Seeking Financial Freedom Part 11

Welcome if you are visiting us for the first time here on Wednesdays!! If you want to start at the beginning of this series click on Seeking Financial Freedom on the right hand side of the screen..you will have to scroll down a bit to find it....

This week we are talking about WORK-Who is your REAL Boss?

On page 86 I found it interesting that the book said during a 50 year career the average person spend 100,000 hours working!!!!!!!! That is 25% of you life.....most people spend that time just enduring or suffering through it......very few actually Love what they do........Some though enjoy it to much which causes them to work to much and be neglectful to other top priority areas in life.
From the book (p86): People usually lean to one of two extremes: they either work as little as possible because the work is unpleasant, or they tend to work all the time because it becomes overwhelmingly important. Scripture affirms the value of work but teaches that we should have a balance in work. Work is designed to develop our character. While enabling us to provide for our material well-being, work is a pathway to experiencing a more intimate relationship with the Lord and with other people. In order to find satisfaction and balance in our work, we need to understand what Scripture teaches about it.

Genesis 2:15 " The Lord God took man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it."
Exodus 34:21 "You shall work six days, but on the seventh day you shall rest."
Thessalonians 3:10 " If anyone will not work, neither let him eat."
(This is a verse for those who are able to work but choose not to.)

God's Part in Work

1. God give job skills. Exodus 36:1-2 "And every skillful person in whom the Lord has put skill and understanding to know how to perform all the work."

2. God gives success. Genesis 39:3-2 "The Lord was with Joseph, so he became a successful man...his master saw that the Lord was with him an dhow the Lord caused all that he did to prosper in his hand."

3. God controls promotion. Psalm 6-7 "For promotion and power come from nowhere on earth, but only from God." (The book pointed out on p.88 that your boss is not the one who controls whether or not you will be promoted. When you understand this, you will work with a different attitude. It should have a tremendous impact on the way you perform as an employee.)

OUR PART IN WORK- Colossians 3:23 "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men."
WORK HARD-
Ecclesiastes 9:10 "Whatever your hand finds to do, verily, do it with all your might."
Proverbs 12:27 "The precious possession of a man is diligence as encouraged while laziness is repeatedly condemned."
2 Thessalonians 3:8-9 "With labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we might not be a burden to any of you....in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, that you might follow our example."
DO NOT OVER WORK!
1st Priority : God Mathew 6:33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness."
2nd priority: Family!
If your job demands so much of your time and energy that you neglect your relationship with Christ or your family, then you are working too hard.

At the end of the each chapter there is a commitment section..p.97

Prayerfully evaluate your attitudes toward work and you job performance in light of what Scripture teaches. To help you discover any areas that need changing, ask yourself these questions.
1. Would I work more conscientiously if Jesus were my boss?
2. Would I think more highly of a president of an oil company than a gas station attendant?
3. How is my relationship with my employer, employees and fellow-workers?
4.Am I trying to do too much?
5. Am I performing my job at a level of excellence?
6. Am I lazy? Do I work hard?

I remember reading this chapter several years ago for the first time. It was a very heart changing chapter. I am thankful for these biblical teaching so that I have been able to have the proper perspective.

What are you learning in this series? I would love to hear from you!!!