THE WORK PLACE AND CHRISTIAN VALUES

The need for employment, as long as man lives, cannot be over-emphasized. In fact, God has so ordained that each of us should be gainfully employed to provide for his basic necessities of life and that of his family. God does not approve of a situation where believers depend on others for sustenance. “And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; that ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing. This we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.” (1Thessalonians 4:11,12; 2 Thessalonians 3:10,12).

Restraint
Necessary as it is to have occupations that feed us, we as Christians, must always be conscious of the fact that we need to prepare for eternity; we cannot afford to be so busy providing for the body that we neglect our spiritual welfare. Our Christian principles should affect our search for jobs, motive for taking up any employment and our methods of carrying on our duties in our careers. We must be conscious of the fact that there are legitimate employments that we, as Christians, can engage in with free conscience while there are others we cannot because they are questionable. To sinners, getting as well as maintaining job is the most important thing in life. Hence, they concentrate on and rank their jobs above families, friends, fairness, fellowship, and more fearfully, above God. The presence of these unbelievers in our places of employ brings along with it many ungodly practices in business.

Salt
But God commands us as Christians that we should be different. We are to “Set (our) affections on things above” while being engaged in earthly occupations knowing that the Lord has said, “Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be’’ (Revelation 22:12). Being the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13), we should be pure, honest and different from sinners in our places of work. This requires that we abstain from the prevalent decadence and corruption in the offices, where we carry out our trade. And as salt brings flavour into food, our presence in our places of employ should bring flavour of spiritual life to such environments. As salt prevents decay, our Christian life style should prevent corruption in our work place. If you work in a corrupt place, your presence there should bring conviction upon others who engage in fraud and other evils.

Until God is pleased with our lifestyle and principles in our work place, our gainful employments are not fulfilling God’s purpose of bringing glory to Him.

CHUKWUEMEKA SAMUEL NWAEKE
CITY TRANSIT INN, ABUJA