PROV. 10:4-5 “LAZY HANDS MAKE A MAN POOR,

BUT DILIGENT HANDS BRING WEALTH.

 

HE WHO GATHERS CROPS IN SUMMER IS A WISE SON,

BUT HE WHO SLEEPS DURING HARVEST

IS A DISGRACEFUL SON.”


ILL.- AFTER PREACHING A SERMON ABOUT HARD WORK ON LABOR DAY SUNDAY

A MAN FROM THE CONGREGATION WALKED UP

AND SAID,  TO THE PASTOR.

 

“I LIKED THAT SERMON ABOUT HARD WORK.

I THINK I’LL GO HOME AND DO SOME MORE WORK.”

AND HE MEANT IT!

HE WAS THE KIND OF GUY

THAT JUST COULDN’T GET ENOUGH OF WORK.

 

IT WAS NOTHING FOR HIM TO WORK EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK EVEN THOUGH GOD SAID,           

“SIX DAYS SHALL YOU LABOR.”

 

HE WOULD GO HOME AFTER CHURCH

AND GO RIGHT TO WORK.

 

INSTEAD OF RELAXING, AND TAKING IT EASY,

HE WOULD GO WORK AT SOMETHING!

HE LIKED HIS WORK.

HE'D BEEN RAISED ON A FARM

AND HE LIVED ON A FARM.                                                                                 AND HE LOVED WORKING HIS FARM.

HE WAS ALSO A CONTRACTOR,

HE BUILT HOUSES FOR PEOPLE.

HE HAD EVEN BUILT THE CHURCHES PARSONAGE.

  • \\ THIS GUY WAS ALWAYS WORKING AT SOMETHING. *

 

HE AN WAS AMBITIOUS MAN!

I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE SHOULD WORK SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

WE NEED TO TAKE A DAY OFF WORK FOR OUR HEALTH.

THERE IS A MIDDLE GROUND BETWEEN LAZYNESS AND TOO MUCH WORK.


I THESS. 4:11 “MAKE IT YOUR AMBITION TO LEAD A QUIET LIFE, TO MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS AND TO WORK WITH YOUR HANDS...”

ILL.- A BUSINESSMAN SAID TO HIS WIFE,

“THREE DAYS AGO I HIRED A YOUNG MAN

TO WORK IN THE OFFICE.

 

HE DOES HIS WORK WELL

AND HE HAS A POSITIVE ATTITUDE.

 

WHENEVER HE FINISHES A JOB, HE COMES TO ME AND SAYS,

‘I’VE DONE WHAT YOU ASKED ME TO DO.

WHAT ELSE DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?’”

HE IS THE ONLY PERSON  I’VE EVER HIRED

WHO WAS WILLING TO DO MORE THAN I ASKED OF HIM.

 

THAT YOUNG MAN IS GOING TO MAKE A MARK IN THE WORLD!”

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

HOW AMBITIOUS ARE YOU?


- DO YOU GO TO WORK EVERY DAY?


- DO YOU WORK EVERY DAY

EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE RETIRED?


- DO YOU DO MORE THAN IS EXPECTED OF YOU?


- DO YOU DO THE BEST JOB THAT YOU CAN?


- DO YOU GLADLY DO WHAT YOU'RE ASKED TO DO?


- DO YOU WORK OVERTIME WHEN ASKED?

ILL.- EDDIE STANKEY DIED AT THE AGE OF 83.

 

TIME MAGAZINE CARRIED HIS OBITUARY.

 

IT SEEMS THAT IN HIS DAY, STANKEY (NICKNAMED “THE BRAT”) HAD BEEN A “PUGNACIOUS” PENNANT-WINNING 2ND BASEMAN

 

FOR SUCH CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS AS THE BROOKLYN DODGERS, THE BOSTON BRAVES AND THE NEW YORK GIANTS.

THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE DODGERS,

BRANCH  RICKEY, ONCE COMMENTED:

 

“HE CAN’T RUN, HE CAN’T HIT AND HE CAN’T THROW,

 

BUT IF THERE’S A WAY TO BEAT THE OTHER TEAM,

HE’LL FIND IT.”

THAT’S AMBITION        AND WE NEED TO GET IT!



III. THE BEST OF WORK

ILL.- MIKE AND WILL WERE TALKING

ABOUT THEIR TEENAGERS ONE DAY.

