Workplace Ministry

Even though we have been carried off to Babylon, we don’t have to bow down.

While in Babylon we must have integrity…  The workplace is the one area in our lives were we struggle to find balance.  In most cases balance is synonymous with conpremise, conformity, assimluation and double mindedness.  You wonder how can this be? In an effort to please everyone and to not offend we tone down Christ, His message (the Gospel), the need for salvation and what sin is.  In some cases when we are confronted by atheists, non-christians or even hetertical christians when turn the other cheek and keep it to ourselves.  The workplace quickly becomes the elementary school playground were bullies attack the quiet kids.  We can be guilty of allowing them to make us feel ashamed of what we believe, because they label us bigots.  So how do we be a light and salt of the earth in such hostile environments?

1 Peter 2:13-25 (NIV)

Submission to Rulers and Masters

¹³Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, ¹⁴or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. ¹⁵For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. ¹⁶Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. ¹⁷Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

¹⁸Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. ¹⁹For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. ²⁰But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. ²¹To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
²²“He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth.”^{[a] 23}When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. ²⁴He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. ²⁵For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Not only does Christ live this out but also Joseph as he served Potiphar.  Because of the attitude Joseph has about working and living out his daily life as a servant of God the benefits flowed over to Potiphar.  Joseph’s workplace behavior served as a witness.  “³And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.”  Even a pagan saw that the LORD was with him and for Joseph’s sake God blessed Potiphar’s entire house!  Even in prison he continued to carry himself that way.  Can you imagine the effect Christians can have on the workplace if they stop trying to be like everybody else?  Can you imagine the effect the Church could have if they would stop conforming to the world? Just think if every Christian did what Peter instructed us to do and put it into practice regardless of the situation like Joseph did.  We wouldn’t need any special formula or secret tricks to bring up Christ or salvation.  The first thing people see even before you open your mouth is your life.  What makes these two scriptures so unique to me is that Joseph is a type of Christ or example or even pattern.  So before we react or not act at all and as we wish to change our hostile enivronments try to change how you represent Christ in your living. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be ready to answer, so we should study the Word of God.  And you can’t really live without studying what it is you are trying to live out.  Being effective in the workplace starts with us and our relationship with God.  So are you seeking after His righteousness?

Genesis 39 (KJV)

¹And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.

²And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.

³And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.

⁴And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.

⁵And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.

⁶And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.

⁷And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.

⁸But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;

⁹There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

¹⁰And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.

¹¹And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.

¹²And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.

¹³And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,

¹⁴That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice:

¹⁵And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out.

¹⁶And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home.

¹⁷And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me:

¹⁸And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out.

¹⁹And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled.

²⁰And Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.

²¹But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

²²And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.

²³The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.