Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Playing by the Rules”
Our Bible verse for today: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” Colossians 3:23 (NIV)
Our thought for today: “Employees and employers both have a responsibility to honor the Lord.”
As I write this it is Monday morning and so, the beginning of a new work week for most folks. As we continue our discussion of “Playing by the Rules”, let’s think about what that should look like on the job.
The Christian writer Henry Crowell once wrote, “A man’s (or woman’s) business is not chiefly his way of making a living but his altar where he serves the king.” That’s what Paul was getting at in Colossians 3:23. Whatever it is you do, do it with all your heart as if you were doing it for Jesus and not just for your boss.
How we conduct ourselves in all areas of life can be, and should be, an act of worship. Our goal should be to please God and to bring honor to Him in all that we say and do. That includes on the job.
A Christian should be the best employee the company has. In terms of faithfulness, dependability, respect shown to superiors, kindness and compassion shown to fellow workers, and in terms of striving to do the best job possible, a Christian should be an exceptional employee because the Christian is performing that work as an act of worship in an attempt to please and honor the Lord.
But that attitude of excellence, and the virtues cited above, don’t just apply to Christian employees, they apply to employers as well. If you are a Christian, and if the Lord has allowed you the privilege of serving in a leadership position in the workplace, your attitude should be the same as that of the Christian employee. You should conduct yourself as if you are serving the Lord Jesus Christ Himself in the manner in which you exercise your leadership responsibilities. Your position of leadership in the workplace becomes a vehicle through which you can be a blessing to those who work for you.
Of course you have a responsibility to the company or organization, you must ensure those under you work well and do their part to accomplish the mission, but that can and should be done in a godly manner, consistent with Biblical principles.
If you would like to read an expanded teaching on this subject please see chapter thirteen of my book, “Walking with Paul”. There you will find an exposition of Paul’s teaching in Ephesians chapter six which deals with Christian employees and employers, and how we are each to conduct ourselves in the workplace in a manner that honors the Lord.
If you don’t have a copy of that book you can get one at www.JimMersereauBooks.com, or visit us at Oak Hill Baptist Church and I will be happy to give you a copy as a gift.
Employees and employers both have a responsibility to honor the Lord in how we conduct ourselves in the workplace. It’s simply a matter of “Playing by the Rules” that God has given us.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 