1Cor1:27-29 Work for the Glory of God

# Work for the <br/> Glory of God
## 1 Corinthians 1:27-29

>>>
+ not as **exegetical** as usual:
  + not based on a **single** passage
  + but my **heartfelt** advice
  + from **Scripture** + **experience**
+ Christian **perspective** on work:
  + for all who have / will have **jobs**
  + particularly if **successful** in career
  + but even "non-standard" jobs:
    + "domestic engineer"
    + **non-profit** work, **church** work
+ Both **pitfalls** and **purpose** in work
+ 3 main points:

---

## Aspire to be a **fool**, <br/> not a professional
<p> </p>

## Work to train your **heart**
<p> </p>

## Toil for God's kingdom <br/> by resting in His **victory**

>>>
+ pitfall: **snare** of professionalism
+ purpose: **blessing** of employ
+ promise: find **grace** working for God
+ First, a **quote** not from Scripture
  + billionaire innovator **Bill Gates**:

---
"If innovation is purely **market driven**,

we could have amazing advances in **inventions** <br/>
that leave the world even **more divided**....

>>>
+ 2014 Stanford **commencement**
+ limitations of **free-market**:
  + don't just go where the **money** is

---
"If we have **optimism** <br/>
but we don't have **empathy**,

it doesnt matter how much <br/>
we master the **secrets of science** --

we're not really **solving problems**, <br/>
we're just working on **puzzles**."

[Bill Gates, Stanford commencement 2014](# "ref")

>>>
+ science: not thrill of **discovery**
  + "geeking out" over possibilities
+ but in order to **help** fellow man
  + **purpose** + defn of doing **good**
+ Bill + Melinda Gates **Foundation**
  + malaria, clean water, K-12 edu
+ **what** is "good work"?
  + Worthwhile / **noble**?
  + What if I **can't find** a "noble" job?
+ **glorify** God where I am

---

## Work for the Glory of God
1. The Snare of **Professionalism**
1. The Blessing of **Employment**
1. The Grace of **God's Work**

>>>
+ pitfalls → purpose → promise

---

# Aspire to be a **fool**, <br/> not a **professional**

>>>
+ can't I pursue **excellence**?
  + **recognised** in my field?
+ **dangers** of the working world:

---

## 1. The Snare of Professionalism
1. Chasing the **Guild**
1. Building **Ambition**
1. Earning **Wages**

>>>
+ 1st of 3 **pitfalls**:
+ **what** defines excellence?
  + Skill, talent, **effort**?
  + Sales, ROI, **recognition**?
+ **recognised** for contributions?
  + By **whom**?
+ **Guild**: peers + leaders in same field

---

[*Science* magazine, 2013](http://science.sciencemag.org/content/342/6154/60.full "ref")
[*Nature* news, 2014](http://www.nature.com/news/publishers-withdraw-more-than-120-gibberish-papers-1.14763 "ref")

>>>
+ academia: **peer** review
  + checks+balances
  + **democratic** process ⇒ "truth"
+ in reality: often **echo** chamber
  + **popularity** contest
+ not wrong to be **good** at your job,
  + **Daniel** was recognised for it:

---

The high officials and the satraps <br/>
sought to find a ground for **complaint** <br/>
against Daniel with regard to the **kingdom**,

but they could find **no ground** <br/>
for complaint or any fault,

because he was **faithful**, <br/>
and **no error** or **fault** was found in him.

[Daniel 6:4 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ **recognised** for excellence:
  + sometimes leads to **trouble**!
+ didn't **pursue** recog by guild
+ if rely on own talent / hard work:
  + less **room** to show God's power:

---

God has chosen <br/>
the **foolish** things of the world <br/>
to shame the **wise** ...

the things that are **not**, <br/>
so that He may **nullify** the things that are,

so that **no man may boast** before God.

[1 Corinthians 1:27, 29 (NASB)](# "ref")

>>>
+ feel like have **no** talent / smarts?
  + **Good!** then God can **use** you!

---

Therefore I will **boast** all the more gladly <br/>
of my **weaknesses**,

so that the **power of Christ** <br/>
may rest upon me.

[2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ be recognised, not for **achievements**
+ but for God's **grace**
  + despite my **failures**
  + not just weakness: even **sin**!
+ **hero** of story is **God**, not I

>>>
+ guild: **recognition** by people
+ ambition: **pride** in own accomplishments

---

Who is **wise** and **understanding** among you? <br/>
By his **good conduct** let him show his **works** <br/>
in the **meekness** of wisdom.

