Your Work and Your Worth Are Two Different Things

Current Teaching Series Building My Life on Values That Last

Your Work and Your Worth Are Two Different Things By Rick Warren — June 25, 2018 "I have also learned why people work so hard to succeed: it is because they envy the things their neighbors have" (Ecclesiastes 4:4 GNT). We can come up with many excuses for overworking. Sometimes we blame it on providing for our family. Other times we insist our work is so important that to slow down would be negligent. But usually, it's a values problem. We start valuing the wrong things. Specifically, we value the acquisition of stuff above all else. The Bible says, "I have also learned why people work so hard to succeed: it is because they envy the things their neighbors have" (Ecclesiastes 4:4 GNT). God says we have two options: We can either spend all of our time keeping up with the Joneses, or we can forget them and reduce our stress level. But we can't have both. That's how this becomes a question of values. Do you want more stuff, or do you want less stress and more time with your family and friends? The choice is yours. Jesus said it like this: "What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?" (Mark 8:36 NIV). To put it in modern language, "What good is it to become president of your company but lose your kids or your spouse?" The simple answer? It's not good at all. Your work and your worth are two different things. Maybe you grew up being told you're worthless, and you're out in the workplace trying to prove everyone wrong. In the back of your mind, you're telling yourself, "I'm going to show them. I'm going to prove them wrong." You work harder and harder, but no matter how hard you work, it's never enough. Just about the time you start to relax, you hear a haunting voice telling you, "Keep pedaling. Somebody's catching up!" You need to get rid of the voice. It's feeding you a lie. As a pastor, I've been by many bedsides as people have died. I've seen many people take their last breath, sometimes at a hospital, sometimes in a home, and sometimes at the scene of an accident. Among all of the people I've watched die in my life, I've never heard anyone say with their dying breath, "I wish I'd spent more time at the office." Not one. Don't you think it's time to adjust your values? Don't be a rat. Jump out of the race.  PLAY today's audio teaching from Pastor Rick >> Talk About It How have you seen overwork affect your family? When you've struggled with overwork in your life, what have been the primary causes? In what ways do you sometimes equate your work with your worth?

Our Gift: Building My Life on Values That Last In a world where what's true and right seems to shift every day, it's no wonder many people lead confused, unsatisfied lives. Building My Life on Values That Last reveals what God has to say about how you can . . . • Be responsible • Practice self-control • Find balance • Show respect • Give and receive forgiveness • Live honestly • And love completely LEARN MORE

Complete Audio Series (Purchase) Includes 9 full-length teaching CDs from Pastor Rick's series Building My Life on Values That Last LEARN MORE

Series Summary Session 1: Choosing My Standards Session 2: Accepting Responsibiilty Session 3: Developing Trust Session 4: Developing Self-Control Session 5: The Balanced Life Session 6: Showing Respect Session 7: Offering Forgiveness Session 8: Maintaining Moral Purity Session 9: Showing Fairness PLAY TODAY'S BROADCAST

Pastor Rick Warren

Enjoy today's Devotional? Listen instantly to the full radio message at Daily Hope Radio. Did someone forward this devotional to you? Subscribe to Pastor Rick Warren's Daily Devotional. This devotional is based on the current Daily Hope radio series at pastorrick.com. Rick Warren has helped people live with hope and on purpose for more than 40 years. He's the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Southern California and author of several books, including The Purpose Driven Church and The Purpose Driven Life, which has been translated into 137 languages and sold more than 50 million copies in all formats. He created the PEACE Plan (plant churches of reconciliation, equip servant leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, educate the next generation), which is used by churches in 196 countries. His radio teaching and daily devotional, Daily Hope, is offered around the world. This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission. You can unsubscribe at any time by changing your e-mail preferences. Update your preferences | Unsubscribe