The Shadow of Futility – Part 1
(Discussion Notes Below)
The topic today is the Shadow of Futility. The lie: my work doesn’t matter. The truth: you have a calling to serve and heal the world.
1. The Sacredness of Work: Rule and Reign
- Work is not a 4-letter word! What’s the first thing the Bible talks about? “In the beginning God.” What’s the second thing the Bible talked about? “In the beginning God created.” God is a worker, so if we are made in his image then working is a good thing.
- God is a worker. Genesis 2:2 – “On the seventh day, God finished the work he had been doing.” John 5:17 – “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.”
- Work is not a result of the fall. It’s not a curse. It’s not like we were created to sit around the garden, but Adam blew it and now we all have to work. No! Work is as much a basic human need as food, friendship and prayer. Work is not a barrier preventing you from doing the really meaningful things in life. Work was designed to bring meaning to your life!
- God created people as workers. We are God’s co-workers. We are made in his image which includes – work! The first business partnership was established in Genesis 2:8 and 15. “The Lord God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and he placed the man whom He had formed…The Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.” We are designed to work.
- Work was designed to bring you joy. Like a master craftsman, when God completed his work of creation he stepped back and enjoyed the work of his hands. God found pleasure and satisfaction in his work. Do you ever take time to stare at your accomplishments? God did!
- In the Bible, work is not divided into secular & sacred. Reformer Martin Luther is one of the first to tackle this divide. “There has been a fiction, by which Bishops, Priests and Monks are called the Spiritual Estate – while Princes, Artisans and Peasants are considered the Temporal Estate. This is an artful lie and a hypocritical invention. Let no one buy into it – instead, we are all consecrated as Priest…as Saint Peter said: You are a Royal Priesthood.” So let no one say that only people inside the church are doing God’s work. No! We are all doing God’s work. Luther goes on to talk about how God says in various places in the Bible, God gives food or protection. Yes, but how? Through people! Luther said, “So even the maid who milks the cow or the soldier who guards the city is partnering in the sacred work of God.”
Work is part of God’s good design and for your joy. All work matters to God. There is no division between sacred and secular. One commentator said, “It’s not by accident that God shows up in the Old Testament as a Gardener and in the New Testament as a Carpenter.” All work matters!
2. Four Levels of Ruling: The Key Component
The book talks about the Four Levels of Ruling (think concentric circles). Ruling yourself. Ruling a small team (marriage, family). Ruling a tribe. Ruling a city. The book says, “You shouldn’t level up to the next without first mastering the one before.” If you don’t learn to rule in the domain of the season you are currently called to, you will bring destruction into the next one.
- The Key Component: Self-Control, Ruling Yourself Well.
In Titus 2, older women are called to teach the younger women a fairly long list of things. Then Paul shifts and instructs the older men to teach the younger men, only one thing – self-control. This is the key component for leveling up in your ruling. In 1 Timothy, Paul’s advice to his protege is, “Watch your life and your doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” Wow! So much is riding on self-control – for you and others! I am aware of ministry leaders or others in leadership positions, whose influence and authority grew larger than their character. Their lack of mastering themselves often leads to destruction. This is why Paul uses the test of a family for those moving into church leadership. In 1 Timothy 3 he says, “If anyone aspires to the office of elder…he desires a noble task…yet they must manage their own household well – for if someone does not know how to mange his own household how will he care for God’s church?”These pictures are so helpful for me. The Mississippi was flooding and they had to open flood gates that hadn’t been opened in many, many years. Over that time, farmers had moved in and settled on the flood plains. They were given warning that the flood gates would be opened so they had time to prepare and protect their homes. One guy prepares well and another guy has one weak spot that floods his whole home. It only takes lack of self-control in one area to bring ruin to your entire life.
3. The Call to Freedom
You want to know the quickest way to feel paralyzed as a follower of God? See God’s will as a dot. When you see God’s will as a tiny speck – when you imagine that to be in God’s will you must hit a very specific bullseye…and missing the bullseye is a failure…drains your energy and warps how you see life.
A better picture of God’s will would be a sandbox – a sandbox to play in rather than a bullseye you need to hit every time. There are boundaries in a sandbox yet…still a lot of freedom. Fighting Shadows
I found this helpful. Many think they missed the bullseye, so they live the rest of their lives playing in the “Losers Bracket.” The book tells the story of Jeff Bethke. He spent his time working in video production, especially with YouTube. Many of his friends and mentors thought he would be better off working in a church. For some time, he considered his work in video production like being on the JV squad. Not True!! He learned he could apply his talents in several different ways within his “sandbox.” All were free for him to choose!
This video is an example of a man with a regular job who tries to fold his Christianity into what he does. As a real estate guy, Chuck Weldon brings his faith into his job.
Questions:
- Do you think your work matters to God? (Like Chuck Weldon) Have you ever taken time to creatively think how your work could be folded together with your faith?
- Four levels of Ruling: Think Concentric Circles (Ruling Yourself, Ruling a small team, Ruling a tribe, Ruling a city) “You shouldn’t level up to the next without first mastering the one before.” The Key Component: Self-Control. Discuss the importance of Self-control and your level of ruling.
- How do you view God’s will? As a bullseye or a sandbox? Do you think you are currently playing/working in the right Sandbox? What should you do if your work brings you no joy?
Iron Leadership Materials: