REVIVING THE CHRISTIAN WORK ETHIC

by Erin Georgiou

The majority of Christians do not seem to understand that God has practical and realistic principles applicable to every area of our lives – particularly in business. We as Christians need to fulfill God’s mandate in the workplace.

Ignorance is possibly one of the most subtle and insidious conditions of man – because it is used as an excuse by many of us. Ignorance is not an acceptable state when one follows God’s principles. He wants the best for us.

Currently, many Christians are not aware of the basic business minimums and values that we should be practicing. Values that are not merely suggestions – but instructions and commandments from God. We are faced daily with situations and decisions that have to be made; and as Christians, we have to make them according to God’s rules – not man’s!! No matter how controversial or “politically incorrect” these decisions may be - we must first seek to please God.

Everything we do today carries eternal consequences.

We were not only made to be better business people/ employees but to be totally different – and yet most Christians today are indistinguishable from the world in the way in which they operate. If this was not true then why are we not most sought after employees? Surely people would first want to employ those known to be the most reliable, trustworthy, honest, creative, healthy people – in fact Christians should be “ perfect employees.” We should be sought out for our work ethic, commended for our outstanding values and we would be the most highly paid individuals around. The fact that we are not is, I believe, simply an external reflection that inside we have lost direction or we are ignorant in this regard.

We need to understand that our workplace IS our mission field… and how we operate in our business environment is a testof our stewardship to the unbelievers that God has placed around us. We are God’s chosen vessels, people who in any situation should reflect Him, and hopefully plant a desire in others to want to know Him. We are called to glorify God in our workplace. Please note, that doesn’t mean that we must go around preaching to everybody – no - remember you are not the plan for their salvation but rather part of The Plan. How we reflect God in our daily dealings with others will certainly determine their attitude towards Christianity.

The average business person doesn’t go to church, let alone know Christ as his saviour. Therefore his only possible contact with God may be through you. Can you see why it is so important that we operate according to God’s rules?

The workplace is an ideal platform to reach people. Used properly it can be the greatest tool; used improperly it can be the greatest weapon for driving people away from the Lord. This is why we simply cannot be ignorant of God’s basic principles.

Let us now look at these principles:

• Commitment. ( P salm 37:5) – “commit your way to the Lord, trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun .”

If you have committed your life to God, it includes all of your life, including your job and your employer or employees. One way you demonstrate this commitment is by praying for these people. Ask the Lord to use you to bless them every day, to reflect Jesus in your attitude. If you are praying for them then you will beencouraged to do your best – and should you slip, the Holy Spirit will convict you; when you are tempted to go off track, He will help you.

Commitment invites and authorizes the Holy Spirit into your business. If you’re committed to your job and your employer it will be immediately evident. Your speech will be positive, your attitude will be great and you will be celebrated - not merely tolerated! There would never be need for you to be rebuked and if you are treated unfairly, for whatever reason, then God will defend you, and at the same time graft character into your spirit.

Commitment generates authority . It attracts people, it creates opportunities, gives power and creativity to your life. Commitment generates customers and blessings - Commitment promotes you.

• Order - ( 1 Cor 14:33) “God is not a god of disorder but a God of peace .”

O rder: the accurate arrangement of things

Increased order in our lives = increased productivity.

Personal order includes: our diaries, desks, files, shelves etc. When you walk into an environment of disorder it causes stress and agitation. So often today this is passed onto the customer. Lack of order is often the number one cause of bad attitudes amongst people – It affects you more than you can imagine.

Christians are expected to be examples of order – we have the Holy Spirit within us – He is a God of order!!!

• Teachable Spirits

A Teachable spirit is willing to change, to grow, to improve, to implement new and vital information as it becomes available. To constantly seek to be informed and to strive to be the best, to become experts in our given fields. Informed people have influence. Our goal is to be influential for Christ. We have all been given ability and if you have a job – you have the opportunity. Butwe need to ask God to help us develop a desire for Wisdom.

( Proverbs 1:5) says “A wise man will hear and will increase learning”.

Proverbs is jam packed with instruction. There are 31 chapters in Proverbs – one for each day in the month. Read them daily.

• Honorable - ( James 5:12) “Let your yes be yes and your no be no, or you will be condemned.”

Don’t make commitments, promises or vow’s that you can’t keep. They will become major obstacles in your life. God holds us responsible for our promises.

