LIVING A CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE IN THE WORKPLACE
Editors note: Some of our readers who follow the daily devotional "The Word for Today" may find this article familiar. With the kind permission of the distributors of "The Word for Today" we have taken their recent series on "Succeeding in your Job" and edited it into this months feature article.
We are living in a season when our Christian values are being questioned as to whether they have any worth in the modern world, and our lifestyles as Christians examined, to see whether we in fact live up to the standards our words demand of others. Our most powerful witness to our claim that Christ lives within us, is not our words, but a Christlike character lived in obedience to the word of God. This produces a quality of life and witness that differentiates us from those who live by the world's standards, and establishes us as someone who others want to be like. Then, and only then, is our testimony likely to convince an unbeliever that Jesus Christ is a person worth following and surrendering ones life to, and our life reflect the character of God to others.
This article looks at some of the biblical instructions and scriptural principles that apply to how we should conduct ourselves in the workplace. Living to these standards will not only please God but almost certainly ensure us of greater impact and reward in our chosen career.
God's interested in what you do for work; He's also interested in how you do it. The truth is, your prospects for the future are determined by your work ethic. Let's look at the book of Proverbs and look at some work habits you may wish to avoid or acquire if you want God's blessing.
Laziness. "I went past the field of the sluggard...the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins...I...learned a lesson...A little sleep...folding of the hands...and poverty will come on you like a bandit" (Pr 24:30-34 NIV). Laziness produces lack just as surely as a thief will rob you.
The Bible says lazy people are:
(a) Procrastinators. "A little sleep...folding of the hands." They say, "I'll do it tomorrow," but tomorrow never comes.
(b) Expensive to maintain. "He who is slothful in his work is a brother to...a great destroyer." They complain, cut corners, cripple businesses and cause hardship.
(c) Quitters. They quit before the job's finished. "The lazy man does not roast his game" (Pr 12:27 NIV). He hunts the deer but he won't clean it. Unfinished projects fill his life: half-built cupboards, half-painted rooms, half-tidied garages. Sound familiar?
(d) Masters of excuses. "The sluggard says, 'There is a lion outside!' or, 'I will be murdered in the streets!'" (Pr 22:13 NIV). When he runs out of credible excuses he goes for ridiculous ones. He "will not plough because of winter" (Pr 20:4 NKJV). "You want me to get sick going to work in this weather?" Or if it's warm, "It's way too nice for work!" Whatever your work, do it conscientiously. Don't let laziness rob you of success.
When it comes to having a work ethic, "Go to the ant, consider its ways and be wise" (Pr 6:6 NIV). These tiny giants of industry teach us valuable principles for living. Observe three things about them:
(1) The ant "has no commander, no overseer or ruler" (Pr 6:7 NIV). Nobody has to get it out of bed in the morning or coax it to get moving. Nobody supervises its work or enforces quality standards on it. Nobody needs to micromanage its time on the job or make sure it starts punctually, puts in a full day, pulls its weight and doesn't quit early. It's self-motivated and driven by its own high standards, not by rules, regulations or the fear of being fired.
(2) It "stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest" (Pr 6:8 NIV). While everybody else is complaining about the heat (the weather, the economy, politics, etc.), the hard working ant just keeps preparing for the future. Later, in the more moderate temperatures of harvest time, it continues gathering. Disregarding the conditions, it works. Then while others are struggling to survive it feasts on the fruit of its labour. "Watch and learn," is God's counsel.
(3) The ant is no haphazard, disorganised drifter wandering around aimlessly, looking for something to do. He knows exactly what he's there for and where and how to do it. He's goal-directed, focused, determined and unstoppable. You can't keep a good ant down! "Consider...and be wise" (Pr 6:6 NIV). "But my job's a dead end," you say. As long as you're in this job do it "heartily, as to the Lord" (Col 3:23 NKJV). Prove yourself where you are and God will promote you to better things.
If you want to succeed in life practise honesty! A recent poll stated that 40% of workers admitted stealing on the job, and 20% felt justified! Their rationalising includes: "Everybody's doing it, why shouldn't I?" "The boss can afford it, he won't miss it." "It's only small stuff, it won't make any difference." "The company owes me, I'm just taking what's mine." "I deserve it, I've worked hard and never been acknowledged."
What does God's Word say about this? "The wicked ... earns deceptive wages." God says deceiving your employer by stealing time and materials or delivering an inferior product and service, is "wicked". That's strong language! Of all people, employers and customers should be able to trust followers of Christ to be honest, work for their wages and provide the highest quality service.
