The Balance of Work and Play

Family Worship Center Pastor Mark Schwarzbauer

PhD

Colossians 3:17, 22-25 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him… 22 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.

Colossians 3:17, 22-25 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.

Part One: The Right

Perspective

The Right Perspective• Work is a blessing and not part of

the curse in Genesis.• Work was not part of the fall it is

part of the nature of God!• The first picture of God in the

Bible is as a WORKER.• Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God

created the heavens and the earth.

The Right Perspective• Genesis 2:1-2a Thus the heavens

and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. 2 And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done,…”

The Right Perspective• Genesis 2:15 15 Then the LORD

God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.• Man was created in the garden and

given work to do.• He also was involved in creativity

with naming the animals.

The Right Perspective• Genesis 2:18 And the LORD God

said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”• The term “helper” was NOT at all

a derogatory term… God Himself is referred to by the term!

All this was before the fall and the curse.

God wants you to see work as truly godly and good.

Part Two: The Distorted

Perspective

Workaholicor Slothful

are bothdistorted

perspectives

2 Thessalonians 3:10• 10 For even when we were with you,

we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. NKJV

• For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” NIV

• What is referred to as the “Protestant work ethic.”

2 Thessalonians 3:10 Why would Paul and the leadership have to COMMAND this?

• People fail at behavioral math… they don’t put cause and effect together in behavior.

• Part of the sinful nature is to shirk responsibility and some will do as little as they can as expecting others will do the rest.

2 Thessalonians 3:10 Why would Paul and the leadership have to COMMAND this?

• Doing the work for them instead of requiring it of them they were “enabling” them to be irresponsible.

• By enabling them they were creating a culture of dependent, lazy, incompetent and irresponsible people.

2 Thessalonians 3:10 Why would Paul and the leadership have to COMMAND this?

• Parents who do everything for their kids and don’t require the kids to learn basic life skills are doing the same thing.

• Kids need to be taught how to do their own wash, to clean, cook and budget their time and money.

Some adults need to learn the basic life skills and the importance of work.

• Facing the challenge of failed parenting.• Blaming is NOT a solution.• Becoming a TRUE disciple you

structure and discipline yourself (and it will be MUCH harder).

Part Three: The HealingPerspective

The Healing Perspective

• A healthy balance between work, rest and play.• You can develop that in healthy

relationships with accountability.• The healthy Biblical attitude

Colossians 3:17, 22-25 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him… 22 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.

Colossians 3:17, 22-25 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.

Colossians 3:17, 22-25

• BE THE BEST for the Lord.• DO YOUR BEST for the Lord• SERVE THE BEST as to the Lord• REST THE BEST with the Lord.