• November 1st 2011

NO WORRIES WEEK

Feeling a bit STRESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSED?

You’re not alone. Consider these eye-popping statistics:

  • The average workweek is up 32% over the past 25 years.
  • Time spent in traffic is up 157% over that same period.
  • 40% of us are sleep-deprived.
  • 33% of us are “chronically overworked.”
  • We squandered 448 million unused vacation days last year.
  • 80% of medical expenses are now stress-related.
  • 1 in 6 of us has exhibited “desk rage.”

Yikes. (For those who aren’t familiar with the phrase “desk rage,” here’s s a graphic example.)

In an effort to help address this dire situation, we hereby officially declare this NO WORRIES WEEK here on GUWG. All week long we’ll examine what God says about worry, anxiety, stress, fear and other things in this world that freak us out.

Here’s today’s anti-anxiety verse. Relaaaaaaax, take a deeeeeeep breath and ponder each precious word.

Be still
and know that I am God.
(Psalm 46:10)

(Sources: Harris Interactive, Urban Mobility Report, Families and Work Institute, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Expedia.com, AOL, Caravan Opinion Research, TIME Magazine, National Safety Council)

  • August 5th 2011

Wisdom Week: Work

It’s WISDOM WEEK here on GUWG, where all week we’re probing the practical principles of Proverbs.

Today’s topic: Work.

God has a lot to say about the way we should work. Here are a few excerpts from His official employee handbook . . .

Be Humble. Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. (16:18)

Listen More Than You Talk. A wise man listens to advice. (12:15) When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. (10:19)

Be Honest. The Lord abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight. (11:1) Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow. (13:11) Food gained by fraud tastes sweet to a man, but he ends up with a mouth full of gravel. (20:17)

Be Diligent. Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! (6:6 Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men. (22:29)

Encourage Others. The lips of the righteous nourish many. (10:21a) An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up. (12:25) Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. (16:24)

Don’t Gossip. A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much. (20:19) Without gossip, a quarrel dies down. (26:20b)

Don’t Worry. Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared. (3:25-26)

Seek God’s Advice and Give Him All the Glory. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (3:5)

WORK GOD’S WAY

  • May 18th 2011

Wednesday Wisdom

Here’s this week’s proverb. Read it. Memorize it. Live it.

He who works his land
will have abundant food,
but the one who chases fantasies
will have his fill of poverty.
(Proverbs 28:19)

  • May 9th 2011

Humility @ Work

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit,
but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
(Philippians 2:3)

I should get this verse tattooed on my forehead so that every time I look in the mirror I’m reminded not to be a selfish moron.

If I’m absolutely honest, selfish ambition is what drives at least 86.3% of my activity at work. Waaaaaaaaay too often, I focus exclusively on what’s best for me. Not the company. Not my boss. Not my co-workers. Not our customers. Me. Me. Me.

Thank God for Jesus. He showed us a far better way . . .

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant.
(Philippians 2:5-7a)

Let some of the words from the above verses percolate in you for a moment. No selfish ambition. Think of others as better. Made himself nothing. Servant.

Want to be a great leader? I humbly suggest you follow Jesus. Just in case you’re like me and need a little extra reminding, here’s one more verse:

If anyone wants to be first,
he must be the very last,
and the servant of all.
(Mark 9:35b)

  • October 25th 2009

God @ Work: Sunday Prayer

DEAR GOD,

We need your help at work. Help us to . . .

always put you first
pray, pray, pray
love, love, love
be humble
be diligent
be honest
be joyful
be gentle
listen more than we talk
spread encouragement
never spread gossip
never grumble
never worry
rest

May we trust you with all our hearts,
never lean on our own understanding
and give you all the glory.

AMEN

  • October 24th 2009

God’s Employee Handbook (v2)

It’s GOD @ WORK WEEK here on GUWG, where we’ve been examining what the Bible says about the wonderful world of work.

We’ll conclude by issuing an updated version of our employee handbook. Print it out. Post it in your cube. Pray through it daily.

GOD’S EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK

God’s the Boss. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” (Colossians 3:23)

Pray, Pray, Pray. “Pray continually.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Love, Love, Love. “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39)

Honesty is the Best Policy. “The Lord abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight.” (Proverbs 11:1) Speak the truth in love. (Ephesians 4:15)

Be Humble. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourself.” (Philippians 2:3)

Be Gentle. “Let your gentleness be evident to all.” (Philippians 4:5)

Be Joyful. “Be joyful always.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16)

Be Diligent. “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!” (Proverbs 6:6)

Listen More Than You Talk. “A wise man listens to advice.” (Proverbs 12:15) “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.” (Proverbs 10:19)

Spread Encouragement. “An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.” (Proverbs 12:25) “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” (Proverbs 16:24)

Don’t Spread Gossip. “A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much.” (Proverbs 20:19) “Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.” (Proverbs 26:20)

Don’t Grumble. “Do everything without complaining or arguing.” (Philippians 2:14)

Don’t Worry. “Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared.” (Proverbs 3:25-26)

Follow God’s Big 10. Always put God first. Don’t make work an idol. Never misuse God’s name. Take some time off (at least Sundays). Don’t think murderous thoughts about your boss, co-workers or anyone else. Don’t lust after anyone. Don’t steal from the company (that includes pens, paper and post-its). Don’t lie. Don’t covet your co-workers’ jobs, cubicles or anything else. 

Seek God’s Advice and Give Him All the Glory. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5)

WORK GOD’S WAY

  • October 23rd 2009

God’s Big 10

It’s GOD @ WORK WEEK here on GUWG, where all week long we’ve been taking an in-depth look at what the Bible says about the wonderful world of work.

Today’s topic: The Ten Commandments @ Work.

Most companies have values statements. They get put on a nice plaque, hung in a conference room and then promptly forgotten. My guess is that if you asked employees to recite ‘em, only a tiny fraction could. And only a tiny fraction of that would actually live ‘em out.

Want to see God’s values statement? Check out the timeless truths in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17). Do you know ‘em by heart? Do you live ‘em out? If not, you might want to ask yourself this additional question:

Am I really working for God?

How could these commandments — written several thousand years ago before the invention of the cell phone, the computer or even Twitter — possibly apply to today’s world? I humbly suggest that you pray through ‘em yourself and ask God that question.

For what it’s worth, here’s what I came up with . . .

  1. Always put God first.
  2. Don’t make work an idol.
  3. Never misuse God’s name.
  4. Take some time off (at least Sundays).
  5. Honor your mom and dad (why not call ‘em over your lunch break?).
  6. Don’t think murderous thoughts about your boss, co-workers or anyone else.
  7. Don’t lust after anyone.
  8. Don’t steal from the company (that includes pens, paper and post-its).
  9. Don’t lie.
  10. Don’t covet your co-worker’s jobs, cubicles or anything else.

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