Introduction: Why Work as Worship Matters and How to Make it Happen
Many people have a hard time reconciling the idea of work and worship. This can be true both in the sense that they are difficult to combine, or they simply don’t believe it is possible to work as worship. For example, some people believe that only the most spiritual people are able to make time for prayer while they are at their job (http://blog.hayhouse.com/the-church-and-the-workforce/). Some say we should leave our jobs or church behind when we’re done for the day because we just don’t get anything out of it anymore (which may be true). What is important to remember is that work and worship are both important parts of our lives. We can’t discern what God is calling us to do without being in the world, and neither should we leave the Church behind when we’re done for the day. This article provides an insight into how both sides can come together by examining the idea of work as worship, the benefits of it for workers, and how to make it happen.
The Work Ethic in Christianity and Other Religions. The idea of a Christian “work ethic” gained ground during colonial America’s period of emergence from Puritanism.The idea of a “work ethic” in Judaism is seen largely as the obligation to participate in the Jewish economy, working for a living and paying taxes.The idea of a “work ethic” is central to Islam, which condemns idleness as an affront to God’s creation.
Virtually every religion in the world has some way of conceptualizing how to integrate faith with the work we do every single day. Work can become worship. when we are able to see the progress of our hard work and dedication in all sorts of ways, from being recognized by others who have benefited from our labor, to being rewarded for the time we invest in our work.As you begin to spend more time at your job, it’s important that you keep up with your spiritual practices so that your faith doesn’t waiver. Whether you’re a believer or not, keeping up with spiritual practices is important for personal growth. If you are religious but feel like something’s missing from your life, this might be the first step in figuring out what changes need to be made. “The religious life is the only life that can sustain itself in a state of radical openness. It has no other choice.” –John Caputo. When you feel like something’s missing from your life, take an inventory of how you feel and why you’re feeling this way. Maybe it’s because your faith is flagging, or something else is bothering you.
Steps to make your day work more like worship
Before you rush off to work, make sure you’re covered by spending time with God. Even 5 minute prayers before your commute count. Do not start the day without talking with God. It is important to keep up with our spiritual practices so that we can grow spiritually.
Don’t focus on your feelings. Acknowlege and take inventory but don’t let them run away with you. Most of our productivity and opportunities to be compassionate are wasted when we get wrapped in how we FEEL. Feelings are not facts. You may feel like you’re being terrible at your work, yet your supervisor has a different opinion. You may feel like your coworkers are gossiping behind your back and hate you, but they may be planning you a surprise party. Don’t get sucked into your feelings.
Pray more specifically. Maybe your day needs to begin with praying over every task on your to do list and every person you know you will encounter.
Emergency Prayers. When agitated, take a moment to pause and pray. I’m dating myself but I still remember the whole be cool about fire safety publicity campaign when I was a child. They told us to “stop, drop, and roll.” Thankfully I have never been on fire and had the opportunity to use this sound counsel but I get on fire at work, I get caught up, inflamed in passionate anger… and for that I have stop and pray. Who knows? Maybe being more specific about what I’m struggling with, right in the moment of the struggle with instantly cool that fire.
Add a Playlist. Music helps me so much with my workday. When I’m in my office and I’m writing, I love to have a good worship playlist going. What can you add to this list?
Just because you’re in the professional world doesn’t mean that it can’t be a spiritual journey. There are simple, practical strategies to make your job an expression of service and devotion. This article outlines some ways to transform your everyday work into a spiritual quest – from physical activities to more philosophical approaches – so that you can make your modern job a ministry. By utilizing meditation, prayer, gratitude, and values-driven leadership, you can start making a difference in the lives of those around you. You don’t need to change jobs or careers; instead try applying some spiritual practices too your existing role so that it becomes something more meaningful and transformative.
