Archive for January, 2014
Our True Boss
By whom are you employed? Whose name is on your paycheck? To whom do you answer at work?
Do you enjoy your work? Many people do not.
“Productivity in the American workplace is, by and large, not what it could be. This is not a call to workaholism, but it is recognition that employees may do just what they need to get by. Some studies show employees admit to wasting as much as three hours a day. Would an employee or supervisor be pleased with the quality of our work? More importantly, is God pleased?”1
Is it acceptable for a Christian employee to be wasteful on the job? Is there a significant difference between taking an extended lunch for personal business or skipping out early and spending work time on social media or doing online shopping? What about simply not giving it your best, “phoning it in,” as some say?
Is Your Job a Spiritual Thing?
At issue here is whether some parts of life are secular, somehow distinct from God’s oversight, or whether everything in life is under (or should be under) His Lordship. If some parts of life, such as the workplace, are not under Christ’s Lordship, then it matters little how we view our jobs or those associated with them. But, if all of life is to be submitted to Christ, then our relationships at work are important, as is the effort we put forth.
Scripture tells us, “Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men” (Col. 3:23). This undoubtedly refers to work relationships, and in the context of the original scripture, relates directly to masters and slaves. In current contexts, many Bible scholars interpret this as an employer/employee relationship.
How were the Christian slaves in Colosse instructed to respond to their masters? “Don’t work only while being watched, in order to please men, but work wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord” (v. 22).2 In our working relationships, God comes first. To put it another way, we report to God before we report to our earthly boss.
If God is our boss, should it not affect the way we conduct ourselves at work? Yes, it should.
Do You Serve the Lord or Your Boss?
And why does it matter? The Apostle Paul gives us this reason: because we are serving the Lord. “[Y]ou will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ” (v. 24). When we serve our earthly bosses as we are serving our Lord, the Lord views it as service to Him and prepares a reward for us.
When viewed this way, work becomes more than what we do to make ends meet or put bread on the table. When viewed this way, work becomes integral to our spiritual life, an extension of our love and service to God. It becomes an expression of worship.
This is why work must be seen as something we do for God before something done for our human bosses. Our accountability is far beyond an annual review. Rather, it is part of our eternal reward.
Yours for the Great Commission,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Senior Pastor, Cross Church
General Editor, Bible Studies for Life
1– Bible Studies for Life, Productive, by Ronnie and Nick Floyd
2– All scripture Holman Christian Standard Bible
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
Wherever You are Located, Will You Join Us in Praying for Revival and Awakening Monday Night and Tuesday Morning?
Be encouraged: We are moving towards 400 Southern Baptist Convention Senior Pastors and Ministers in attendance in Atlanta to pray for revival in the church and spiritual awakening in America.
Why we are gathering
While we are encouraged by reports of God’s work in many churches in America, we are all aware of the great need for spiritual revival in the church. We need a fresh, mighty moving of God that awakens the church from spiritual slumber and moves us into an aggressive mobilization to see America and the world come to faith in Jesus Christ and Him alone for their eternal salvation.
When the church is experiencing revival, spiritual awakening can occur in America. This awakening is so needed. When God comes upon the church, the church is mobilized, resulting in great numbers of people coming to Jesus Christ. When this occurs, regions are impacted, families begin to live differently, cultures can be changed, and cities can be shaken for Christ.
Nothing can move the heart of God like people crying out to Him in prayer. This is what we will do in Atlanta beginning Monday night and again on Tuesday morning. It is not a conference, but a prayer gathering. It is not a preaching event, but a prayer movement experience.
Where these Pastors and Ministers are coming from
As of this moment on Monday morning, we have 354 registered from 28 states, coming from at least 172 local churches and 18 conventions, entities or ministries. Wow! What an impact. God is creating an enormous burden for revival and awakening in the lives of spiritual leaders. Many others have shared regrets that they are unable to attend due to unchangeable commitments or prohibitive travel expenses.
Pastors, Ministers, and Laypeople, PRAY with us wherever you are
God is not contained by space and location. We need thousands of believers to pray with us for revival and awakening. We will be praying from:
Monday: 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. (EST)
Tuesday: 8:15 am. – 12:00 noon (EST)
Would you take a few minutes or the entire time to join us wherever you are? Pray for a mighty move of God.
When you read these words, hopefully your heart will be encouraged:
And in movements of the Spirit the first thing that happens and which eventually leads to a great revival is that one man or a group of men suddenly begin to feel this burden and they feel the burden so much that they are led to do something about it. (Martyn Lloyd-Jones, REVIVAL, p. 163)
This is why we are gathering to pray.
Yours for the Great Commission,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.