"Exercising Our Faith in the Workplace"

"Exercising Our Faith in the Workplace"

 

 

Matthew 5:13-16:

"You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled underfoot.

‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven."

90,000 is a big number. That is how many hours the average person works in their lifetime. If you worked from the time you were 20 until 65, 40 hours a week for 50 weeks of the year you will have worked 90,000 hours. That comes to 3,750 days or a little over 10 years and 3 months.

Our culture sets aside a day, Labor Day, to celebrate work by taking a day off from labor. Often when we first meet people we ask, "What do you do?" We are not asking what their hobbies are. We are asking the what kind of work they do. That is why unemployment can be so psychologically and emotionally devastating.

As important as work is in people's lives we, the church needs to say something about it. We should start by celebrating what we do for a living. Within the membership of Spring Creek Church is a broad range of places where we work, and a broad range of people that we meet on a daily basis. That part of our lives intersects with the faith part of our lives. We should try to embody the grace of God in the workplace. We don't stop being person of faith when we leave for work in the morning. So how do we live our faith in the workplace? In some professions, especially helping professions - doctors, nurses, teachers, social workers, etc., it is easy to see, but what about the rest of us?

 What Jesus said in his Sermon of the Mount speaks to this. Jesus said, "You are the salt of the earth." The job of salt is to season and preserve. In the first century they didn't have refrigeration, of course, so salt was used to preserve foods. Salt would not just add flavor, but it would kill germs and prevent food from going bad.

Your role as a person of faith in society is to preserve, sanitize and add flavor. You are called to bring the good news of Jesus to the world so that people can have hope. You can share the joy and love of God. You can be a compassionate person to those with whom you work. We can spice up their lives! Be a positive influence. Be a good neighbor to your fellow workers and to the clients and customers that come into your workplace.

Jesus also said, "You are the light of the world." Jesus also said "I am the light of the world."(John 8:12) God has gifted our lives with light through the life and teachings of Jesus. You share that light with others as you walk in the Way of Jesus. Don't hid your light as if under a basket. That does not serve God's purpose for gifting us with God's light.  Light that is kept under a basket is does not serve the purpose for which the light was given. It can't be seen. As a person of faith shine the light of God gifted to us in Jesus so you can be a beacon of hope to all that see it.

Granted, this can be difficult in the work place. Light is honest and pure. It is vital that you be yourself as the light of God's love shines through you. Pray for your coworkers. You spend a third of your life with these people, get to know them and their needs and pray for them; the same with your clients and customers. By being yourself in the workplace, you can shine the light of Christ through small acts of love and kindness.

In the United Church of Christ we have a concept called the "priesthood of all believers." We are all representatives of Jesus in the world. We represent Jesus and serve as his body in this world. No matter where you are you can do this. And one of the places that God calls us to do this is in the workplace.

God called you to be salt and light in a sometimes dark and flavorless world. Whether we are at church, the workplace, the grocery store or at the cleaners, we are people of faith. You don't stop being that at work. God is renovating the universe and God has partnered with us to be on the front lines in bringing about God's vision for the world.

So take the day off tomorrow and enjoy yourself. On Tuesday morning go to work and remember that you are God's salt and God's light. Go about the business of bringing about God's kingdom as you serve God in your workplace, your home and in your neighborhood!