1. Identify Your Purpose of Work.
What is your purpose in life? Not what you think your career is going to look like or what job you want, but what will give meaning to the work that you do each day. We need goals and aspirations that can guide us as we go through different life stages, jobs, careers, and even countries. It may be hard to identify this at first but it’s a process that becomes easier over time. What are things in your life right now that make them meaningful? How might they be even more meaningful if they were pursued for the purpose of serving others ?
2. Practice the Art of Listening.
Listening can be one of the most powerful tools in our lives. It allows us to connect with others and to understand them better, and it is a prerequisite for meaningful conversations. The next time you’re in a conversation, try this exercise: make a point to listen without interjecting your own opinions or observations into the conversation. Let people speak without interruption and see what happens. If they need more than five seconds after they finish speaking before you respond, chances are you are interrupting them too much! Once you get comfortable with listening without interrupting, , you will notice that you are able to understand what people are saying and allow them to feel heard.
3. Practice the Art of Speaking.
Speaking does not come easily for most of us, especially those with social anxiety, but it is a skill we must hone in order to use our voice and improve our relationships with others. Make a point to speak up at meetings or conversations when something needs clarification or your opinion on the matter needs to be made known. If you’re afraid of making mistakes, try speaking about things in group settings before moving into one-on-one interactions where mistakes could cause more harm or embarrassment.
4. Get up and Move.
In the age of computer screens, it’s easy to feel as though you’re glued to your chair all day. But getting up and moving throughout the day gives you a chance to break away from your desk for a few minutes and clear your mind. When you come back to work, try taking some time at lunch or during a break to take an active walk around the office or outside. You can also use this as an opportunity to be social. Take your coworker with you on that walk.
5. Be more physically affectionate.
You might think that being physical affectionate is reserved only for romantic relationships, but anyone can benefit from this practice — whether they’re dating or not. Some ways to express physical affection are by touching or holding hands, a non-sexual hug, and kissing on the forehead or the cheek. You might also want to hold eye contact throughout any physical interaction you have with another person to acknowledge that they exist. Remember to be mindful of context and your level of closeness with the other person. Don’t be inappropriate. Ask if its ok. Just because they hugged you yesterday doesn’t mean they want a hug today.
6. Be open about your faith.
You don’t have to store pamphlets and your bible in your desk. You don’t have to constantly mention you’re a christian. HOWEVER, You do have to make yourself available to help when others are hurt and grieving. You are the hands and feet of Christ, so you can and SHOULD conduct yourself accordingly. Send a sympathy card. Send a get well card. Go see your hospitalized coworker. You don’t have to say a word about your faith when you get there either. Just be a light. Just be a comfort.
In sum, the first part of being more spiritual in the workplace is connecting with God. Meditation, prayer yoga, etc those are all to keep in contact with God. But then we are called to also connect with others.
As Christians, we are called to serve and glorify God in all aspects of our lives – especially at work. The Bible teaches us that when we accept our weaknesses as part of what makes us valuable to God, His power can be made perfect in our weakness. That is why it is essential for Christians to master the tools they can use to better manage their character flaws at work.
Knowledge of your own weaknesses can help you reach your full potential at the workplace. By utilizing different tools to understand yourself better, you can learn more about how you interact with coworkers, handle conflicts and manage stress in a healthy manner. Not only will this make it easier for you to grow professionally but also emotionally. With this knowledge, your day-to-day tasks will be easier as you are no longer blinded by fear or insecurity and start working confidently without second-guessing yourself every step of the way.
One of my major weaknesses is lack of confidence/ presentation skills. I may have researched an issue for hours and hours but as soon as anyone asks me a question about just the very topic I’ve been researching, I stare at them dumbfounded. When I begin to answer, I stumble over my words and it sounds terrible. However, if you wanted a power point or an email briefing you on that topic, I could very well deliver. Oral speech is not something that comes natural to me. I am very much one of those people that will read from my powerpoint.
If I were to make a “battle card “ for this work issue, the verse on the back would come from 2 Timothy 1:7. God doesn’t want me to be in fear at work, especially on subjects on which I could be an expert! What is going on there?! God absolutely wants me to act in power, love and self-control … even at work.
