Genesis 2:15 • Dignity

Listen to the audio version of this message with the player below.

Sermon Notes

Transcript

(This transcript was prepared using software tools and has not been reviewed for complete accuracy.)

LET ME ASK THAT YOU WOULD
LOOK IN YOUR BIBLES THIS MORNING
AT GENESIS CHAPTER 2, GENESIS
CHAPTER 2, AS WE'LL BE
CONSIDERING VERSE 15 AND THEN
THROUGH THE COURSE OF THE
MESSAGE, SOME OTHER PASSAGES
NEARBY AS WELL.
ONE OF THE WAYS IN WHICH THE
HOLY SPIRIT, I THINK, IMPRESSES
UPON US THE INSPIRATION OF THE
WORD OF GOD, THE FACT THAT IT'S
NOT JUST A HUMAN PRODUCT BUT THE
PRODUCT OF GOD'S OWN HAND, IS
HOW FROM THE VERY EARLIEST PAGES
THE LORD IS DEALING WITH OUR
GREATEST CONCERNS.
THOUGH PRIMITIVE PEOPLE,
PRIMITIVE UNDERSTANDING OF FAITH
EARLY ON, NONETHELESS THE GREAT
ISSUES OF OUR DAY AND ALL DAYS
ARE BEING ADDRESSED RIGHT IN THE
VERY BEGINNING OF THE BIBLE.
WE'LL SEE THAT AS WE KIND OF
BEGIN THIS DAY A MESSAGE ON OUR
MISSION IN OUR WORK.
ISN'T THAT WHAT WE WANT TO KNOW
AT TIMES?
IS THERE ANY MISSION IN MY WORK?
DOES GOD HAVE ANY PURPOSE IN
THAT?
AM I JUST PUTTING IN THE HOURS
TO FILL UP THE BANK ACCOUNT?
OR IS THERE SOME GREATER
PURPOSE?
THE DIGNITY OF WHAT WE DO IS
DESCRIBED IN GENESIS 2 AND VERSE
15.
LET ME ASK THAT YOU WOULD STAND
AS WE WOULD HONOR GOD'S WORD AND
READ THIS BRIEF PORTION.
GENESIS 2 AND VERSE 15, "THE
LORD GOD TOOK THE MAN AND PUT
HIM IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN TO
WORK IT AND TO KEEP IT."
LET'S PRAY TOGETHER.
>>> HEAVENLY FATHER, AS YOU ARE
DESCRIBING THE VERY FIRST JOB
DESCRIPTION YOU GIVE TO
HUMANITY, YOU ARE AT THE SAME
TIME REMINDING US OF OUR DIGNITY
BEFORE YOU, YOU HAVE PURPOSED
FOR OUR LIVES.
AS WE JUST BEGIN IN THIS MESSAGE
AND THIS SERIES BUT ALSO LOOKING
AT THE BEGINNINGS OF YOUR WORD,
TEACH US HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS
THAT YOU WOULD CALL US FOR
DIVINE PURPOSES BEYOND
OURSELVES, THAT WE MAY TAKE JOY
IN THE DIGNITY THAT YOU GIVE US
IN WHATEVER PLACE YOU CALL US TO
WORK FOR YOU.
GRANT US THAT WE PRAY IN THIS
MORNING AND FOR THE MORNINGS TO
COME WHERE WE SERVE YOU IN OUR
WORKPLACES.
IN JESUS' NAME WE ASK IT.
AMEN.
>>> PLEASE BE SEATED.
AUTHOR STEVE GARBER DESCRIBES A
FRIEND OF HIS WITH THESE WORDS.
"FOR DECADES, HE HAS LABORED
AWAY IN THE BUSINESS WORLD,
WORKING HARD, TAKING UP
INCREASINGLY COMPLEX TASKS
INVOLVING GREAT NUMBERS OF
PEOPLE AND EVER GREATER AMOUNTS
OF MONEY.
OVER THE YEARS, HE HAS GIVEN OF
HIMSELF WITH HONEST HUMILITY TO
SERVICE IN THE CHURCHES WHERE HE
HAS LIVED.
HE IS A KIND, LOYAL, AND
THOUGHTFUL MAN.
YET WITH SOME PAIN HE SAID TO ME
IN A RECENT CONVERSATION, 'I'VE
NEVER HAD THE SENSE THAT MY
PASTOR THOUGHT OF SOMEONE LIKE
ME WHEN HE WAS PREPARING HIS
SERMON.
IT ALWAYS FEELS MORE LIKE HE
IMAGINES THAT PEOPLE LIVE IN THE
CHURCH, NOT IN THE WORLD WHERE I
SPEND MOST OF MY LIFE.'
OKAY, FOR ALL PREACHING
PROFESSIONALS, I APOLOGIZE.
I RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS THE
TENDENCY TO SEE WHAT IS SAID IN
THE SCRIPTURES AS APPLYING TO MY
LIFE, TO THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH
AND NOT THINKING CAREFULLY ABOUT
WHAT YOU ARE CALLED TO DO.
TO REMEMBER OVER AND OVER AGAIN
THAT SUNDAY IS FOR MONDAY, THAT
WE'RE NOT WORSHIPPERS HERE AND
ATHEISTS ON MONDAY MORNING.
THAT WE ARE BEING CALLED BY GOD
TO DO HIS WORK NOT JUST IN
WORSHIP BUT IN THE WORSHIP THAT
IS OUR JOB AS WELL.
AN OLD WORD THAT MAY HELP US IS
THE WORD VOCATION.
NOW, IN OUR CULTURE, WE, MANY
TIMES, USE THE WORD VOCATION
VIRTUALLY THE SAME AS WE USE THE
WORD OCCUPATION.
BUT IT'S REALLY QUITE DIFFERENT
IN THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.
VOCATION COMES FROM A WORD LIKE
VOCAL OR VOICE.
OUR VOCATION IS ACTUALLY OUR
CALLING, WHAT GOD HAS CALLED US
TO DO.
AND THAT'S DIFFERENT FROM OUR
OCCUPATION, WHICH IS HOW WE
OCCUPY OUR TIME.
WHEN CHRISTIANS BEGIN TO
UNDERSTAND THAT THEIR OCCUPATION
ACTUALLY HAS A VOCATION IN IT,
THAT WE ARE CALLED TO USE GIFTS
AND TALENTS AND RESOURCES FOR
THE EXTENDING OF THE KINGDOM OF
GOD, WE BEGIN TO SEE THAT OUR
JOBS HAVE A DIGNITY WE MAY NEVER
HAVE UNDERSTOOD.
AND MY CALLING THIS DAY IS TO
HELP US REMEMBER JUST THAT:
THAT OUR OCCUPATIONS ARE
VOCATIONS AND IN THE CHURCH I
AND YOU NEED TO REMEMBER IT FOR
OUR JOBS IN THE WORLD."
STEVE GARBER CHALLENGES ME WHEN
HE CONTINUES WRITING, "WHEN WAS
THE LAST TIME THAT YOUR CHURCH
PRAYED FOR ARCHITECTS AND
BUILDERS, FOR TEACHERS AND
LIBRARIANS, FOR DOCTORS AND
NURSES, FOR ARTISTS AND
JOURNALISTS, FOR FARMERS AND
GROCERS, FOR LAWYERS AND JUDGES?
IT'S GOOD TO PRAY FOR THE YOUNG
LIFE STAFF AND FOR WYCLIFFE
BIBLE TRANSLATORS, BUT WE NEED
TO PRAY FOR THE BUTCHERS, THE
BAKERS, AND THE CANDLESTICK
MAKERS, TOO."
[LAUGHTER]
AND I ADD, WE NEED TO NOT ONLY
PRAY FOR THEM BUT TO EQUIP THEM
FOR THEIR MISSION IN ALL CORNERS
OF THE WORLD, WHEREVER GOD CALLS
THEM TO GLORIFY HIM.
MY JOB IS TO SAY, "YOUR WORK IS
YOUR MISSION FIELD," AND BECAUSE
OF THAT, THERE IS DIGNITY IN
WHAT YOU DO, NOT JUST BEFORE ME
BUT BEFORE GOD.
HOW DO I KNOW THAT THERE IS
DIGNITY IN YOUR WORK?
WELL, FIRST, I KNOW THERE'S
DIGNITY IN YOUR WORK BECAUSE OF
THE DIGNITY OF THOSE WHO ARE
CALLED TO WORK.
I READ TO YOU AN IMPORTANT
PORTION OF SCRIPTURE, GENESIS
2:15, WHICH IS DESCRIBING OUR
LABOR.
