Goodbye Babylon

Well I came to see, 

and what I found was not alright with me
Their desperation, some vocation, 

and it'd been the same thing all along
Goodbye Babylon

The Black Keys

Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

1 Peter 2:12

It is so easy for me to get caught up on the worldly issues and lose momentary sight of the Gospel of Christ and my purpose and calling.  This happens most often at work, where I admit, that I hate my job.  Over the past few years, I have openly rebelled against the leadership at my job, which is probably why I am still in the same position with really no hope of moving up anytime soon.  As I have sought to rectify my mistakes and rebuild the bridge that I once burned down, I can't help but sometimes feel that things will never get better.  Basically, while I am at work, I do not believe the Gospel.  The utter despair and frustration that creeps into my mind while I'm at work, invariably leads to me inserting my foot into my mouth.  I just can't seem to help myself.  And while over the last month, my attitude has gotten remarkably better, I still have a very long ways to go.

So I have to remind myself that I have been put where I work for a reason.  It is not to make money, be the top person in sales, or try to get promoted.  I have been put in this job for 2 reasons.  And I feel the same applies for everyone working in a secular vocation.  

The first is to glorify God and to make his name known among my co-workers.  This is done in a variety of ways.  Submitting to authority in all things that are not in direct violation of God's law, loving my co-workers, praying for them, being a servant to their needs, and being a light in an otherwise dreary workplace.  My job is my mission field.  Why do I go there in such a bad mood all the time?  If my sole reason for showing up is to glorify God first, I will obtain all my professional goals.  I will make money because I work harder than everyone else.  I will be in line for a promotion because of my work ethic, my calm manner, and the leadership abilities that God bestows on those who follow him.  Now don't get me wrong, I am in no way preaching a prosperity gospel.  I am merely relaying the fact that by putting God first in the workplace and viewing work through the eyes of the mission field, that through Godly work ethic and love for my co-workers, that all the rewards that come by working in a secular environment will be a blessing from God and secondary to the reason why I am there.  People that are trust worthy, humble, and gracious are valued by their company and viewed as an asset.  And if those things do not come, then that is fine, because I will be content with all that has already been given me.

The second reason is a daily lesson that God teaches those He loves.  Submission.  If I cannot submit to a boss that pays me wages and contributes to food being put onto my table and my rent being paid on the time, how then can I fully submit to God?  My boss has been placed above me by God, Himself.  Daniel is the perfect example of how the christian is to work in the secular workplace.  Daniel was an exile, who served God faithfully, and through his service and work ethic, was promoted to a high place under the service of pagan kings.  The result of Daniel's faith was the conversion of both King Nebuchadnazzer and King Darius.  Because of Daniel's light, Darius issued this decree to be sent to every corner of his kingdom.

"I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. 
       "For he is the living God 
       and he endures forever; 
       his kingdom will not be destroyed, 
       his dominion will never end.

   He rescues and he saves; 
       he performs signs and wonders 
       in the heavens and on the earth. 
       He has rescued Daniel 
       from the power of the lions." 1

Because of Daniel's faith, people were changed.  Because of his submission, God's light was shown to the pagan world.  

My prayer for you, and I hope this is your prayer for me,  that we take our faith to the workplace, in full submission to the authority that God has placed over us, and we show all the light of God working in us.  When we open our mouths, we let the holy spirit speak.  That we stay focused on the race that we're running and not on the circumstances of the temporal life.  Let us delight in hard work and boldly proclaim the love of Christ to those that God has put in our paths. 

1. Daniel 6:26-27