We’ve all been there: punching the clock at a job we, frankly, hate. Not even the pandemic could repair our relationship with our work. Each morning we drive into the parking lot, slam the car door in agony, and walk to our desk, secretly hoping this will be the day the-powers-that-be sack us.
Let’s not all raise our hands at once.
I was in this position six years ago. Overall, I enjoyed the work I was doing, but the company itself was having some growing pains. Our client base felt it and it seemed like an all-out war had been waged on headquarters.
In an effort to build morale, a team-building meeting was scheduled to allow us to share our reasons for showing up for the company everyday (can I say money?). Individuals were given cards and encouraged to decorate them and write down our whys.
Deciding what to share with my team and manager came to me relatively quickly, and on meeting day, I read aloud to the room: “I serve our clients and coworkers as unto God.” My proclamation was met with applause and sounds of adoration.
You see, each day God has allowed us the opportunity to make a choice. It was a difficult time for the business and everyone in the chain was feeling the effects. However, would I allow that to rock me? Would I allow the atmosphere to influence me or would I use my God-given authority to influence the atmosphere?
I chose to influence the atmosphere. To serve my coworkers, bosses, customers, and our partners as unto Jesus. If we are found in Christ, we’ve all been deputized to exercise this same control over the spaces we navigate.
So today I’d like to share four ways we believers can exercise our faith to positively impact our work environment.
Start the Day Right
Before we can hope to exercise our heavenly power on the Earth, our first exercise in control is with ourselves. The start of the day is a great time to partner with God to see his will fulfilled. As soon as we open our eyes, we can ask God to guide us and tell him that we are willing vessels.
And it doesn’t have to stop there. As the world opens back up and businesses request that employees return to the office, we can use our commute time as an extended opportunity for prayer and thanksgiving.
Soak in the Word of God
What we fill ourselves up with eventually comes out. Let it be the Word of God. The Bible is our manual of instruction for living and when we spend time basking in it, the Word consumes us, exuding from us to share with others.
Be the Example
People with true impact don’t have to convince others they are impactful; they just are. They exhibit behaviors that others want to emulate.
If Jesus is the ultimate example of living out what we believe and winning the lost, what influence could we have on our bosses or coworkers if we choose to? Positive influence has to start with someone. No, we may not hold any special title, but why can’t it start with us?
Exhibit Excellence
When I shared with my team that I wanted to serve as unto God, I was referencing Colossians 3:23, which reads:
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, (ESV)
God loves decency and order. He also looks for willing servants who steward well what he’s given them. In all we do, we should do it in a spirit of excellency — or as the Scripture says, heartily.
Knowing that God has given us authority to shift whatever atmosphere we’re in may not change our feelings about the environment in question. That’s okay. For a moment, consider that perhaps God called you into that space to help you mature, and while doing so, to affect that same space for the better. If nothing gets better, let’s commit to doing just one thing: showing up and serving as unto God.
Featured Image by Ben White on Unsplash, In-Text Image by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash
