Work – Part 1 – Success and Integrity

Introduction

Current context

· Within this church our work lives are becoming an issue

· Many are out of paid employment

· Those in employment are finding it tough

o Longer hours / More for less / Applying for your own job

o Uncertainty in job security / Greater fear of job losses / Tougher

· In my workplace I am causing some of this - I have my own issues!

· Overheard 'I am very stressed out by work at the moment but I have to focus on work because it enables me to do everything else'

How does work apply to everyone

· You are in work and there are lessons for you

· You don’t realize your in work and there are lessons for you

· You are looking for work and need a Biblical perspective

· You are retired from work and can support the next generation

What do I mean by work?

· Student? Your studies are your work

· Mother at home? Raising children & managing the home are your work

· Voluntary? That is your work

· Child? Your chores and schoolwork are your work.

o Eccl 9:10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might….

· My main approach is based upon “the workplace” – paid or unpaid

The bibles view of work?

· The Bible has a lot to say about work

o We don’t often preach about it

o Can seem like were in competition with work

· Ecclesiastes 3:22 there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work

· 2 Thessalonians 3:10 "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."

· 1 Thessalonians 4:11 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands

· A biblical ambition is not to win the lottery and sit on a beach! (Benefits)

2 ways to 'survive' the world of work

· Aligned to world values – it seems right – there are so many doing this

o Proverbs 14:12 There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.

· Aligned to kingdom values – recognize that Jesus invades every part

o Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

· God is more concerned about how we do our work than what we do

Looking at joseph

· Story is rich with reflections on work

o A great comfort and direction to me over years

· Take his whole life story and draw out lessons from relevant parts

o Week 1 – Success and Integrity

o Week 2 – Power and Ambition

How to be successful

Success comes from god

· Genesis 39:2-6 (Potiphar)

· Success is God given (v2) 2 The Lord was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master

· Promotion may be given by man but it is in God's hand (v3-4) 3 Potiphar noticed this and realized that the Lord was with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did. 4 This pleased Potiphar, so he soon made Joseph his personal attendant. He put him in charge of his entire household and everything he owned.

· Responsibility is ours to demonstrate (v6) 5 From the day Joseph was put in charge of his master’s household and property, the Lord began to bless Potiphar’s household for Joseph’s sake. All his household affairs ran smoothly, and his crops and livestock flourished. 6 So Potiphar gave Joseph complete administrative responsibility over everything he owned.

God’s success comes in any place

· Genesis 39:21-23 (In prison)

· God's presence brings recognition (v21) 21 But the Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And the Lord made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden.

· Responsibility follows the responsible (v22) 22 Before long, the warden put Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners and over everything that happened in the prison. 23 The warden had no more worries, because Joseph took care of everything. The Lord was with him and caused everything he did to succeed.

o Do you keep being given things to do?

The heart of success (good book!)

· Matthew 6:31-33 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

· Start with God – Cultivate your relationship with Him

Maintaining Integrity at work

Managing the perks of the job

· Genesis 39:6b-10 – Joseph and Potiphar’s wife

· Every job has its 'perks' (v6-7) Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, 7 and after a while his master's wife took notice of Joseph and said, "Come to bed with me!"

o The lies of work “Outwit the boss”

· 'With great power comes…' – To God (v8-9) 8 But he refused. "With me in charge," he told her, "my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. 9 No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?"

· God is the boss!

o Col 3:23 (Msg) Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you'll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you're serving is Christ

· Daily he refused to conform (v10) 10 And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.

o Going against the world may be costly – the world won’t like it

o If God is boss do we trust him?

look for opportunities to shine

· Genesis 40:13-14 Within three days Pharaoh will lift you up and restore you to your position as his chief cup-bearer. And please remember me and do me a favor when things go well for you. Mention me to Pharaoh, so he might let me out of this place.

· It’s not wrong to raise your profile

o Don’t brag - Don't moan “It’s not fair” if it doesn't happen

Act wisely in God's hands

· Genesis 46:31-47:6 Joseph said “I will go to Pharaoh and tell him, ‘My brothers and my father’s entire family have come to me from the land of Canaan. These men are shepherds, and they raise livestock…When Pharaoh calls for you and asks you about your occupation, you must tell him, ‘We, your servants, have raised livestock all our lives, as our ancestors have always done.’ When you tell him this, he will let you live here in the region of Goshen, for the Egyptians despise shepherds.”

Joseph took five of his brothers with him and presented them to Pharaoh. And Pharaoh asked the brothers, “What is your occupation?” They replied, “We, your servants, are shepherds, just like our ancestors.

Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Now that your father and brothers have joined you here, choose any place in the entire land of Egypt for them to live. Give them the best land of Egypt. Let them live in the region of Goshen. And if any of them have special skills, put them in charge of my livestock, too.”

· Know “the rules” and be shrewd - Not wrong to “work the system”

o But act with integrity

· Matthew 10:16 (Msg) Be as cunning as a snake, as inoffensive as a dove.