Positioned for Increased Income - at work

Yesterday we talked about becoming fit financially.

There were 3 main keys to becoming financially fit - the first being "Position yourself for increased income"

Here is the first practical tip shared - Being positioned for increase AT WORK:

A. At work

Eph 6:5-8 Servants, respectfully obey your earthly masters but always with an eye to obeying the real master, Christ. (6) Don't just do what you have to do to get by, but work heartily, as Christ's servants doing what God wants you to do. (7) And work with a smile on your face, always keeping in mind that no matter who happens to be giving the orders, you're really serving God. (8) Good work will get you good pay from the Master, regardless of whether you are slave or free.

Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, But the hand of the diligent makes rich (Prov 10:4).

Let’s get really practical on what this means:

1. Be a diligent worker. This means you’re a can-do person – not just doing what you need to get by. If a job is worth doing, it’s worth doing well

If you slacken off on the job – are you really helping that company to stay solvent, and thereby be able to afford you?

Don’t slacken off on the job.. there are so many things we can slacken off on these days.. the internet, facebook, emails, newspapers online – I struggle with these .. the water cooler chats..

2. Be a cheerful person – with a smile on your face. How many have worked with a moody person? How many are the moody person? If we’re going to walk across the room, we can’t have a history of being a sour-puss

3. Be a Humble worker. This next tip is courtesy of my mother’s initiative of putting motivational quotes on the back of the toilet door.. so I remember many of them.. Here’s one “There is no limit to what can be accomplished if it doesn't matter who gets the credit."—Emerson Don’t let a lack of kudos, or bragging rights put limits or boundaries on how much effort you put into the job. God’s approval is the only bragging rights you need.

4. Be a Respectful worker. Show respect to your bosses even if you think they don’t deserve it. “Respectfully obey your master” What does it mean to show respect? To speak well of, to speak well to, to recognise their position with humility.. choice, not a response to them – like parents.

5. Be a Teachable Worker. James Turner’s message of responding well highlighted this – be teachable. You’re not perfect... I’m not perfect, which means we will make mistakes, not handle things the best way we could.. cut yourself and everyone else some slack and take the criticism on the chin.

Pro 15:32 He who refuses and ignores instruction and correction despises himself, but he who heeds reproof gets understanding.

If you respectfully, heartily, diligently, cheerfully and humbly obey your master – when it comes time to lay off some jobs - you’re going to make sure they really need to do because they wouldn’t let you go otherwise.

And when all this is said and done – you will be positioned for a pay rise – because the bible says good work means good pay from the Master – that’s God.. he positions you for increase.