One popular personality assessment that’s been sweeping not only christian circles but work communities is called the Enneagram. The Enneagram is a type of personality test that was first developed in the late 1920s and has since been used by many different types of people. But the way I really love is how people have been using them in the workplace to assess their strengths and weaknesses not only within themselves but on their teams, to figure out how to best work together. The Enneagram is broken down into 9 personality types, each with its own set of strengths and weaknesses.
There’s the type I, for instance, which is the personality type that does not like to take risks. Let’s say your team needs to make a decision on which product to be selling at a company-wide meeting. Type I is going to want everyone in the room to agree with whatever decision they make because they don’t like taking any risks or making decisions by themselves. They are also going work hard at being liked and appreciated by their peers for their good decisions.Type II will want to make their own decisions and they are going to be more challenging for others to agree with them because they don’t care about being liked or appreciated. They want the freedom to decide for themselves but still be in control of their team so that others don’t usurp their authority.Type III is going to want everyone in the room, including them, to come on board with whatever decision is made by a majority vote of the group. They take a more democratic approach, wanting people’s input but not really caring about who has what opinion or whether or not it’s valid.This difference in approach can lead to some clashes of opinion and a lot of bad feelings, especially if people aren’t aware that their ideas are already encouraged. But this is the price for being social. We can just try to remember that anything we think is important may be worth fighting for and the world would be a better place with our support!
The Enneagram also talks about the dark side of each type. What behaviors are typical of a type when they are in distress?Sevens are typically introverted and can have trouble reacting to the outside world. They tend to withdraw from relationships, especially romantic ones. Fives can also be introverted and might have trouble forming bonds with others, depending on their other coping strategies. The wings of a type are more likely to show up in times of distress for that type.
The Enneagram is just one tool that you can use to help you navigate your work weaknesses. I would be remiss if I didn’t end this blog entry by telling you my type. I am a 3 wing 4. I will confess that these days I’m absolutely engulfed by my wing. Whats your type? What dark attributes of that type do you identify with?
Christians have a responsibility to lead with integrity, making decisions that uphold a high standard of ethical behavior. It is important for Christians in leadership positions to model moral behavior and set an example for the rest of the organization. This not only ensures the company’s success but also reflects positively on any faith-based values.
Christian leaders should be mindful of how their decisions affect those around them and strive to always act with honor, kindness, and justice. It’s not just about getting results – it’s about respecting others and having a strong sense of what is ethically right or wrong. By upholding this standard of ethical behavior at work, Christians can serve as role models for others while showing that they take their faith seriously.
As Colossians 3:23-24 states “Whatever your task, put yourselves into it, as done for the Lord and not for your masters, since you know that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you serve the Lord Christ.” The reason Christians need to uphold a high standard of ethical behavior at work is because your true boss is the Lord Christ.
Keep in mind that your work is not just work. You are in service to the Lord Jesus Christ. Whether your job is at Walmart, local elementary school, or Goldman Sachs we’re called to conduct ourselves with integrity. We should speak the truth, and embody the fruits of the Spirit. Work is where we spend most of our time as adults and interactions with you may be the Bible someone ever reads.
The famous Protestant theologian Martin Luther said “I am a workman who must be paid for my work. I receive money, not to be idle with it, but to buy food and clothing and other things to enable me to do more work.” In this statement he recognizes the dignity of labor or in this case his trade.When we were baptized into Christ’s baptism (Mark 10:38) we were given a new identity as those who are sanctified by holy God through His grace (1 Peter 2:22). The bible says that all things are ours in Christ. But also we are Christs and we should conduct ourselves accordingly, even in the mundane acts of washing dishes and correcting Excel spreadsheets .So before we get to making something of the mundane, let’s take a moment to do some creative thinking about how we can make the mundane make sense.What would it look like for us to do all things in Christ?