BUT I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND AS
I RETURN TO THAT PORTION OF
SCRIPTURE, GENESIS 2:15, THAT
ONE OF THE IMPORTANT
OBSERVATIONS OF THESE EARLY
CHAPTERS OF GENESIS IS THAT WE
GET OUR LABEL BEFORE WE GET OUR
LABOR.
THE LABOR, YES, 2:15:  "THE LORD
SAID THE MAN, PUT HIM IN THE
GARDEN AND SAID HE WAS TO WORK
IT AND TO KEEP IT."
NOW, TO WORK IT IS WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN WE WORK THE SOIL.
RIGHT?
WE MAKE SOMETHING FLOURISH.
AND WHEN WE KEEP IT, WE SUSTAIN
IT.
WE DON'T WASTE IT OR ABUSE IT.
AND THIS FIRST JOB DESCRIPTION
OF MAN IS JUST SAYING, "I'M
CALLING YOU, ADAM, TO PRODUCTION
AND TO CONSERVATION.
WITH THE RESOURCES THAT I HAVE
GIVEN, THIS IS YOUR CALLING."
AND WE'RE LEARNING MUCH ABOUT
OUR JOB DESCRIPTIONS IN THE
WORLD AS BOTH ARE IMPORTANT
ASPECTS OF WHAT GOD CALLS US TO
DO.
WE ARE CO-LABORERS WITH GOD IN
HIS CREATION CARE.
PRODUCTION, CONSERVATION:  THEY
ARE ALL PART OF WHAT WE ARE
CALLED TO DO IN GOD'S WORLD.
AND SO, GOOD FARMING METHODS AND
POLLUTION CONTROL AND MINING AND
LAND MANAGEMENT AND ENERGY
PRODUCTION AND CONSERVATION, ALL
MODERN CONCERNS, ARE ACTUALLY
BEING ADDRESSED IN THESE EARLY
PAGES OF SCRIPTURE WHERE WE ARE
CALLED TO CONSIDER HOW WE USE
THINGS FOR THE PRODUCTION THAT
IS NEEDED BUT ALSO CONSERVE THEM
SO THAT GOD'S WORLD ITSELF IS
HONORED.
NOW, THAT'S THE JOB DESCRIPTION.
THAT'S THE LABOR.
BUT IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT
BEFORE THE LABOR IS GIVEN, WE
HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED.
WE'VE GOTTEN OUR LABEL BEFORE
THAT LABOR HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED.
I'M GOING TO ASK THAT YOU LOOK
IN YOUR BIBLES, BACK UP IT A
LITTLE BIT, TO GENESIS CHAPTER 1
AND VERSE 26.
THERE WE ARE DESCRIBED BEFORE
OUR LABOR IS DESCRIBED.
"GOD SAID SAID, 'LET US MAKE MAN
IN OUR IMAGE, AFTER OUR
LIKENESS.
AND LET THEM HAVE DOMINION OVER
THE FISH OF THE SEA AND OVER THE
BIRDS OF THE HEAVENS, OVER THE
LIVESTOCK, OVER ALL THE EARTH
AND OVER EVERY CREEPING THING
THAT CREEPS ON THE EARTH.'
SO GOD CREATED MAN IN HIS OWN
IMAGE, IN THE IMAGE OF GOD HE
CREATED HIM; MALE AND FEMALE HE
CREATED THEM."
TO BE CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF
GOD IS TO REFLECT HIS CHARACTER
AND CARE, TO BE THE ONE WHO
MIRRORS HIM.
AND HERE WE ARE BEING TOLD THAT
EVEN THOUGH OUR GENDERS MAY
VARY, GOD'S INTENT FOR MEN AND
WOMEN DOES NOT VARY:  BOTH HAVE
THE INTENTION BEFORE GOD OF
REFLECTING HIM IN THE WORLD.
WE SEE HIM IMAGED, MIRRORED,
DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE'RE GOD, BUT
JUST AS THOUGH WE TALK ABOUT
SOMEBODY BEING THE SPITTING
IMAGE OF THEIR FATHER, THEY'RE
NOT THE SAME AS THEIR FATHER,
BUT WHEN YOU SEE THEM, YOU'RE
REMINDED OF THEIR FATHER.
SO WHEN WE ARE OBSERVED IN OUR
WORK IN THE WORLD, WE ARE TO BE
REMINDING PEOPLE OF OUR FATHER;
HIS CHARACTER AND CARE ARE BEING
OBSERVED.
BUT IMPORTANT FOR US AS WE BEGIN
TO SAY THAT WE HAVE BEEN LABELED
AS IMAGE BEARERS OF GOD BEFORE
WE'VE EVER BEEN DESCRIBED AS
WORKERS FOR GOD IS THE REALITY
THAT THAT LABEL IS GIVEN TO NO
OTHER ASPECT OF THE CREATION OF
GOD.
I MEAN, JUST THINK ABOUT IT A
LITTLE BIT.
GOD HAS CREATED THE WORLD.
SO YOU THINK OF THE MOST AMAZING
SUNSET YOU'VE EVER SEEN, THE
GRANDEUR OF MOUNTAIN AND CANYON.
THINK OF THE IMAGES FROM THE
HUBBLE TELESCOPE OF THE
EXPLODING GALAXIES AND TO JUST
KIND OF IN AWE AND WONDER KIND
OF SAY, "AMAZING," AND YET NOT
ONE OF THOSE THINGS IS
IDENTIFIED AS BEARING THE IMAGE
OF GOD.
THAT HUMAN BEINGS AS IMAGE
BEARERS ARE ACTUALLY GIVEN A
DIGNITY ABOVE ALL OF THOSE
THINGS.
IT'S ACTUALLY WHAT THE PSALMIST
SAYS IN PSALM 8.
DO YOU REMEMBER?
"WHEN I CONSIDER THE HEAVENS,
THE MOON AND THE STARS, WHICH
YOU HAVE MADE AND PUT IN THEIR
PLACES, WHAT IS MAN THAT YOU ARE
MINDFUL OF HIM, THE SON OF MAN
THAT YOU CONSIDER HIM?
YOU HAVE GIFTED HIM WITH GLORY
AND HONOR AND MADE HIM A LITTLE
LOWER THAN THE ANGELS."
"I AM FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY
MADE."
NOW, I KNOW IT SOUNDS A LITTLE
BIT ODD, BUT I'M AWESOME.
[LAUGHTER]
AND YOU ARE TOO.
I MEAN, TO RECOGNIZE THAT WHAT
GOD IS SAYING TO YOU AND ME:
YOU HAVE A PARTICULAR PRIVILEGE
IN EVERY PLACE THAT YOU'RE
CALLED, INCLUDING YOUR WORK, TO
BE AN IMAGE BEARER OF GOD.
AND THAT HAS PARTICULAR
APPLICATIONS FOR, FIRST, HOW WE
TREAT OURSELVES.
SELF HATRED IS RULED OUT.
ALL THE CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE
BECAUSE OF OUR SIN, OUR
BACKGROUNDS, OUR LACK OF
PERFORMANCE, OUR BODY IMAGE NOT
BEING WHAT WE THINK IT SHOULD
BE:  THE WAYS IN WHICH WE WOULD
HATE OURSELVES ARE RULED OUT
BECAUSE GOD IS SAYING, "I WANT
YOU TO REMEMBER, YOU'RE THE
SPITTIN' IMAGE OF ME."
AND AS THAT SPITTIN' IMAGE OF
ME, THE PERSON THAT'S MEANT TO
REMIND PEOPLE OF GOD, WE ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT ISSUES OF DIET
AND EXERCISE AND SELF CONTROL,
YES, BECAUSE WE ARE THE TEMPLE
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
ALL THAT IS TRUE.
BUT BEYOND THAT, IT MEANS THAT
WE IN CONSIDERING HOW GOD HAS
MADE US ARE TO BE HONORING HIM
IN HOW WE CONDUCT OURSELVES.
YOU KNOW, I TRAVEL A LOT, YOU
KNOW THAT, FOR MY JOB, AND YOU
SEND ME OUT IN LOTS OF PLACES IN
THE WORLD.
THIS LAST WEEK, I'VE BEEN IN
FLORIDA TEACHING PASTORS THERE
FROM LOTS OF DIFFERENT PARTS OF
THE WORLD.
AND IN DOING THAT, I RUN ACROSS
PEOPLE.
AND, SOME OF YOU WHO TRAVEL, YOU
KNOW THIS:  YOU ALMOST GET THIS
VIBE WITH OTHER CHRISTIANS IN
THE WORLD WHEN YOU COME ACROSS
THEM.
