Nel Slater was our guest speaker this Thanksgiving weekend. She shared a message about work and how we can be messengers of God’s kingdom through the jobs that we do every day. You can trust that God will bless you when you allow God to work through your work.
First, we watched a motivating video about a man whose business looks out for the interests of others.
WORK IS AN ACT OF WORSHIP
Message by Nel Slater – October 8, 2017
Ruth 2:17-23 So Ruth gathered barley there all day, and when she beat out the grain that evening, it filled an entire basket. She carried it back into town and showed it to her mother-in-law. Ruth also gave her the roasted grain that was left over from her meal. “Where did you gather all this grain today?” Naomi asked. “Where did you work? May the Lord bless the one who helped you!” So Ruth told her mother-in-law about the man in whose field she had worked. She said, “The man I worked with today is named Boaz.” “May the Lord bless him!” Naomi told her daughter-in-law. “He is showing his kindness to us as well as to your dead husband. That man is one of our closest relatives, one of our family redeemers.” Then Ruth said, “What’s more, Boaz even told me to come back and stay with his harvesters until the entire harvest is completed.” “Good!” Naomi exclaimed. “Do as he said, my daughter. Stay with his young women right through the whole harvest. You might be harassed in other fields, but you’ll be safe with him.” So Ruth worked alongside the women in Boaz’s fields and gathered grain with them until the end of the barley harvest. Then she continued working with them through the wheat harvest in early summer. And all the while she lived with her mother-in-law.
REMEMBER …
- YOU HAVE AN INNER NEED TO WORK BECAUSE YOU ARE MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD
- YOU HAVE SOMETHING THE WORLD NEEDS THROUGH YOUR WORK
- THE WORLD NEES YOU TO PROVIDE YOUR SHARE OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD’S NEEDS, TO THE DEGREE YOU ARE ABLE IN EACH SEASON OF YOUR LIFE
2 Thessalonians 3:10 …Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.
Ruth 2:17-18 Ruth gathered barley [in Boaz’s field] all day, and when she beat out the grain that evening, it filled an entire basket. She carried it back into town and showed it to her mother-in-law. Ruth also gave her the roasted grain that was left over from her meal.
Leviticus 19:9-10 (CEV) When you harvest your grain, always leave some of it standing along the edges of your fields and don’t pick up what falls on the ground. Don’t strip your grapevines clean or gather the grapes that fall off the vines. Leave them for the poor and for those foreigners who live among you…
Deuteronomy 24:20-21 (CEV) When you harvest your olives, don’t try to get them all for yourself, but leave some for the poor. And when you pick your grapes, go over the vines only once, then let the poor have what is left.
- THE WORLD NEEDS YOU TO INVEST IN THE WORK OF OTHERS
Helping others have an opportunity to work does 4 things:
1. It maintains work skills
2. It promotes self-respect
3. It prevents dependency
4. It prevents forced labour and exploitation
Some ways you might invest in the work of others:
1. Providing opportunities
2. Being welcoming and encouraging
3. Cooperating
4. Appreciating someone’s work
5. Protecting or speaking up for others (Ruth 2:9 … I have warned the young men not to treat you roughly. And when you are thirsty, help yourself to the water they have drawn from the well.)
6. Partnering
7. Buying and paying for products
- GOD IS THE SOURCE OF YOUR ABILITY TO GIVE THE WORLD WHAT IT NEEDS
You can plug into this source by:
1. Thanking God
2. Asking for God’s help
3. Studying the Bible
4. Conversing with others
5. Investing time and money
6. Obeying what God puts in your heart to do
- WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO OFFER IN YOUR WORK COMES FROM GOD, NOT FROM TRYING HARDER
For Sermon discussion resources click here: Oct 8 Sermon Resources
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