God, money & work

Do I matter to God?

Does my work matter?

Does money matter?

W. Tong (082 922 5269, wtong@vodamail.co.za)

What's your purpose?

Rom 6:13 (GNB) Nor must you surrender any part of yourselves to sin to be used for wicked purposes. Instead, give yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life, and surrender your whole being to him to be used for righteous purposes

Rom 11:36 (GNB) For all things were created by him, and all things exist through him and for him. To God be the glory forever! Amen.

What's your purpose?

Pro 16:4 (MKJV) Jehovah has made all for His purpose; yea, even the wicked for the day of evil

Rev 4:11 (MKJV) O Lord, You are worthy to receive glory and honor and power, because You created all things, and for Your will they are and were created.

What's your purpose?

Mk 12:30 (GNB) Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.'

Mk 12:31 (GNB) The second most important commandment is this: 'Love your neighbor as you love yourself.' There is no other commandment more important than these two."

The Issue of Work

Vocation vs Calling? Is there a difference? Vocation = from Latin “vocare” which means

calling Somehow we have today:

Calling =>ministry and Vocation=> career Col 3:23 - (GNB) “Whatever you do, work

at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people”

The Issue of Work

Who has been called? The Pastor or the person working in business?

Whose work matters more? The Pastor or the Manager in a company?

Who should obey the command to love? Pastor or the secretary at a company?

Who should make disciples? The pastor or the engineer at the plant?

Who should seek first the kingdom? The Pastor or the janitor at the school?

The Issue of Work

Eph 5:1

(ISV) So be imitators of God, as his dear children.

(ASV) Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children;

(GNB) Since you are God's dear children, you must try to be like him.

The Issue of Work…what work is God in?

What does God do?

* Adapted from R Paul Stevens, Doing God’s Business, p5, Eerdmans, 2006

DesigningBeautifyingNurturingImaginingEmbellishingLeadingCraftingTeachingPreachingGuiding FormingDiscipliningDirecting

ShapingWarningUnifyingSustainingShowing outcomesSavingOrganisingDestroyingMediatingSeparatingHelpingRescuing

SpeakingHealingMendingCommunicatingFeedingListeningCompletingOvercomingJudgingInstructingBringing restComforting

The Issue of Work…what work is God in?

God creates new things / people.

Compare creativity in:

• Software design

• Music

• Art

• Systems design

• Somatology

• Craftsmanship eg. carpentry

* Adapted from R Paul Stevens, Doing God’s Business, Eerdmans, 2006

The Issue of Work…what work is God in?

God the Sustainer keeps everything running:

Compare this to:

• House cleaning

• Servicing roads

• Office maintenance

• Urban infrastructure and maintenance

* Adapted from R Paul Stevens, Doing God’s Business, Eerdmans, 2006

The Issue of Work…what work is God in?

God the Redeemer is fixing, mending & transforming:

Compare this to:

• Telling others about God

• Counselling

• Auto mechanic

• Technicians

* Adapted from R Paul Stevens, Doing God’s Business, Eerdmans, 2006

The Issue of Work…what work is God in?

God the Healer – making things right or whole:

Compare this to:

• Nurses

• Doctors

• Counsellors

• Lawyers

• Judges

* Adapted from R Paul Stevens, Doing God’s Business, Eerdmans, 2006

The Issue of Work…what work is God in?

God the Consumator – bringing things to a whole / conclusion/ maturity:

Compare this to:

• Pastor

• Teachers

• Parents

• Leaders

* Adapted from R Paul Stevens, Doing God’s Business, Eerdmans, 2006

Working for Money?

Work =>money? What is money?

1. Store of value

2. Easily recognisable as money

3. It should be universally acceptable

4. It should be easily divisible

5. It should have intrinsic value

Work =>money? What is money?

6. It should be impossible to counterfeit

7. It should be durable

8. It should have high value in small quantities

9. It must be easy to handle

10. Its supply must remain scarce

Something to think about…Is the ZAR money?

Doesn’t meet all 10 criteria Fiat money = a medium of exchange by

government decree An IOU from the government Cannot be exchanged for value at a

government counter Is the ZAR / $... an IOU Nothing?

What should “money” be used for?

God doesn’t need money – he shifts it around for his own purposes See Eccl 2:26; Hag 2:6-8; Psa 49:10; Exo

12:35-36; Ezra 1:6, 6-8; 7:15-24

God created and owns everything in any case (Col 1:16-17 ; Psa 50)

What should “money” be used for?

Use “your” money to glorify God Use “your” money in God’s service Use “your” money for righteousness Use “your” money for thanksgiving to God Use “your” money to sow into other people’s

lives Use “your” money to supply others’ needs (2 Cor 9:6-13)

How to use money

• Make money work and don’t work for money

• Don’t get emotionally attached to money

• Apply the 4 Ps to for money management

How to use money…4 P’s

• PlanBudget – lower expenses, get out of personal debt

Plan your giving

Plan your investment

• PriorityMake God the priority instead of self

There is a difference between a want & a need

Commit your self to God and leave all other things to Him

How to use money…4 P’s

• PercentageGod asks min commitment =10%You are appointed manager of His other 90%

• ProgressiveIncrease giving to God’s cause by upping 10%

Take Away

Don’t get attached to:

• Your work

• Your money, or

• Your status,

• Your position,

• Your possessions.

Take Away

You Your work Your money Must glorify God As you love God As you love people

THE END!!!

THANK YOU!