Faith in the Workplace
As Christians enter the professional world, one of the greatest challenges is learning to integrate faith with daily work. Rather than viewing work as separate from spiritual life, Scripture teaches us to see our workplace as a vital mission field where we live out our calling to seek first God's kingdom and righteousness.
The Workplace as God's Kingdom
The fundamental shift in perspective begins with recognizing that (What's Next 2015 - Keynote: Mike Shuab, 0:24) "the working world is not a diversion from the kingdom of god. The working world is the harvest field for the kingdom of god."
This perspective transforms how we view our daily responsibilities. In John 4:27-42, Jesus demonstrates this principle when His disciples return from buying food only to find Him engaged in ministry with the Samaritan woman. While they focused on the immediate task, Jesus saw the eternal opportunity right in front of them.
(What's Next 2015 - Keynote: Mike Shuab, 5:34) "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. Do you not say there are yet four months and then comes the harvest? Behold I say to you lift up your eyes and look on the fields that they are white for harvest already."
Just as the disciples initially missed the ministry opportunity, we can easily become task-oriented at work, focusing only on completing projects and earning paychecks. However, (What's Next 2015 - Keynote: Mike Shuab, 9:31) "that workplace you're in is where the kingdom of god is. That's where he's put the people and that's why he placed you there in that workplace."
Seeking Righteousness in the Workplace
The call to seek first God's righteousness (Matthew 6:33) finds its practical application in our daily work environment. (What's Next 2015 - Keynote: Mike Shuab, 10:20) "The word righteousness or a righteous person literally means a man who is as he ought to be... a man or a woman who is as they ought to be."
God uses four key elements in the workplace to close the gap between who we are and who we ought to be:
Pressure
Work environments naturally create pressure through deadlines, difficult bosses, and demanding responsibilities. This pressure becomes a tool for spiritual growth. (What's Next 2015 - Keynote: Mike Shuab, 11:40) "The anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of god... if you want righteousness in your life, you have to learn to control anger and the only way you can learn that is to be angry."
Persecution
Working alongside non-believers in competitive environments often means experiencing unfair treatment. (What's Next 2015 - Keynote: Mike Shuab, 12:46) "Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist there's disorder and every evil thing." Yet this creates opportunities to demonstrate godly wisdom that is "first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits."
God's Word
Regular engagement with Scripture provides the foundation for workplace transformation. As 2 Timothy 3:16-17 teaches, Scripture is "profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness."
Discipline
When we fail to respond righteously at work, God uses the consequences to shape us. (What's Next 2015 - Keynote: Mike Shuab, 15:56) "All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful but sorrowful, but afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness."
A Strategy for Workplace Ministry
Effective workplace ministry requires both the right perspective and the right strategy. 1 Thessalonians 2:4-12 provides a model for how to engage colleagues in a way that honors God.
The key is learning to be "gentle" (epios) with our coworkers. (What's Next 2015 - Keynote: Mike Shuab, 19:13) "The word literally means to be affable... not to be a pain in the neck... but to be someone that people like to get along with, that people enjoy being around."
This principle is expanded in 2 Timothy 2:23-26, which instructs us to be "kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition."
Understanding that our non-Christian colleagues are (What's Next 2015 - Keynote: Mike Shuab, 20:49) "prisoners of war... held captive by satan to do his will" should evoke compassion rather than condemnation. They need liberation, not more judgment.
Practical Applications
Successful faith integration in the workplace involves several practical elements:
Authenticity over Performance: Rather than trying to be the perfect Christian, live authentically while maintaining professional excellence. (What's Next 2015 - Keynote: Mike Shuab, 22:04) "Live an open life... if they ask you why you do or don't do something, just tell them honestly this is kind of why i think that."
Building Relationships: (What's Next 2015 - Keynote: Mike Shuab, 22:30) "Invite them into your car, into your life, into your inner circle and your friends, into your family." Ministry happens through genuine relationships, not formal presentations.
Excellence in Work: Following Colossians 3:23 and Philippians 2:3-4, work hard and contribute to others' success. This demonstrates the gospel through actions before words.
Right Motives: (What's Next 2015 - Keynote: Mike Shuab, 23:05) "The goal is not a win, the goal is not a spiritual scalp. The goal is for them to be introduced to a jesus they didn't know existed."
Finding Your Calling
As Colossians 4:17 reminds us to "take heed to the ministry to which you've been called that you may fulfill it," every profession becomes a potential ministry field. Whether in business, education, healthcare, or any other field, God places us strategically to advance His kingdom through faithful presence and excellent work.
(What's Next 2015 - Keynote: Mike Shuab, 24:37) "You will harvest the fruit of those who went before you, and you will plant seeds for those who come behind you."
The workplace transformation begins when we stop seeing our jobs as separate from our spiritual calling and start recognizing them as primary venues for living out the Great Commission through faithful presence, excellent work, and genuine love for our colleagues.