Careers

Web site at www.marriage.infomedia.com                       John Lovoy 7/24/99

Setting the stage:

Why do we need to talk about this in a marriage class?

This can be rain on the fire you have built as you fell in love. Need to know how to deal with it as Satin can use it as a tool to break up marriages. Need to understand dangers:

Greed—Power—Pride—Women being under another’s authority--Unfaithfulness

Maybe work is a curse and we are not supposed to be content.

Gen: 2:15 Note that God put man in garden to work BEFORE the fall.

Men are Made for work and Need to work Produces a sense of accomplishment, satisfaction, and fulfillment.

I Timothy 5:8

II Thes 3:10

Typically men…..Happy at work = Happy at home, Unhappy at work= Unhappy at home. Sometimes can be too happy at work and become addicted…..Workaholic.

Men are usually happy when they are productive

Women are usually productive when they are happy.

Men go to work to try and show wife love through hard work and usually can disconnect from home.

Women would like to think that their man is thinking about them and wants to leave and be with her.

We typically spend countless hours on our careers and less than 1 hour communicating with and nurturing spouse.

Unhappy at work:

Reports and surveys show as many as 80% of Americans are discontent with their careers. What’s the problem?

Either they are not content with where God has placed them and they want God to run his plans by them first………….or……………..

Okay with where God has placed them, but they want to do "something else".

We play the "if only" game. If only I was not working for this person, If only I were doing that job, If only I was my own boss, If only………….

Story of Joseph Gen:37-47

Could God be using the situation to teach us something? Psalms 119:71

Ambition

Ambition = A strong desire to achieve or succeed in a goal or object desired.

Problem is……Selfish Ambition…………..I could be happy if…….

Gal 5:19-21	Luke 16:13-15	James 3:14	Phil: 2:3-4
Eccel:2:17-23	Prov 28:20	Prov 23:4

So how should you handle ambition? Secret is that happiness is not found in getting what you want, but instead seeking God’s will in your life and career.

How should we treat ambition?……….Maybe we should crucify it!! Or change it to a very simple ambition………….Obey God and seek to please Him. Humble ourselves and seek his face…..This is what He told Solomon.

Eccel 2:26	Psalm 119:36	I Thes 2:4 & 4:11 & 4:1	Prov 30:8
II Corr 5:9	Matt 6:33	Phil 4:12	Col 3:23

This should be your career statement………. Living Bible

......Psalm 119:33-34 = Just tell me what to do and I will do it Lord.

Be Content with where God has placed you. No problem in good circumstances.

Trick is to be content in Bad Circumstances.

Must learn to be joyful in our current situation and be content. Okay to ask god to get us out if it is His will. Football player wanting to play a different position. Can have 2 different attitudes. Which one do you think is pleasing to the coach?

Okay to suffer a little. James 1:2 and 1:12

God may be cooking you a little. Refining you. Need Heat and Time. We want to knock on the oven door and say "let me out of here"

Phil 4:12

I Peter 3:17

Key = to be in Center of God’s will.

Changing Careers

Jeremiah
33:3	17:5-8	16:10-12	29:11

Seek God’s will…Godly council…….through His Word……through Spouse

Matt 6:24

Prov 27:1

Do not go running off on your own plan if you do not hear God’s answer….Look what happened to Abraham……..got impatient took unnecessary action.

Be patient. If cloud does not move……..wait for God.

But

Be ready for change…..it will come when you least expect it. There is no job security except in serving the Lord.

So what if you get a new job……..through prayer……….How do you handle the apprehension?

Joshua 1:1-9

II Chronicles 20:1-30

Going into business for yourself

Seek even more council

Watch out for debt

Do not form a partnership with friends

Both success and failure can be bad for marriage

Understand the work load = 24 hours/ day

Preview coming problems….Inventory, cash flow, risks, taxes, being sued, and employees.

Even if working for someone else, you should always be working like it is your business. Need to strive to make yourself valuable………work as unto the Lord.

Col 3:22 Real boss is always God.