"A Secular Workplace"
(Part One)
It’s Monday morning and time to go back to work. You are a Christian, but the people you work with don’t really care about that, as long as you abide by these simple rules:
1. Keep your religion to yourself.
2. Don’t let your religion interfere with your work.
That’s fine if you are a lukewarm, Sunday morning only, easy believism, cheap grace Christian. But what if you are a true believer? What if you are a 24-hour-a-day, 7-days-a-week, sold-out, on fire disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ?
“Work Hard”
The best way to let your light shine in a secular work place is by doing your best work possible. Whatever you do, do it with all your might. Apply whatever brains and brawn God has given you. If God gives you a “2-talent” opportunity at work, turn it into a “4-talent” return. Then they will “see your good deeds, and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)
“Be Friendly”
It’s a balancing act: working hard and being friendly. Sometimes you are so friendly that you don’t get your work done. Other times you are so focused on your work that you become rude and unfriendly. Strike the balance by being a Christ-like servant to everyone: your bosses, your employees, your co-workers, your customers, even the UPS man. As you focus on serving others, you will be able to work hard and be friendly at the same time.
“Watch For Opportunities”
In a secular workplace, people don’t want you acting like a raving Christian lunatic. But you don’t want to hide your faith, either. So you have to be wise. Colossians 4:5 says, “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.” When you see fertile ground, throw out a couple Gospel seeds and watch God go to work. A good sower never dumps the whole seed bag in one spot.
I might as well end every article with this same statement. Ask the Lord to show you exactly how this applies in your situation, and, amazingly, He will!
(Probably written around August 2005)
