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The Value of Work

God created the system of exchange so we could work

January 26, 2017 • Benham Brothers

* Notice Joseph sold the food, he didn’t give it away.
* Proverbs 11:26 - Blessed is the person who’s willing to SELL!
* Some people think if you’re a Christian you should give everything away.
* But that’s not always God’s best plan.
* God designed our system of exchange so that people will WORK!
* If you want something of value (product) you have to give something of value (money).
* God’s way for getting money is through work.
* Our system of exchange (the marketplace) fuels our desire and necessity to WORK.
* Why?
* Because our work is worship.
* If there’s no system of exchange and everyone existed in a socialistic environment (from each according to his ability to each according to his need) then nobody would want to work.
* God loves work.
* Exodus 3:1 - When you’re being the right person and staying in the right place you can trust the right opportunity will make its way to you.
* Moses was faithful in his duty, which put him in the path of God revealing Himself to him.
* Where was Elisha when God called him? Plowing a field.
* Where was Amos? He was a farmer.
* Where was Gideon? Threshing wheat.
* Where were the disciples? Working in the marketplace.
* All of these men were employed in an honest trade when God called them out.
* Exodus 4:20 - the same staff Moses used in his business was now called “the staff of God!”
* What changed?
* God’s presence was with him and he was on God’s mission.
* Moses’ tool for employment turned into God’s tool for deliverance.
* God has ordained the workplace making our work sacred.

GOALS 101

January 2, 2019 • Benham Brothers

A dream written down is a goal. A goal broken down is a plan. A plan acted upon leads to profit (Proverbs 16:9). You cannot accomplish your goals apart from discipline and diligence. You cannot maintain discipline without knowing WHY you have the goal in the first place. Seven Keys to creating goals: 1) Establish Long Term and Short Term Goals - a long term goal is what you want to accomplish or become in 5 years, 10 years, lifetime. Short term goals are the ones that are measurable and include more of your day-to-day activities. 2) KISS - keep it simple stupid! When you start thinking of all the things you want to accomplish you'll end up writing a book. Refine this down to one or two points for each category. 3) Categorize - you can split them up however you want. Financial, Personal, Business, Spiritual, etc (you can have one or two sub-categories under these as well). It doesn't matter what categories you use - just do something that helps you keep track. 4) Write them down - that's what your Memo App is for! Put it on your PDA and carry them with you everywhere. 5) Measure them - every quarter take inventory and then write a date beside the ones you've accomplished. You have to put goals that can be measured - don't just put "Become a better husband." Instead, put "One date night a week" or something like that. 6) Refine - take inventory to see if you need to change a goal. There's nothing wrong with that. We plan our way but God determines our course, so sometimes you'll end up on a different course which makes your previous goal moot. 7) Pray over them daily - at the bottom of my goals list I put Proverbs 16:3 - "Commit your way to the Lord and your plans will succeed." The beauty of this is that when you're walking with the Lord He will give you the plans He wants you to follow - so just make a plan and stick to it. He'll change them when/if He sees fit. Either way, your/His plans will succeed.

Producer vs Consumer

January 16, 2020 • Benham Brothers

Understanding the Times

January 22, 2015 • Benham Brothers

We know about the men of Issachar (1 Chronicles 12) but we rarely think about the man Issachar. Jacob pronounced a blessing on him that gives us insight into who he was and the people who descended from him. They were workers, like donkies - always working, never complaining, but always working "for" someone. They would be hardworking people who earned an honest living. They would find their rest in their work. Only a labouring man can know what rest truly is. The men of Issachar were those men who were being faithful in the work God had called them to do, no matter what it was. All through Scripture we find people gainfully employed in an honest trade when God taps them on the shoulder. When the people of God clashed with their culture it was these faithful workers who knew what Israel should do. When Israel needed a solution the men of Issachar came up with it. All we have to do is be faithful right where God has placed us. Our faithfulness in our work will prove our fitfulness in God's kingdom.