By Darren Lim, reprinted from the Salt & Light Australia Daily Devotional.
Being a Christian in the workplace requires us to consider many perspectives. On the one hand we should always be striving to perform our jobs with excellence, while at the same time we need to consistently keep watch on how our actions, words and character reflect on our faith. In more simple terms we need to get our jobs done, but also do it in a way that demonstrates our values as a Christian.
I enjoyed reading an article recently that said: “Christians in the business world have access to much more ideological wealth than they may think. Christian business principles are not limited to morality and ethics, but can affect the culture of an organization in a profound way. While Christians in the business world are certainly focused on how their financial ethics and stances on moral issues affect their business, creating a “Christian” culture in an organization can be equally as rewarding.” – Nick Rynerson
For many people in our workplaces today, work is a way to make a living and get ahead in life. But God calls us to a broader perspective. In Psalm 127 Solomon makes a statement: “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.” Taking a godly perspective into our work means considering what scripture says about how we should operate as citizens of His kingdom – it is a perspective of what is happening in the now, and what is to be in eternity. How we speak, how we react, how we treat others today should all a reflection of the values of Christ because ultimately that is how God wants us be for our life in heaven.
We also need to be comfortable with the idea that a godly perspective will not always make our work successful in the sense that most people measure success. We only have to go as far as seeing many of the prophets and apostles mentioned in scripture – they preached and they were ignored by their own people, they lived out their lives for Christ so profoundly that they were martyred for their beliefs. Despite a godly perspective, they were not always “successful.”
Today my hope is that we consider all perspectives when it comes to how we achieve and perform in the jobs we’re paid for – that we would absolutely strive to be excellent, but that we do it in a way to demonstrates the values and culture of our creator’s kingdom.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)
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