Over the last few weeks we have been addressing the issue of our walk with Christ, and how we can be more effective in our witness to others. We have talked about the impact on our friends, and how to treat others. Tonight I want us to consider what I believe may be the most important area of all when it comes to our witness and testimony. We live in a very specialized society. From auto mechanics to medical doctors, it seems specialties are the order for today's society. So much so that we find ourselves placing different areas of our lives into special categories. Church is church, work is work, family is family, and we keep things in their own separate categories. Now that may sound good and orderly, but it isn't at all what God intended for us to do with our lives. He wants to be involved in every part of our lives! Tonight I want us to consider our testimony on the job. The Scriptural principle is found in Colossians 3:23, "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;"
Work is described as physical or mental effort or activity directed toward the production or accomplishment of something. We are called to work for the Lord. As a matter of fact, we will give an accounting of our work when we stand before Christ at the Judgment Seat.
(1 Cor 3:13-15) Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. {14} If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. {15} If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
As believers we often forget that we are Christians in the work place 40-50 hours a week while we are Christians in our church perhaps 2-3 hours a week. Our opportunity to produce and accomplish things for our Lord is multiplied many times over when we consider our time on the job. I want to draw attention to some thoughts concerning our testimony on the job.
I. What is the Most Spiritual Thing A Christian Can Do On The Job?
A. The wrong answers…
1. Pray … even though prayer is important, it isn't the most spiritual thing we can do while working.
2. Read our Bible … certainly we need to spend more time in the Word, but that isn't what we need to be doing on the job.
3. Witnessing … our co-workers probably need to hear the Gospel, and understand biblical truth that they might be saved, but that isn't the most spiritual thing we should do on the job.
B. The right answer.
(Col 3:23) And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
1. Do our job well!
2. Simple isn't it?
3. Maybe it is so simple that many don't even consider it.
4. We are to do our work 'as unto the Lord'.
a. Can we envision Jesus Christ as our supervisor on the job?
b. We should!
c. He is watching us, isn't He?
d. He observes both our action and our attitude!
C. The philosophy of the world.
1. We know that we are not to be forced into the mold of this world, but we are to conform to the image of Christ.
2. Unfortunately, Christians often find themselves thinking about their jobs the same way that the unsaved think.
3. Our attitude affects the way that we do our jobs.
4. Mark Twain, "I do not like work, even when someone else does it."
5. Many think that we are doing our employer a favor by showing up!
6. Some even believe that is optional!
7. You may be thinking, 'Oh preacher, you don't have to work where I work'! That is true.
8. But you don't have to work there either! However if you choose to do so, the biblical principle applies! "…as unto the Lord"
D. Right attitude will take you farther than high aptitude.
1. My personal experiences.
2. I once met a man who introduced himself to me and said, "I am in the full-time ministry, but Franklin Electric pays my salary."
3. Now that is a good attitude to have.
E. What is our testimony at work?
1. What kind of ministry do we have at work?
2. What is our testimony among our co-workers and our supervisors?
3. What comes to the mind of others when they evaluate our work ethic?
4. When we honestly evaluate our work ethic, is it "…as unto the Lord"?
II. Some Practical Ways To Achieve A Better Testimony At Work.
A. Serve heartily.
1. 'Put your heart into it'
2. When our heart is in the work before us it can become an experience of joy and satisfaction.
3. "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily…"
B. Be honest.
1. As an employee, our goal should be to keep our employer's best interest in mind.
2. Certainly as believers we should not be involved in dishonest practices in the work place, and this includes stealing time!
3. Our testimony before our coworkers should be valued highly.
C. Keep our focus clear.
1. Our employer or company exists to make a profit … we should not lose sight of that.
2. It is easy to focus on the 'brass' and all of the benefits, etc.
3. Our focus should be on being the best employee possible, that we might please our Savior.
D. Remember that God is Sovereign.
1. Your job or position is where God has placed you.
2. Like Queen Esther, He may have placed you there '…for such a time as this…'
3. How many folks have rejected Christ because some Christian co-worker failed to take advantage of a God-given opportunity to be a true witness on the job?
E. Look for ways to be more efficient.
1. Robert Frost said, 'The world is filled with willing people; some willing to work, the rest willing to let them.'
2. That type of attitude will not help our testimony on the job.
3. Always looking for a way out or for someone else to get the job done will only hurt the cause of Christ.
4. We need to be willing to volunteer.
(Mat 5:41) And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
5. We should be ready to accept the difficult tasks and hard assignments.
F. Avoid the circle of criticism.
1. There are those who are natural complainers who seem to bicker and complain about nearly everything.
2. There are others who feel that they have a right to criticize and leadership.
3. This criticism can become vicious and vindictive.
4. It will most certainly hinder our testimony to the lost.
5. We must constantly be alert to the lure of Satan to get involved with the circle of criticism.
We spend so much of our lives 'on the job'. Let's not squander those hours away. We need to take every opportunity that God gives, and use it to its fullest.
(Col 4:5) Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
(Eph 5:16-17) Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. {17} Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.