[James 3:13 (ESV) (p.1/2)](# "ref")

>>>
+ true wisdom demonstrated
  + not in **boastful** words
  + but **humble** actions
+ "conduct" (ἀναστροφῆς): daily life
+ "meekness" (πραΰτητι): gentle, mild

---

But if you have bitter **jealousy** <br/>
and selfish **ambition** in your hearts, <br/>
do not **boast** and be false to the truth.

This is **not** the wisdom <br/>
that comes down from above,

but is **earthly**, unspiritual, demonic.

[James 3:14-15 (ESV) (p.2/2)](# "ref")

>>>
+ "jealousy" (ζῆλον): zeal, eager, pursuit
+ "ambition" (ἐριθείαν): day-labourer
  + only in it for **money**

---

By his **good conduct** let him show his **works** <br/>
in the **meekness** of wisdom.

[James 3:13 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ **rockstar** software devs
+ "soft skills": **meekness**: humility

>>>
+ recognition by others
+ pride in what I've built
+ **entitlement** rather than **grace**

---

“Abraham **believed God**, <br/>
and it was counted to him as **righteousness**.”

Now to the one who works, his **wages** <br/>
are not counted as a **gift** but as his **due**.

[Romans 4:4 (ESV) (p.1/2)](# "ref")

>>>
+ **prayer** for meal:
  + "thanks for nothing, God!"
+ "I earned it, I **deserve** it"
+ "don't you know how **hard** I worked?"

---

And to the one who **does not work** <br/>
but **believes** in him who **justifies** the ungodly, <br/>
his **faith** is counted as righteousness.

[Romans 4:5 (ESV) (p.2/2)](# "ref")

>>>
+ life is a **gift**
  + what I deserve is **hell**
+ faith in **action**:
  + Gen15: **believed** God
  + Gen22 (Moriah): faith **complete**

---

## Work for the Glory of God
1. The Snare of Professionalism
1. **The Blessing of Employment**
1. The Grace of God's Work

>>>
+ pitfall ⇒ **purpose**
+ **Why** did God give us work?
  + in **Eden**, God gave Adam work:
    + put → serve → keep *(Gen2:15)*
+ but the **toil** is from **curse**

---

# Work to train <br/> your **heart**

>>>
+ See your **purpose** in your career as
+ training your **heart** to be like Christ's

---

## 2. The Blessing of Employment
1. Rejecting **Idleness**
1. **Sharing** Generously
1. Training our **Heart** Attitude

>>>
+ Paul himself set an **example**

---

For you yourselves know <br/>
how you ought to **imitate** us,

because we were **not idle** <br/>
when we were with you, ...

but with **toil** and **labor** <br/>
we worked night and day, <br/>
that we might not be a **burden** to any of you.

<div class="ref">
2 Thessalonians 3:7-8 (ESV) (p.1/3)
</div>

>>>
+ **tentmaker**, paid own way
+ plus **church** work

---

If anyone is not willing to **work**, let him not **eat**.

For we hear that some among you <br/>
walk in **idleness**, <br/>
not busy at work, but **busybodies**.

<div class="ref">
2 Thessalonians 3:10-11 (ESV) (p.2/3)
</div>

---

Now such persons we command <br/>
and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ

to do their **work quietly** <br/>
and to earn their **own living**.

<div class="ref">
2 Thessalonians 3:12 (ESV) (p.3/3)
</div>

>>>
+ goal of work is not **leisure**, retire early
  + **dangers** in transition to retirement
+ when we are **idle**, purposeless
  + ⇒ we get ourselves into trouble
  + create useless **busy-work**
    + e.g., arrange files a certain way
  + legal **demand** others be same
    + to validate our importance

---

## 2. The Blessing of Employment
1. Rejecting Idleness
1. **Sharing Generously**
1. Training our Heart Attitude

>>>
+ not just providing for **self** / family
+ extra to **share** without worry

---

Let the **thief** no longer steal,

but rather let him **labor**, <br/>
doing **honest work** with his **own hands**,

so that he may have something to **share** <br/>
with anyone in **need**.

<div class="ref">
Ephesians 4:28 (ESV)
</div>

>>>
+ not just that **stealing** is bad:
+ work not only to provide for **self**:
  + even former thief can **share**
+ if I share, **enough** left for myself?

---

He who supplies **seed** to the sower  <br/>
and **bread** for food

will **supply** and **multiply** your seed for sowing <br/>
and increase the **harvest** of your **righteousness**.

