MARKETPLACE FACTS
THE BUSINESS OF WORK Module 604 A Mario Denton Marketplace facts: The business of Work
Marketplace facts: The business of Work
Overall purpose of this series on Marketplace To understand and learn from various marketplace facts so that you can: • Be more effective and anointed wherever you are in the marketplace. • Adapt and benchmark your marketplace practices and principles discussed in this series. • Use these material to facilitate the work of evangelism.
Marketplace facts: The business of Work
THE BUSINESS OF WORK • For many, “work” is a necessary duty. • Perhaps even a dirty four letter word: Something to be endured in order to “put bread on the table.” • Nothing could be further from God’s idea of work.
Marketplace facts: The business of Work
THE BUSINESS OF WORK QUESTION: As one who is called of God to work, do you, in fact, have a thankful spirit? If not, why not? Marketplace facts: The business of Work
1. God’s People Work Because They Are Made in His Image: • For starters, God is a worker. • Seven times in Genesis 1, He commented that His work of creation was “good.” Making man in His image (Gen. 1:26), He then commissioned the first couple while still in Paradise - to get to work. Marketplace facts: The business of Work
1. God’s People Work Because They Are Made in His Image: • And He’s been at work ever since, sustaining the creation He fashioned. (Isa. 64:8)
Marketplace facts: The business of Work
1. God’s People Work Because They Are Made in His Image: • “God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature…’" (Gen. 1:28a)
Marketplace facts: The business of Work
Marketplace facts: The business of Work
2. God’s People Reflect Him Through Practicing Integrity in Their Work • Employees, aware of the fact that God will hold them accountable for their actions, need to give their boss an honest day’s work. • Likewise, the employer is responsible for treating those under his charge with respect.
Marketplace facts: The business of Work
God’s People Reflect Him Through Practicing Integrity in Their Work • “Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. • Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart...because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does…Masters, treat your slaves in the same way…” (Eph. 6;5,6,8a,9a) (See Col. 3:22,23)
Marketplace facts: The business of Work
3. God’s People Realize His Plan for Work Also Includes a Plan for Rest • After six days of creation, God rested, and later prescribed a day of rest for His people. (Exo. 20:8-11) God understands the fact that His children need a proper balance between work and rest to recharge their physical, emotional, spiritual and mental faculties. • This can only be accomplished by a balance between work and rest. Marketplace facts: The business of Work
3. God’s People Realize His Plan for Work Also Includes a Plan for Rest
“Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint.” (Prov. 23:4) (See Mk. 6:31)
Marketplace facts: The business of Work
4. God’s People See Their Primary Vocation as Serving Him • For sincere followers of Christ, life’s primary vocation is ministry. Their “pulpits” are their desks, phones, cars, hotel rooms, etc. • They are Christ’s disciples first, who happen to be an accountant, salesperson, or a secretary.
Marketplace facts: The business of Work
4. God’s People See Their Primary Vocation as Serving Him • Those with whom they associate in the marketplace are among the “fish” they are attempting to “catch.”
Marketplace facts: The business of Work
4. God’s People See Their Primary Vocation as Serving Him • “‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’” (Matt. 4:19) (See Col. 1:28, 29)
Marketplace facts: The business of Work
SO LET ME ASK YOU AGAIN: As one who is called of God to work, do you, in fact, have a thankful spirit? If not, why not?
Marketplace facts: The business of Work
QUESTION: DO YOU HAVE BEAUTIFUL FEET? "‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’" (Rom. 10:13-15)
Marketplace facts: The business of Work
Marketplace facts: The business of Work
Prayer Focus • Father, In the name of Jesus, I surrender myself to walk in the Word in the marketplace. Your word living in me produces the Life in this world. • The word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. It makes my way plain before me. • I boldly and confidently say that my heart is fixed and established on the solid foundation – the Living Word of God! Amen Marketplace facts: The business of Work
Learning, application and commitment: James 1: 22-25 • “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. • Do what it says. • Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in the mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. • But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does.” (NIV) Marketplace facts: The business of Work
Learning, application and commitment • One of the principles that I have learned from this lesson was … • I intend to apply this principle in my marketplace by: ….. • With the help of the Holy Spirit, I will begin applying this truth immediately. Marketplace facts: The business of Work
Jesus said: Take what I have given you and change the world!
Marketplace facts: The business of Work
Blessings from Dr Mario Denton as the Africa: Continental Program Director - Marketplace
Let's keep the good marketplace vibes alive. Let's network. Become a member of the Crown Companies Marketplace Coaching Forum. Tel (w) + 27(0) 82 88 29903. e-mail address:mario@crown.org.za Website: www.crown.org.za Marketplace facts: The business of Work
Sources and acknowledgement CHRIST@ WORK NEWSLETTER • •
Copyright Notice FCCI- Limited permission to copy without altering text or profiteering is granted subject to inclusion of this copyright notice. Copy is limited to member and/or FCCI small group use. Unauthorized use of FCCI, Christ@Work, Crown Companies, their trademarks or logos is strictly prohibited.
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The “Facts of the Matter” is also available through the Internet: www.factsofthematter.org. R. Dwight Hill. Slides compiled by Mario Denton. Please commit yourself to inform us of the results regarding the effectiveness thereof should you wish to use this material.
Marketplace facts: The business of Work