Your workplace is likely a wide variety of people from many backgrounds, with different skill sets and assorted ages. Over the past years, I have found this to be true. So, how can we demonstrate our faith at work in the middle of such a kaleidoscope of humanity?
There is a passage in Galatians 5:13-26 that has become essential to me in how I minister to those I work alongside or serve using my skills - whether answering phone calls or emails, billing a health plan, or serving a cup of coffee, a muffin or a scone.
"You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other." (Galatians 5:13-15 NIV)
There are 2 main phrases to keep an eye on and memorize in those verses:
*SERVE ONE ANOTHER HUMBLY IN LOVE
- let your motivation be as God's, to do all things out of a foundation of love.
*LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF
-treat others the way you would like to be treated
How can we best do so? The key is found in the following few verses:
"So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law." (Galatians 5:16-18 NIV)
Did you spot it?
*WALK BY THE SPIRIT
When we are led by the Spirit, we will follow His direction, not our own. Why is this important?
"The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." (Galatians 5:19-21)
These verses explain how acting out of our flesh or selfish desires results in chaos and discord. If everyone in our workplaces actively does this, it will make for a very non-cohesive workplace, where distrust and self are first and foremost.
This is the very opposite of God's Kingdom, which we find laid out in the final four verses of this passage:
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other." (Galatians 5:22-26 NIV)
And the key point of these verses?
*SINCE WE LIVE BY THE SPIRIT, LET US KEEP IN STEP WITH THE SPIRIT.
And since the Spirit's fruit is:
✅LOVE
✅JOY
✅PEACE
✅ FORBEARANCE (LONG-SUFFERING OR PATIENCE)
✅KINDNESS
✅ GOODNESS
✅ FAITHFULNESS
✅ GENTLENESS
✅ SELF CONTROL