Work, Witness, Worship

When one picks up and reads the Bible, which is divinely inspired, one can’t help but notice the reference to a variety of professions. We have farmers like Adam and Noah, shepherds like Jacob and Moses, architects like Bezalel and Oholiab, goldsmiths and wine bearers, and a plethora of kings, priests, counselors and commanders.
In the New Testament, we discover that Paul supported himself and his disciples by doing the work of a tentmaker. In fact, along with Aquila and Priscilla (Acts 18), there seemed to have been a tentmakers’ guild. We also have Zenas the lawyer (Titus 3:13) and Lydia the dealer in purple cloth (Acts 16).
Now, is this going to be an article where I try to encourage you to stop viewing work as either sacred (pastor/deacon/worship leader/church admin) or secular? Not quite. But as long as we do any work with our hands for the glory of God, it becomes sanctified.
My focus is a bit different. First, let me give you a bit of context. Most churches worldwide, including here in India, have a very high percentage of members who work out there in the world. This means that the average believer would be engaged in some kind of work to sustain himself and/or his family. This fact means that the average believer has an incredible range of opportunities to witness Christ to those who are lost. You name any sphere and there are thousands in desperate need of the Gospel: hospitals, schools, universities, academies, government, bureaucracy, defense, business, Bollywood, movies, TV, entertainment, music, internet, etc.
So, this article is about how we can be effective in this part of our calling. What can we do to ensure that our work becomes both witness to mankind and worship to God? Allow me to plant a few seeds in your mind. And I must confess they have emerged from all these years of trial and a lot of errors on my part. Here goes:

1. Excellence of thought

If you and I get this right, then half the battle is won! And what better way to gain this than by immersing ourselves in prayer before God to guide us to a rightful churning of our mental state. Pray for the most difficult people in your cubicles (newsflash: they exist. Everywhere!); pray for the fence sitters; pray for the ones who are indifferent. Pray across all tiers at work: superiors, peers and those who are novices. Settle it in your mind that you will think noble and pure thoughts about them, by the grace of God. Once this becomes a habit, a routine, it will lead to…

2. Excellence of speech

How many warriors charge into the battlefield and forget to put on their armour? Using that metaphor, how many times have I let out a word, or a sentence, or an unnecessary remark that totally changed the other person’s perception about me? Proverbs 25:28 says that a person who lacks self-control is like a city whose walls are broken through. Bite your tongue, resist the urge to say that witty one-liner that exalts your royal highness to an even higher level, avoid that sarcastic tone. Instead, let your words be like those of the wise that bring healing (Proverbs 12:18) and make the heart glad (v.25).

3. Excellence of behaviour

I’m not going to overly emphasise manners but remember that even though the Lord looks on the inside, man looks on the outside (1 Samuel 16:7). Greet your colleagues by name because there is nothing that sounds sweeter to any man than the sound of his name. If not, at least acknowledge their presence. Men watch your manners when female colleagues are around. Avoid gossip. There should not even be a hint. If there is grievance of any sorts, walk up to that person and ask politely if you could speak to them. And by all means possible, try to live at peace with everyone (Romans 12:18).

4. Excellence of labour

Be steadfast, sincere and diligent in the discharge of your duties. Work as though you are working for the Lord (Colossians 3:23–24). Ask yourself if God himself would be pleased with your work. Can sloth and laziness be byproducts of kingdom life? Show yourself as a workman approved by God (2 Timothy 2:15). Hold yourself accountable to a higher standard in all you do.
I realise that I’m not an expert in all the points that I just mentioned. I’m still practicing, still learning, still haven’t reached that goal yet. And I have not even gone into depths about suffering justly under a harsh master (1 Peter 2:18). But the main thing is that there is a reason as to why we ought to strive for excellence in our workplace, why we ought to labour for the glory of God. And it is to adorn (or make attractive) the doctrine of God our Saviour in every respect (Titus 2:10).
Dear brother and sister, you are the evangelist, the missionary in your workplace. This track record of excellence is simply a launching pad for you and me to launch the rocket of the Gospel. Ask the Holy Spirit to find out how you can bring this good news to those in your sphere of influence. Do your best before God so that you need not be ashamed when He returns with His angels.
Abe serves as an elder at Fusion Delhi. He grew up in Nagaland and Assam, and currently lives in Delhi with his wife and their two beautiful girls. Abe works at an MNC in Gurgaon and has been dabbling in writing for almost two decades now.