THE BUS DRIVER, THE HOTEL CLERK,
WHO JUST KIND OF LOOKS UP AND
SAYS, "GOD BLESS YOU."
AND YOU'RE KIND OF GOING, "WHOA,
YOU'RE ONE OF ME."
[LAUGHTER]
YEAH, I GET YOU.
WE GET EACH OTHER.
AND THERE'S THIS PERSON THAT HAS
THIS SENSE OF IN MY JOB, I'M AN
IMAGE BEARER.
I HAVE THAT UNDERSTANDING OF MY
PLACE IN THE WORLD.
I TREAT MYSELF AS ONE WHO BEARS
THE IMAGE OF THE CHARACTER AND
THE CARE OF MY FATHER.
IT'S NOT JUST HOW WE TREAT
OURSELVES.
IT'S BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND HOW
WE'RE TREATING OTHERS AS WELL.
IF PEOPLE ARE MADE IN THE IMAGE
OF GOD, IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT
YOU RECOGNIZE THAT THAT IMAGE
BEARING WAS ASSIGNED BEFORE THE
WORK WAS ASSIGNED.
SO THAT GOD IS SAYING, "I'M NOT
DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT
YOU'RE AN IMAGE BEARER BASED
UPON WHAT YOU DO.
YOU HAVE THAT INNATE CHARACTER;
YOU HAVE THAT INHERENT QUALITY
OF BEING ONE WHO IS REFLECTING
GOD."
AND SO WE TREAT EACH OTHER
ACCORDINGLY.
NOW, OUR TENDENCY IS WHEN WE'VE
GOT A HARD BOSS OR A MEAN PEER
THAT WE START TO TREAT PEOPLE
THE WAY THEY'RE TREATING US.
BUT THE CALLING BEFORE GOD IS
ACTUALLY TO SEE, NO, THEIR IMAGE
BEARING IS NOT BASED UPON WHAT
THEY DO:  IT'S BASED UPON WHO
THEY ARE, WHO THEY'RE MADE TO
BE.
THEY MIGHT NOT BE A VERY GOOD
IMAGE, BUT THAT'S WHO THEY ARE.
AND SO I, AS A COWORKER, AS AN
EMPLOYER, TREAT PEOPLE ACCORDING
TO THEIR IMAGE.
THEY ARE PEOPLE MADE IN GOD'S
IMAGE.
WE'RE TOLD IN THE SCRIPTURES
THAT WE ARE NOT TO MURDER
BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE MADE IN THE
IMAGE OF GOD.
WE'RE TOLD NOT TO CURSE OTHER
PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY ARE MADE IN
THE IMAGE OF GOD.
AND SO IF WE HAVE EMPLOYEES, WE
SEE THAT, DO THEY HAVE CAREERS
THAT WE CAN ENABLE, THAT WE CAN
HELP, THAT WE CAN FURTHER?
IF THEY'RE MADE IN THE IMAGE OF
GOD AND THEIR GOAL IS, AS OUR
GOAL ALL IS, IS TO HELP THINGS
FLOURISH AND TO CONSERVE THINGS
IN GOD'S WORLD, TO MAINTAIN THEM
FOR HIS GLORY, HOW CAN I HELP
YOU DO THAT?
YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC SCHOOL
SYSTEMS IN THIS COUNTRY WERE
ESTABLISHED EARLY ON BY
CHURCHES, WHERE PEOPLE BEGAN TO
RECOGNIZE THAT THE SWEATSHOPS IN
WHICH MANY CHILDREN WERE WORKING
WERE INAPPROPRIATE TO GUARD THE
IMAGE BEARING OF CHILDREN.
AND THEREFORE, PUBLIC SCHOOLS
THAT WOULD GIVE PEOPLE
ADVANCEMENT AND KNOWLEDGE, THAT
COULD LIFT THEM OUT FROM THE
HOBBLED LIFE THAT THEY WERE IN,
THAT THE GOAL OF THE CHURCH, NOW
I'M NOT SAYING THAT CHRISTIAN
SCHOOLING'S NOT STILL OUR GOAL,
BUT WE CANNOT FORGET THE REST OF
SOCIETY.
WE STILL HAVE IMAGE BEARING
RESPONSIBILITIES.
WE LOOK AT OUR EMPLOYEES AND WE
SAY, "HOW IS THEIR HEALTHCARE?
ARE THERE APPROPRIATE BENEFITS?
IS THERE A FAIR WAGE FOR THEIR
WORK BEING GIVEN?"
ALL THAT FOR US AS CHRISTIANS IS
PART OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY NOT
JUST TO BE NICE BUT TO ACTUALLY
SAY, "I AM CALLED TO SEE YOU AS
AN IMAGE BEARER OF GOD, AND AS
ONE WHO IS TASKED WITH MAKING
AND KEEPING THE CREATION, MAKING
FLOURISH AND AT THE SAME TIME
PRESERVING WHAT GOD HAS PUT IN
THE WORLD, I HAVE THAT
OBLIGATION OF TREATING YOU
ACCORDINGLY."
I HAVE THE OBLIGATION OF
TREATING THE WORLD ACCORDINGLY
AS WELL.
IF I AM PUT IN THE WORLD, I'M
NOT JUST A RAW CONSUMER.
SO YOU D--, IT DOESN'T MATTER
WHAT I DO IN THE WORLD.
I CAN RU--, WASTE IT AND RUIN
IT?
NO, YOU CAN'T.
IF YOU ARE AN IMAGE BEARER, THEN
WHAT GOD IS GIVING YOU IS A
RESPONSIBILITY TO CONTINUE HIS
WORK IN THE WORLD.
NOW, ALL THIS IS MAYBE JUST
FAIRLY ABSTRACT, BUT YOU MAY
BEGIN TO RECOGNIZE:  THIS IS
ACTUALLY DISTINGUISHING US IN
IMPORTANT WAY FROM ACTUALLY
OTHER FAITHS IN THE WORLD.
WHEN GOD SAID TO YOU AND ME,
"NOT ONLY ARE YOU MY IMAGE
BEARER, I'M GIVING YOU DOMINION
OVER THE CREATURES AND YOU'RE TO
BE, IF YOU WILL, CULTIVATING
THEM FOR MY PURPOSES," HE HAS
SAID THERE'S A CERTAIN HIERARCHY
HERE.
AND HUMANITY IS HIGHER ON THE
HIERARCHY THAN THE ANIMALS.
WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT?
IT'S ACTUALLY SEPARATING US FROM
A FAITH LIKE HINDUISM THAT SAYS
YOU'RE NOT ANY MORE VALUE THAN A
COW.
NOW, IF YOU'RE JUST GOING TO
ARGUE THAT ON THE BASIS OF YOUR
OPINION, YOU HAVE NO BASIS.
YOU SAY, "WELL, I'D LIKE TO BE
MORE THAN A COW, BUT I CAN'T
PROVE THAT I AM.
THERE'S A WHOLE OTHER CULTURE
THAT SAYS I'M JUST LIKE A COW IN
VALUE."
BUT CHRISTIANITY AND IN
PARTICULAR THE SCRIPTURES IS
SAYING NO, HUMANITY WHILE IT
MUST FLOURISH, HELP FLOURISH AND
ALSO PROTECT, IS ACTUALLY OF
GREATER VALUE THAN THE ANIMALS.
IT'S NOT JUST DEALING WITH
SOMETHING LIKE HINDUISM.
IT'S DEALING WITH SOMETHING LIKE
MATERIALIST EVOLUTION, WHICH IS
SAYING NOT ONLY THAT YOU HAVE NO
MORE VALUE THAN A COW: YOU HAVE
NO MORE VALUE THAN AN AMOEBA.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THERE'S JUST
THIS CONGLOMERATION OF ELEMENTS
AND PARTICLES AND PROTEINS AND
THAT'S JUST ALL YOU ARE.
AND THE SCRIPTURE'S SAYING, "NO,
THAT'S NOT ALL I AM."
IT'S TRUE THAT THESE ASPECTS OF
MATERIAL THINGS MAKE ME UP, BUT
I HAVE A PROMISE AND A VOCATION
PROVIDED BY GOD, WHICH IS THAT I
AM TO BE AN IMAGE BEARER IN HIS
WORLD."
NOW, JUST SO THAT YOU RECOGNIZE
IT'S SO CAREFUL THE WAY
SCRIPTURES ARE SAYING THINGS.
THIS NOTION THAT WE GET OUR
LABEL BEFORE WE GET OUR LABOR IS
ONE OF THE VERY EARLY STATEMENTS
OF THE GOSPEL.
