Last week, I told you story of my old neighbour who helped build a deck.  He nicely represented the transition from strangers to neighbours to acquaintances to partners.  Today we’ll go one step further.  We’ll talk about becoming friends with those we work with, those we help, and those we live around.

When I was a volunteer paramedic, I remember one partner in particular.  We did several shifts together, and on calls he was always nervous, and second-guessing himself, which could be challenging to work with.  One day, he invited me to supper.  I met his family, saw his home and farm, and in the process learned about him and his values.  The next shift we had together was different.  I found we could communicate better, and I could anticipate his moves.  Debriefing the call afterwards was easier.  I knew this quirks, where they came from, and could work from a place of partnership and friendship rather than tolerance.

This has wider application than the workplace, but some good examples of how important this is follow from a few studies:

50 percent of employees with a best friend at work reported that they feel a strong connection with their company, compared to just 10 percent of employees without a best friend at work.  (A 2012 Gallup report which found that)

People planning to stick with their current job cited “good relationship with co-workers” as the major reason (67%) – above “job satisfaction” (63%), “flexible working arrangements” (57%) and even salary (which ranked seventh at 46%).  A 2013 survey of 2,223 business people across Australia

In the same way, being a follower of Jesus isn’t just about doing transactions, like dealing with other followers of Jesus because you have to, or caring for others in need simply because it looks good.

We’re actually meant to become friends with those we care for, and those we care with.  Not every single one to the same degree maybe, but we are actually meant to have a relationship with those we encounter in this life, and not simply use people or tolerate others.

We’ll focus this week on those we care for, those we’ve been talking about all along, and becoming friends.

Question: When have you unexpectedly “hit it off” with someone at work?

Ryan Sim - May 21, 2013

Tuesday - Study It - Priorities

Sermon on the Mount

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gave 3 illustrations about priorities in life. We’ll look at one each day this week. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21 ESV) Here, Jesus is talking about our priorities when it comes to material possessions and money. Long ago, but applicable today. Tax season – many make decisions to prioritize savings, debt payments, retirement, RESP, TFSA or RRSP, charitable donations. Which ones you choose are all questions of priorities. Note: Three things to note Jesus doesn’t have a problem with: • Jesus does not forbid private property. He loves when people share it, but nowhere forbids it. • Does not forbid prudent savings. Bible encourages those who make provision for their family’s needs. • Does not tell us to hate material things. So heavenly minded you are no earthly good. What he does not condone is selfishness. Laying up treasures "for yourselves". The reason for this is simple – you can’t take it with you. Friend: There are no Uhauls at funerals. Have friends who lived with two hoarders for 20 years. When they moved out, my friend wrote this, “ We are receiving our THIRD dumpster delivery today, which we need just to remove Mom's junk from the house so we can think of how to dispose of the supposedly "valuable" stuff. (And believe us, even the valuable stuff isn't THAT valuable. And NONE of it is anywhere near worth the amount of money spent to KEEP it! It is absolutely crazy. And what we are learning about "stuff", and our family and their neuroses, and our society, is depressing. But that is the nature of stuff. In fact, it is all worthless, bound to rot and become dust. But because some human values it, it suddenly is "worth" something. No THING has an intrinsic value. Too bad we didn't all value each other as much as we value our stuff.” Just last week, saw pictures online of yet another dumpster clearing out yet another of her mother’s storage units – they’ve now used 6 dumpsters to handle 12 tons of junk. From http://thenarrowroad2012.blogspot.ca/2012/10/stuff.html The word Jesus used for rust really means something gets eaten away, and could have applied to mice eating your grain, moths eating your clothes, worms eating your meat, thieves stealing, or rusting metal all the same. Today, it would apply to the depreciation on your brand new vehicle. Think of those whose wealth was tied up in US real estate before the US subprime mortgage crisis – they thought they have a valuable asset, but quickly realized it could lose a huge portion of its value in mere months. Material things are easy to trust, but are ultimately empty. But we keep convincing ourselves that these things do matter – lines like, “He who dies with the most toys wins.” We want to be careful what we invest in, because we only have so much time on this earth, and unfortunately so many things we do and need day to day on this earth, have no lasting value. But not everything! There are things we do here that do last for eternity - treasure in heaven. See what that is, later this week. Question: What is earthly treasure compared to heavenly treasure? How are earthly treasures temporary and unsatisfying where heavenly treasures are lasting and satisfying?

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