Rev Ann Davis  21/10/01 am  Sermon Notes - Tough Issues series (resource: John Stott book – Issues Facing Christians Today)

"Work & Employment"

1. God as Creator

Genesis 1.31, Neh 9.6, Psalm 8.3, Acts 14.15, Rev 4.11.

2. We are made as creative beings

Genesis 1.27-28, 2.8-15, Psalm 8.6-8, 90.17.

3. Biblical examples of workers

Noah - Builder Genesis 6.11-22.

David - Shepherd 1 Sam 17.15.

Peter, Andrew, James & John - Fishermen Mark 1.16-20.

Paul - Tentmaker Acts 18.1-3.

Jesus - Carpenter Mark 6.1-3.

4. Why Work?

a) Self fulfillment - Gen 1.28, Eccles 2.26, 3.22, 1 Cor 12.

Dorothy Sayers " Work is not primarily a thing one does to live, but the thing

one lives to do".

b) The service of others & of God

God gave Israel a " land flowing with milk and honey " Josh 5.6.

At the same time he issued instructions that the harvest was to be shared with the poor, aliens, widows and orphans Lev 19.10.

See also Eph 4.12, James 2.14-17, 1 Tim 6.17-19.

It is service, which brings satisfaction and discovery of ourselves in ministering to others.

NB the Trauma of Unemployment

How can the church give support, change attitudes, take initiatives and make people feel valued?

Conclusion

The Christian understanding of work as self-fulfillment through the service of God and neighbour should have several wholesome consequences.

a) We should value our work more highly.

b) See to it that those we employ are able to do the same.

c) Feel deeply for the unemployed and try to ensure that though out of employment they are not out of work.

In summary all of us should expect to remain workers all our lives. So that even if we are not in paid employment or retired, we may spend whatever energy we have in some form of service.

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