I remember being 22 years old; I had just finished a one-year Bible School course and took the first job I could find which was working in the Sales department of one of the UK’s largest Insurance companies.
I remember walking up to the head office on my first day, seeing the big office building, over ten stories high, stopping before I entered and praying “Lord, I am the man of God for this company, If anyone wants to know you, they must come through me”.
I had an understanding that this workplace was a mission field and I saw incredible fruit from my time working there; I saw people healed, I had an opportunity to interpret someone's dream, I got to speak into people's lives, share my testimony and pray for people in the middle of the office. Here are two important things:
Your Workplace is a Mission Field
Jesus gave this command in Matthew 28: 18-20
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Jesus commands us to go out and make disciples in all nations. Many Christians, on reading this verse, automatically think of far-off nations or nations with intense persecution. That is part of what Jesus is saying but your street, your local Tesco, your local pub and your workplace are all part of this great commission.
On average we will spend 29.4% of our waking hours at work across an average working life. Often work is seen as a necessary evil to pay the bills and keep a roof over our heads, people stroll into the office on Monday with the only goal of making it to Friday. As Christians, we have a wonderful opportunity to be Christ’s ambassadors in the workplace. We have so many opportunities to speak into people's lives and share the most precious gift we have; Jesus.
To understand this, there needs to be a mentality shift; a shift to see the workplace as not a burden or a necessary evil but a place where God has strategically placed us to preach the good news to the lost. Pray and ask God to give you a new perspective for your workplace, ask him to give you insight into people and be bold - don’t shy away.
Actions Matter
We are called to be a light in the darkness and behave differently in front of those around us. Jesus says:
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
We are called to let our light shine and that will result in people glorifying the Father. This puts a demand and emphasis on us to not hide away but shine and behave differently.
A few days into my sales job at that Insurance company, a lady in my department turned to me and said “You are the weirdest person I have ever met”. After initially thinking how rude that was, I asked her what she meant.
She replied saying “You are just different to everyone I have ever met: the way you carry yourself, the way you speak to people, the way you help people, the way you respond to people, you serve others. I have never met anyone like you, It’s weird”. I started to explain why, and I shared my testimony. I told her what God had done in my life and she was captivated by it, she told everyone in the office my testimony. She did my evangelism for me!
My actions spoke to her. St. Francis of Assisi famously said, “Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if necessary”. We are called to be different to the world and that difference is noticeable to others around us. Honouring our colleagues and bosses and serving those around us makes a difference, that girl had noticed something different, she was observing me without me even knowing. She never decided to follow Jesus but after that conversation, it opened a door to pray with her regularly.
We can often get so caught up in operational things and get our heads down to plough through the day. Be present; look for where you can meet someone's needs, honour your colleagues, and do things to bless someone. Actions are noticeable to others and can be a way for you to share your faith.
Conclusion
The latest statistics suggest that only 6% of the UK population are practising Christians. There is a great need for people in the UK to encounter the life and freedom that Jesus has for them.
God has strategically placed us in our workplaces for a reason. We can be the light to those around us and see people come to know Jesus. It doesn't require you to be a confident speaker, well-versed in scripture, or brilliant at apologetics. Your actions are noticeable, they can be the door that allows you to speak into people’s lives.
It can be awkward to share your faith in the workplace. In the current climate, It can be damaging for your career if you share your faith and in some cases, people have lost their jobs for being open about their faith but the world needs what we have.
Go into work with a new perspective that it is a mission field. God has placed you there for a reason and there are people who need to hear what you have. Pray and be present to do what the Lord commands and see what he will do through you.