By Ong Eng Boon
All of us who go through life and after finishing school, college or university are doing some form of work so that we can put bread on the table and to provide other needs for our family. In fact, the bible is clear that we are not to be idle doing nothing but to be involved in work so that we can earn a living and lead a quiet life.
“That you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing” 1 Thess. 4:11-12.
“For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now those who are such we command and [c] exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread” 2 Thess. 3:10-12.
And with our work, not only are we self-sufficient, we are also able to help those who are in need from the excess of our labors.
“Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need” Eph. 4:28.
With work, the majority of us spend a considerable time of our life in the workplace. If you get yourself started young, say from age 22 to the mandatory retirement age of 60 in Malaysia, you would have given 38 years of your life in some form of work. Nowadays, the work place is getting more demanding and instead of the usual working hours of 9am to 5pm, sometimes it is 9am to over midnight due to heavy work load and deadlines.
In our life, the work place is where we spend most of our time together with our colleagues whether you are in SME’s (Small Medium Enterprise), multinationals or with the Governments.
As Christians, in order to shine as light in our work place, we are prohibited to give in and go the way of the world but to exhibit Christ-like character so that God can be glorified.
“Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation” 1 Pet. 2:11-12.
“Do all things without [d] complaining and disputing, [e]15 that you may become blameless and [f] harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” Phil.2:15.
In order to shine as light in the world, let’s begin with our work place and what are we to
do ?
- Do our job properly.
“Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for [a] you serve the Lord Christ” Col. 3:22-24. - Speak and behave properly.
“But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him” Col. 3:8-10. - Live your life properly
“But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” Eph. 4:20-24. - Treat others properly
“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” Phil. 2:3-4.
- With that I believe, then only can you bring Jesus to your work place as you exhibit a Christ-like character which your colleagues can see in you and then you can start evangelising!