YOU HAVE VALUE AND DIGNITY
BECAUSE YOU ARE AN IMAGE BEARER
OF GOD BEFORE YOU'RE EVER GIVEN
A JOB ASSIGNMENT, WHICH IS
SAYING THAT GOD IS NOT GOING TO
SAY YOU ARE GOOD IN TERMS OF
YOUR VALUE, SACRED IN TERMS OF
YOUR LIFE BASED UPON WHAT YOU
DO.
THE REASON WE VALUE THE UNBORN
AND THE INFIRM IS BECAUSE THEY
ARE STILL IMAGE BEARERS OF GOD,
REGARDLESS OF WHAT THEY DO.
THEIR DOING IS NOT THE BASIS OF
THEIR VALUE.
WHEN WE NOW COME AND APPROACH
THE GOSPEL ITSELF, VERY EARLY
STAGES HERE IN GENESIS, BUT ALL
PREPARATION:  WHEN YOU AND I
BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THAT I AM
VALUED BEFORE GOD NOT BECAUSE OF
WHAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO
ACCOMPLISH BUT FAITH IN WHAT
CHRIST HAS ACCOMPLISHED, I'M
BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND HIS
MERCY TOWARD ME IS NOT BASED
UPON WHAT I DO BUT MY FAITH IN
WHAT HE HAS PROVIDED.
IT'S BEEN THAT WAY FROM THE
BEGINNING.
OUR VALUE, OUR IMAGE BEARING
CHARACTER, IS BASED UPON GOD'S
MERCY TOWARD US RATHER THAN WHAT
WE ACCOMPLISH.
THE LABEL, YOU'RE VALUABLE TO
ME, YOU HAVE DIGNITY, YOU'RE MY
IMAGE BEARER, COMES BEFORE WE
EVER GET THE JOB DESCRIPTIONS.
AND THAT'S NOT JUST AN EARLY
STATEMENT OF WHAT GRACE IS:
IT'S ACTUALLY BEGINNING TO
DISTINGUISH US FROM OTHER
RELIGIONS IN OTHER WAYS.
DO YOU REMEMBER A FEW WEEKS AGO
IN THE MIDDLE EAST A BUS WAS
HELD UP; I.S.I.S. TERRORISTS GOT
ON THE BUS AND ASKED PEOPLE ON
THE BUS TO RECITE PORTIONS OF
THE QURAN?
AND IF THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO
RECITE PORTIONS OF THE QURAN,
THEY WERE EITHER ABUSED OR
MURDERED.
NOW, FOR THOSE WHO WERE THERE,
THEIR UNDERSTANDING IS THE
REASON I CAN ABUSE YOU OR MURDER
YOU WITH IMPUNITY IS YOU'RE NOT
HUMAN.
YOU CAN'T AFFIRM THE THINGS OF
MY FAITH, SO YOU'RE NOT FULLY
HUMAN.
CHRISTIANITY SAYS NO, LISTEN,
EVERY PERSON IS AN IMAGE BEARER
OF GOD, IMPERFECT IN DIFFERENT
WAYS, BUT WE ARE ALL IMAGE
BEARERS.
THEREFORE, I AM OBLIGATED TO
TREAT YOU WITH DIGNITY AND
RESPECT AS I AM OBLIGATED TO BE
TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND
RESPECT.
THINK OF WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT OUR
OWN CULTURE AND TIMES.
THE REASON THAT WE FORGAVE AS A
CULTURE FOR SO LONG AMERICAN
CHATTEL SLAVERY IS BECAUSE WE
WERE WILLING TO DEFINE PEOPLE AS
LESS THAN HUMAN WHO DIDN'T
PERFORM OR LOOK LIKE WE DID.
AND IF THAT'S WHAT WE WERE
DOING, WHAT WE WERE SAYING IS
YOUR PERFORMANCE IS NOW
DEVALUING YOU.
BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT THE GOSPEL
IS DOING.
IT IS SAYING, NO, VALUE COMES
BEFORE PERFORMANCE.
WHAT HAPPENED IN WORLD WAR II?
THE WORST OF THE ATROCITIES THAT
WE CAN IDENTIFY SOMETIMES BY
FORCES THAT SAID, "IF YOU'RE NOT
WILLING TO STAND FOR THE
EMPEROR," PERFORM IN SOME WAY,
"YOU HAVE NO VALUE AS A HUMAN."
OR THOSE SAYING, "IF YOU ARE NOT
ARYAN IN YOUR BACKGROUND, YOU DO
NOT HAVE THE DIGNITY OF A
PERSON, AND I CAN ABUSE OR
MURDER OR MASS MURDER YOU."
CHRISTIANITY IS SAYING SOMETHING
DIFFERENTLY ENTIRELY.
IT IS SAYING FROM THE VERY
BEGINNING, THOSE WHO ARE HUMAN
HAVE ESSENTIAL DIGNITY BECAUSE
THEY ARE MADE IN THE IMAGE OF
GOD.
GOD IS INTENDING TO REFLECT HIS
GLORY AND HIS GOODNESS, NOT JUST
BY THE STARS OF THE HEAVENS BUT
BY THE INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE
BEFORE HIM REFLECTING HIS GLORY
IN THE WORLD.
AND THAT COMES EVER BEFORE, EVEN
BEFORE THE JOB ASSIGNMENT IS
GIVEN.
WE HAVE INTRINSIC DIGNITY
BECAUSE WE ARE MADE IN THE IMAGE
OF GOD.
AND KNOWING THAT MAKES ME WANT
TO LIVE FOR HIM, MAKES ME DESIRE
TO LIVE FOR HIM IN THE WORLD.
AND THE QUESTIONS I HAVE, OF
COURSE, IS IF I BEGIN TO WANT TO
LIVE FOR GOD IN THE WORLD, IS
THERE DIGNITY IN THE LABOR THAT
I DO?
NOW, I'VE SAID THE LABOR HAS
DIGNITY BECAUSE WE DO, BUT
THAT'S NOT THE FULL MESSAGE OF
WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE IN
GENESIS.
GENESIS IS SAYING OUR WORK HAS
DIGNITY, BECAUSE THE LABOR
ITSELF HAS DIGNITY.
HOW DO I KNOW THAT?
WELL, NOT ONLY BECAUSE OUR LABEL
COMES BEFORE OUR LABOR BUT,
AGAIN, IN A VERY PRECISE ORDER
OF THE SCRIPTURES:  OUR LABOR
COMES BEFORE THE FALL.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN WHEN I
TALK ABOUT THE FALL?
WHEN SIN AND CORRUPTION ENTERED
THE WORLD.
AND THAT'S DESCRIBED IN GENESIS
3:15.
ONCE ADAM AND EVE HAD FALLEN AND
SINNED AGAINST GOD AND
CORRUPTION ENTERED THE WORLD
WITH ALL THE HORRIBLE THINGS
THAT WE NOW EXPE--, EXPERIENCE,
WE RECOGNIZE THAT GENESIS 3:15,
I KNOW THIS SOUNDS SIMPLE, COMES
AFTER GENESIS 2:15.
THE LABOR COMES BEFORE THE FALL.
WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT TO SAY?
IT MEANS THE LABOR'S NOT BAD.
THE LABOR IS NOT EVIL.
NOW, AFTER THE FALL IT GETS
HARD, BUT IT'S NOT BAD.
WHY DO I SAY THAT?
BECAUSE YOU AND I SOMETIMES LIVE
IN THE UNREAL WORLD THAT WE SAY
TO OURSELVES, "IF I JUST DIDN'T
HAVE TO WORK, LIFE WOULD BE SO
PLEASANT."
RIGHT?
I CAN REMEMBER THAT WHEN I WAS
IN COLLEGE, ONE OF THE JOBS I
HAD TO PAY FOR TUITION WAS I
BUSSED TABLES IN THE STUDENT
CAFETERIA.
AND, YOU KNOW, YOU GET KIND OF
DIRTY AND MESSY AND PEOPLE COME
AND GO AND YOU'RE JUST WORKING
ALONG HARD THERE.
AND, YOU KNOW, YOU THINK:  THIS
IS NO FUN.
AND AT SOME POINT IN MY
EXPERIENCE OF BUSSING TABLE, THE
FOOD SERVICE CHANGED HANDS AND
NEW MANAGEMENT CAME IN AND SAID,
"WE'VE GOT A NEW RULE:  ONE
PRICE, ALL THE FOOD YOU WANT TO
EAT EVERY DAY TO ALL STUDENTS."
JUST ONE PRICE, YOU GET ALL THE
FOOD YOU WANT TO EAT.
