Dwelling Place

Guest (Male): Should a Christian business owner be a pushover? Consider this from pastor Al Pittman.

Al Pittman: I'm a Christian business person or supervisor, so if people come in late, I'm just supposed to say, well, praise the Lord, it's okay. I love you. Jesus loves you too. Or if they, you know, they mess up on the job, don't do their job, don't worry about it. I'll do it for you because I love Jesus. That's not wisdom. If you're a boss or a business owner. In other words, don't try to be the savior, point them to the savior. And sometimes the best way you can point somebody to the savior is to fire them.

Amen? Because God will many times use you, masters, you business owners, you bosses, as his arm of discipline in their lives.

Guest (Male): Have you ever considered where the greatest work on behalf of God is done? Is it in the great churches? Is it in giant stadiums filled with people attending revivals? Maybe those big tent revivals? These are all good places to find God's work being done. But today on the dwelling place, we're going to see that one of the best places to demonstrate the presence of God in your life is in the workplace. Whether you're a worker or the boss. Pastor Al Pittman will be looking at the first verse of Colossians chapter four. So turn there in your Bible if you can and join us.

Here's pastor Al.

Al Pittman: Moths can eat it, if rust can rust it. If thieves can break in and steal it, it's not treasure at all. Jesus said, I'm giving you a peace that the world cannot give you, nor can they take away. In other words, folks, we seek ultimately as employees out working for the man, so to speak, you know. Working, going to our jobs every day for that corporation or that business, that job, or whatever it is that you're doing. When you go there, we are ultimately seeking not the eternal, but that which is not the temporal, I should say, but that which is eternal.

I'm here because God has placed me here. I'm working for that heritage, not working, but living, seeking that heritage which is reserved in heaven for all who come to faith in Christ. So as employees, as Paul said, bond servants, obey in all things, not with eye service as men pleasers, but in sincerity of heart fearing God. Secondly, Paul says, masters, those of you who are supervisors or bosses, have people that work for you or under you and you own your own business. Just masters, give your bond servants what is just and fair. Verse four, chapter four, verse one of the book of Colossians.

He says, masters, give your bond servants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a master in heaven. And sometimes we get in that position of authority and we forget we are actually under authority as Christians. We think, well, I've arrived. I'm I'm I'm calling the shots here. No, you're not. The Lord ought to be calling the shots through you. You're still under his authority. As a Christian boss or employer, we must remember that we have a master. As Christians, we are to not take advantage of those that are under us or that work for us and especially those who are of the faith.

But to deal fairly and just. Spirit of Enron shouldn't exist around believers. We shouldn't be rip-off artists and trying to get all for ourselves at the expense of others. Even back in the Old Testament, Deuteronomy chapter 24 verse 14, the Bible says, you shall not oppress the hired servant who was poor and needy, whether one of your brethren or one of the aliens or foreigners who was in your land within your gates. Or somebody's over here, they're over here illegally. I'm just going to take advantage of them. Pay them half the wage. Come on. Bible says, don't do that to deal fairly with them.

Someone comes to work for you, you know you can give them a raise, but you'd rather pad your pocket. God says, deal fairly with them uprightly. And especially if they're Christians. Galatians chapter six verse 10 says, therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. Especially to we ought to be we ought to be treating our brothers and sisters even more kind and treating them even more fair than and and just, you know, because they're, you know, they're of the faith. But I'm sad to report that sometimes there are some Christian businesses that you go to and want to do business with them and and they just flat rip you off or don't do what they tell them say they're going to do.

And I can't recommend other people to them. It's like I want to say, you know, take the fish off your business card, dude. That's why I don't put a fish on my car. Sometimes I get in a little hurry. But if you're not going to do business justly and fairly, if you're going to be ripping people off in the name of Jesus, what a poor witness that is. And there are many who have done that. There should be a noticeable difference, folks, in the way a Christian conducts business apart from the world. I mean, you shouldn't know it.

When there the cleaners the other day and the Christian owned business and you know, I didn't go in and say, is this a Christian business? You walked in and you could hear the Christian music. The lady was very pleasant, you know. So finally I was curious. I said, are you are you a Christian? You know, cuz I don't just I don't just listen to the music and you know, think people are Christians. I mean, that's I've been disappointed many times in the past saying, hey, praise the Lord, you listen you guys are Christians, huh? Yeah.

