Sermon Tone Analysis

A Christian in the Workplace

Work is a part of the Christians life

col 3.23-25

It required to provide for the family

Scripture references both women and men working in and outside the home

If fact not working or providing is frowned upon in scripture

I God’s Grace in the Workplace

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Introduction

I want to talk to you today about “God’s Grace in the Workplace”—“God’s Grace in the Workplace.”

And again, I want to tell you, if you understand what I have to say today, it’s going to transform your work.

We’re preaching through the Book of Proverbs.

A human proverb is a short sentence based on long experience, but these are short sentences based on something better than long experience.

They’re based on the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, as given to Solomon.

Now, today I have a message that I just pray God the Holy Spirit will burn into your heart because, if you understand the message today, I can promise you that it will literally transform your life.

I’ve never preached on this subject—that is, a whole message on this subject.

I have alluded to it.

But, I believe it is a foundational truth, and I’m really amazed that I’ve not brought a whole message on this particular subject before.

It’s going to change it from boredom to blessing.

Proverbs chapter 14 and verse 23, and just the first part of that verse: “In all labour there is profit” ()—“In all labour there is profit.”

I want to talk to you today about “God’s Grace in the Workplace”—“God’s Grace in the Workplace.”

And again, I want to tell you, if you understand what I have to say today, it’s going to transform your work.

It’s going to change it from boredom to blessing.

It’s going to change it from monotony to meaning.

It’s going to change it from drudgery to dignity.

It’s going to change it from the same old grind, to glory, if you understand what I have to say.

It’s going to change it from monotony to meaning.

It’s going to change it from drudgery to dignity.

It’s going to change it from the same old grind, to glory, if you understand what I have to say.

You see, so many people are sick and tired of what they do.

I mean, they endure their work; they don’t enjoy their work.

They think their job is meaningless.

They think that some people have happy jobs, some people have exciting work, some people have thrilling things to do, but not them.

They draw their breath and draw their salary.

They wake up in the morning and take a bath, shave, go down, drink a cup of coffee, eat a piece of toast, scald their throat because they’re running a little late, drink their coffee too fast, then they run out and fight the traffic and get to work.

It’s the same old thing, day after day.

Then they come home at night, take a couple of aspirin, sit down and watch the evening news, discuss things with the wife, maybe putter around in the yard a little bit, then go to bed.

The next day, the same old thing—nothing exciting, nothing meaningful, nothing thrilling; it just seems to be so humdrum, so meaningless.

Now, they love God, and they serve God, but they have the idea that the only time they can serve God is when they’re not working.

They want to get off work so they can serve God, so they give their prime time to the employer and then they give the leftovers to God.

They give the weekends to God.

They’re serving God sort of halftime.

It’s not even really halftime, because they give most of their prime hours, and the best hours, to the boss.

They’re trying to serve two masters and, of course, Jesus said, “No man can serve two masters”

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And, I believe there are some of you who are sitting here listening to me today, perhaps most of you, who are guilty of doing what I call split-level living.

You see? God uses ordinary people.

But, here’s the secret: God takes ordinary people and He gives them extraordinary power.

Look in 1 Corinthians chapter 1, verse 26, “For ye see your calling, brethren… not many mighty, not many noble, are called” ().

You see? God uses ordinary people.

But, here’s the secret: God takes ordinary people and He gives them extraordinary power.

God infuses us with His Holy Spirit, so we’re no longer ordinary, because, when we get saved, we become extraordinary.

But now, wait a minute.

God takes ordinary people, God gives ordinary people extraordinary power, and then God puts those ordinary people—are you watching this?—in ordinary places.

Now, you’d better learn this: When God takes an ordinary person and gives him extraordinary power, then puts that ordinary person in an ordinary place with extraordinary power, He does extraordinary things through an ordinary person.

God infuses us with His Holy Spirit, so we’re no longer ordinary, because, when we get saved, we become extraordinary.

But now, wait a minute.

God takes ordinary people, God gives ordinary people extraordinary power, and then God puts those ordinary people—are you watching this?—in ordinary places.

Now, you’d better learn this: When God takes an ordinary person and gives him extraordinary power, then puts that ordinary person in an ordinary place with extraordinary power, He does extraordinary things through an ordinary person.

You see, we divide life up into the secular and the sacred, but not the Bible, not the New Testament.

Now, you may not believe that right now, but l believe you will when I get finished with the message, not because I think I’m so sharp, but because of what God’s Word has to say.

“In all labour there is profit.”

You may not be in an exciting job.

I mean, your job may be in a factory screwing lids on tubes of toothpaste all day long.

Maybe that’s what you do all day long.

Or, you may be working in an office as a clerk.

Or, you may be pumping gasoline; you may be digging ditches; you may be building houses; you may be doing one of a myriad of a number of things.

But, I want to tell you, dear friend,

If you learn what I have to tell you today from the Word of God, it is going to turn that drudgery into delight; it’s going to turn that monotony into magnificence.

And, you’re going to find out that you are where God has placed you, and you’re there for a specific purpose.

II.

The Sacredness of Work

What is the sacredness of everyday work?

Don’t get the idea that to serve God you have to be a minister, or a missionary, or on the staff of some Christian organization.

Every job, if it is done in the power of the Holy Spirit, is a sacred job.

Every one!

Now, listen.

Let me give you a verse of Scripture—Ephesians chapter 6 and verse 5.

—employees, be obedient to your boss: that’s what he’s saying, even though he is not a Christian.

He is your master according to the flesh, not according to the Spirit—”with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ” ().

You mean, I’m to work for my boss as though he were Jesus?

That’s right.

That two-legged devil?

That’s right.

You are to work for him as though he were Jesus Christ.

Because God owns the company that he thinks he owns.

This is my Father’s world, and you are to serve the Lord Jesus.

You will remember that Daniel was taken as a captive from Israel and he was carried to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar.

And, there in Babylon he had a secular job.

Daniel’s job was that he was a governmental bureaucrat.

They trained him and they pressed him into the service of the government.

As a governmental bureaucrat, he really served the Lord Jesus.

Don’t get the idea that Daniel was a pastor or that Daniel was a priest.

He was not.

Daniel was what we would call today a businessman, in ordinary work.

But, I want you to notice what the king said when Daniel was in the lions’ den.

You remember Daniel refused to do certain things when he was in Babylon, and they threw him in the lions’ den as a sort of a punishment, and the lions got lockjaw.

Adrian Rodgers said - Daniel just relaxed and pulled up an old fluffy lion for a pillow, and got out his Old Testament, and began to read between the lions.

He was just having a wonderful time there, doing his devotions.

devotions.