More than “another day, another dollar,” work for the believer is an opportunity to live out our God-given talents. At the same time, our jobs can be a significant source of stress. As we’re responding to different personalities or economic challenges in the workplace, our responsibility as believers is the same regardless of location or job description: Love and reflect Jesus well.
Because Jesus is the “visible image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15), we, His followers, should be like Jesus and reveal Him to the world. When we “set [our] sights on the realities of heaven,” everything becomes an opportunity for worship—including our work (Colossians 3:1). Here are some practical ways to engage workplace challenges:
• Not every opinion we have should be voiced. What we say should be “gracious and attractive” (Colossians 4:6).
• When our leaders make decisions that we don’t like, we must discern between true issues of right or wrong and those things that are simply an inconvenience for us (Hebrews 13:17).
• We don’t perform for man, and God cares about stewardship. To take our responsibility at work too lightly is to misunderstand our accountability to God (Psalm 90:17; Colossians 3:23).
• We should understand where our responsibility begins and ends. We’re accountable for our choices, not those of others (Romans 12:18).
Ultimately, how we work should show that we belong to and love Jesus. Because we’ve been “made . . . alive with Christ,” this reality should pervade everything we do—even our jobs (Colossians 2:13).
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: 1 John 5:1-21
More:
Read 2 Thessalonians 3:5-15 to see the value God’s Word places on a strong work ethic.
Next:
What are some current challenges you’re facing in your employment? What truths in God’s Word can help you face these hurdles?
Tom Kopper on December 27, 2013 at 5:58 am
As stated in this devotion,
“Not every opinion we have should be voiced. What we say should be “gracious and attractive” (Colossians 4:6).
We can’t argue anyone into Heaven, it only drives them away!
What is more important, ‘to win an argument, and loose that persons’ soul, or to be humble and talk to win that person to God?
regina franklin on December 27, 2013 at 9:49 pm
Dear Tom,
You bring up a great point–humility! I am having to ask some hard questions of myself–when it comes to specific areas of conflict at work, am I more interested in having things my way or in walking humbly before the Lord and others?
GChoo on December 27, 2013 at 4:10 pm
Regina, thank you for the reminder and the scriptures to direct us as to how we can delight God in our workplace. Also, in doing our best in our work and being peace-maker, non believers may see the good that God does in our lives and open the way for them to know God. Blessings.
regina franklin on December 27, 2013 at 9:50 pm
Great feedback, GChoo. May the Lord use you in a powerful way as others watch you walk out your testimony.
LCC on December 27, 2013 at 11:40 pm
This article came in time to help me to see things in perspective as I was facing some challenging times at work. I am blessed!
“Can I honestly assert that when bodily comforts have been few, and my surroundings have been rather adverse to grace than at all helpful to it, I have still held fast my integrity?”
Charles Spurgeon.