CHRISTIAN AND HIS CAREER

EPH 6:5-8

How can your job be a temple of devotion and a lampstand for witness to the Lord Jesus Christ?   "God takes ordinary people, puts them in ordinary places, and then does extraordinary things with ordinary people."

I. The Virtue of Everyday Work          

A. Every day is a holy day. All ground is sacred ground. And all service is to be to Jesus.  Col 3:11 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

B. "Every Christian is in full-time Christian service."  Col 3:22-24 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

C. llustration of Daniel--taken into captivity as a slave 

II. The Victory of Everyday Work           

A. The dog-eat-dog work environment of today.  Joh 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world,but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.  Phi 2:14-15 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.

            B. Leading separated lives does not mean living in isolation.

            C. How do we let our light shine?

                        1. Don't brag.

2. Don't nag.   Col 4:5-6 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be alway with grace,   seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

                        3. Don't lag.    "It's a sin for a Christian to do less than his best."

4. Don't sag. 1 Pet 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. 

III. The Value of Everyday Work 

A. Pro 14:23a In all labour there is profit . . . "All work has eternal significance. Work is not a punishment for sin."  

            B. Bloom where you are Planted.  Jer 29:4-7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon; Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them; Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished. And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.     

C. The darker the night, the brighter your life will shine.  "The greatest mission field in the world is where Christians go to work every Monday morning."