 Work?
Who cares about work, just get me to the weekend! It's easy to feel
this way when our work brings us little joy or meaningful purpose.
God intends something entirely better. He envisions "Workplace
Witness" where each Christian is a minister - a witness at
his or her workplace. Why? Because it is in the workplace that we
daily cross paths with people who don't know Jesus. They can see
His character in us in the midst of difficulties that challenge
our characters and try our moral integrity. We have the opportunity
to make a positive difference in the world and to lift God up by
who we ARE, what we SAY, and what we DO in the workplace.
Because we spend so much of our waking time at work, God wants our
lives filled with joy and mission right there.
 Who You Are
Who we are at work is our coworkers and customers first picture
of our beliefs and our God. We can increase the effectiveness of
our witness by asking God to bring His presence in a greater way
into the following areas.
Prayerfully examine the following list thinking of your employer,
coworkers, employees and customers. Then daily ask for the power
of the Holy Spirit to live it out.
| Management of Personal Conflict |
Moral Integrity |
- Forgiveness and apologies where there is anger
- Humility instead of pride
- Empathy, respect and service instead of control
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- Honesty
- Efficiency
- Carefulness in details instead of laziness and theft
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| Family Values |
Sabbath-Keeping |
- Priority of family commitments instead of overwork and
neglect of family
- Proper relationships with people of the opposite sex at
work avoiding flirtation, etc.
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- Valuing God more than money or position
- Peaceful instead of stressed-out
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| Attitude |
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- Cheerfulness and a team-spirit instead of negativity and
competitiveness
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What You Say
No one is saved by our good example. God's grace alone can save,
through Jesus' death and resurrection and by a person receiving
it through faith. So someone needs to tell them! "How, then, can
they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they
believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they
hear without someone preaching to them?" Romans 10:14. Learn all
you can on how to witness.
Prepare your own testimony
by thinking about what God has done for you. Why are you a Christian?
How did it happen? What do you appreciate most about God? about
the cross and the Gospel? Then write out your testimony and practice
it. A short version comes in handy! You can always expand if time
and interest allows. Have confidence in God. This is not about you,
but about Him. Remember, the demoniac never had a training class,
but Jesus sent him out to tell "what great things God has done for
you."
Prepare yourself to share about other important aspects of your
faith by asking yourself what they mean to you and how God has blessed
you through them. Then think about people at work who could be helped
by sharing such things. Some examples are:
| Trials and Struggles |
Finances |
How has God answered my prayers? How has He helped
me through the discouragement of unanswered prayers and unchanged
circumstances?
Quality Relationships
How has knowing God improved my relationships with others? What
counsel in the Bible has especially blessed my home? How does
God help me keep faithful to my family? How has His forgiveness
enabled me to forgive others? In what ways has God enabled me
to overcome self-centeredness and give me loving relationships
with others? Who at work is struggling with their marriage,
child-raising, or bitterness and anger? |
What scriptural counsel has helped me manage
my money (saving, rejecting debt, tithing, etc.)? How has God
blessed me as I've given to Him? How has God's generosity, the
promise of heaven and the needs of others impacted my perspective
on worldly success and prosperity? Who at work is struggling
with their finances? Who is caught in the trap of materialism?
Peaceful Rest
How has the Sabbath blessed me and my family? How has God given
me peace in midst of stress and busyness? Who at work is especially
stressed?
Healthful Living
How has God helped me when I was sick? How has He helped
me overcome bad health habits? What counsel does the Bible give
that would help those at work. |
What We Do
Work can be incredibly meaningful and rewarding. God has 3 purposes
in mind. Do you? Examine what you do in light of the following and
grow closer to God's plan.
1) Provision: We work to put bread on the table. This most
obvious purpose for work not only fills our stomachs but demonstrates
our Heavenly Father's care for His children as we adequately provide
for our family. "If anyone does not provide for his relatives,
and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith
and is worse than an unbeliever." 1 Timothy 5:8. Rejoice that you
have work. Many don't.
2) Pension: We're talking here not about provision for retirement,
but a heavenly pension. Jesus said that investing in people's lives
through witnessing would lead to treasures laid up in heaven. He
was talking not about silver, but saved lives. One major purpose
for working is so that we may have money to give to those in need
of a Savior. "He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but
must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may
have something to share with those in need." Ephesians 4:28. Our
gifts can feed the hungry and send out a missionary.
3) Partnership: We each are entrusted with unique talents.
These are intended to be used to serve God. The workplace is an
extremely important spot to make sure your talents are being used
to partner with God's purpose in the world. Think about the following
priorities in God's kingdom and ask yourself how you might better
use your job skills in a career actively promoting the same things.
| 1) Freeing people from dysfunction and addictions.
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5) Caring for the elderly. |
| 2) Reconciling relationships. |
6) Leading people to a relationship with Christ.
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| 3) Protecting children and educating them for
morality and service. |
7) Rehabilitating prisoners. |
| 4) Providing economic security for
the poor. |
8) Promoting health & caring for
the sick. |
If your job takes you overseas, click
here to find out what you can do to help God's church where
you visit.
Pray, Pray, Pray!
Ask God daily to send you someone to witness to, then watch and
they will come! Remember it is through His power alone that you
are effective. Prayer prepares your heart and the heart of those
who will hear. Don't be afraid, just pray and trust Him (1 Corinthians
2:4).
So get to work! You've got a world to win.
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