“Bondservants [or modern employees], obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”
+Colossians 3:22-24
Living Out Your Faith in the Workplace
Sadly, American culture has been telling us for years now that it is okay for us to believe whatever we want but that we need to leave our faith at church – or at home. Confronted with an increasingly hostile environment, how can Christians live out their faith in ways that serve God and impact the world around them? Living out our faith on a daily basis is the core of Paul’s instruction to “work out your salvation.” He states, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain” (Phil. 2:12-16). It is not my intent here to do a treatise on this passage, but to make some observations about how to act out our faith in our daily lives. Paul tells us to do all our daily duties without complaint or argument. The result is shining a bright light in a dark, corrupt world (vv. 14-15).
Living and Sharing Our Faith
So, how do I personally measure up? Not so well, I fear. While I am not the chief complainer in the school where I work, Paul does not tell me to avoid being the worst one. He is telling me to be the best I can be (with God’s help). He also does not say, “Don’t grumble or complain UNLESS …” Game over. I fall short. If I am to be worthy of my wages, I must also give my employer my best all the time.“ But, Rick, you just don’t understand how my boss is…” I am here to say to you, “So what?” I am instructed and you are instructed to give your best without grumbling or disputing. In fact, I would challenge you to do this. Do more than what you get paid for! Why? Because doing so is honoring to God. It has practical applications too, but do it because it makes you positively different. Looking at the title of this post may have caused you to think that it was primarily about witnessing to your co-workers. You are right, but…our very best testimony initially is how we live our lives. Living in a non-complaining, hard-working, skilled manner will earn us the possibility and right to share Christ. If our attitudes and actions, our words and commitment, our work quality and production are the same as everyone else’s, we do not set ourselves apart. In fact, we become part of the world from which we are commanded to be separate. I am a public school teacher and in that role I work hard to treat everyone with love and respect. Too often I fail miserably. When I do fail, I am responsible for seeking forgiveness. And yes, even from folks at work! Whether I am at work, at play, with people I know or out in public with strangers, the example I set says volumes about me but more importantly about my Lord and Savior. Living out my faith and working out my salvation is not about me. It cannot be. It is about Christ, about following His commands and giving Him honor and glory in all things. I like to say that “Any good you see in me is from Christ shining through me.” Let us live out our faith in every aspect of our lives, especially the workplace.
Reflection Questions
How are you showing Christ to others by your example? Do you fit in or do you stand out? Do you worship Christ in your work or just go through the motions?
This post was written by Rick Swengel. He is a career educator with 41 years experience, a teacher trainer, and blogger. Married to his wonderful wife, Paula for 41 years, they have one son, Michael who is also a follower of Jesus Christ and is a network engineer. Rick gave his life to Christ in the eighth grade and like many others wandered away from the faith during college. He finds himself now with the strongest level of faith he has ever had because of the trials he has faced and not in spite of them.
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