Be the salt and light in the workplace
(Mat 5:13-14 NIV) “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. {14} “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
Instead of treating our job as something we have to do other than serving God, let’s see our job as an extension of our ministry.
We are called to be the salt and light of the world. The effect of salt is most prominent where there is contamination and light where there is darkness. Let’s see our being in a secular environment as a great opportunity to serve God.
Importance of showing love in the workplace.
(John 13:35 NIV) By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
In the business of our work day, it is easy to fail to notice the needs of your colleagues. One of the best ways to preach the gospel is through showing the love of Christ. Let’s ask God to make us sensitive to the needs of the people around us and wisdom to introduce Christ to their situation.
Meeting needs in our workplace
In the story of the good Samaritan in Luke 10:30-37, Jesus talks about three kinds of people. Which kind do we belong to? Are we the robber who “robs” and takes advantage of others in the workplace? Are we the priest who noticed a need but was too busy to help? Or are we that Samaritan who went through the trouble to help someone?
Showing kindness
After King Solomon’s death, the people approached his son, King Rehoboam to ask if he would be kinder to them than his father was. Rehoboam consulted his elders who gave him good advise.
(2 Chr 10:3-16 NIV) …all Israel went to Rehoboam and said to him: {4} “Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.” {5} Rehoboam answered, “Come back to me in three days.” So the people went away. {6} Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How would you advise me to answer these people?” he asked. {7} They replied, “If you will be kind to these people and please them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants.” {8} But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. {9} He asked them, “What is your advice? How should we answer these people who say to me, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?” {10} The young men who had grown up with him replied, “Tell the people who have said to you, ‘Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter’–tell them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. {11} My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.'” {12} Three days later Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, as the king had said, “Come back to me in three days.” {13} The king answered them harshly. Rejecting the advice of the elders, {14} he followed the advice of the young men and said, “My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.” {15} So the king did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from God, to fulfill the word the LORD had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah the Shilonite. {16} When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, they answered the king: “What share do we have in David, what part in Jesse’s son? To your tents, O Israel! Look after your own house, O David!” So all the Israelites went home.
If we want the loyalty and support of the people who are working under us, we have to show kindness to them.
Showing patience
(1 Th 5:14 NIV) And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
Not everyone can perform equally well at work. If we have colleagues who are not doing their job well, we need to exercise patience with them.
We also need to give those who are idle a chance. Instead of dropping a bomb on them and dismissing them, many employees will change their attitude if they have been warned. We need to give them a second chance.
Don’t be quick to give up hope on others. If Jesus had given up hope on Peter after he denied Jesus three times, Peter would have become the great apostle today. (Luke 22:54-62)
Be an encourager
Many of our colleagues may be experiencing work anxiety. We may not be able to help them in their job but we can help by encouraging them.
(Prov 12:25 NIV) An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.