WELL, THAT SOUNDED GOOD UNTIL
PEOPLE BEGAN TO RECOGNIZE NOT
ONLY COULD I COME IN AND EAT:  I
COULD BRING MY FRIENDS IN TO
EAT.
NOT ONLY CAN I BRING MY FRIENDS
IN TO EAT:  I CAN TAKE FOOD OUT
OF THE CAFETERIA AND, YOU KNOW,
KEEP IT FOR THE WEEKEND.
WELL, SOMEBODY HAD TO GUARD THE
DOOR.
SOMEBODY HAD TO SIT AND WATCH
FOR PEOPLE TO STEAL FOOD.
[LAUGHTER]
EVERY ONE OF US WANTED THAT JOB.
YOU JUST HAVE TO SIT BY THE
DOOR.
NO MORE BUSSING TABLES, NO MORE
WASHING DISHES.
YOU JUST GET TO SIT THERE.
ISN'T THAT A GREAT JOB?
IT WAS AWFUL.
[LAUGHTER]
YOU COULDN'T DO YOUR HOMEWORK
BECAUSE YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE
VIGILANT FOR PEOPLE STEALING
FOOD, BUT THEY VERY QUICKLY
LEARNED IF THEY PUT IT IN THEIR
KNAPSACK, YOU COULDN'T STOP
THEM.
RIGHT?
SO THEY'RE WALKING OUT THE DOOR
WITH THE FOOD, AND YOU'RE JUST
SITTIN' THERE.
YOU CAN'T DO YOUR HOMEWORK; YOU
CAN'T STUDY; YOU'RE NOT WORKING.
THE HOURS CRAWL BY.
IT IS SO MISERABLE.
AND SOME OF YOU KNOW THAT AT A
DIFFERENT STAGE OF LIFE, RIGHT?
YOU THINK:  MAN, WHEN I RETIRE,
I WILL JUST GET TO PLAY GOLF ALL
DAY EVERYDAY; IT'S GOING TO BE
SO WONDERFUL FOR ABOUT THREE
WEEKS.
[LAUGHTER]
AND THEN YOU'RE GOING, I'VE GOT
TO DO SOMETHING.
RIGHT?
THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME MEANING.
AND SO EVEN IN THOSE RETIREMENT
YEARS, YOU BEGIN TO SAY, "I NEED
TO FIND SOMETHING TO VOLUNTEER
FOR.
I NEED TO HELP OUT THE
GRANDKIDS.
I NEED TO TAKE A SECOND JOB."
I--, WHY?
BECAUSE YOU ARE MADE TO FLOURISH
THINGS, TO MAKE THINGS WORK.
THAT'S HOW GOD HAS DESIGNED US.
AND WHEN WE BEGIN TO RECOGNIZE
THAT WORK IS NOT EVIL, IT'S
ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT BRINGS
US REWARD, WE BEGIN TO OBSERVE
DIFFERENT THINGS IN OUR CULTURE
IN VERY DIFFERENT WAYS.
I DON'T HAVE TO CONVINCE YOU
THAT WORK IS DIGNIFYING.
WHEN YOU HAVE A STORY MAKING
NATIONAL NEWS OF A YOUNG TEEN,
REMEMBER, WHO WAS EXCUSED OF
AWFUL CRIMES BECAUSE HIS PARENTS
HAD NEVER TAUGHT HIM
RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE HE HAD
TOO MUCH MONEY COMING HIS WAY.
DO YOU REMEMBER?
AND SO HE GETS OFF BECAUSE OF
AFFLUENZA.
HEARD THAT STORY?
NOW, WE CAN ALL JUST KIND OF
SHAKE OUR HEADS AND SAY, "WELL,
THAT'S CRAZY," BUT DON'T YOU
GRIEVE FOR A YOUNG MAN WHO
DOESN'T EVEN KNOW RIGHT AND
WRONG, DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO BE
PRODUCTIVE, DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO
MAKE A WAY IN THE WORLD BECAUSE
HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND WORK AT
ALL, DOESN'T UNDERSTAND
RESPONSIBILITY AT ALL?
AND TO RECOGNIZE THAT STORY IN
SOME VERSION IS SPREADING ACROSS
OUR CULTURE, JUST BARE
STATISTICS:  30 PERCENT OF ALL
MEN IN THIS CULTURE OF WORKING
AGE ARE NOT WORKING, 30 PERCENT
OF ALL MEN IN THIS CULTURE OF
WORKING AGE ARE NOT WORKING.
LOTS OF REASONS.
SOME CANNOT FIND JOBS.
SOME ARE DISCOURAGED.
SOME ARE NOT ABLE TO.
SOME JUST HAVE FOUND THE WELFARE
SYSTEM THAT ENABLES THEM NOT TO
HAVE TO.
BUT OTHER THINGS ARE HAPPENING,
AND PART OF IT'S IN OUR OWN
EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, WHERE YOU
RECOGNIZE MORE AND MORE IT'S
POSSIBLE JUST TO KIND OF DIVE
INTO THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM AND
TO AVOID LONG-TERM
RESPONSIBILITY.
ONE OF THE SIGNALS OF THAT IS
THE GROWTH OF THE GAMING CULTURE
IN OUR SOCIETY RIGHT NOW.
AND SOME OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE
HERE ARE GOING TO KNOW THIS SO
MUCH BETTER THAN I DO.
BUT YOU HAVE PARTICULARLY YOUNG
MEN, INCREASINGLY YOUNG WOMEN,
WHO ARE SPENDING SO MUCH TIME OF
EVERY DAY AND MANY HOURS OF THE
NIGHT JUST GAMING AWAY.
WHY?
WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN GET
SPEED AND SEX AND MONEY, GET
YOUR AGGRESSIONS, GET YOUR
SKILLS DOWN, ALL ON THINGS THAT
PRODUCE NOTHING AT ALL.
YOU'RE ACTUALLY JUST KIND OF
GIVING MONEY TO THE GAMERS AND
GIVING YOURSELF TO DO IT.
IF WE HAD ANY OTHER DEFINITION
FOR WHAT'S GOING ON, I SPEND ALL
MY TIME, ALL MY MONEY, ALL MY
RESOURCES, SPEND MY FUTURE
PURSUING THOSE THINGS THAT ARE
NOT REAL, THAT NEVER WILL
BENEFIT ME OR MY FAMILY LONG
TERM.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT WE'D CALL IT?
WE WOULD CALL THAT SLAVERY.
AND YET PEOPLE BECOME ENSLAVED
BY THAT WHICH COSTS THEM NOTHING
IN TERMS OF PERSONAL RISK OR
RESPONSIBILITY.
AND OVER TIME JUST BEGIN TO FEEL
NO INVESTMENT IN THE WORLD AND
ULTIMATELY NO RESPECT FOR
THEMSELVES.
WORK GIVES US DIGNITY, BECAUSE
THE WORK ITSELF IS DIGNIFIED.
WHEN WE BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THAT
GOD HAS SAID THAT, WE SEE THAT
IT'S NOT JUST BECAUSE THE WORK
IS MEANT TO PRODUCE STUFF IN THE
WORLD:  WORK IS ACTUALLY
WORSHIP.
THAT'S WHY IT'S BRINGING DIGNITY
TO THE PEOPLE WHO DO IT.
IT'S ONE WAY THAT WE WORSHIP
GOD.
AGAIN, JUST IMPORTANT ORDER OF
VERSES:  GENESIS 2:15 FOLLOWS
GENESIS 2:2.
GENESIS 2:2 YOU'LL KNOW IF I
JUST KIND OF CITE IT BACK TO
YOU.
THIS IS THE PLACE THAT GOD SAYS
HE RESTED FROM HIS WORK.
IT WAS THE SEVENTH DAY.
IT WAS THE SABBATH, AND HE
RESTED FROM HIS WORK.
NOW, IT'S NOT BECAUSE HE'S
TIRED.
ALRIGHT?
HE'S SIMPLY WITHDRAWING FROM HIS
WORKING OF CREATION.
AND AS GOD STOPS HIS WORK, THEN
COMES GENESIS 2:15:  HE GIVES US
OUR WORK.
ALRIGHT?
I'VE WORKED TO ESTABLISH THE
CREATION:  NOW YOUR TURN TO MAKE
THINGS FLOURISH, TO WORK THE
LAND, AND ALSO TO KEEP IT, TO
PRODUCE AND TO CONSERVE.
IT'S NOW YOUR JOB, WHICH MEANS
ACTUALLY WE ARE CONTINUING GOD'S
WORK IN THE WORLD BY OUR WORK.