And for the record, it's not smart to steal, even if you don't get caught. "Ill-gotten gains do not profit" (Pr 10:2 NAS). You may take it but you won't benefit from it. "Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles" (Pr 13:11 NAS). You can't do the wrong thing and get the right result. Not only will you have trouble, you'll bring trouble on those who love and need you most. "He who profits illicitly troubles his own house" (Pr 15:27 NAS). The job loss, damaged reputation, humiliation, legal costs and consequences are a 'bill' the whole family pays for, often ending in shame and divorce and affecting several generations. Your spouse deserves an honest partner. Your children deserve a role model they can emulate, confident the path you walk is safe for them to follow.
If you want to succeed on the job here's a character quality you need to develop: diligence. When asked, "What's your biggest challenge?" employers usually say, "Finding and keeping good people." It makes or breaks any business. "A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich" (Pr 10:4 NRS). Diligence calls for being self-disciplined, motivated, alert, dependable, and entails following through. The Bible says, "Diligence is...precious" (Pr 12:27 NKJV) because it's so hard to find.
Diligent workers are worth their wages: "The plans of the diligent lead to profit" (Pr 21:5 NIV). In God's system the boss should profit by you and you should profit by him. Indeed, diligent people plan to be profitable employees. Do you want to prosper? See that your employer prospers! Diligent workers rejoice in this, lazy workers resent it. Diligence, not politics and manipulation, will get you promoted. "Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labour" (Pr 12:24 NIV).
In God's economy you determine whether you become "ruler" or "slave" by how hard you're willing to work. Lazy employees complain about the unfair boss, the biased system, the 'company men' who look out for the boss and the boss who looks out for them. They want the privileges others get but they're not willing to work for them. "The sluggard craves and gets nothing" (Pr 13:4 NIV) because "his hands refuse to work" (Pr 21:25 NIV). "But the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied" (Pr 13:4 NIV). They get it all: the satisfaction of a job well done, a reputation for integrity, the trust of others, job security, profit, promotion, and most importantly, the Master's "Well done".
Another Bible characteristic to acquire for job success is thoughtfulness. That's so, whether you're a general in the army or a "GI Joe", the company president or the nightshift caretaker. Character is not class-conscious. You don't demand respect, you earn it every day. If you're in a leadership role, the Bible says: "Know well the condition of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds" (Pr 27:23 NAS).
Good employers and supervisors make it their business to know the needs, strengths, weaknesses, potential and motivational levels of their workers. As a result employee sick time is reduced, morale improved and quality and production soars. A pay increase isn't always the best motivator. Sometimes your thoughtfulness, understanding and interest in your employees are a more powerful motivator. The old 'kick them in the pants' philosophy is a sure-fire way to generate resentment and undermining. Being respectful and caring invites cooperation, makes allies, not adversaries of employees and employers, and brings out the best in everybody.
If you're an employee God promises, "He who looks after his master will be honoured." It's not cool to bad-mouth the boss, even if your peers egg you on. Ultimately those around you will distrust you because they know that at some point you'll do the same to them. Speak well of your boss, honour him or her and submit to their authority (See Rom 13:1-7). If you can't, say nothing and look for another job; otherwise you'll be judged for undermining them. In the parable of the talents Jesus said that the workers who took care of their boss's interests were rewarded richly. Yes, God will honour you for respecting even a difficult boss!
Nothing contributes more to job success than skilfulness. Skilled workers excel by study, practise and hard work. Second best is unacceptable. "If you do your job well, you will work for a ruler and never be a slave." (Pr 22:29 CEV). Skilfulness isn't genetic; you don't inherit it, you work for it. You burn the midnight oil, stretch to your limits and refuse to 'settle'. Watch a skilled craftsman; your esteem rises at their attention to detail, refusal to cut corners, patience, dedication and pride of product. They inspire confidence, respect and trust. There's no more practical demonstration of genuine Christianity than being a skilled worker. When they speak people listen. If you doubt that try sharing your faith with those who see you being dishonest, shoddy and careless. Better to be silent until you earn the right to be heard!
Whatever your work, "Do it...in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him" (Col 3:17 NIV). We should be 'raising the bar' because we're Christ's representatives. We should set the industry standard for excellence. Knowing we follow Christ should give employers and customers confidence they'll get nothing but the best.
The skilful worker can't lose, because God promises that their work will inevitably attract the attention of people who'll promote them and reward them. "Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings" (Pr 22:29 NIV). They may start at the bottom of the ladder, but their destination is a rung higher up.
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Source: Australian Prayer Network