Maybe. You know, kind of you know, and they weren't Christians. So you couldn't can't go by what you see. So so I asked her and she said, yeah, we're Christians. And you know, it was it was neat. It was just you could tell the atmosphere was different. My son has a has a job now working for a fast food company and you would know it if I told you. Everybody's pretty much familiar with them, but this particular company, but uh there, you know, I remember going there before he even started working there and I remember walking in and I even took the time to pay a compliment to the manager because there was a noticeable difference about the kids working in there.

These people honor God in the business cuz it's run by Christians. It's owned by Christians. They're closed on Sunday. You know, they have scholarship programs for the kids. I mean, you could just walk in and go, man, this this ain't the other place that I go to. You know, I've been places where you know, kids just you know, can can I help you? I'm about ready to help you out here in a minute. Slap that paper hat right off your head. What a attitude. Your mama know you talk like that in public? But the managers don't care.

Managers got an attitude. You know, everybody's got an attitude and place. You're like, whoa, it just makes the food bad. You know, why not? No, I'll go someplace else, you know. But a Christian owned business, man, it ought to be a difference in in this particular place, you know. Uh you know, now my son's working there and you know, it's it's it's just neat. You get there's a noticeable diff- they're not perfect, folks, but you know, there is a noticeable difference. Now we talk about Christian bosses and managers, business owners, masters. Sometimes people may get the impression that, well, I'm a Christian business person or supervisor, so if people come in late, I'm just supposed to say, well, praise the Lord, it's okay.

I love you. Jesus loves you too. You know. Or if they, you know, they mess up on the job, don't do their job, don't worry about it. I'll do it for you because I love Jesus. You know. That's not wisdom. If you're a boss or a business owner. In other words, don't try to be the savior, point them to the savior. And sometimes the best way you can point somebody to the savior is to fire them. Amen? Because God will many times use you, masters, you business owners, you bosses, as his arm of discipline in their lives.

Sometimes Christians think they can get away with that. Uh he he's a brother in the Lord. Hey, we go to Calvary Worship Center together. Brother, you're not doing your job. Well, I know, brother, I've been praying about it too and you know, you can pray about it all you want, but this is your last day. Now you got plenty of time to pray about it. Hey, man, but I thought where's the love, man? I thought you loved me. The most loving thing I can do for you is to fire you so that God can use that in your life to make you the person you ought to be.

So don't think, you know, you're working for a Christian boss, I can get away with stuff. When you're 15 minutes late this morning, well, the Lord was really speaking to me. Well, continue the conversation cuz you no longer have a job. People think that's harsh. No, that I think that's that's dealing justly and fairly with folks. And it goes the other way around. Yeah, treat your brothers in Christ, you know, everyone fairly and especially those who are in Christ. And if you're working for a Christian, you ought to work twice as hard to make them look good.

Being a witness in the marketplace. Pointing people to Jesus, you business owners and bosses using the authority God has given you to magnify the Lord. There's a couple of points of application that I want to leave with you this morning and the first one is this. In order for us to really have a kingdom mentality out in the marketplace as an employee or an employer, supervisor, first thing we need to understand that it's not all about us. It's really not about us. It's really about God's good pleasure. Turn to Philippians chapter two, chapter two verse 12.

We studied this some time ago, but it's worth repeating. Philippians chapter two verse 12. Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling out of respect for who God is. Verse 13 he says, for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for his good pleasure. No, God's supposed to work things out in my life so that I could be happy. No, no, no, no. He works in us to will and to do for his good pleasure.

You're in your job, your place of employment for his pleasure, not for your own. It is for his pleasure that he has placed you there. In fact, you could say our employment is his enjoyment because God uses that position you're in to hone you and to shape you into the image of his son.

Guest (Male): We'll pause right here, but pastor Al will be back in a few moments with part two of today's message in Colossians chapter four. We are all about sharing the gospel with the entire world. Would you pray about partnering with us financially to help accomplish that goal? To join our support team, please give us a call at 844 221 3363 or visit our website at cwccts.org. And we have a brand new address to share with you for pastor Al's podcast. It's anchor.fm/cwccts-podcast. That's anchor.fm/cwccts-podcast. Now let's return to today's message in Colossians chapter four. Here's pastor Al Pittman.

