Honoring God at your workplace!

Honoring God at your workplace!

You would have just had your 1:1 with your line manager – and again you may be frustrated to learn that you have got a lower rating / your paper didn’t go forward for promotion/ your hike is negligible- You are stuck in the same profile for years – you feel lost in this race – you don’t have a Godfather in your office to push your case- you have toiled and worked hard but the reward is enjoyed by someone else! You just want to quit - So should you or not? You are not the only one being stifled in this rat race – I would want to encourage and remind you with a few biblical thoughts and promises.

Topic covered-

• Is it time to Move out?

• God is your reward | Work faithfully

• Has the work become an idol |Witness in the Marketplace

• Gods Favour | God of Restoration

• When unjustly treated?

1) Is it time to move out? It’s a very common phoneme in the corporate today to quit and move on – the very minute a discomfort is experienced – I encourage you to kneel and ask if Gods time for you to leave that particular place has come – the Israelites shifted their camps as the cloud over the camp went ahead – we read the first time Hagar was running out from Abraham house and the angel of the God-appeared and asked her to return back – There is a larger purpose to which you are placed in the current profile/team you are today – there is a Gods plan ! Jacob despite the fact that he had endured severe pain and unjust treatment – he waited till the day God intervened! A lot of time you just run out of the place – when the season of time – has come for God to bless in you that place! Jeremiah 42.10 – “If you stay in this land, I will build you up and not tear you down; I will plant you and not uproot you.. ” Israelites tried breaking into the promise land – before the time the Lord had ordinated for them and they were struck down by the enemies. I love the way Moses prayed – Lord if your presence is not coming – don’t send us. You never know where you are heading up- the other side is always greener. Proverb 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding in all your - ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight. Pray – ask God for directing your steps – before you take a decision to quit or stay

2) God is your reward | Work faithfully

The Lord spoke to Abraham “Do not be afraid, Abram.I am your shield your very great reward.” In his time he makes all things beautiful – We read this in the book of Hebrew “He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him ” God is your provider – your company is just the medium – don’t build your trust in a company or the on the payslip – even on the day it would stop flowing in – God will continue to lead you. “The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will” – Proverb 21.1

As we worship in church “ Lord of Lord / King of Kings ” I rephrase as “Boss of Boss” – God controls the heart of each of your line manager- he will bring it to pass that which concern your life – even while you might have rough/soft superior – God has allowed it – God would not hold any good from happening in your life.

Here comes the golden rule - Colossians 3 : 22- 24 “Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving”

When you work through each- day – understand that you serve God through your work and that your reward comes from the Lord and not your manager. You don’t need to lobby against your manager and get your hand in dirty politics to make your way up the ladder - that efforts will be vain and you will not have happiness out of it. I am reminded of the life of Mordecai – he had stopped a plot against the King and saved the Kings life – but then you don’t see him being reward the next days – if I put myself in his shoes- it would have been such a pain to see your good efforts not recognized – wait for Gods time- God will bring back those work in front of the authorities.

3) Has your work become an Idol | Witness in the Marketplace

It’s such an easy thing to have the work be your idol in your heart – it’s probably a slippery field to move from being passionate /faithful to be pushed into the rat-race and start chasing larger designation – even while you maintain aspirations and plans it’s very important in being thankful and content with where you are – seeing Christ being the center of your life. Bible encourages us with these principles “godliness with contentment is great gain” - 1 Timothy 6.6.

"For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs -1 Timothy 6.10

In the book of Esther- Mordecai challenges Esther with this question – “.. who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” May, not the “royal position” we hold at various organizations deceive you from the purpose to which you are assigned. Even while Nehemiah served in the palace – his heart always longed to re-build the broken walls of Jerusalem. It’s not an accident- you landed in the current team/place of work –be his witness in the marketplace. Just providing financial support to your church/mission – isn’t the only ministry – God urges you to be the one who would serve as a light in the current capacity – Jesus asked what good is it for a lamp to be kept under the table – and what good is if a salt loses its saltiness. Your workplace is your primary mission field! People around you are experiencing brokenness, loneliness, addiction to various bonds, etc haunting them –if not you – who else can reach to them with the love of God! Genuinely love your colleagues –what you outside is just a “shell” they have covered themselves inside - love them and invest in their life – not of thinking a return favor- love them as a “person” be a helping hand to the weaker – don’t- take advantage over your colleagues' weakness – gossip about them – trap them – these are evil nature – in scriptures we read – God hates they prod and lifts up the humble!

Paul gives this warning in the epistles of Philippians “Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things” Stand up for your identity – know where you draw the line – live life at your workplace – worthy to the calling – Guard your tongue – don’t engage in unnecessary debate – don’t seek revenge while filling up the feedback link for your colleagues – Love not just with words but actions.