Do you know there was a time when all that was necessary was to shake hands on a deal? Lets say a builder decided to build you a house and quoted you R10 000 and you shook hands on it, and it ended up costing him R15 000 to complete the job - he would never, never expect you to pay the difference. His handshake was his word, it represented his reputation and he knew his reputation was worth more than R5000. He valued his reputation. But, what happens today, we ( yes, Christians) make our clients sign contracts filled with legalese, just in case things go wrong! We are told to protect ourselves. Do you really think this pleases God?

As Christians, our word should be binding, no matter what the circumstance. How are we ever going to be seen to be different if we just copy the world? It is vital to honor God and each other through honesty and the integrity of our words.

(Ecclesiastes 5: 4,5) says “ When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfil your vow. It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfil it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin.”

At this point I also want to take a moment and address the issue of Unpaid Vows – in the form of unpaid debts, IOU’s, money owing. If you have any unpaid debts, I encourage you to make arrangements to pay them – regardless of how small those payments may have to be. Why? Because how can an unpaid vow ever be a testimony to God? A Christian leaving a debt unpaid is one of the worst kind of offences ESPECIALLY IN BUSINESS. how often do we hear “I DON’T WANT TO DO BUSINESS WITH CHRISTIANS” and when you enquire further – you find it’s because someone didn’t pay their debt?

Money is one of the greatest weapons Satan uses to discredit Christians. Whenever money is involved – we need to go the extra mile and make an even bigger effort never to let God down.

I love those arm bangles that say WWJD, because there is seldom a situation where you cannot ask yourself that question: What would Jesus do? It is incredible, the moment you ask that question, the Holy Spirit will show you the answer, immediately. God will never leave you nor forsake you, nor will He ignore you when you sincerely ask Him for help.

Decide today to promote the Christian Work Ethic and take up your role of being an ambassador for Christ in your workplace

• Forgiveness

We are guaranteed to be wronged or offended from time to time, but it is important to remember “ that we gave up our rights when we came to Christ” – therefore we have no right to become offended. No matter what the offence is, we have an obligation to forgive and pray for the offender

Let God judge and schedule punishment – not you . He may decide to treat that offender with mercy so we dare not carry unforgiveness in our hearts. Unforgiveness is a major stumbling block for Christians in business. We cannot expect God to bless us when we carry unforgiveness in our hearts. Furthermore, how can we be a witness to Jesus in our work environment, if we have ought against our brother? Others notice it.

(Mark 11:25) says “And if when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone,forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins”.

• EXCELLENCE

One of the most powerful values a man can have for influencing others for Christ is Excellence. We as Christians should be identifiable by our excellence. You can identify Excellence immediately, by the way a person dresses, organizes things, and most importantly by the way they treat others.

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Excellence is a gift. Y ou are not born with it. It comes as a result of being a good steward. Excellence encompasses what every Christian ought to be. We serve a God of excellence and everything that God does is excellent. We have the spirit of the Lord living within us therefore we should be excellent.

Excellence requires discipline . (Especially to God’s Word)

Excellence produces trust

• Excellence is a lifestyle – I say if you can’t do it right – don’t do it yet!

• Excellent people will conquer what average people will complain about.

Excellent people pursue solutions – average people stare at problems .

• Excellent people strive to stand out – (Matt 5:16) “Let your light shine before men.” Average people try to fit in.

Christians were not born to be average; we must have the mind of Christ. We must renew our minds on the Word of God so that we can learn to see ourselves as God sees us.

Excellence orchestrates in the mind, translates into speech and demonstrates in your life. (Proverbs 23:7) “As a man thinketh in his heart so is he.”

An excellent person posses ethics and integrity (i.e. knows his values and has a commitment to uphold them). I ntegrity is the integration of your word into your behavior.

Let me ask you a question : Who was stronger: Joseph or Samson? Well, Biblically, ethics and morality are far stronger than talent… Joseph’s ethics governed his beliefs and thus controlled his behavior – making him a leader amongst men.

Excellent people don’t work for the observation of people – but for the observation of God. (Colossians 3:2) “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

We can’t change the whole world, but we can affect the spiritual climate in our offices and environment – which in time will impact the whole world.

Mrs. Erin Georgiou can be contacted at: winway@mweb.co.za

This article is based on a presentation given at the Biblical Worldview Summit. It is available on audio CD (with PowerPoint) from:

Africa Christian Action

P O Box 36129, Glossery, 7702, South Africa

Tel.: 021-689-4480; Fax: 021-685-5884

E-mail: info@christianaction.org.za

Web: www.christianaction.org.za