@Work (2) – My Dead-End Job

Last week we started this series called @Work and we said that on average we spent 50-60% of our waking hours at work.  Yet, research tells us that over 70 percent of us are dissatisfied with our jobs, feeling fearful and frustrated most of the time.  So what do we do?  Last week we begin by saying perhaps the reason that we go to work was not God’s original intent.  God intended to bless work, so we asked the question, “what’s the purpose of work?”  We said that The purpose of your life at work is to show that God is at work in your life.  We are to do all work as we are working for the Lord, that was our first foundation as it relates to work.

Today we are going to build on that foundation as we continue to examine our life at work.  And we begin by asking this question “what do you want to be when you grow up?” A question all of us probably have heard in our life time.  A question that used to spur our dreams.  But for many of us today, rather than causing us to dream, it magnifies the gap between where we thought we would be and where we are.  So, what do we do?  Should we stop dreaming?  Should we settle?  Or is there another approach?

Moving Forward

When you allow God to control the things that only he can control and you focus on only the things that you can control then everything changes.  What would it look like in your world if you were confident that God was paying attention?  What would you do differently tomorrow at work?

Discussion Questions

1. As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? If you didn’t fulfill that dream, share about the moment when you realized that you wouldn’t achieve that goal.

2. What are a few of the gaps (big or small) that you see between where you wanted to be in your career and where you are?

3. What is the best career advice you have ever received? Did you apply it? If so, did it help? If not, why not?

4. Read Luke 16:10. Do you agree that this is the greatest career advice you will ever receive? Why or why not?

5. Kevin states that the more difficult the situation, the faster and deeper your character grows. How have you seen this in your career (or otherwise)?

6. “Be faithful in the small things, because God is paying attention.” What is at least one way you can apply this principle this week?