guidelines and perspectives for the christian in the workplace
Guidelines and perspectives for the Christian in the workplace give spiritual direction into how you network, connect, and grow through your work environment.
Your work is one of those activities that take up a good portion of your day and so it would make sense to take into consideration how you spend your time there. You may be feeling unloved or unappreciated at your job, or, perhaps the thought of exchanging precious time God gave to you for a mere paycheck does not excite you much.
You might be looking for that dream job that offers a huge salary, less hours, less workload, and good benefits--well many of us would like that. Someone might think you're living on "easy street." But, could it be that you are in your particular job because God wants to use you there to be of service to others and to Him by means of your workplace?
guidelines and perspectives of personal growth within the workplace
It's probably safe to assume that your employer (or possibly you, if you're the employer or entrepreneur of your company) has previously set aside various rules, regulations, policies and procedures for your job title and placement. In all probability, you are offered an employee manual or workbook in which to seriously study and obey most or all the rules generated for your particular position within the company or agency. Most of the time we abide by these certain guidelines and attempt to keep them close by just in case we need to review them.
You may have work issues and concerns affecting your personal growth and spiritual development as an employee or employer which may not be easily spoken about in your workplace.Therefore, you may feel the need to search them out and consider various options about them, depending on what they are and how they are affecting you.
The following list may strike you as being some of those issues you have gone through or are now facing within your work environment:
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Networking: Great things can come with this activity if you are connecting or socializing with the right people within your work industry or career. You may have to do your research in finding those good connections, however it has high potential of possibly getting your job skills and talents noticed by others, which in turn may prove to having more success in your job/career. Women In The Workplace: Now here's a topic that gets attention every time! Issues such as sexism, sexual harassment at work, her rights on the job, being on a lower pay-scale than men are, maternity leave, and so on. I feel that women have so much on their plates even at home that when you add problems in the workplace too, it can truly become overwhelming. I've been there too. Office Romance, Flirting With Co-Workers Or The Boss, Temptations Of Every Kind: These are issues and concerns most people have on the job, even non-believers. However, they are to be scrutinized and looked on with spiritual discernment because others are watching you, especially the Lord. Be careful and mindful of what your speech and actions say about you regarding these things. Make this out to be your own personal guidelines that you placed upon yourself, those which you will not pass the line on. Your Work Mindset: The perspective you have about your particular work affect your mindset, which may interfere with your commitment to the job and your company. Perhaps your focus is off-course, or you may have made some poor decisions, or fear and doubt may have gotten in the way. Whatever the case maybe, you will need to nail down the cause and act on it. |
Social Network and Online Forums: It seems the internet has expounded immensely from many years ago. Now we are relying more than ever on our social and online status as an aid for landing a job or searching out a career. Many employers take to the social media even before hiring a possible job candidate. It make one really think about cleaning up the profile in order to look presentable to our boss and co-workers. Ethics And Morals In The Workplace: There are certain standards of morality and ethics generally assumed within every work environment; however, it doesn't mean that everyone holds those standards high. Although as a Christian, your spiritual testimony automatically uncovers how you think, feel, and act about various situations and should reflect your character and integrity regarding moral and ethical issues. Self-Worth and Personal Growth: Many times your work gives you a sense of accomplishment and feelings of self-worth in that your work skills and talents bring much to the betterment of your workplace. You can begin to feel more worthy of your position with large and small successes within your company/agency. Personal growth also can be obtained through seminars, webinars, or other ways of learning to help boost your confidence. |
guidelines and biblical perspectives for work from scripture
In scripture God has set up His own guidelines and biblical perspectives on how we are to work, why He wants His people to work, and the mindset about our work that we should all have as believers in Christ.
These are the guidelines we must follow when performing the work God has put before us to do:
- Proverbs 16:3 tells us to, "Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established."
- Colossians 3:23 says, "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not unto men."
- 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 instructs us, "And that ye study to be quiet, to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you. That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing."
- 2 Chronicles 15:7 says, "Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded."
- Deuteronomy 15:10 says, "Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto." Lastly,
- Proverbs 12:14 says, "A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him."
So, as you can see, God has set the premise for us in His word through these certain guidelines and biblical principles to follow when it comes to our work. Just like everything else in the life of a Christian, He also knew we would need some kind of guidance in showing us what is to be expected in our work lives and job environment.
Also, keep this in mind, that you are not out there just working for yourself, or for your family, or even to make the boss look good. Sure these are all important reasons, no doubt. But ultimately, you are working for the Lord, and it is He whom you must honor and please, and not others. Our Lord is pleased when you do your work with a grateful heart. May you continue to serve Him in that way.
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