Most of us in the business world are measured by what we produce. Results. Deadlines. Metrics. Wins and losses. Over time, it’s easy to let people become part of the process instead of the purpose. I’ve lived there. I’ve led teams, sat in meetings, negotiated deals—and still missed opportunities to love the people right in front of me.
John writes something that sounds simple but cuts deep if we take it seriously:
“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” (John 3:18)
That verse doesn’t give us much room to hide. Love isn’t what we say we value. Love is what we do—especially when it costs us time, comfort, or credit.
In the workplace, appreciation is one of the most practical ways love shows up. Not the performative kind. Not the annual employee appreciation email. Real appreciation—the kind that sees people, honors their effort, and treats them as image-bearers of God, not just contributors to an outcome.
I’ve noticed something about myself: I’m quick to appreciate people when their work makes my job easier. I’m slower when their contribution is quiet, behind the scenes, or inconvenient. That’s not love in deeds. That’s love on my terms.
Jesus didn’t love people because they were efficient or impressive. He loved them because they mattered.
For business professionals who want to follow Jesus full-time—not just on Sundays—this matters. Appreciation isn’t a “soft skill.” It’s a spiritual practice. When we take the time to notice effort, acknowledge growth, or thank someone sincerely, we’re practicing the presence of God at work.
And here’s the hard part: appreciation often requires us to slow down. To listen. To be interruptible. Love in deeds almost always costs us something.
Think about the people you work with today:
- The colleague who always shows up prepared
- The employee who’s growing but still unsure
- The client who’s anxious, not difficult
- The vendor who feels invisible
What would it look like to appreciate them—not with flattery, but with truth?
Sometimes appreciation is spoken. Sometimes it’s written. Sometimes it’s advocacy—using your influence to protect or promote someone else. Sometimes it’s patience. Sometimes it’s choosing grace instead of control.
None of this is complicated, but it is intentional.
I’ve learned that appreciation changes the atmosphere of a workplace. It builds trust. It lowers defensiveness. It creates space where people can do their best work—and where faith doesn’t feel forced or fake. When love shows up in deeds, people notice. They may not know the verse behind it, but they recognize the difference.
And here’s the surprising part: practicing appreciation changes us too. It reminds us that our work isn’t just about what we accomplish, but who we become along the way. It keeps our hearts soft in environments that often reward hardness.
Following Jesus at work doesn’t usually start with big, bold declarations. It starts with small, faithful acts. Appreciation is one of those acts. It’s love with sleeves rolled up.
So today, before the next meeting or email or decision, pause and ask: How can I love in deed right here? The answer might be simpler—and more powerful—than you think.
If you want to keep learning how to live out your faith where you work, you don’t have to do it alone. Join the community at followerofone.org and walk alongside other professionals committed to loving Jesus—and others—in real, practical ways every day.
