Some of us
remember the old country western classic, “Take This Job and Shove It” sung by
Johnny Paycheck. A few years later during a recession of the early 1980’s, I
heard someone say that the new version of the song had been changed to say,
“Shove That Job – I’ll Take It!”
This morning I have entitled this thought, “Take This Job And Love it”.
Two factory workers are talking. The woman says, "I can
make the boss give me the day off." The man replies, "And how would
you do that?" The woman says, "Just wait and see." She then
hangs upside down from the ceiling. The boss comes in and says, "What are
you doing?" The woman replies, "I'm a light bulb." The boss then
says, "You've been working so much that you've gone crazy. I think you
need to take the day off." The man starts to follow her and the boss says,
"Where are you going?" The man says, "I'm going home, too. I
can't work in the dark."
What
is your attitude toward your job?
What
should it be?
“This is what I have observed to be good:
that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction
in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given
them—for this is their lot. Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and
possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in
their toil—this is a gift of God.” Ecclesiastes
5:18-20
You should love your job as a blessing!
A husband and his wife
woke up one Sunday morning and the wife dressed for church. It was just about
time for the service when she noticed her husband hadn’t moved a finger toward
getting dressed. Perplexed, she asked, “Why aren’t you getting dressed for
church?” He said, “Cause I don’t want to go.” She asked, “Do you have any
reasons?” He said, “Yes, I have three good reasons. First the congregation is
cold. Second, no one likes me. And third, I just don’t want to go.” The wife
replied, wisely, “Well honey, I have three reasons why you should go. First the
congregation is warm. Second, there are a few people there who like you. And
third, you’re the pastor! So get dressed!”
Here are some sobering facts that may
remind you to love the fact you have a job.
The
number of Americans 16 years and older who did not participate in the labor
force meaning they neither had a job nor actively sought one in the last four
weeks--rose from 92,898,000 in February to 93,175,000 in March, according to
data released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
That
is the first time the number of Americans out of the labor force has exceeded
93 million.
Also from
February to March, the labor force participation rate dropped from 62.8 percent
to 62.7 percent, matching a 37-year low.
Five times in the last twelve months, the participation rate has been as low as 62.8 percent; but March’s 62.7 percent, which matches the participation rate seen in September and December of 2014, is the lowest since February of 1978.
Consider this, God blesses work!
God created work! The first time you see God in the
Bible He is working! I'm sure you've heard of creation!
The first thing He did with Adam was to put him to work tending Eden.
Have
you ever thought of that?
That
makes quite a statement about the importance and the sanctity of work!
Work
is honorable so why not honor God through the work He has given you to do?
How
will you honor Him in the workplace this week?
Also consider this, work blesses you!
There is a great deal of satisfaction and security
in being able to provide for yourself and your family.
When God put Adam to work in the Garden he blessed him and blessed the work he did.
I'm sure there are days your job seems more like a curse than a blessing but imagine life without a job.
Also consider, work allows you to bless others.
One of the most
spiritual and godly things you can do after providing for your family is to
help others in need.
We do that well at FredWes! We teach tithing and we honor stewardship. We see ourselves as pipelines of Gods blessings not buckets that hoard them.
Ronald Reagan was famous for saying, “The man
who does what he loves will never work another day in his life”.
And if you don't get to do what you love, God can help you love what you do!