SundayNovember9,2014|devo3

GetaJob

Gmorning Seniors, itscold outside but warm in our hearts :P Ha ha ok, Sooo howd we do
last week? Did you get to see how Gods kingdom was advancing in your lifeviathejourney
and not just the destination (from devo 1)? Did you give yourselfa chance to grow closer to
your fellow seniors...perhaps a couple of you had dinnerwith an underclassman (from devo
2)?

For the next two weeks, lets actually talka bit about the destination.May will come and so
will caps and gowns. Grad/med school, a gap year or some other adventure...but eventually
youll have to get a job. So what does that mean? Well, it means you have some 90,000+
hours of work to look forward to in your lifetime (on average). And according to Ecclesiastes
1:111, its all meaningless. Solomon was awiseguybutinthisinstance,hesjustblowingoff
somesteam.ConsiderthefollowingfromaChiAlpharesourcecalledSpringboard:

1. Workactuallyismeaningful(andnotjustforpastors)
a. Biblicalexampleofworthwhilepeopleoutsideoffulltimeministers
i.
Joseph Can anyone honestly say Josephs accomplishments
were less important because theydidntoccurinasynagogueor
church...orthroughtheBranch?
1. readmoreaboutJosephinGenesis3750.
b. Jesus spent most time in the Marketplace taught disciples to do the
same
i.
Lk10:112
ii.
Why do you think Jesus didnt tell the disciples to hang around
the synagogue? Well, remember the 90k hours spent not in
church??
iii.
Of the approximately 30 recorded miracles in Acts, how many
tookplaceinthetemple?Onlyoneforcertain(Acts3:17)
c. Col. 3:17 says: Andwhateveryoudo,inwordordeed, doeverythingin
the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through
him.
i.
Whatpotentialproblemsarisewhenwedifferentiatebetweenour
secularlifeandourspirituallife?
1. For starters, if my job was secular Id miss out on 90k+
hoursinmylifetoliveouttheabovescripture.
2. Whatelse?
d. Consider:
i.
Moses handed down Gods laws to all the Israelites, notjustthe
priests.
ii.
Solomon recorded thousands of proverbs so everyone would
knowhowtolivewisely(1Kings4:2934).

iii.

Paul wrote over a dozen letterstobelieversfromallwalksof life,

including specific instructions for employers (masters) and
employees(servants)onlifeinthemarketplace.
iv.
EvenPaul,thegreatestmissionaryinhistory,workedparttimein
asecularjobastentmaker(Acts18:3).
e. The vast majority of Scripture deals with life outside the temple or
synagogue. This is good news since thats where the greater part of
humanityspendstheirtime!
f. Ecc.5:1820says

This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for apersonto

eat, to drink and tofind satisfaction in their work under the sun during the few
days oflifeGodhasgiventhemforthisistheirlot.Moreover, whenGodgives
someone wealth and possessions, and theabilityto enjoythem,toaccepttheir
lot and behappy in their workthis isagiftofGod. Theyseldomreflectonthe
daysoftheirlife,becauseGodkeepsthemoccupiedwithgladnessofheart.

i.
EvenSolomon,whowassogloomyandhopelessat times, came
torealizetheblessingofalifewellspent.
g. Debate: Most Christians failto find fulfillmentin their careers. Agree or
disagree?
h. On the Job: With a possible ninety thousand hours of work ahead of
you, what are some ways you can find fulfillment year after year? (For
themoment,dontconsiderspiritualactivitiessuchaswitnessing.)
i. Meditate: God wants you to be fulfilledinyourcareer.Take aminuteto
reflect on this lesson and write down two or three things the Holy Spirit
highlightedforyou.

It is a reasonable request on oneself to ponder, talk to Godandbrainstormwithothersabout

who we will strive to be as an employee (or employer for some of us). It is reasonable
because we will invest a significant chunk of our Godgiven timeintothosepursuits.Itisalso
reasonable to assume that that ideal of who we will be will evolve and maturethe longer we
work. So this isnotaonetimeconversation:)Butratherthisisalifestyleofpondering,talking
and brainstorming about who the Holy Spirit is molding us to be on this journey (that
incidentallyoccursafterthedestinationoflandingourdreamcareer!).

Summary|
1. Youwillworksome90k+hoursinyourlifetime
2. ItwillbeworthwhileEcc5:1820
3. IfyoumakeitworthwhileCol.3:17

EngagetheDiscussionTopics|
Considerjournalingorponderingsectionsg.,h.,andi.fromaboveinred.


Talkingfutureemploymentcanbedaunting.Letsrewardourselveswithanotherpun.
~YourSeniorYear