We’ve looked at two extreme approaches to work: work to get it over with, and work as our ultimate goal.
Both extremes are sandy foundations for life. They wash away when the rains come, parliament changes the retirement age, or markets crash and change our industry forever.
Work reveals our foundations in life – what our ultimate goal or purpose is. Sometimes this can lead to our downfall. For example, in Japanese culture they so highly valued an ideal of never laying off workers, that many companies collapsed completely during a difficult recession. Closer to home, we can see how cost-savings at the Elliot Lake Mall, or the railway through Lac-Megantic, can seem to pay off for a while, then come crashing down with deaths, lawsuits and financial ruin to follow.
We should choose the foundation of our working lives carefully – it will eventually be revealed!
CHALLENGE: Write down a goal in your life. Make two columns underneath, writing in what will help you get there, and what could stop you. Now circle the ones that are entirely in control. What does this tell you about the foundations for your work in life – are they your’s, or God’s?
Acknowledgements: Tim Keller, Every Good Endeavour and Work & Rest
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CloseRyan Sim - June 5, 2013
Wednesday - Change It - Judgement
People often quote Jesus to escape judging anything as right and wrong. But he meant the opposite, it’s a command to judge! But to judge based on God's standards and not our own. It's not a call to be blind, but generous and caring. We've included a fun short film that illustrates this humourously. Look for the "Short Film" link on the web, or the second video in the app menu, or at https://vimeo.com/66753575 Jesus wants us to first become aware of our own situation, then another’s. If we pretend to be judges by our own standards, we can’t plead ignorance of the law we administer. Are you prepared to judge someone by the same standards? Pretend you arrive at heaven. You've had a recording device hanging around your neck all your life, and God says "I will go easy on you, I’ll judge you by your own standards, instead of godly standards." So he plays back all the times you set a standard: Listen to me, don’t talk behind my back, don’t use that tone of voice, etc. How would that go? Jesus doesn't want us to cease to be human – we were created with reason. He just wants us to cease trying to be God. He puts all humans on a level playing field, where we can together explore how God’s standard is much better than any we’d make up. Be a brother…that’s the language used here. Question: Go through the last week’s interactions with your colleagues, family, friends and even strangers. What standards do you set up for others? Then go back through the list and check off those you’ve kept yourself.
Related Topics: Judgement | More Messages from Ryan Sim | Download Audio
From Series: "Sermon on the Mount"
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