Are you being Christ-like at work?

Memories of my first job refresh me now and then. I was excited and nervous all at once, not knowing what lay ahead. In those early days, everything seemed challenging and mind-blowing to me. But as the days and months passed, it gradually morphed into the same mundane routine.

That didn’t bother me much. It was the so-called “office politics” that perturbed me. Favouritism, jealousy, harsh managers, working long hours with no rewards and the grunt that you hear when you call in sick. Slowly, the job, which held so much promise and excitement, became cumbersome. I didn’t want to give it 100%. I just wanted to get by every day.

I’m sure many of you can relate. But, as believers, we are called to imitate Christ (Ephesians 5:1). The bottom line is: even the dullest workplace is full of opportunity to glorify God. How do we believers portray Christ-likeness at our workplace? Let’s consider a few pointers from Scripture itself.

1. Obey your earthly masters

Ephesians 6:5 says, “Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ…” The context here refers to slaves working for their masters in those days. We can apply the principle indicated to our present workplaces though, with our masters being our bosses.

Even the dullest workplace is full of opportunity to glorify God

As Christians, we are to submit to the authority that God has placed over us. We are to obey our superiors with a sincere heart, as we would obey our Lord. Note that there are no prerequisites on the master’s character. Whatever their character may be, we are to be obedient.

2. Be Christ-pleasers

Ephesians 6:6-7 goes on to add, “…not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man…”

Do we yearn to gain appreciation from our bosses? Yes. But sometimes, what we get is the opposite. Someone else gets all the glory, while we do all the hard work. It’s easy to get disheartened when we don’t receive the credit or recognition we deserve and desire. Paul, however, encourages the believers to do service unto God.

Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” Whatever the Lord has entrusted to us at our workplaces, we are to work unto a loving God, with all honesty and sincerity, following His standards. We are not to be people-pleasers, but rather Christ-pleasers.

3. Know that you have a reward

Colossians 3:23-24: Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

All of us look forward to rewards like promotions or bonuses. But maybe you are one of those who are not seen for your godly principles and efforts. Someone else may have played the “office politics” game and gotten favoured. Don’t lose heart.

As believers, let’s rejoice in the fact that we already have an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading kept in heaven for us (1 Peter 1:4). Our heavenly Master rewards His children for their faithfulness. Ephesians 6:8 says, “knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord…”

Let us strive to be like Christ wherever God has placed us. In doing so, we can even win souls along the way. “For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are saved and among those who are perishing” (2 Corinthians 2:15). Let us serve our Lord Jesus wholeheartedly and give Him the glory in all that we do.