What would it be like for us to show up as a son or daughter of the King in our workplace? Would we be less apt to tear down and more to build people up ? Would we be more patient and compassionate? Would we be less apt to engage in gossip?Who would my coworkers turn to if they need advice or help ?
Take some time to imagine what it would be like if you showed up as your Sunday self on Monday. Would it disrupt the status quo? Some of you need to find new employment because you’ve made a full living off of dishonesty for a long time. Some of you might get a few people who appreciate you for your new and improved self. And some of you might just feel really lonely and isolated. A Chinese Proverb says “The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now.” We can’t go back to twenty years ago but we have today. If you mess up, you still have tomorrow. We can always begin again. Start today and lead with integrity.
It can be challenging to stay motivated and remain in a godly attitude while working in an environment where staying professional and competitive is the norm. As Christians, we should strive to both excel at our jobs as well as ensure that our beliefs are reflected in whatever we do. This can be done through maintaining a godly attitude on the job – both through our actions and words – that honors God while also assisting us in succeeding professionally. This article will discuss the importance of cultivating an attitude that honors God when we are at work, provide examples of how this can be done, and finally include tips for sustaining motivation and staying positive no matter the situation. With faithfulness, hard work, commitment, and positivity – Christians are sure to succeed as professionals in any type of workplace environment that honors their religious beliefs. .Work is a part of our lives that can be difficult for many people. We put in long hours at the office, sometimes work shifts that are physically demanding, and are often surrounded by a lot of negativity in the workplace environment.
There is always something to keep us from feeling like we have control over our own lives and careers sometimes. With these factors in mind, it can be challenging for some to maintain a godly attitude at work even when they put their best effort into it. On top of all this, many Christians encourage one another at work with words like “God bless!” or “Have a nice day!” which can be jarring to those who may consider these phrases inappropriate.
A diversity of religions and beliefs is normal in the workplace, but this reality can create a culture where people feel as though their values are being pushed aside. Even if someone is respectful of others’ beliefs, they may feel unwelcome or be made to feel uncomfortable when their religious preferences are not considered a priority for the majority of employees. This environment will likely affect employees’ work ethic and overall productivity as they work to claim space for themselves and maintain the peace in the office.
Because faith is such an important part of an individual’s life, the ability to be self-expressed in the workplace is a fundamental human right. In what ways can employers and employees practice religious tolerance? Employers should make an effort to promote a culture of diversity and religious tolerance within their company, especially on major holidays like Christmas, Easter, Hanukkah, or Ramadan. In order to ensure that all employees feel comfortable expressing their faith while still showing proper respect for others, employers should educate employees about how to celebrate each holiday appropriately.
The Bible gives guidance on how to behave and feel at work. Ephesians 6: 6-7 (ESV) discusses how we should render service with good will as to the Lord and not to man. Colossians 3:23 states “ Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” The Bible reminds us that the work of our hands is for God. Because of this we should be glad and maintain a good attitude in serving others. This can be very challenging depending on the workplace environment. Oftentimes we feel discouraged or struggle as we try to do what God would have us do. We need to remember that “in difficult times have courage.” We also need to pray with faith so that each day we do what God would have us do.
The thing that helps me the most is that when I walk into my office for the day, I pray over the tasks for the day. I pray over the people that I know will be involved in my day and I will encounter in my day. I try to pray for God’s guidance and for peace over my day.I also have a lot of grace in my daily routine. I don’t always give it to myself, but I know what it is and use the tools that are given to me.
If you feel that there is a need to talk with someone about your work environment feel free to contact a friend, church leader, or pastor. Happiness is found in service to God and others. A positive attitude brings the best results for everyone involved. When we serve others our tone of voice changes from complaining and judgmental to encouraging and compassionate. It is important to remember that everything that happens in our lives may not be part of God’s perfect plan, but when we do our best and serve others, things will start to look up. Start each day with prayer. Be specific in your prayers. Tell God what you want, need, and desire for your day. And Most Importantly, Trust Him to accomplish it.
