Saturday, September 5, 2015

September 6, 2015

8 Truths I’ve Learned About Faith at Work

A good friend sent me this very insightful and practical article from Dr. Jim Harris.

Perhaps like you, I sometimes reflect on lessons I’ve learned over the years, usually by the mistakes I’ve made. Today as I asked the Lord what I could post that would be helpful to you, He brought several things to mind that, frankly, I was excited to receive.

Here are eight truths I’ve learned about faith at work that I pray help you, too.

1. It’s more than applying business principles. Non-believers can apply the same principles. Just trying to apply principles (e.g. Jethro’s delegation system in Exodus 18, Jesus’ reward system in Mathew 25:14-29) can easily become more of a focus on the power of your works rather than on the power of the Spirit behind your works.

2. Cursing is the fastest way to ruin your testimony. It continues to amaze and disappoint me the number of faith-filled business people who can not control their tongues. Even after they apologize, the weight of hearing such language come from the heart of a Christ follower not only crushes the spirit of other believers and annihilates their testimony to non-believers.

3. Walking it is far better than talking it. Need I say more? When people SEE the love of Christ and not just HEAR it, they pay attention. The walk is the thing - not the talk.

4. Everyone loves to be around others who love them. Jesus gave his disciples his last and a new commandment - to love one another (John 13:34). When we walk in love (See #3), no one - regardless or the particular faith or lack thereof - can be offended.

5. Christians in business have far more religious freedom at work than we think. Not enough room to go onto all the details here (more in future posts), but just realize that we also have guarantees under the law for expressions of our religious beliefs - just not to “impose” ours on others. A fine line? Sometimes yes, but take a breath and relax.

6. Fear is Satan’s #1 line of business attack. Too often we focus on our fears (the down-side, what we can lose, how to protect ourselves) rather than on the gifts we are given by God to overcome these fears - power, love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). Of course we must consider the downsides of any decision, but I’ve learned it is far better to leverage what we’ve been given to overcome our fears (where the Spirit lives) than to dwell on the fears (where the enemy lives).

7. The Holy Spirit is our most valuable and the most underutilized resource for marketplace believers. This recent revelation is so impactful to me, He directed me to write my new book you’ve already heard all about. For almost three decades, I basically ignored the Spirit living in me and went about building a rather successful speaking and consulting business. But if I knew then what I know now, how much richer, deeper, and more meaningful would my business career be today!

8. The ultimate win is the manifestation of the Spirit of God in the marketplace. When we unleash the power of the Holy Spirit at work through His promised gifts (1 Corinthians 12:5-11) which releases His fruit (Galatians 5:22-23), we enter into the cherished and eternally impacting presence of God (Matthew 6:10).

In summary,

Remember where the power in you business lives.
Check your tongue.
Walk it - don’t just talk it.
Love everyone.
Lighten up - believers have legal freedoms too.
Lead without fear.
Be led by the Holy Spirit.
Watch for His manifestations at work—the ultimate win!

Which one was most helpful or meaningful to you? What truths have you learned?