WHAT HE MEANT TO BRING GLORY TO
HIMSELF, WHAT HE MEANT TO
ACTUALLY CREATE GOODNESS IN OUR
WORLD, WE ARE CONTINUING BY OUR
WORK.
SO WE KNOW, OF COURSE, THAT THE
WEEDS START TO GROW, THAT
CORRUPTION ENTERS IN.
BUT THE WORK OF HUMANITY NEVER
STOPS, WHICH MEANS THAT WE ARE
MEANT TO CONTINUE TO PUSH BACK
THE WEEDS, TO PUSH BACK THE
CORRUPTION, THAT OUR JOB IS
ACTUALLY EXTENDING THE GLORY AND
GOODNESS OF GOD IN THE WORLD,
EVEN AGAINST THE CORRUPTION
THAT'S HERE.
THIS IS THE MISSION OF GOD FOR
EACH OF US:  THAT WE ARE TURNING
BACK THE UNDOING OF OUR WORLD
THAT SIN CAUSED.
AND THAT'S IN EVERY PROFESSION
THAT WE HAVE.
WE NEED TO START SEEING IT THAT
WAY, THAT THE WORK ITSELF IS
CARRYING FORWARD THE WORK OF
GOD, BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY GOOD
WAYS IN WHICH CHRISTIANS THINK
ABOUT THEIR WORK HONORING GOD.
SOME OF THE TRADITIONAL WAYS
VERY, VERY GOOD AND IMPORTANT
BUT NOT A COMPLETE THOUGHT.
AND WE KIND OF TAKE THE ORDINARY
CHRISTIANS AND SAY, "WHY AM I
WORKING?"
WELL, ONE REASON I'M WORKING IS
TO PROVIDE FOR MY FAMILY.
LISTEN, THAT'S A VERY GOOD AND
APPROPRIATE MOTIVATION.
ANOTHER MOTIVATION IS SO THAT I
CAN WITNESS TO MY COLLEAGUES.
RIGHT?
THERE ARE PEERS AROUND ME.
I CAN BE A CHRISTIAN WITNESS.
DO I SAY THIS TO YOU KINDLY?
YOUR BOSS DID NOT HIRE YOU TO BE
A CHRISTIAN WITNESS, THOUGH.
RIGHT?
AND IF THAT'S THE PRIMARY THING
THAT YOU THINK YOU'RE THERE FOR,
THAT'S GOING TO BE FRUSTRATING
TO YOU AND TO YOUR BOSS.
AND SO YOU THINK, WELL, MAYBE
I'M HERE SO THAT I CAN MAKE
MONEY TO BE GENEROUS TO THE
CHURCH AND TO THE MISSION OF GOD
IN THE WORLD.
ALL THOSE ARE APPROPRIATE
MOTIVATIONS:  WHETHER IT'S
PROVIDING FOR YOUR FAMILY,
WITNESS TO COLLEAGUES, OR
PROVISION FOR THE MINISTRY OF
THE CHURCH, ALL VERY
APPROPRIATE.
BUT THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT
GENESIS IS GIVING YOU AS THE
DIGNITY OF YOUR WORK.
I JUST WANT YOU TO THINK
CAREFULLY WITH ME ABOUT WHAT HAS
BEEN SAID HAPPENING IN THESE
EARLY CHAPTERS OF GENESIS.
IN CHAPTERS 1 AND 2, YOU HAVE
THE GARDEN MADE TO PROVIDE FOR A
COUPLE.
THEY MAKE AND KEEP THE GARDEN,
JUST SO THE COUPLE CAN BE
PROVIDED FOR.
BY GENESIS 3, THE FIELDS ARE
BEING PLOWED IN ORDER TO UNDO
THE EFFECT OF THE WEEDS, FIELDS
PLOWED AND FAMILIES BEING TAKEN
CARE OF.
BY GENESIS 4, CITIES BEGIN TO
FORM, AND SOCIETIES BEGIN TO
FUNCTION.
BY THE LATTER HALF OF GENESIS 4,
NOT ONLY DO CITIES FORM BUT THE
ARTISANS AND THE MUSICIANS AND
THE METAL WORKERS, THE DIFFERENT
TRADES BEGIN TO TAKE OVER AS YOU
SEE NOT ONLY SOCIETY BUT BEAUTY
NOW BEGIN TO PROSPER.
THERE'S A GREAT FALL THAT'S
GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN RIGHT IN
THE FLOOD, BUT AFTER THE FLOOD,
THE GOSPEL THEN BEGINS TO SPREAD
THROUGH ABRAHAM AND GENESIS 12.
WHAT YOU BEGIN SEEING IN THESE
OPENING CHAPTERS OF GENESIS IS
THAT THE WORK THAT HUMANITY IS
GIVEN IS BEGINNING TO SPREAD THE
KINGDOM OF GOD EVER MORE FULLY,
EVER MORE DRAMATICALLY, AS IT
MOVES FORWARD FROM INDIVIDUALS
TO FAMILIES TO CITIES TO
SOCIETIES TO ULTIMATELY A GOSPEL
THAT'S MEANT TO ENCOMPASS THE
WORLD.
WHAT WE ARE SEEING HAPPENING BY
WORK IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS
SPREADING.
THE SHALOM, THE PEACE OF GOD
THAT WAS LOST BY THE FALL:  THAT
SHALOM OF GOD IS BEING SPREAD
AGAIN.
AND IT'S HAPPENING THROUGH
PEOPLE WHO ARE IMAGE BEARERS
WORKING RESPONSIBLY IN THE
WORLD.
DOES IT HAVE ANY REFERENCE FOR
US TODAY?
LISTEN, SO MANY OF YOU IN THIS
CONGREGATION FROM ENGINEERING
BACKGROUNDS, AND BECAUSE I WAS
JUST WORKING ON THIS MESSAGE, I
CAME ACROSS SOME STATISTICS FROM
THE NATIONAL BUREAU FOR ECONOMIC
RESEARCH.
AND THEY RECORDED THIS:  THAT
EVEN THOUGH WE OFTEN THINK ABOUT
TECHNOLOGY AND INDUSTRY AS
COARSENING OR HARDENING OUR
CULTURE, NONETHELESS THIS HAS
HAPPENED.
FROM 1970 TO 2006, THE PORTION
OF THE WORLD LIVING ON ONE
DOLLAR A DAY OR LESS HAS DROPPED
BY 80 PERCENT.
OVER A BILLION PEOPLE LIFTED
FROM THAT DIRENESS OF POVERTY BY
THE CONTRIBUTION OF MEN AND
WOMEN WITH ENGINEERING
TECHNOLOGIES THAT HAVE TURNED
BACK THE DARKNESS.
>>> THANK YOU, ENGINEERS.
>>> THAT SO MUCH OF WHAT WE'RE
ABLE TO SEE AND DO IN OUR WORLD
CHANGING FOR GOOD ISN'T JUST ON
THE SPIRITUAL LEVEL, BUT AS
PEOPLE ARE EMPLOYING THEIR GIFTS
FOR GOD'S PURPOSES, THEIR WORLD
IS CHANGING.
AND THE WORLD IS CHANGING AS GOD
INTENDS.
LISTEN, NOT EVERYBODY SEES IT
THAT WAY, THAT THEIR JOB, NOT
JUST WHAT COMES OUT OF THEIR
JOB, BUT THEIR JOB ITSELF IS
PART OF GOD'S DIVINE CALLING.
A FEW YEARS AGO, I WAS SPEAKING
AT THE URBANA CONFERENCE.
YOU REMEMBER WHAT THAT IS?
KIND OF EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS
THERE'S THIS NATIONAL MISSION
CONFERENCE FOR YOUNG COLLEGE
PEOPLE THAT OCCURS.
AND IT USED TO BE AT URBANA
EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS; NOW IT'S
IN ST. LOUIS.
AND I WAS SPEAKING AT THE URBANA
CONFERENCE ON THE ROLE OF
CHRISTIAN JOURNALISM, BECAUSE MY
BACKGROUND AND TRAINING IS IN
JOURNALISM.
AND SO I WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW
CHRISTIAN JOURNALISTS CAN HAVE
SUCH AN INFLUENCE UPON CULTURE
AND TAKE THE VALUES OF THEIR
FAITH, NOT JUST IN WRITING
CHRISTIAN ARTICLES, BUT WHETHER
THEY'RE DEALING WITH POLITICS OR
WAR OR ECONOMICS, TO BEGIN TO
BRING A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE TO
THE WORLD IN THEIR CALLING.
NOW, AFTERWARDS THERE WAS A
YOUNG WOMAN THAT CAME UP TO ME
AND SHE SAID, "YOU KNOW, YOUR
TALK JUST MADE ME FEEL GUILTY."
