iWork4Him PowerThought

At some point in our lives, most of us have had at least one job that made us pretty miserable. And even if you haven't, we all have days when we don't feel like clocking in. When we don't want to be at our job, it shows. Our coworkers notice. Our vendors notice. Our customers usually notice. What kind of testimony are we displaying at work? I'll remind you of one of our favorite verses here at iWork4Him: Colossians 3:23 – "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." You have a critical role in reaching pre-believers in your workplace for Christ! Your attitude, actions, and words all matter. You're not working for you or your boss. You're working for God! Transform your workplace by living out this life-changing truth!

Do you act differently around your pastor than you do around your family or friends? Most people do – even those who don't go to church. We feel like we have to be on our best behavior. We can't be our authentic selves. On the other hand, how do coworkers act around each other? It's usually easier to speak freely with the people we work with, especially if we've taken time to invest in a relationship with them. As believers, that puts us in an ideal position to minister to our coworkers – a position that most pastors just don't have. Don't lose sight of this incredible opportunity you have. You might not speak from a pulpit, but neither did Jesus. As Matthew 5:16 instructs: let your light shine bright so that those around you will have no choice but to praise God! You have more exposure to pre-believers than most pastors ever will

Modern church culture emphasizes the importance and prestige of working in full-time ministry as a pastor, foreign missionary, or the like. But here at iWork4Him, we want to help resurrect the original idea behind the idea of ministry. There's a theological misunderstanding that the top jobs in the Kingdom are missionary and pastor, but that's simply not true! There are no tiers in the kingdom. No 1st tier jobs and then 2nd tier jobs supporting 1st tier ministers. We should be ministering wherever we go and in whatever we do. Call to mind the familiar Bible verse 1 Corinthians 10:31: "So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." That means that our work should be worship – and that's awesome! Take a few minutes to reflect on how you can glorify God today through your full-time ministry at work, at home, and in your community.

The body of Christ is made up of many parts; none is more important than the other. Do you ever feel unimportant in the Kingdom of God? Like who you are and what you do is on a lower tier while others are on a higher one? In 1 Corinthians 12, God lets us know that each of us plays an important role in the body of Christ. Verse 18 says, "Our bodies have many parts, but God has put each part just where He wants it." Are you letting God use you right where you are, or are you too busy comparing your talents, resources, and position with others? Stop scrolling through social media, thinking you're not enough. You are an essential part of God's plan, and He desires to use you! So, when you're feeling unimportant, remember – there are no tiers in the Kingdom!

God taught me how to shift the paradigm of work into a place of work interlaced with ministry, a workplace mission field. I prayed for those I worked with, I served them over and above, I befriended them, and I prayed with them. But I realized, none of these actions mattered if my work wasn't excellent. If I wasn't a great employee, with great work production, and great work relationships, no one would care about my faith. Others needed to see that my faith was real and that it applied to all of my life. Excellence needs to define who we are at work. Looking back, I made mistakes but I prayed with tons of people, made lifelong friends and even participated in leading one of my bosses to Jesus and another to rededication. iWork4Him was born out of this story, can you say iwork4Him?

In praying for those I worked with, serving them above what my job required me to do and in developing real relationships with them outside of "Work", I began to notice when their demeanor changed and they were having a bad day. I learned to ask, "How are you doing today?" I really wanted to know the answer. They would respond with "I'm Fine", then I would respond, really? Freaked out, Insecure, Neurotic, and Emotional? Really, how are you doing? Then I would be quiet and let them share what was really going on because they knew I genuinely cared. When they were done sharing, I learned to say, "Thanks for sharing that with me, can I pray about that with you right now?" I never got turned down. Mind you this took a couple of years to develop but you can do it too. You can start by simply asking "How are you doing today?"

During my morning commute to my new job, I began praying for the people I worked with and then serving them above what I was required to do but I knew that more was needed to shift my faith paradigm at work. I needed to really know these people I worked with. My wife and I started creating ways to get to know people outside of work to develop real relationships. We had people over for dinner, we went out after work, and ate lunch together. My intention was to know more about them as individuals, not just co-workers. I learned their spouses' names, their kids' names. I learned what bothered them and what encouraged them. At the same time, I let them know who I was. I shared about my family, my dreams, my struggles. We just shared life. I started to see the real people I worked with. Do you know your co-workers personally?

With the new reality that my work was in fact my place of ministry, my workplace mission field, I modified my workplace commute prayer time. I still prayed for my family, but I added my bosses, my coworkers, and eventually my employees. I noticed a funny thing happening. I started to see these people differently - the way God saw them. I grew in empathy and love for them, and I really started seeing myself as a minister in my workplace. In addition to the demands of my new job, I started to serve my co-workers over and above what I was required to do. This selfless serving of others caused them to see that something was different about me. I started to see my faith relevant to my work. My paradigm was shifting, and my heart was encouraged. Who can you start praying for today? And then watch what God does to your heart.

It all started with my new job. Commuting 90 miles to work. I made a commitment to not turn on the radio for the morning commute. I wanted to learn how to pray. My new job had so much adventure built in, but I wanted this job to be different. I prayed for my family on the way to work and others who had specific prayer requests but then God rocked my world. One day, in my email in box, my friend Bob sent me the Today God is First devotional from Os Hillman. For the first time, I learned that God loved my work and that my workplace was my mission field. I was floored. For years I had tried to go into full-time ministry in a church, but this devotional told me that I was already in ministry at my work. You are in your mission field at work. Let that sink in today.

As you woke up today, did you find yourself celebrating the end of the work week?

We have all been trained to celebrate weekends and to dread our work.

But is that the way God feels?

I grew up thinking that work was a result of original sin. That the reason work was evil was that it came from evil.

But that was a lie. God created work long before Adam and Eve sinned. God gave us work to be fulfilled and for us to flourish.

Now work did get more difficult after Adam and Eve Sinned, but God still wants to walk alongside us in our work. Want proof? Read the biblical history on Abraham and his corporate empire or Joseph and Daniel on their government jobs.

God wants to join us in our work, and that is worth celebrating. God has a purpose for your work too. So TGIF today, that's okay but prepare yourself for TGIM come Monday.