ABLE in the Marketplace
Apr 26, 2020
ABLE in the Marketplace
There are 859 Bible passages that relate to work, and they begin in Genesis chapter 1:27-28. As the Imago Dei (image bearers of God), we work as He did and does. We are creative through the power of the Holy Spirit. Each of us has a contribution to give to society.
Jeremiah 29:4-7 shows us how God wants us to interact with our community. “Thus says the Lord of hosts, theGod of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” As the city prospers, you prosper. We need to be praying that our neighbors in the city will flourish. It is God’s design for us to invest in the city, and we do that through work.
The Hebrew for work is AVAD. It is translated as:
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Serve
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202
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287
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Work
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13
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287
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Worship
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11
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287
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This shows us that we are to be servant leaders. Our work is our worship is our service. VOCAR means “to call”, so your vocation is the calling in your work. Work is an adventure. Tim Keller said, “we don’t merely need the money from work to survive; we need the work itself to survive and live fully human lives.”
Practical Tips:
Two Books – Work Matters by Tom Nelson and Every Good Endeavor by Tim Keller
1. Build your business with a focus on Kingdom impact
2. Pray for teammates by name
3. Be a part of the small business group at Carmel (Info
HERE)
4. Love and serve everybody on your team the same
Thomas Merton said, “All vocations are intended by God to manifest His love to the world.”
To Discuss Today:
1. Do you enjoy your job? What is the best job you’ve ever had? Why?
2. Do you see the value in what you are doing? What is it? How does it grow the Kingdom?
3. How do YOU build culture in your workplace? What culture are you building?
4. Gen 2:15 shows God’s perspective of work. Remember, this came before the Fall of man. How do you share your faith at work?
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