Al Pittman: Many years ago when I was working at a retail business, there was a guy that would come in and he was he was just a rude customer. And I didn't know this. I was a new guy there on the counter. I was just all excited about retail and more learning the business and everything and but I noticed when this guy came in the first time, the two guys I was standing there talking to, the manager and assistant manager disappeared. I'm like, where did everybody go? Oh, okay. Hi, sir. Can I help you? And it went downhill from there.

This guy complained. He just all he was he was grumpy, the whole thing. He was just you know, just you know, and I was for a second there I was thinking, I'm going to knock this guy out. I'm going to try my best, you know, in Jesus name to knock him out, you know, cuz he was just so rude. And then the Lord spoke to my heart and this is truth. I mean, it is the Lord said to me, he said, love him. Love him. I want to beat him down. I don't want to love him.

Lord said, love him. And I took God at his word and I began to every time the guy would come in, I would go, you know, that bell would ring at the door that he'd come in and you hear the bell. Ding ling, you know, and everybody would disappear in the back and there he is coming in and it's like here comes the hand of God because God was using him as an instrument in my life to teach me how to love like Jesus. Still learning, by the way. But at that time in my life, God was honing me and teaching me to love this guy.

In fact, he started coming in and he would, you know, be grumpy all the time, you know. And and he would just say to the other guys, hey, rest you guys, you're a bunch of jerks, but this guy over here, he knows how to take care of people. I was like his favorite guy, you know. And I thought, Lord, why me? But little did he know that there was a greater work going on. God was using him to make me more like his son. So God places us where we are for his good pleasure. We think it's for our happiness.

No, it's for his good pleasure. There's more going on behind the scene than what you see. Ask God to open your eyes and God will begin to show you people that you've been working with for years who need your prayers, who are hurting, who are going through a divorce, who are lonely, who just had a received a diagnosis from the doctor of cancer, who've been told they only have six months to live, someone who's an alcoholic, someone who's about ready to lose their family. Open your eyes when you walk in on Monday and God will show you things.

And like Billy Graham evangelistic crusade, he'll show up and do miraculous works. But we have to go in prepared. We have to go in with an expectation to see Jesus in the marketplace. It's not about us. It's about him. The second thing and it kind of go hand in hand is the bloom where you're planted. Bloom where you're planted. Again from Philippians, we turn left till we get to first Corinthians chapter seven. First Corinthians chapter seven verse 21. Paul writes, were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it. But if you can be made free, rather use it.

For he who was called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord's freed man. You may be a slave, but you're free in Christ. And likewise, he who is free while free is Christ's slave, you say. You are bought at a price. Do not become slaves of men. I'm not working for the employer. I'm working for Jesus. Don't be slaves of men. Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called. I like what Paul says, remain with God in that state in which you were called. Now in context, he 's talking about non-believers being married to believers.

And what was happening in Corinth is that the believers would, you know, first one would get saved and they would realize that they're unequally yoked because their spouse is not a believer. And they would say, well, then I should be divorced. And they were seeking divorces and Paul is saying, stay in the state in which you were found. And who knows, maybe you can bring that loved one, your spouse to the Lord. But in context of speaking about employment or being in the marketplace, the the the lesson is there for the person married or or the person in in application in applying this rather to the marketplace and that is to to have godly contentment in the state God has called you in.

Bloom where you're planted. Don't seek to get out. If you're if you're full of anxiety and trying to squirm your way out of the situation you're in, then you you're not going to be content in the Lord. Remain with the Lord. First Timothy chapter six verse six says, now godliness with contentment is great gain. Godliness with contentment is great gain. Great gain because in such a state of contentment, I'm able to receive from God in my situation that I'm in, that which I need to sustain me. But if I'm full of anxiety, I'm full of unbelief and I can't receive anything from God.

It's just a job that I'm going to. But folks, the reality is that we can either show up for work or grow up through work. You can just show up or you can grow up. Stop complaining and being full of anxiety and say, thank you, Lord. And when you reach that place of contentment, what I found in my life is that then God gives me the very thing that I've always desired. But you know, he's not going to give you anything until you learn to walk in contentment first because godliness with contentment is great gain because in such a state I can hear from God and receive from God what I desperately need.

