"Ministry in deed" is part of a Christians' calling. Regardless of what you do for a living, you should view every relationship as a chance to display the virtues God is instilling in us. There are so many ways you can do this in the workforce; however, over the next 3 weeks we're going to cover three specific ways to minister well.
Before we jump into those examples, what are ways you minister to others in your job?
The first example of how we can minister well is by being honest with ourselves and with others. We're going to use the Biblical example of David. We like to think David had it all together. He defeated Goliath, had a dominant military career, and God referred to him as "a man after [God's] own heart" (Acts 13:22). However, David didn't have it all together. Take a look at Psalms 22-23, where David writes things like "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
What can we learn from David's life? Not to hide our emotions. David went to God and let him know what was going on in his heart and mind in every season of his life. We need to stop believing the misconception of needing to have it all together in order to be an example of Christ to others.
This week and going forward, we challenge you to be honest with yourself and others about what's going on in your heart and mind. You don't need to have it all together -- God doesn't expect you to be perfect. Share your genuine story and invite others into a similar place of honesty where they can meet God.
"I act like I have it all together all the time because I want my investors, employees, customers, etc. to know that everything is under control." Have you said or thought something along these lines?
It's a slippery slope putting up a front like this and manipulating how others perceive us. You can become further and further away from who you actually are when you continue to put up this front. This week, we're going to look at a parable Jesus told in Luke 18:
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luke 18:9-14)
The Pharisee in this parable wants God to perceive him in a certain way and only mentions the good (fasting and tithing). However, the tax collector comes to God being completely transparent. As business leaders, we need to make sure we're not just presenting self-justifying information and instead being transparent. God wants our honest hearts, not the facades we put up for others.
As business leaders we want to show our employees what success looks like and what their role is in the company. We want our employees to be excited about the vision, so they are passionate about following it.
"Ministry in deed is the act of living a life that gives light to those who see you" (pg 113).
It's important to keep in mind that we are more than just messengers of God's love, we also model it in the way we live. When you're going through work (and your Christian walk in general) we want others to see us and ask, "What makes them different?
"What makes you and your company different? Do you have a vision that is appealing to others? Are you demonstrating God's love in your actions?
Over the last 3 weeks, we've shared 3 specific examples of ways you can minister well in the workplace: be honest with yourself and others, lead from a place of brokenness (your perception), and setting a vision that others want to follow.
There are many others way you can minister well in the workplace and beyond. Check out this short video on Camcraft, a family-owned, precision-manufacturing company in Chicago with a mission "to glorify God." They use their company as a form of ministry:
What are some changes you can make in the workplace to better serve those around you?
