DEMONIZING YOUR JOB

Are you a Christian who is having a hard time going to work every day because of the experiences you have there?

---Maybe your co-workers are exhibiting ungodly behavior or vulgar language. ---Perhaps there is gossip being spread or contemptuous conversations being acted out. ---It could be your work ethic doesn’t match or leadership is lacking; maybe immaturity is a constant.

There are so many reasons why going to work can be difficult and it often leaves one trying to decide if they should stick it out or move on. It could be a case as well, that you don’t have a choice; you have to make a living, SO YOU HAVE TO KEEP YOUR JOB…I think this is probably true of most folks.

I consider myself blessed because I have a job where public prayers are given at every company picnic and conversations about God are not discouraged. But this wasn’t always true for me. I’ve worked jobs in the past where I constantly questioned my place there. Understand that these scenarios are not unique in our world, they’re the norm.

After I graduated high school, a week later, I started a job working in a garage that did basic services for automobiles. Oil changes, battery replacements, and tire maintenance were most of my responsibilities. In this garage, I worked with 10 to 15 other men that introduced me to a world of profane language I had never been exposed to before. When the guys found out I was a Christian the vulgarity seemed to amplify and my heart began to face some serious questions.

You see, at first all that negative language repulsed me…then I got used to it…and then before too long I found myself cursing; even using some of the same words I had been hearing. It was a real struggle for me, and if I’m being honest, I still struggle with it. It’s a definite thorn in my side.

There’s times when some Christians feel so overwhelmed and polluted by their work environment that they feel they have no other choice but to move on; and I can certainly understand that decision. However, I do believe that most people, if they decide to stay, will find that they are indeed right where they belong. I think it’s important to always consider, that you may be the only chance some of your co-workers have, to see Jesus’s love and caring heart in action.

That’s what I found out when I decided to stick with that garage job back then. After time had passed my co-workers started to respect my work ethic and some even valued my counsel about things going on in their lives. I think they realized that while I didn’t endorse all their behavior, that didn’t stop me from trying to relate to each one of them.

Does that mean that eventually their negative and worldly actions stopped? No, it doesn’t. That part never changed. But how I saw my co-workers did. Once I decided to stay and started asking God to give me His heart and perspective for the people I worked with, I found that I was no different than them in God’s eyes; and that their souls were worth me doing my best to represent HIM well.

Things you can do to help your state of mind stay positive at a difficult job are:

1. Fill your heart and mind with God’s Words. We can’t have victory in an anti-Christian environment, if we’re not being filled spiritually.

2. Pray for the protection of your mind and heart.

3. Do your best to relate to the people around you. Show them that you’re no better than they are, and do your best to always look beyond the surface and at their hearts.

4. Maintain a joyful Spirit. Don’t fall into the trap of becoming negative and being hard hearted towards your co-workers. Staying positive will become more apart of who you are if you work hard to practice it every day.

5. Keep working hard and be a great employee. Keep Colossians 3:23-24 fresh in your mind, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

6. Don’t demonize your job. Remind yourself why you are there and who you are representing. Think of all the ways your job provides for you and your family when you’re away from it. Learn to have respect for it.

This is even more important if you have kids. Work hard to teach them that because of your job, you’re able to take care of them, as well as make awesome memories as a family.

Jon Acuff said this about parents that criticize their jobs in front of their kids:

“It’s crazy that in our “I hate Mondays” culture we criticize our own jobs vocally in front of our kids for 18 years and then act surprised when they don’t like to work in their 20's.

How you talk about your job today impacts how your kids will think about their jobs tomorrow.”

Brothers and sisters, I don’t know your reasons for why you may be struggling to go to work today…I just know you have them. I want to encourage you to change your perspective and see what God does through you at your job. It could be that God has called you to this very place. It may not be an easy task, but it could be a challenging and rewarding one if you choose to accept it.