Next, he called for some games. They were brought on command and he had fun. Out on the golf course, he never sliced and his putting was fantastic (that's not actually in the story, but I just added that little editorial touch!) Next, Smith called from some of the great books that he had never had time to read before. He read and napped, napped and read. But finally boredom began to catch up with him. He shouted, "I want something to do!"

The attendant appeared and said, "I am sorry, but that is the only thing we cannot give you here." By this time, Smith was frantic. In frustration, he cried out, "But I'm miserable without something to do! I'd rather go to hell!" "But, sir," said the attendant, "I thought you knew. That's where you are!" 1

JOKE
Maybe some of you might be thinking, I would like to try that just for a little while. Like the little boy came home from school one day and his father asked him how it went and he said, ‘I like it fine but it does get in the way of play.’

It does get in the way of play.

WORK IN THE BIBLE
Work has always been a mandate of God’s.
God started it when he created the universe and then rested. He then created us and he put humans in the garden to tend and watch over it.

Paul even said that anyone unwilling to work should not eat. Even angels work as they ministered to Jesus and do the work of God.

GIFT FROM GOD
What does God want us to know about our work?
God wants us to know that work is a gift from God –
God wants us to like our work and to find fulfillment in our labor. It is the gift.

Our scripture lesson speaks it.
19 And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life -- that is indeed a gift from God.

God wants us to find enjoyment in our work, because it is all a gift from God.
It is an awesome thing to watch people who love their work.

ILLUSTRATION:
There are people who will work in Alzheimer’s unit and care for those who can’t take care of themselves. They work tirelessly day in and day out and feel a fulfillment in their work. I know I can’t do that kind of work and I applaud those who can. They are doing what they love, caring for others long term.

MARTIN’S
Martin’s in Nappanee is a perfect example of people liking their work. They genuinely seem to like what they are doing. They just don’t work as if it is a job that is a stepping stone or a means to get money in their pocket. They genuinely like their jobs. It is not as if they may be there forever but it is a place where God has provided.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE
When I was at annual conference, I found that so many of the workers in some of the businesses genuinely acted like they did not want to be there. The workers seem to think they were tied to these jobs forever and that they had lost hope -- this is my lot and I don’t like it. Some people just think they are getting a bad rap.

When you have mouths to feed and bills to pay, sometimes we take jobs that we have to. We know that but it doesn’t mean it is where God intends for us to be forever but until God are moved out of the job the writer says “enjoy your lot”

IF YOU DON’T LIKE WHAT YOU ARE DOING
If you don’t like it, figure out why and move on. Maybe it is you or is it the business practices of your employer? Is it making your spirit low? Maybe God is compelling you to find something different?

I mean this for work in the church too. Love what you do in the church as well.

LOVE WHAT YOU DO IN THE CHURCH
If your work in the church renews and refreshes you then know that you are in the right place. You are fulfilled. But if your work wears you down and leaves you wanting, it is time to ask God to show you where you belong.

EAT DRINK AND BE MERRY
Because the wisdom writer today says that, eat drink and be merry and enjoy the life God has given you. Enjoy the gift of work.

Find something you love to do. It is a gift from God for you.

GOOD WITNESS TO THE LORD
God wants us to know that when we find enjoyment in our work, when we love what we do, we are giving a good witness to the Lord.

Paul says in Colossians, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord not for people.”

NOT ONLY DO WHAT YOU LOVE BUT LOVE WHAT YOU DO

There is a story of a woman who worked at a Video rental store. One evening, about an hour before closing time, a young girl came into the store to rent a video. Jeanette said she felt the Spirit move her and God calling her to go to this young girl, even to the point of knowing exactly where the girl was in the store.
Jeanette went to the girl who was crying. Of course, Jeanette asked if there was anything she could do to help. Still crying, through her tears, the young woman said she wanted a "bad movie."

Jeanette replied by saying she thought she needed a hug. Jeanette hugged the girl and then lead her to the family movies. She doesn't remember what they decided on but they picked one and the girl left. A couple of days later the girl returned. She ran to Jeanette and grabbed her and asked, "Do you remember me?" Jeanette said, "Yes!"

And then the girl said, "You saved my life that night. I had just lost a baby and that night I thought about killing myself."
Work from your heart. Not out of obligation or self-worth or guilt but what you love in your work and it will show. Your love of work will be revealed in the fruits of your labor not the fruits of your flesh.

This is our witness. Loving your work pours out of your spirit into your part of the universe touching all who know you.

LEADERSHIP
And leaders are to work and lead from the heart.

And this goes for leaders as well. Lead from your heart not from what you expect and the expectations of the company.

Leviticus 19:13
13 "Do not cheat or rob anyone."Always pay your hired workers promptly.

It is important that we lead people in the way of the Lord as well. We do not Lord our authority over them in an oppressing ways. Pay them for their work and give encouragement and complements on a job well done.

When we do our work from our hearts, people see it.

People see us and want to know the source of our joy. When God is in our lives, God will draw us into the work of our calling. As we grow closer to the Spirit of God, the better we are at recognizing where we belong.

Really as we work in the things that we do, God sees it and we are rewarded.

GOD WANTS US TO KNOW THAT WE ARE NOT VALUED BY OUR WORK BUT BY WHO WE ARE

NOT A MEASURING STICK
As much as work is a mandate from God, God does not use it as a measuring stick.

Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God -- not the result of works, so that no one may boast.

God wants us to know that no amount of work will ever save us. It is through Christ alone that we are saved.

NO BOASTING
Some of us believe that it is through our work that God loves us. The more we are the more he loves us. That we find our worth in our capabilities but we must always remember that our capabilities are from God – all of it.

Paul says no boasting in any of it.

We have to remember to love what we do not do it out of a need for recognition and approval but Paul says in the Colossians “from the heart.” We work because we love our work.

It is hard not see our worth in our work especially when we are serving God.

ILLUSTRATION:
Lloyd Olgivie, once chaplain in the U.S. Senate, talked about crushing one of his legs in a fall. He had these words to say about his worth:

“For the first time in my life, I was taken off the fast track. I discovered that most of my security and identity were in what I accomplished for God - preaching sermons, writing books, and leading a church. All of this identified my worth. Well, what can you do when there's nothing to do but wait for healing? For three months, I could put no weight on my leg. During that difficult convalescence, I discovered in a new way that God loves me not for what I do but simply because I belong to him. That realization liberated me. I don't have to write books or lead a church in order to be loved by God."

Many times we suffer a loss of value and identity when we lose our life’s work. Empty nesters sometimes find themselves at a loss. Retired people may go through the same losses. Value systems based on work.

But God wants us to know today that our value system is all vanity. That is what the wisdom writer writes about. We will have nothing at the end and the value of our lives is a gift from God. He values us above all. It has nothing to do with work.

God always has something else for us as I know from my own empty nesting and from all of you who are retired and find joy in your time here at the church and in your community work. When one door closes another opens.

So today let’s celebrate work because we know that our loving work is a gift from God. Know that it is a gift and that our joy is found in our fulfillment.

ILLUSTRATION
A certain nurse won the admiration of her little Appalachian mountain community with her patience, her cheerfulness, and her genuine concern for others. Her salary was inadequate by any standard. One day a physician said to her, "Joan, why don't you get out of this backward little community and go where they will pay you a decent salary. God knows you are worth it." With a smile she answered, "If God knows I am worth it, that's all that matters to me."

1 Dynamic Preaching