“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” - Matthew 5:14-16
Throughout the Bible, excellent speakers have been recorded sharing the message of God’s Word. From Aaron in the Old Testament, who was chosen to help Moses because of his ability to speak, all the way to Jesus himself in the New Testament, who knew the words of Scripture like no one else, gifted speakers have always played a part in spreading the good news.
However, when you consider those two examples, there may be one of those that you don’t often think of first as a great example of a faithful servant. Why is that? Because even though Aaron was a great speaker and helped Moses lead the people out of Israel, one of the first actions he carried out was building the golden calf the people began to worship at Mt. Sinai. That immediately makes us question whether or not he actually believed the words he spoke in the first place.
One of the most important questions to ask yourself as a person who is bringing your faith into the workplace is whether or not your words are leading to action within your company.
Faith in the workplace goes beyond just talking about what you believe. Christ wants you to show his love in everything you do, from actively being the one to pray in meetings to supporting your staff when they need an extra pair of hands on the job. When you follow up on the things you say by directly acting in faith to support those around you, you will make a difference.
“But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.” - James 2:18-26
Works alone do not bring salvation. Paul is very clear about that in Scripture. However, what James is saying is that works should be a natural result of any true faith. Bringing your faith into the workplace shouldn’t just be a thing you talk about. It should be a belief that you practice every single day.
Your employees should not only be able to hear about your faith, but they should also be able to see it! The love you have for them as image bearers of Christ should be evident in the way your company treats them. Jesus didn’t just go out and teach to the crowds and then head home. He sat with them, feasted with them, and even wept with them. This is the type of ministry that God is calling us to practice.
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. - James 1:22-25
This is where your responsibility to bring faith into the workplace comes full circle. Scripture makes it clear that those who hear the word are also called to act. Just as you once heard from someone, you are now being called to pursue your faith in action. When you bring that faith into your office, you are inspiring others who hear to act in faith.
This is what Christ at Work is all about! Seeing the kingdom of God grow by faithfully representing Him in the workplace. When this happens, it becomes clear how God is not only changing your business for the better but also the entire world.
What may start as saying a prayer at the beginning of a meeting in your office can have a much bigger impact when you trust God to lead you into new faith practices within your business. This may be a Bible study or even chaplaincy like they employ at American Airlines. Regardless of the strategies you follow, don’t ever doubt God’s ability to work through you in both word and deed.
