We have talked about many enjoyable topics in this series such as deepening our spiritual lives, finding ways to contribute to the lives of others, and just taking the blinders off of our lives and allowing ourselves just to dream with our personal vision. There are just some things in our lives that we love to do, then there are some things that we MUST do. For many people WORK is one of those things that people MUST do!

Work is something that all of us have in common. Work is the necessary vehicle that allows all of our other dreams to come to pass. There are several things that we are going to observe about our v.ocations:

1) EVERYONE MUST WORK

1 Tim 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

2) WE WILL NOT ALL HAVE THE SAME WORK

Eph 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Our diversity in occupations is what will make the church great.

David was a Shepherd
Aquila & Priscilla were tentmakers
Jesus was a carpenter
Peter was a fisherman
Zacchaeus was a tax collector

3) SET YOUR GOALS HIGH, BUT BE WILLING TO DO ANYTHING TO ON YOUR WAY

Eccl 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

If a man is called to be a street-sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, “Here lived a great street-sweeper who did his job well.” (Martin Luther King Jr.)

Joseph had been given mighty dreams, but he filled many different roles before he was second in commands of a great nation.

4) FALL IN LOVE WITH YOUR JOB

How can we fall in love with something that we hate? Try to follow this list:
- A) Try to find the good that it is doing for your family (house, clothes, groceries, etc.
- B) Try to find the good that it is doing for you (self-confidence, building your resume, etc.
- C) Try to find the good that it is doing for someone else (encouraging a co-worker, being a witness)

Find something that you love so well that you will do it for free – do it so well that people will gladly pay you for it – John Maxwell

Esther 4:14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

You never know that God may have put you in a certain job for a specific reason so that he can use you to affect a work community that other people would be unable to reach.

Philippians 4:11-13 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

THREE STAGES
OF THE WORKPLACE

A) BEING HIRED

Starting a new job is a very tricky thing. It can be very challenging. You are around new people, new surroundings and many times, new tasks. The hardest part is actually getting that new job. You first must conquer the dreaded interview. With some help from successful peers, lots of prayer and self-confidence in yourself from your past victories, you can overcome the interview.

However, let’s look at some things NOT TO DO in the interview. Vice Presidents and personnel directors of the one hundred largest corporations were asked to describe their most unusual experience interviewing prospective employees.

A job applicant challenged the interviewer to an arm wrestle.
Interviewee wore a Walkman, explaining that she could listen to the interviewer and the music at the same time.
Candidate fell and broke an arm during the interview.
Candidate announced she hadn’t had lunch and proceeded to eat a hamburger and french fries in the interviewer’s office.
Candidate explained that her long-term goal was to replace the interviewer.
The candidate said he never finished high school because he was kidnapped and kept in a closet in Mexico.
A balding candidate excused himself and returned to the office a few minutes later wearing a headpiece.
The applicant said if he was hired he would demonstrate his loyalty by having the corporate logo tattooed on his forearm.
Applicant interrupted the interview to phone her therapist for advice on how to answer specific interview questions.
Candidate brought a large dog to interview.
Applicant refused to sit down and insisted on being interviewed standing up.
Candidate dozed off during the interview.
Cell phone when off during the interview.

B) BEING FIRED

“You’re fired!” has become the catchphrase du jour, thanks to the reality tv phenomenon The Apprentice. Americans were riveted and giddy as Donald Trump fired job candidates one-by-one on national television. If you find yourself laid off, discharged, terminated or forced to resign, take heart, you’re in excellent company. Rejection has become widely accepted – it can even be good for you! Here are some tips for coming out a winner in the event the ax falls on you:

Have an Exit Strategy
Analyze and Learn From Your Situation
One Boss’s “Fire” is Another Boss’s “Hire”
Look on the Bright Side

C) BEING RETIRED

Clare Boothe Luce, the writer, politician, and ambassador, popularized the idea of the “life sentence”—a statement summarizing the goal and purpose of one’s life. Your life sentence could be expressed as, “I want to be a great ________________.”

Why is it so important to pay attention to your “life sentence”? Because your life sentence not only sets the direction for your life but it also determines the legacy you will leave. It took me a long time to figure that out. My hope is that you can learn the lesson more quickly than I did. Success doesn’t count for much if you leave nothing behind. The best way to do that is through a leadership legacy. Excerpt From: John Maxwell. “The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership.” (The Law of Legacy)

“Someday people will summarize your life in a single sentence. My advice: pick it now!”

CONCLUSION

Take some time to write down all of your V.OCATION goals on this page. We are much more likely to complete these goals when they are set before us.

1) ________________________________________________________

2) ________________________________________________________

3) ________________________________________________________

4) ________________________________________________________

5) ________________________________________________________

6) ________________________________________________________

7) ________________________________________________________

8) ________________________________________________________

9) ________________________________________________________

10) _______________________________________________________

VOCATION GOALS COULD INCLUDE:

1) Receive a promotion

2) Reach a set salary

3) Start your own business

4) Grow your business

LIFE SURVIVAL SERIES

SERMON ONE: THE ART OF SURVIVAL
SERMON TWO: S.PIRITUAL GOALS
SERMON THREE: U.NDERSTANDING GOALS
SERMON FOUR: R.ELATIONSHIP GOALS
SERMON FIVE: V.ISION GOALS
SERMON SIX: I.NVESTMENT GOALS
SERMON SEVEN: V.OCATION GOALS
SERMON EIGHT: A.SSET GOALS
SERMON NINE: L.EISURE GOALS

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