A Better Way to Live and a Better Way to Love in 2019
Biblical Balance Memorization:
Isaiah 26:3-4
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.
Psalm 37:23-24
The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he stumbles, he will not fall on his face, for the Lord upholds his hand.
Matthew 6:31-33
So, do not be anxious, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Work – Responsibilities, Remuneration, and Retirement
The practical essentials of work are; responsibilities – remuneration – retirement. It can be, and is often said that there is always work to be done, but not always jobs to do. In a narrower context, work and a job are distinctly different. But in a broader one they can be seen or defined as either the same or closely related. For our teaching on Work-Life Balance we will try to narrow our context regarding work every chance we get because it will help us identify and clarify our direction and purpose. For example, we will not define work as employment, contract or service agreement – in this more narrow and biblical context that is considered a job. We would not define work as a shift, part-time, full-time, work-week or career – that too is more language related to a job. You might be surprised to understand today that the value, meaning and outlook of work is drastically more complex, yet profoundly more simple than just having a job. I hope we can learn from this teaching that from a biblical and philosophical viewpoint having work or working is much more meaningful and fulfilling than simply having a job, assignment or task. WE must process the idea of “work” through the balance of a biblical viewpoint. As we look at some of those complexities and simplicities, that biblical viewpoint of work become very clear.
[Practical] Within most men and women there is a need, desire or drive within them to accomplish and achieve – There is a genuine sense of fulfillment and personal pride we all have in our good and hard work – Not all work is equal, there is difficult, hard and dirty work, and other times there is monotonous, menial and busy work – Depending on one’s outlook and attitude there is such a thing then as meaningful or meaningless work – do meaningful work – Some people are motivated by the encouragement of reward or recognition for good work, others are not – Some people are motivated by the fear deductions and lay-offs for poor and unacceptable work, others are not – The psychological and emotional impacts of having work and not having work are real and significant – Personal security, identity and self-worth are attached to the achievement and fulfillment of our work – For the person who has their work, remuneration isn’t always about money – For the person who has only their job, the only remuneration that matters is money – Work will always lead us to a job, but a job will not always lead us to our work – We should work our job, but our job should never work us.
[Biblical]
Psalm 90:17
Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands.
Proverbs 12:1
Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.
Proverbs 16:3
Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.
Proverbs 22:29
Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.
John 6:27
Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.
John 9:4
We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.
Romans 15:17
In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God.
Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 4:6
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
The Conclusion of our Work – Achievement and Enjoyment
The two conclusive concepts Achievement and Enjoyment always go together (like peas and carrots). By that I mean you cannot find fulfillment out of achieving something if you did not enjoy it, and you cannot enjoy doing something if you do not accomplish anything. These two, together, help an individual realize and experience the full value and meaning of WORK – this is biblical balance.
Biblical balance is what we seek. Biblical balance provides meaning and value to our work that even time management cannot. When our work has this kind of meaning then we know we have achieved something of great value, allowing us to enjoy the achievements of our work.
Work Evaluation
Can you distinguish between your job and your work?
What is your work?
Am I passionate and caring about my work?
Does my work bring myself or others enjoyment?
If not, what can I do to change it?
Is my work biblically balanced?
Is this the work I should be doing?
If not, what work would you do if you could work at anything you wanted?
Are you satisfied with the remuneration for your work?
Do you see yourself ever retiring from your work?
What work will you do then?
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