What Are You Working For?
Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 31:23
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· 10 viewsWhat are you working for as a church? What are you working for as an individual?
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What are You Working for as a Congregation?
What are You Working for as a Congregation?
Where are We Going?
Where are We Going?
I asked this question in a business meeting at a place I worked while living in another state. Everyone was doing their jobs in their own departments, but I still asked this question. I did not know where we were really going. No one was leading. No goals had been set, other than to get our daily work done. While the work we were doing was important, what more could we be doing? Were we just treading water, or were we going somewhere?
Luke 19:20-27
And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:
For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.
And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:
Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?
And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.
(And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)
For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.
But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.
Can churches tread water?
Can churches tread water?
Triple-L Syndrome
Triple-L Syndrome
Lights are kept on
The Lord’s Supper is taken
Someone is slated to give a Lesson
These things are important in their own way, but if this is what we mainly do, where are we going? Are we not just treading water until the return of Christ? Sure, there might be some edification and a little evangelism, and maybe some Christian growth. But what more could we be doing? Are we just treading water, or are we going somewhere? When we stand before Jesus on the Day of Judgment, will we bring forth a large profit, or will we just return to Him what He has already given us like the man with the one talent? If we are not interested in bringing forth a large profit for Jesus, or if we just want to bring the smallest amount necessary, what does that say about us?
What are You Working For as an Individual?
What are You Working For as an Individual?
Where are you going?
What are you working for?
What’s your end goal?
Do you have any goals, or are you just treading water?
My life is about ______________.
My life is about ______________.
Fill in the blank with whatever you think is true.
What if you kept a diary at the end of the day listing the things you worked on or participated in? Now fast forward to a week from now. If I took your statement, “My life is about _________.” And I compared it with your diary, would I believe the statement? Would you?
2 Kings 20:1-6
In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.
Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the Lord, saying,
I beseech thee, O Lord, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.
And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the Lord came to him, saying,
Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the Lord.
And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.
If you were given fifteen years to live, what would you do with the time? What if you had less? What if you didn’t know how long you had?
When we give the invitation, we often may say, “We don’t know how long we have. Why not obey the Lord today?”
Could we not say the same thing to Christians regarding working for God?
2 Peter 3:10-11
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
Matthew 6:19-21
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
How do I lay up treasure in heaven?
How do I lay up treasure in heaven?
Matthew 19:21
Luke 12:33
Hebrews 11:26
Hebrews 10:34-35
Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
What are you working for?
What are you working for?
Do you have any goals? Are they related to things of the earth, or things in Heaven? Are you interested in making a profit for the Master? If so, what are you doing about it? Are you anxious and troubled about many things on Earth, or have you chosen what is needful and right? God gave you today. Tomorrow is not promised. What will you do with it?