SHE SAID, "BECAUSE THE KIND OF
JOURNALISM I WANT TO DO IS I
WANT TO WRITE ARTICLES FOR
FASHION MAGAZINES.
I MEAN, I HAVE A LOVE OF
FASHION, BUT I KNOW IT'S VACUOUS
AND VAIN AND DOESN'T HONOR GOD
AT ALL."
NOW, WHAT I SAID TO HER YOU MAY
OR MAY NOT FIND EASY, BUT WHAT I
SAID WAS THIS:  "LISTEN, IF YOU
THINK WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE
DOING IS VACUOUS AND VAIN,
PLEASE DO NOT GIVE YOUR LIFE TO
THAT.
BUT IF WHAT YOU ARE ABLE TO DO
AS A FASHION WRITER IS EXPRESS
THE CREATIVITY AND BEAUTY OF GOD
WITH PURITY AND TRUE CHRISTIAN
BEAUTY, YOU COULD BE A WONDERFUL
CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE ON AN
INDUSTRY THAT NEEDS TO TALK
ABOUT BEAUTY WITHOUT VULGARITY.
AND GOD COULD BE CALLING YOU TO
DO THAT AS A CHRISTIAN IN THAT
ERA, SO THAT YOUR WORK ITSELF IS
HONORING GOD."
LISTEN, GOD IS CALLING US TO
LOTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS, AND
WHEN WE RECOGNIZE THE WORK
ITSELF IS PART OF THE GLORY THAT
GOD IS GIVING US, THAT GIVES ME
A WHOLE NOTHER WAY OF ASSESSING
MY GLORY; THAT I'M NOT JUST
GLORIFYING GOD WITH THE
BYPRODUCT OF MY LABOR:  THE
LABOR ITSELF IS DIGNIFIED.
IT'S GOING THE WORK OF GOD IN
THE WORLD IF IT IS DONE WITH HIS
PRIORITIES AND PURPOSES.
WHAT I NEED TO SAY, IF YOU BEGIN
TO RECOGNIZE THAT, THAT MY WORK
ITSELF CAN HONOR GOD, CAN BE
PART OF THE DIGNITY THAT I HAVE
IN THE WORLD, THEN I BEGIN TO
SAY THEN YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT
ALL KINDS OF WORK CARRY THAT
DIGNITY:  NOT JUST PREACHERS AND
NOT JUST PRESIDENTS AND NOT JUST
C.E.O.'S AND NOT JUST SURGEONS.
THAT THE COP AND THE CARPENTER
AND THE CONCRETE LAYER AND THE
NURSE AND ALL KINDS OF JOBS GOD
IS CALLING US TO SO THAT OUR
WORLD WILL WORK AS HE INTENDS.
LISTEN, WE DON'T HARDLY EVER GO
THERE, BUT IN GENESIS 4 AT VERSE
19, THIS KIND OF AMAZING SET OF
VERSES WHERE LAMECH IS BEING
INTRODUCED WHO WILL SAY SOME
DIFFICULT THINGS IN A LITTLE
BIT.
BUT BEFORE LAMECH SAYS DIFFICULT
THINGS, WE JUST GET THIS
DESCRIPTOR OF HOW SOCIETY IS
UNFOLDING IN THE EARLY CHAPTERS
OF GENESIS.
GENESIS 4:19, "AND LAMECH TOOK
TWO WIVES.
THE NAME OF ONE WAS ADAH; THE
NAME OF THE OTHER ZILLAH.
ADAH BORE JABEK; HE WAS THE
FATHER OF THOSE WHO DWELL IN
TENTS AND HAVE LIVESTOCK.
HIS BROTHER'S NAME WAS JUBAL; HE
WAS THE FATHER OF ALL THOSE WHO
PLAY THE LYRE AND THE PIPE.
ZILLAH ALSO BORE TUBAL-CAIN; HE
WAS THE FORGER OF ALL
INSTRUMENTS OF BRONZE AND IRON."
HERE WE ARE IN THE VERY EARLY
STAGES OF HUMAN HISTORY, AND WE
FIND THESE DIFFERENT
PROFESSIONS, WHICH BY THE WAY
MEANS HOW YOU PROFESS YOUR
FAITH:  WE FIND THESE DIFFERENT
PROFESSIONS IN THE VOCATIONS OF
THE EARLY PEOPLE.
THERE ARE THOSE WHO ARE KIND OF,
YOU KNOW, THE MARLBORO MEN.
THEY'RE RAISING LIVESTOCK.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, THERE ARE
THE ARTISANS AND THERE ARE THE
CRAFTSMEN AND THERE ARE THE
METAL WORKERS.
AND ALL THESE DIFFERENT
PROFESSIONS ARE BEING
ESTABLISHED AS THE MEANS BY
WHICH SOCIETY IS MOVING FORWARD
AND SPREADING OUT NOW AS GOD IS
HONORING EVERY SINGLE ONE.
AND WE NEED TO HEAR THAT, SO
THAT WE DON'T SOMETIMES JUST
LOOK DOWN ON OURSELVES:  "I'M
JUST A CARPENTER."
WHAT?
YOU MEAN LIKE JESUS?
NO, YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO TAKE
THE IMAGE OF GOD INTO THE WORK
THAT YOU DO AND IN DOING SO
ACTUALLY MAKE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND
THE GOODNESS OF WHAT GOD IS, THE
CARE THAT HE HAS, THE INDUSTRY
THAT HE HAS FOR OUR SAKE.
WE SOMETIMES ARE SO HARD ON
OURSELVES BECAUSE WE LET OTHER
PEOPLES' GIFTS MAKE US THINK
OURS ARE NOT WORTHY.
I LOVE THE WORDS OF 1 PETER 4,
"AS EACH HAS RECEIVED A GIFT,
USE IT TO SERVE ONE ANOTHER AS
STEWARDS OF GOD'S VARIED GRACE."
DON'T YOU LOVE THAT?
"STEWARDS OF GOD'S VARIED
GRACE."
PARENTS, SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, WE
DON'T GIVE OUR CHILDREN THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR VARIED GRACE.
PLAIN TALK:  LOTS OF GENDER
CONFUSION IN OUR CULTURE RIGHT
NOW AND SOMETIMES WE INCREASE IT
BY NARROWING THE DEFINITION OF
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A MAN OR A
WOMAN.
AND WE SAY TO A MAN WHO'S
ARTISTIC, "WELL, THAT'S NOT
MANLY."
NO, NO.
IN THE BIBLE EARLY ON, THERE
WERE MEN WHO WERE ARTISANS.
WE SAY TO A WOMAN WHO IS
MECHANICAL, "YOU KNOW, THAT'S
NOT VERY WOMANLY."
NO, NO, NO.
WAIT A SECOND.
WE SEE EVEN IN THE BIBLE THERE
ARE THOSE WHO WORK FROM ALL
KINDS OF PURPOSES FOR ALL KINDS
OF REASONS, AND THAT IS TO BE
HONORED.
WHAT WE DON'T DO IS WE SAY,
"LISTEN, I'M JUST NOT DOING
SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT."
IF YOU ARE HONORING THE GIFT OF
GOD IN YOUR LIFE, YOU ARE
FULFILLING THE GRACE THAT HE
INTENDS FOR YOUR LIFE.
THERE ARE DIFFERENT PHASES OF
LIFE, DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF OUR
HEALTH, DIFFERENT WAYS IN WHICH
WE CAN EXPRESS THOSE ABILITIES.
BUT TRUE TO THE PURPOSE OF THE
MOMENT, GOD IS GRACING US TO
GIVE GLORY TO HIS OWN NAME.
I THINK OF THAT AT DIFFERENT
PHASES, LIKE WHEN SOME PEOPLE
HAVE TO BE A STAY-AT-HOME MOM.
I TELL THIS STORY ON KATHY ONLY
BECAUSE SHE TELLS IT ON HERSELF.
SHE TALKS ABOUT A TIME THAT SHE
WAS CHANGING A PARTICULARLY UCKY
DIAPER.
[LAUGHTER]
AND SAID TO A FRIEND STANDING
BESIDE HER, "THESE HANDS HAVE
PLAYED MOZART."
[LAUGHTER]
AND THE FRIEND SAID, "MAYBE
THESE HANDS ARE DIAPERING
MOZART."
[LAUGHTER]
UNDINE--, UNDENIABLY WHAT THOSE
HANDS WERE DOING WAS NURTURING
AN ETERNAL SOUL.
