Wisdom for Living 9

10/12/06pm

Paul Mortimer, Church Secretary

Ephesians 6: 5-9, Proverbs 6: 6-11

Work and Leisure (Beating burnout)

1. Introduction
   • 13 million lost working days per year
   • Costing £3.7 billion to the economy
   • 5 million people in the UK feel “very” or extremely stressed by their work
2. The Wisdom of proverbs
   • The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom
   • Wisdom, not law
   • Godly wisdom is:
     • Creational
     • Covenantal
     • Christ centred
3. Motivation to Work
   • “Go to the ant you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest”
   • We’re doing our work for the Lord
   • Look beyond the circumstances
   • Build others' esteem
4. Time Management
   • “It stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at Harvest”
   • Plan ahead
   • Know yourself and when you work best
   • Elephant hunt, don’t ant hunt
   • Learn to say “no”
   • Book your days off and stick to them
5. Leisure
   • “How long will you lie there you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the arms to rest – and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man”
   • Warnings against laziness
   • Warnings against burnout
   • Achieving the balance

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