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Brian Sump

“I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.  But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety.  So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, because he almost died for the work of Christ.  He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.”  Philippians 2:19-30 NIV

Work:

  • Isn’t punishment
  • Is good

“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” Genesis 2:15 NIV

  • Is a form of worship

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.” Colossians 3:23 NIV

How do I find joy in my work?

1.Find joy by achieving harmony in your work/life mix

  • Invest well with your Time, Talents, Treasures
  • FROI – Financial return on investment
  • EROI – Emotional return on investment
  • RROI – Relational return on investment (Vs. 25)
  • PROI – Physical return on investment (Vs. 26-27)
  • SROI – Spiritual return on investment (Vs. 21-22)

2. Find joy with the income your work provides

  • Give a portion to help others

“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7 NIV

  • Keep a portion to enjoy for yourself/family

This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God.” Ecclesiastes 5:18-19 NIV

3. Find joy by using your gifts and talents in your work (Matthew 25:14-30)

4. Find joy by meeting the needs of others

“But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.” Vs. 25

5. Find joy by using your work as a platform to share Jesus

“Do everything without grumbling or arguing so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.” Philippians 2:14-16 NIV