 

“WHAT’S YOUR BOY GOING TO DO FOR A LIVING?” ASKED WILL.

 

“I’M GOING TO ENCOURAGE HIM TO BE A LAWYER,” SAID MIKE.

 

“HE IS ALWAYS PUTTING HIS NOSE IN OTHER PEOPLE’S BUSINESS,

 

SO I THOUGHT,       HE MIGHT AS WELL GET PAID FOR IT.”

WHAT’S THE BEST JOB IN THE WORLD?

WHAT'S THE BEST PAYING JOB IN AMERICA?

A  LAWYER?        A  DOCTOR?

IN 2000, THE BEST PAYING JOBS WERE


PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS                                     OVER $138,400
DENTISTS                                                                                      129,030
CHIEF EXECUTIVES 113,810
AIRLINE PILOTS, COPILOTS, AND FLIGHT ENGINEER     110,940
PODIATRISTS                                                                                107,560
LAWYERS 88,280
JUDGES, MAGISTRATE JUDGES, AND MAGISTRATES     86,760
ENGINEERING MANAGERS                                                      84,070
OPTOMETRISTS 82,860
ASTRONOMERS AND PHYSICISTS                                          82,535
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS                                                  82,520
NUCLEAR ENGINEERS                                                               79,360

THESE JOBS MAY BE THE BEST-PAYING JOBS IN AMERICA,

BUT WHAT ARE THE BEST JOBS?                                                 THE BEST JOB CAN BE ANYTHING IF YOU WANT IT TO BE.

ILL.- MARK TWAIN SAID,

WORK ISN'T A CONCRETE THING;

 IT'S A MENTAL ATTITUDE.

NOTHING IS EITHER WORK OR PLAY,

IT'S THE THINKING THAT MAKES IT THAT WAY.”

ILL.- SOMEONE SAID,

YOU USE THE SAME MUSCLES TO PLAY GOLF

AS YOU DO TO MOW THE LAWN.

 

YOU USE THE SAME BRAIN POWER TO PLAY A GAME

AS YOU DO TO CONDUCT BUSINESS.

 

THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS YOUR MENTAL ATTITUDE.”

APPARENTLY, THE KEY TO ENJOYING OUR WORK MORE

IS IN OUR THINKING.

IF WE THINK OF OUR WORK AS BEING WORK,

IT'LL BE WORK.

IT'LL BE TIRING AND DRAINING AND HARD TO DO.

BUT IF WE THINK OF OUR WORK AS PLAY,

IT'LL BECOME MORE LIKE PLAY;

IT'LL BE MORE ENJOYABLE,

AND MORE BENEFICIAL FOR US

AS WELL AS THOSE AROUND US.

IF WE THINK OF OUR WORK AS BEING THE BEST JOB IN THE WORLD,         

IT JUST MIGHT BE!

YOU SEE IT’S ALL IN THE MIND!

ILL.- WHEN THE COMPANY FOUNDED BY ANDREW CARNEGIE WAS TAKEN OVER BY THE U.S. STEEL CORPORATION IN 1901

 

IT ACQUIRED AS ONE OF ITS OBLIGATIONS

 

IT HAD A CONTRACT TO PAY,   CHARLES  SCHWAB,

THE THEN UNHEARD OF MINIMUM SUM OF $1,000,000. 00

 

J.P. MORGAN OF U.S. STEEL WAS IN A QUANDARY ABOUT IT.

 

THE HIGHEST SALARY ON RECORD UP TO THEN

WAS THEN ONLY $100,000.

 

HE MET WITH CHARLES SCHWAB, SHOWED HIM THE CONTRACT

AND HESITATINGLY ASKED WHAT COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT.

 

"THIS," SAID SCHWAB,

HE TOOK THE CONTRACT AND TORE IT UP.

SCHWAB LATER TOLD A FORBES MAGAZINE INTERVIEWER,

"I DIDN’T CARE WHAT SALARY THEY PAID ME.

 

I WASN'T MOTIVATED BY MONEY.

 

I BELIEVED IN WHAT I WAS TRYING TO DO

AND I WANTED TO SEE IT HAPPEN.

 

I CANCELLED THAT CONTRACT

WITHOUT A MOMENT’S HESITATION.

WHEN HE WAS ASKED “WHY DO HE WORKED?