If we will keep a kingdom perspective through prayer and through the word of God and fellowship. If we will work for the right master, we will understand that it's the eternal wages that I'm seeking and not a check every two weeks. God will do a work in our hearts and he will provide for us streams in the very midst of the desert in that dry land called your job. In that dry business or whatever, if you will seek him and be content in him, God will bring you refreshment and you'll walk in Monday morning with a different attitude and a different view of the people you work with and you'll see them with the compassionate eyes of Jesus rather than eyes of condemnation.

And God will use you and he'll bless you and he'll bloom where you're planted. In conclusion, I think the question for all of us as believers is that Paul says in another place, I'm a bond servant of Jesus Christ. I'm a slave of Jesus. As bond servants of Christ, are we subject to him in all things? Are we subject to the Lord on our jobs in the marketplace? To those who are willing to humble themselves and be subject to the Lord and to come underneath him as a bond servant, Jesus declares in John 15 15, I no longer call you servants, but I call you friends.

Oh, I want to be a friend of Jesus. I want to walk into work and introduce people to my friend. I want people to see Jesus in my life. The only way to do that is to come underneath this authority as a slave, to be a bond servant and say, yes, Lord, thy will be done, not my will. You see, in fact, we are all employed in one way or another, spiritually speaking. We all serve a master and are all destined for a payday. Bible says there's a pointing unto man once to die and then the judgment.

The Bible tells us that the wages of sin, that which we've earned through our flesh is death. But the gift of God, the wages of God is everlasting life through Jesus Christ. It's not a gift we earn or deserve. It's one that God freely gives to whosoever will come and put their faith in Jesus. Let's go a little bit deeper here and turn to Isaiah. In conclusion here, I want to read this verse to you. Isaiah chapter 55 over in the Old Testament, you got to go past Matthew. Get to Isaiah chapter 55. Isaiah 55 verses two and three is a word of hope for all of us and gives us perspective on the kingdom of God and the things of God.

As it says here in verse two of Isaiah 55, why do you spend money for what is not bread and your wages for what does not satisfy? You see that check you get every two weeks is not enough to keep you. Winning the lottery won't satisfy you. You say, oh, it satisfied me for a little bit, but you can't take it with you. And sin is pleasurable, but only for a season. He says, listen carefully to me and eat what is good and let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear and come to me.

Hear and your soul shall live and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, the sure mercies of David. In Christ, there are sure mercies. We're assured of God's mercy and grace and that is far richer than any amount of money we could acquire in this world. The question is which wages or which wage are you living for? Are you living for the wages that lead to everlasting life? Or are you living for the temporal things of this world that you'll have to leave behind? Wages of our sin is death, but the gift of God is everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Guest (Male): Stay with us because pastor Al will be right back with a great closing illustration. You're listening to the dwelling place with pastor Al Pittman. This broadcast originates at Calvary Worship Center in Colorado Springs. We hope you were blessed by today's study in the awesome book of Colossians. And if you were, we'd love to hear about it. Email pastor Al at amen at cwccts.org. That's amen at cwccts.org. And include a prayer request if you'd like to. If you're interested in hearing pastor Al's message again, go online to cwccts.org or call and request a CD copy at 844 221 3363.

Again, we can be reached at 844 221 3363. If you've been blessed as you've studied along with us, perhaps you'd like to help support the ministry. We'd be so encouraged if you would. And you can donate online at cwccts.org or text the word give to 719 354 2778. Our address is Calvary Worship Center 505 Castle Road, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80904. If you missed any of that, it's all available at cwccts.org. If you're in the area and looking for a church home, stop by on a weekend to Calvary Worship Center and be sure to introduce yourself as a radio listener.

Join us at our Westside campus or our Creekside campus. You can find service times and directions for both on our website at cwccts.org. Okay, now I would guess that you've been called a few things over your lifetime that seemed a little far-fetched, right? Well, me too. But I'll wager you've never been compared to a jack-o'-lantern. Ready? Here's pastor Al.

Al Pittman: A woman was asked by a coworker, what is it like to be a Christian? The coworker replied, it's like being a pumpkin. God picks us from the patch, brings us in and washes all the dirt off of you. Then he cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff. He removes the seeds of doubt and hate and greed. Then he carves you a new smiling face and puts his light inside you to shine for all the world to see.

Guest (Male): See, we really are like that jack-o'-lantern when we're shining the light for Christ. Have a great weekend and we'll see you back here on Monday for more in Colossians with pastor Al Pittman here on the dwelling place brought to you by Calvary Worship Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.