While working my way through college, I got a job selling cars at a local dealership. I was trained by the manager, a hard-nosed, cursing, slick dealer who fit the stereotype of a dishonest car salesman in just about every detail. He even encouraged me to flatter people by telling them they looked good riding in the car and to lie by saying I’d bargained with the manager on the customer’s behalf when I hadn’t.
He took me to lunch one day, and I wanted to thank God for my food, so I said a blessing over our meal. I explained I was a new Christian and that I hoped that didn’t bother him. Days later when I got my next paycheck I noticed a small increase in pay. I asked the payroll clerk why and he said, “The boss has been in this business 40 years, and no one has ever had the guts to pray over a meal with him. He gave you that raise because he thinks you have moxie.” Moxie here being a word you don’t hear much anymore but was once a popular term to connote character and courage.
The message of this story is not to say a prayer just so that you might get a pay raise. I’ve never received another financial bonus from praying at a restaurant even though I thank God for my food before every meal. The message is to do what is right and to honor God no matter the social obstacles.
Our primary job: serving the Savior
All that we do in life is really a job within the job. Our real mission in life is to serve Christ. Everything else comes under this umbrella. We are obeying the Lord as we honor our marriage vows, love our families, serve our church, and work well within our jobs. Being a witness at our job is one part of the larger job of every believer¾seeing all of life as under Christ’s authority.
Christ's great commission is commonly understood to say, "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations" (c.f. Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:16, and Luke 24:46-48). But the language of the Matthew 28 passage really means, “As you are going, make disciples.” The implication is that as you live your life (wherever you happen to be and whatever job you happen to have) you are to be impacting others for Christ by projecting a clear witness. The workplace offers ample opportunity for this.
The workplace presents a context in which true character is displayed. For the Christian, vocation is a sacred opportunity to glorify God not only in what job we are doing but also in how we do it. Therein lies the possibility of impacting coworkers with our core values and foundation for life—our Christian faith.
D.L. Moody, the revered evangelist of the 19th century, said that out of 100 people, one might read the Bible, but 99 would read the Christian. Remember who you represent: Jesus Christ, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We are His “field representatives.” Hours of time, varieties of circumstances… all of this adds up to our co-workers probably knowing us very well. Perhaps our co-workers know us far better than we realize. Let’s make sure that what they see in us is an authentic presentation of Jesus.
People will notice as you act professional, refuse to play into the office gossip pool, and don’t use profanity. Your life becomes a powerful sermon as you show up on time, perform with integrity, model excellence, and always give your employer a good day’s work. Should you conduct a Bible study in the break room at work? Sure, if God leads you to do that. But chances are, the person you are is already projecting an equally impactful message.