HE SAID, "I WORK FOR THE PLEASURE I FIND IN WORK,

 

FOR THE SATISFACTION I GET IN DEVELOPING THINGS,

AND BEING ABLE TO CREATE.

 

THEN HE ADDED,

THE ASSOCIATIONS I GET FROM BUSINESS.

 

 

 THE PERSON WHO DOESN'T WORK FOR THE LOVE OF WORK,

BUT ONLY WORKS THE FOR MONEY,

 

IS NOT LIKELY TO MAKE MUCH MONEY

OR TO FIND MUCH FUN IN LIFE."

SCHWAB FOUND DELIGHT IN HIS WORK THROUGH CREATING THINGS AND DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS.

HE LOOKED AT HIS WORK AS A WAY TO SERVE OTHERS.

ANY TIME WE THINK IN TERMS OF PEOPLE,

IN SERVING PEOPLE,

IN GIVING GOOD SERVICE TO PEOPLE,

IN HELPING PEOPLE,

IT WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN OUR WORK ATTITUDE
_________________________________________________________

WE CHRISTIANS CAN TAKE THAT A STEP FURTHER.

COL. 3:23 “WHATEVER YOU DO,

WORK AT IT WITH ALL YOUR HEART,

AS WORKING FOR THE LORD,           NOT FOR MEN.”

REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE DO FOR A LIVING,

WE'RE ACTUALLY SERVING THE LORD.

OUR REAL BOSS/MANAGER/OWNER/CEO IS THE LORD!

IF WE WILL GET THIS INTO OUR HEADS

AND REALIZE HOW GRACIOUS AND LOVING HE IS,

IT WILL MAKE OUR WORK MORE MEANINGFUL                   AND A LOT EASIER TO DO!

MY FRIENDS,

YOU WORK FOR THE LORD JUST AS MUCH AS I DO!

YOUR WORK,

NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO,

IS JUST AS MEANINGFUL TO GOD AS MY WORK IS!

I COR. 15:58 “THEREFORE, MY DEAR BROTHERS,

STAND FIRM.         LET NOTHING MOVE YOU.

ALWAYS GIVE YOURSELVES FULLY TO THE WORK OF THE LORD,

 

BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT YOUR LABOR IN THE LORD

IS NOT IN VAIN.”

DID YOU HEAR THAT?          

NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO IN LIFE;

WHETHER INSIDE THE CHURCH OR OUTSIDE THE CHURCH,

YOU'RE SERVING THE LORD.

AND YOUR WORK IS NOT IN VAIN.

YOUR WORK IS DOING GOOD

WHETHER YOU REALIZE IT OR NOT.

YOU'RE SERVING THE LORD!

YOU'RE HONORING THE LORD!

AND YOU'RE GLORIFYING THE LORD!

CONCLUSION-----------------------------------------

ILL.- YOU'VE HEARD OF J. C. PENNEY.

MOST OF US HAVE SHOPPED IN ONE OF HIS STORES.

 

J. C. PENNEY DIED IN 1971 AT THE AGE OF 95

AND LEFT A 1,660 STORE EMPIRE

 

THAT HE BUILT -- WITHOUT COMPROMISING

THE PRINCIPLES HE'D  RECEIVED

FROM THREE GENERATIONS

OF  ANCESTORS WHO WERE PREACHERS.

J. C. PENNEY DIDN’T DRINK OR SMOKE

AND FOR MANY YEARS,

HE DEMANDED THE SAME FROM HIS EMPLOYEES.

 

PENNEY SAID,

“I BELIEVE IN ADHERENCE TO THE GOLDEN RULE,

FAITH IN GOD,         AND THE COUNTRY.”

HE ALSO SAID,

“I WOULD RATHER BE A KNOWN AS A CHRISTIAN

THAN A MERCHANT.”

 

JC PENNEY THOUGHT THAT BEING A CHRISTIAN WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN LIFE.

AND HE WAS RIGHT!

COL. 3:23-24

“WHATEVER YOU DO,

WORK AT IT WITH ALL YOUR HEART,

AS WORKING FOR THE LORD,

NOT FOR MEN,

 

SINCE YOU KNOW THAT YOU WILL RECEIVE

AN INHERITANCE FROM THE LORD           AS A REWARD.

 

IT IS THE LORD JESUS CHRIST YOU ARE SERVING.”

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