THERE IS GLORY AND HONOR AND
DIGNITY OF WHATEVER GOD HAS
CALLED US TO DO.
AS WE ARE FULFILLING HIS
PURPOSES, HE IS GIVING US GREAT
DIGNITY IN WHAT WE DO.
ONE OF THE MOST TELLING ARTICLES
THAT I HAVE READ RECENTLY WAS
WRITTEN IN THE 1980'S BY LESTER
DECOSTER IN A BOOK CALLED "WORK:
THE MEANING OF YOUR LIFE."
AND WHAT HE WAS TRYING TO DO WAS
TO EXPLE--, EXPRESS TO PLANT
WORKERS IN MENIAL JOBS THAT THEY
BELIEVED BOTH DEMORALIZED AND
DEGRADED THEM WHY THEY COULD SEE
THEIR JOBS WITH DIGNITY AGAIN,
THINKING OF GOD'S PRIORITIES.
AND TO JUST HELP PEOPLE THINK,
HE WROTE THESE WORDS:  "THAT
CHAIR THAT YOU'RE LOUNGING IN,
COULD YOU HAVE MADE IT YOURSELF?
WELL, I SUPPOSE YOU COULD HAVE
ASSEMBLE THE PARTS, BUT COULD
YOU HAVE MADE THE CHAIR
YOURSELF?
COULD YOU HAVE GOTTEN THE WOOD
BY YOURSELF?
AND BY THAT, NOT JUST GO DOWN TO
THE STORE:  COULD YOU HAVE GONE
TO THE FOREST AND CUT THE TIMBER
AND TRANSPORTED IT AND PLANED IT
AND PRODUCED IT AS IT NEEDED TO
BE?
AND WHAT ABOUT THE TRUCK THAT
TRANSPORTED IT:  COULD YOU HAVE
DRIVEN IT?
COULD YOU HAVE GOT THE RUBBER
FOR THE TIRES?
COULD YOU HAVE MADE THE METAL
FOR THE WHEELS?
COULD YOU HAVE BUILT THE ROAD BY
YOURSELF?
WHAT ABOUT THE MACHINES THAT
BUILT THE ROAD?
WHAT ABOUT THE WORKERS WHO RAN
THE MACHINES?
WHAT ABOUT THE FOOD THAT WAS FED
TO THE WORKERS?
WHAT ABOUT THE FARMERS WHO
PROVIDED THE FOOD?
WHAT ABOUT THE FIELDS THAT WERE
PLOWED BY THE MACHINES THAT THE
FARMERS NEED?
WHAT ABOUT THE METAL IN THOSE
MACHINES?
ULTIMATELY," HE SAID, "YOU BEGIN
TO RECOGNIZE IF YOU HAD TO MAKE
A CHAIR, IT WOULD ACTUALLY TAKE
YOU MANY LIFETIMES."
WE WORK SO THAT GOD'S WORLD
WORKS.
AND WHEN I BEGIN TO SEE THAT,
THAT THERE'S DIGNITY IN WHAT I
DO, TO SERVE OTHERS, TO SERVE
GOD'S PURPOSES, THEN EVERY JOB
HAS A PURPOSE, HAS A GLORY TO
IT.
IT'S WHAT THE BIBLE ITSELF SAYS.
"THE EYE CANNOT SAY TO THE HAND,
'I HAVE NO NEED OF YOU.'
ON THE CONTRARY, THE PARTS OF
THE BODY THAT SEEM TO BE WEAKER
ARE INDISPENSIBLE."
EVERY PERSON IN THE IMAGE OF GOD
FOR THE PURPOSE OF GOD IN THE
PLACE OF HIS CALLING:  IT IS A
CALLING.
AND FOR THAT REASON, IT HAS THE
DIGNITY THAT GOD IS GIVING TO IT
AS WE ARE LIVING FOR HIM IN THAT
PLACE FOR THAT PURPOSE.
NOT JUST THE BYPRODUCT, THE WORK
ITSELF HAS DIGNITY.
AND FOR THAT REASON, WE DO.
I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH THIS.
ONE OF THE SCULPTORS IN THIS
WORLD THAT KATHY AND I
APPRECIATED BEFORE WE UNDERSTOOD
HER CHRISTIAN BACKGROUND IS
NAMED ROSALIND COOK.
AND SHE TALKED ABOUT HER OWN
EXPERIENCE IN A BOOK RECENTLY.
SHE BEGAN SCULPTING IN THE
1970'S, BUT THAT WAS WHEN SHE
WAS PREGNANT.
AND THEN THREE MORE CHILDREN
FOLLOWED.
AND THE CONSEQUENCE WAS SHE JUST
GOT AWAY FROM THE SCULPTING,
KIDS, CARPOOLS, PEANUT BUTTER
AND JELLY, ALL THAT GOES INTO
THE EARLY MOLDER--, MOTHERHOOD.
SHE JUST STOPPED CREATING.
ONE DAY, A MISSIONARY VISITING
WAS IN HER HOME AND SAW THE
NEGLECTED LUMPS OF SCULPTING
CLAY AND ASKED WHAT THEY WERE
ABOUT.
AND ROSALIND COOK WHEN ASKED
WHAT WERE THOSE LUMPS OF CLAY
ABOUT, BEGAN TO WEEP.
"I HAVE SO MUCH JOY IN
SCULPTING," SHE SAID TO THE
MISSIONARY.
"BUT WHAT'S THE SIGNIFICANCE OF
THAT?
THIS ISN'T SAVING SOULS.
THIS ISN'T DOING ANYTHING FOR
ANYONE."
THE MISSIONARY THEN REPLIED,
"ROSALIND, YOU ARE MADE IN GOD'S
IMAGE.
HE IS YOUR CREATOR.
AND WHEN YOU USE THE GIFTS OF
HIS IMAGE, THAT GIVES HIM
PLEASURE."
WHEN WE ARE USING THE GIFTS THAT
HE HAS GIVEN US IN THE
PROFESSIONS TO WHICH HE HAS
CALLED US, THAT GIVES HIM
PLEASURE.
SOME OF YOU MAKE MONEY IN
AMAZING WAYS.
I'M SO AMAZED BY YOU.
SOME OF YOU PAINT SO
WONDERFULLY.
SOME OF YOU MAKE MUSIC SO
WONDERFULLY.
SOME OF YOU ARE ENGINEERS
WORKING ON PROJECTS THAT I'M
AMAZED OF.
SOME OF YOU ARE DOCTORS THAT
GIVE PEOPLE LIVES TO WORK AGAIN.
SOME OF YOU ARE TEACHERS GIVING
KIDS HOPE AGAIN.
I LOOK AT THE SO MANY THINGS
THAT YOU ARE DOING, AND I THINK:
WHAT A GREAT GOD THAT HE HAS
GIVEN SO MANY PEOPLE SO MANY
DIGNIFIED THINGS TO DO.
IT'S PART OF HIS GRACE AND
GOODNESS TOWARD US IF WE WILL
BUT SEE IT AS HE INTENDS.
WRITES ROSALIND, "SINCE THE
MISSIONARY CAME, I GAVE MYSELF
PERMISSION TO USE THE GIFTS GOD
HAD GIVEN ME TO BE THE PERSON HE
MEANT ME TO BE.
SO MANY PEOPLE," SHE SAID, "LIVE
WITH REGRETS, BECAUSE THEY DON'T
GIVE THEMSELVES PERMISSION TO
USE THE GIFTS AND OPPORTUNITIES
GOD PUTS INTO OUR LIVES.
WHEN WE USE THOSE GIFTS, NURTURE
THEM, GROW THEM, SHARE THEM,
THEN WE HAVE LIVED LIFE WELL."
THAT'S THE MESSAGE.
IF WE ARE USING GOD'S GIFTS IN
THE CALLING HE GIVES US, WE LIVE
LIFE WELL.
AND THERE'S DIGNITY IN THAT.
PRAISE GOD THAT YOU ARE MADE IN
HIS IMAGE FOR HIS PROFESSION IN
THE WORK THAT HE HAS CALLED YOU
TO DO.
>>> FATHER, WOULD YOU BLESS US
BY REMINDING US OF HOW A GOOD A
FATHER YOU ARE, THAT YOU HAVE
LOVED US IN ALL THE VARIED
GRACES OF LIFE TO WHICH YOU CALL
US AND WITH ALL THE GIFTS THAT
YOU GIVE US?
HELP US TO REMEMBER IT THAT WE
MAY GLORIFY YOU AS FATHER AND
DELIGHT IN THE DIGNITY YOU GIVE.
THIS WE PRAY IN JESUS' NAME.
AMEN.

---