4) Gods Favour | God of Restoration “May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us yes, establish the work of our hands” – Psalms 90.17

Seek the favour of the Lord over your work – a discipline which I have incorporated over my years of corporate work – is having “Instant Prayers” – before you switch on your laptop/ while you log-in -take a few movements to thank God and ask for his favor over the day – while you are walking into a crucial meeting/ presentation – have the instant prayer – before Nehemiah answered to the king of taking leave- we read he has this instant prayer ! Let your close ones /church/friends – pray alongside with you – if you have some critical things shooting up – before Esther went to meet King- she asked the support of prayer of the Jewish community – Pray will do wonders – Even as Esther approached king – we read- the king felt special favor for her - Lean-to trust on God – on the big and the small at your work. No weapon /scheme of the devil will prevail in your life – don’t get carried away when finance of the company goes low – We read this – “A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you”. Even while it may be famine time – his goodness for your life will not be reduced – “The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing” – Psalms 34.10

Psalms 71. 20 & 21 “Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again;from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up You will increase my honor and comfort me once more”

You might have a year of losses in your career – being stuck without promotion – not able to switch jobs – despite all your best efforts – don’t get carried away feeling all is lost – God works everything for good – when you follow his path steps – Joseph while thrown into the dry well, prison – might have thought is all the year in his life just moving on meaningless- wait for Gods day – he will connect the dots – threw those years of waiting and suffering you had to go through – God has a larger picture in his mind- he is molding you out- not just that you would be a great manager one day- but that you become to his character through the various life situation – God will bring you to a place of rest after his stipulated time of wandering in the desert is over.

Isaiah 43.18-19 “..Lord says, "Do not cling to events of the past or dwell on what happened long ago. Watch for the new thing I am going to do. It is happening already - you can see it now! I will make a road through the wilderness and give you streams of water there..”

Don’t let the event of past – hold you from moving forward- God always work an non –traditional way in opening a door for his people – keep sailing forward – watch out soon – you will see a new stream of water flowing into your life- his mercies and way are new for each day. Isaiah 45.3 “I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.” He is Jehova Jireh – from a place and source you would have never known – he will open the way for you – show his favor on your life

5) When Unjustly treated?

I believe you would have a various instance of your career flashing by on being unjustly treated – when your manager becomes partial and promotes your junior – the on-site project chance is taken from you-you are pushed into the side-line etc- Though on the outside you may look happy, deep inside your heart – you are crying to God for justice – you are broken in your heart seeing the politics at work – Your workload is only been piling up higher each day – even as you may go through your goal sheet – you see unreasonable deadline/targets kept on to your bucket – you don’t have strength at times to go to the office - you are not able to spend enough quality time with your family – it’s a tough path you are walking.

“But I said, "I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing at all. Yet what is due me is in the LORD's hand, and my reward is with my God." – Isaiah 49. 4

It’s quite natural to feel worn out seeing the un-just around you – but what differentiates your hope is that “yet what is.. ” after you would have all your reason of sorrow – don’t forget to use the last statement “yet” !

The passage below from the epistle of 1 Peter 2 (12- 18)- give us a strong guideline on the conduct – we need to demonstrate at the workplace ( pls take a few min to meditate on the below verses)

“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. Slaves, in reverent fear of God, submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God."

May the colleagues around you -be marveled by the way you conduct yourself – may you the fragrance of Christ – As you just read- submit yourself to authorities- be it the one who is fair/ unfair – excel at your work – we read in the book of Romans “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” – to your that tough colleague – who is probably causing you trouble – show a good gesture of love to him – you might be the only person through which he might hear the gospel! Proverbs 25: 21 – 22 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.

Conclusion Note- Your workplace – is your second home- the place you spend the maximum time – lets your life be an encouragement and blessing to the people around- don’t be confirmed but be transformed – impact others- Ask God to provide you his favor and grace for you to excel at your assignment – if you are going through a rough phase at work – I encourage you with the below verses – Revelation 3.8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

Psalms 37:23- 25 “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way. Though he falls, he shall not be utterly cast down;For the Lord upholds him with His hand.I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.”

The God who began the good work in you will see to its completion – God is concerned and in his database – he knows your teams – your higher-ups – your aspiration – God is concerned on you every step and his plans for your life is far- beyond your imagination.

Remember to pray for the blessing of your company- your colleagues – line managers – you are the watchman in that place- be an effective witness in the marketplace.

Let's pray – Lord I ask your favor and your blessing over my workplace – give me the strength for each day at my work – I am reaming thankful on the way you have brought to this company – give me the strength to serve your larger purpose in this place- Lord even when I have ambiguities at work – give me the right counsel on the way ahead- here I surrender my work at your feet- let it be for your glory- in Jesus name – Amen!