****The following is a draft of the message for Sunrise UMC on Jan. 22, 2012***
Who here has ever wished that they could change jobs or at least improve their current job situation?
[Allow response]
Most people at one time or another, do wish for some dramatic change in their employment.
In recent weeks, there has been a gecko on television who spouts an adage from his father saying, "Do something you love and you will never work a day in your life." Actually, the quote is from Confucius, the Chinese philosopher of the 5th century BCE. Yet, Forbes magazine stated a couple of years ago, "If you do what you love for a living, you’ll probably end up loving it a little bit less." I believe that there is probably a bit of truth to both of these assertions.
Last year, The Gallup Organization conducted a study on the Job Satisfaction of Americans. Here are some of the results:
- while 85% of employed Americans are satisfied, that's a 4% drop over the last 4 years
- of the 85%
- only 26% are very satisfied
- 41% are somewhat satisfied
- 18% are indifferent
All of these stats do reveal a bit of a decline in job satisfaction. So, why the drop? In a separate study, Americans disclose their growing dissatisfaction is a result of:
- less job security
- less benefits
- less pay
- more responsibility without pay
- more stressful working conditions
If the Gallup poll is not enough of an indicator of an increase in job dissatisfaction, then maybe the fact that both BountyJobs.com and Monster.com have both reported significant increase in activity over the last year. While the high unemployment rate did play a factor in the increase, a substantial percentage of the upsurge is derived from persons already gainfully employed.
Yet, another indication of employee frustration can be gleaned from another media product.
Who knows who Scott Adams is?
While you may not know Mr. Adams by name, many, if not most, will recognize him as the creator of: Dilbert - the caricature of modern office cubicle employee.
Through his profession of pen and ink, Scott Adams parodies the work life of many Americans, thus creating a cult-like following.
Several years ago, Adams posted on the Internet an invitation for his blog followers to describe their job in one sentence. Here are the top ten (in a Name That Job format)
- Show people how beautiful the Earth would be without them - Nature and Landscape Photographer
- Have people spend far more than they estimated - Building Inspector
- Clean up an animal that makes more money then me in a year - Assistant Horse Trainer
- Talk in other people’s sleep - College Professor
- Help people hate each other - Divorce Lawyer
- Copy and paste the Internet - Student
- Run away and call the police - Security Officer
- Be a human napkin - Stay at Home Mom
- Bring a little rain into the lives of flood victims - Auditor
- Make food that is as healthy before it goes in your body as when it comes back out - Fast Food Employee
Over the last few weeks, we have thought about, well, not New Year's resolutions per se, but yet a few areas in which we each could grow. We began by considering that this year will be different as we become more intentional with our spiritual lives. Last week, we looked at making this year different by improving our relationship with others.
Today, we will conclude by looking at our professional (and academic) lives. In each of these areas, we know that this year will be different because of our intentional inclusion of God in them.
Let's begin this time of discernment by saying aloud what our intention will be - in other words, the focus of this message - This Year Will Be Different - Professionally.
It may surprise some for me to include this area. But let's be clear on this, God wants to be in control of our whole life including our profession.
I want to invite you to look with me at a story of when Jesus took special interest in one man's profession. The story comes from The Gospel of Luke, chapter 5.
Luke 5.1-11
1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, 2 he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." 5 Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets." 6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
[Prayer]
Often, people will look at the accounts of the Bible as good stories, or maybe even good ideals, but they don't see any relevance to them in their lives. But, I beg to differ. As we look at these stories, I invite you to consider that they are historical accounts of how God as interacted with people and not always godly or holy people. Most of the time, the people were common, ordinary folk like you and me living out common, ordinary lives. Today's is a perfect example.
First off, when did this story occur?
[Allow response]
- happened during an ordinary day
Who is one of the central characters?
[Allow response]
- Simon. This is before he a follower of Jesus. As Luke records it, we know of only one account prior to this that Jesus and Simon had interacted. In the previous chapter, Jesus visited Simon's house and healed his mother-in-law. (Some may say that just that incident may have turned Simon off of wanting to be in Jesus' fan club)
Yet, for whatever reason, of which we will probably never know, Jesus came to Simon, and invited him to change his job description. As Luke suggests, Simon is not called because of qualifications, character, or potential. God's call is unpredictable as it is unmerited
Now we need to note where this encounter occurred. Was it in the Temple? A mountaintop? In front of a burning bush? No, it was along the lakeshore, where fishing boats were beached, among a bunch of dirty fishermen, surrounded by smelly old bait. In other words, Jesus came to Simon at Simon's job, his workplace. In the midst of all the grime and tedious workings of that profession, God reached in, for Simon.
And God reached in at a time when Simon was not at his best. At this point, he may have felt like a failure, because here he was, a professional, experienced fishermen, who had failed to catch even one fish. So, he had quit for the day.
What follows appears to be rather uncharacteristic for Jesus as he performs miracles. He did not command the sea to be fruitful or fish to jump onto Simon's boat. Actually Jesus didn't do anything out of the ordinary. He simply said to Simon, "Put out into deep water and let down your nets."
Simon replies to the request with a "Been There, Done That and Didn't Even Get a T-Shirt to Show For It."
Yet, what Jesus implies is, "Yeah, you have. But not with me."
You see, that's the whole point of this story. It's the same boat, the same nets, the same routine - the only difference is Jesus is present - and that made all the difference.
Friends, that's also the point for you and me in our profession. If we truly want this year to be different, professionally, let's let Jesus be present.
Amen.
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