<div class="ref">
2 Corinthians 9:10 (ESV) (p.1/2)
</div>

>>>
+ Not a **zero-sum** economy!
  + **infinite** God
+ not to **store up** blessing for self:

---

You will be **enriched** in every way <br/>
to be **generous** in every way,

which through us will produce <br/>
**thanksgiving** to God

<div class="ref">
2 Corinthians 9:11 (ESV) (p.2/2)
</div>

>>>
+ **enriched** for purpose of **generosity**:
  + (ἁπλότητα): simplicity, openness, integrity
+ ultimate goal: **glory** to God

---

## 2. The Blessing of Employment
1. Rejecting Idleness
1. Sharing Generously
1. **Training our Heart Attitude**

>>>
+ **why** work?
  + not to be **idle**
  + **share** w/others, to God's glory
  + for our own **hearts**
+ how to deal w/**bad** work situation?
  + **boss**, coworkers, regulations

---

**Slaves**, in all things <br/>
**obey** those who are your masters on earth,

not with **external** service, <br/>
as those who merely **please men**,

but with **sincerity** of heart, <br/>
**fearing the Lord**.

<div class="ref">
Colossians 3:22 (NASB)
</div>

>>>
+ in NT: some were **slaves** when became Chr
  + work **feels** like slavery!
+ opportunity to train **faith** in Lord
+ esp when **powerless** at work:
  + God more **powerful** than corporations

---

Whatever you do, do your work **heartily**, <br/>
as for the **Lord** rather than for men,

knowing that from the Lord you will receive  <br/>
the **reward** of the inheritance.

It is the Lord **Christ** whom you serve.

>>>
+ posted on my white board
+ Christ is our **boss** + **reward**
+ transform **mundane** tasks
  + into active **faith**

---

## Work for the Glory of God
1. The Snare of Professionalism
1. The Blessing of Employment
1. **The Grace of God's Work**

>>>
+ pitfalls → purpose → promise
+ invest our **energy** in what is **eternal**
  + work with **lasting** value

---

# **Toil** for <br/> God's **kingdom**
# by **resting** <br/> in His **victory**

>>>
+ to do **God's** work means:
  + focus **attention**, time, resources
    + **submit** to God's call
  + knowing that **Christ** has already
    done the hard part

---

## 3. The Grace of God's Work
1. Welcoming His **Return**
1. Steadfast because of His **Victory**

>>>
+ look **forward**: anticipate
  + imminent **coming** of Christ
  + **perspective** on what matters
+ look **backward**: remember
  + death + resurrection has **won**
  + not up to us to **save** world

---

But the **day of the Lord** will come like a thief,

in which the **heavens** will <br/>
**pass away** with a roar

and the **elements** will <br/>
be **destroyed** with intense heat,

and the **earth** and its **works** will be **burned up**.

<div class="ref">
2 Peter 3:10 (NASB) (p.1/2)
</div>

>>>
+ what do I **cling** to which I know
  + will be **burned** up?
+ so should I just **quit** everything
  + and **wait** for God?

---

Since all these things <br/>
are to be **destroyed** in this way,

what sort of people ought you to be <br/>
in **holy conduct** and **godliness**,

**looking for** and hastening <br/>
the coming of the day of God!

<div class="ref">
2 Peter 3:11-12 (NASB) (p.2/2)
</div>

>>>
+ "looking for" (προσδοκῶντας): **welcome**
  + **hope**: end to all **injustice**
    + our eternal **reward**
  + **fear**: **examine** every heart
+ "conduct" (ἀναστροφαῖς): turning upon
+ not what we **do** to save the world
  + "what sort" of person we **are**
+ **holy** + **reverent**

>>>
+ **character** ⇒ **actions**

---

When the perishable puts on the **imperishable**, <br/>
and the mortal puts on **immortality**,

then shall come to pass <br/>
the saying that is written:

“**Death** is swallowed up in **victory**.”

<div class="ref">
1 Corinthians 15:54 (ESV) (p.1/3)
</div>

---

“O death, **where** is your victory? <br/>
O death, **where** is your sting?”

The sting of death is **sin**, <br/>
and the power of sin is the **law**.

But thanks be to God, who gives us <br/>
the **victory** through our Lord **Jesus** Christ.

<div class="ref">
1 Corinthians 15:55-56 (ESV) (p.2/3)
</div>

---

Therefore, my beloved brothers, <br/>
be **steadfast**, **immovable**, <br/>
always abounding in the **work of the Lord**,

knowing that in the Lord <br/>
your labor is **not in vain**.

<div class="ref">
1 Corinthians 15:57-58 (ESV) (p.3/3)
</div>

>>>
+ work of the Lord is **not** in vain!
+ **clean** vessel to be **used** by God

---

## Work for the Glory of God
1. The Snare of **Professionalism**
1. The Blessing of **Employment**
1. The Grace of **God's Work**

---

## Aspire to be a **fool**, <br/> not a professional
<p> </p>

## Work to train your **heart**
<p> </p>

## Toil for God's kingdom <br/> by resting in His **victory**