Being a Witness @ Work
October 20th, 2009 by Administrator
This past Sunday, Dan spoke about how Jesus sends us out into the world to be witnesses for him. Although challenging, our workplaces can be a great place to live out this calling.
A few months ago, I went to a cottage with several coworkers. I asked God to give me an opportunity to share the gospel clearly with each person. After a few days of water sports, games, and good food & drink, we had a quiet dinner. One of the non-Christian girls asked a question that led into a long talk about Christianity. One friend, after hearing how a Christian can relate intimately with God, asked, “How does God speak to you?” Someone else at the table said she might like to come to church. At one point, I explained that Christians don’t believe they can follow rules to earn God’s favour, but see themselves as utterly sinful and undeserving, and must put their hope completely in Christ rather than good works. Hearing this, one friend said, “I’ve never heard it explained that way before. It’s different. It’s not hypocritical.”
God amazed me with His faithful answer to prayer. Here are a handful of lessons from the experience:
- Pray for the desire to see God’s kingdom come at work. I don’t naturally view my workplace as a place to witness for Christ. Left to my own devices, I won’t give much thought to God’s kingdom or whether people at my work know Him or worship Him.
- Pray for opportunities to have spiritual conversations with coworkers. Pray also for the courage to recognize and seize opportunities.
- Party with coworkers! The most significant conversations I’ve had with my coworkers have taken place not on the job, but over food and drink in a relaxed environment. That’s also where I’ve had the privilege of getting to know and enjoy these people more, as they put aside their professional personas. I’ve been blessed by their friendship!
- Be willing to be vulnerable with coworkers. Knowing that we are accepted and loved by God in Christ means that we need not cover up our weaknesses, insecurities (or our faith!) out of a need to be liked or accepted by others.
- Be willing to be excluded and mocked. The girls who asked thoughtful questions about Christianity are the same ones who enjoy mocking it and teasing me at times. But I’m reminded of God’s word which says “all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12).
- The gospel is powerful. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…” (Romans 1:16). As I desire to see people at work saved by Jesus, I can trust that it is the gospel, not my persuasiveness or personality, that is the power of God for salvation. This truth frees us to proclaim the truth about Jesus, in reliance on God rather than ourselves.
by Brittany Finlay. Brittany leads the Healthcare Sector Group of Faith & Work. To contact her, please email her at faithwork@gracetoronto.ca.
One Response to “Being a Witness @ Work”
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Brittney,
Thanks for the encouraging post. I remember that the best time I have had with my neighbours was when I went on a road trip with one of them for a weekend. When we invest deeply into their lives, redemptive opportunities abound!