God and Work explains how we serve people, meet our own and our family needs, earn money to give to others, and work to love God. God is a worker. He created. Work is a gift from God. Working His way will transform our life and influence.
- Biblical Principles about Work
- Video about Work
- Summary Statements
- Principles That Work
- Practical Questions
- Questions About God and Work
- Other topics: Career, Job Hunting, Interviewing
Biblical Principles and Questions
Genesis 1, 2, and 3
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
| According to Genesis 1, what did God do? |
| What was God’s intention for man in Genesis 1:26? |
| In Genesis 2:15? |
| Was work given to man/woman before the fall or after the fall? |
| Is work a curse? |
| Why or why not? |
John 4:34
34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.
What did Christ say that He came to earth to do?
Who gave Jesus this work?
Proverbs 24:30-34
30 I went past the field of a sluggard,
past the vineyard of someone who has no sense;
31 thorns had come up everywhere,
the ground was covered with weeds,
and the stone wall was in ruins.
32 I applied my heart to what I observed
and learned a lesson from what I saw:
33 A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest—
34 and poverty will come on you like a thief
and scarcity like an armed man.
What is a “sluggard”? (Google “sluggard”, if needed)
What do these verses tell us about what happens to a lazy man?
Ephesians 4:1-2 Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ
4 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
List some character traits we should have .__________________________________________________
Video, Class #5, God and Work
God and Work. He created. Through work we serve people, meet our own and our family needs, earn money to give to others, and work to love God. God’s way will transform our life and influence. Ray Nix
Summary Statements
- God is a worker – He created (Genesis 2:2).
- God Created mankind in His image (Genesis 1:27).
- God created man/woman to work to rule / subdue the earth (Genesis 1:28).
- Work was given before the fall; it was not given because of the curse.
Principles That Work
- Work provides things (from “Your Work Matters To God” by Doug Sherman and William Hendricks)
- Through work we serve people
- Through work we meet our own needs
- Through work we meet our family’s needs
- Through work we earn money to give to others
- Through work we love God
- The Christian is to serve the Lord in his or her work or ministry.
- Working God’s way will transform your life and your influence.
- The Lord blesses work done for Him.
Practical Questions
- List the five things work or ministry provides us: ___________________________________________________
2. Are you serving people by your work? If so, how? If not, how can you begin? ________________________________________________
3. Are you giving to others because of your work? _________________________________________________________
4. Does your work show your love for God? If so, how? If not, how can you begin? _________________________________________________
5. Think through how God has blessed you through your work (past or present).
Thank Him in prayer for what He has done, is doing and will do for you through your work. Or, if you have never worked, thank Him for the great things He will do through your future work.
Questions About God and Work
These questions are taken from the previous page, “Practical Questions”.
You can use that page to answer these questions.
Question #1: What are the five things work or ministry provides for us?
Question #2: Can you think of a time when you were able to help another person through your work or ministry? How did this make you feel?
Question #3: How can you show your love for God by your work? What makes us want to show our love for God in this way?
(Answer: Because He first loved us so much.)
Question #4: How would you hope to be able to serve God and other people through your future work or ministry? What are your dreams and goals about this?
For more about God and Work, see “5 Things the Bible Says About Work” Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
For more about Career, Job Hunting, Interviewing, see links below.
Career Skills
Using Learnings and Feedback to Make Adjustments to Your Goals, Plans, Resume, and LinkedIn
Assess the progress you’ve made so far:
- Through Exercise 1.1 (Setting Your Personal Goals | Exploring Your Strengths & Interests) and Exercise 2.3 (Your Experience and Related Skills), you’ve had an opportunity to define your career goals and target jobs that are aligned with your life purpose and mission . . . and that are based on your defined strengths, skills, natural talents and abilities, knowledges, interests, values, geographic preferences, and compensation requirements.
- You did additional research on careers, jobs, and the job market using the internet.
- You put together a resume and LinkedIn profile with all of this in mind
- You created a networking list and discussed your goals and plans with many people (your mentor, coach, family, friend, people in your network).
- Possibly, you’ve had a few informational interviews.
Use the learnings and feedback:
Use the learnings from the Biblical Values readings and exercises and the learnings and the feedback you’ve received from your mentor, coach, family, friends, network contacts and informational interviews, coupled with your most current research of the job market, and ask yourself the following questions (Exercise 5.3 – Adjustment Questions):
- Is the career/job a good fit for my skills and experience?
- Do I need to make any adjustments to my goals and/or plans to achieve it?
- Do I need any additional experience, education, certifications, training, skills, or stepping stone job to achieve my goals?
- Do I need to consider changing my preference on location (geographic region or state)?
- Do I need to consider changing my preference on large company vs. small company or starting my own business?
Make changes (if necessary) to:
- Goals and plans (including education, training, stepping stone jobs) – using the template from Exercise 1.1 – Setting Your Personal Goals | Exploring Your Strengths & Interests.
- Resume and LinkedIn Profile.
Nice going!!! The next Action is Authority and Developing Your Elevator Speech and Cover Letter.
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