Dear friends,
We now have a new site called www.bestchristianjobsblog.com
Just click on the link and you will land right there!
It’s easy to remember “bestchristianjobsblog”, even though kinda long.
Thank you so much for all your comments and your encouragement.
God bless you all!
For we work…as unto the Lord.
Wow. I had a few questions like this after my previous two posts…
“so, should we never have rules AND have an ample supply of grace?…”
” where do we draw the line as to when to be strict/ impose discipline to a sub-ordinate?”
” if we give grace, how can we expect our colleagues or workers to be tough and work fast on a deadline…won’t they take advantage if we are too soft?”
………and more.
People have this underlying fear. If I show or give too much grace, then I might/will be taken advantage of.
We need to know that the higher the grace given, the higher the responsibility.
How do I say that? In Matthew Chapter 5 in the Bible it says,
Matt 5:21 You have heard that it was said to the men of old, You shall not kill, and whoever kills shall be liable to {and} unable to escape the punishment imposed by the court.
Matt 5:22 But I say to you that everyone who continues to be angry with his brother {or} harbors malice (enmity of heart) against him shall be liable to {and} unable to escape the punishment imposed by the court; and whoever speaks contemptuously {and} insultingly to his brother shall be liable to {and} unable to escape the punishment imposed by the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, You cursed fool! [You empty-headed idiot!] shall be liable to {and} unable to escape the hell (Gehenna) of fire.
We are out of the law and under grace, but with it comes a higher level of responsibility.
So the more the grace, the higher the responsibility.
What I had planned to post as a continuation of my previous note was fuelled by Hazel’s comment. So thanks to my avid reader, Hazel. God bless you in your work!
In my last post titled “did you mean…yes or no? , I had written about how only Jesus can be trusted to keep His Word and promises. And how we need to allow for grace with our colleagues and ourselves.
So does it mean that man can never be perfect at work, or in doing the “right” thing? No.
Words are so important and can mean different things to different people.
That’s why the Bible says, ” Abraham believed and it was counted to him as righteousness…” He was righteous. He was RIGHT WITH GOD. So whatever He did was right.
Correct. It’s in what we believe. Or WHO we believe. When I believe in Jesus, when I can trust Him wholeheartedly, He will come through for me. That makes it RIGHT.
Take, for example, I have a situation where I need my sub-ordinate to complete a project within a deadline. I can trust and believe that God will work it out for me through my sub-ordinate, even though I feel that it looks bleak.
My belief in Him, my FAITH, makes me RIGHTEOUS. What we call perfect.
When God looks at my faith, He makes my faith work. In ways that we cannot sometimes imagine or understand.
In the end, I end up looking and feeling perfect. Right. Whatever the market-place calls it.
Bottom-line? You can be righteous.
Complete and whole? That’s a whole new topic.
Confusing isn’t it? Sometimes people say “no, thank you”, but when you give them, they happily accept your gift. It happens only in India, you may think.
What about your colleague who promised to do it but couldn’t and let you down in the process ? Or you yourself organised it but couldn’t make it to the program?
Isn’t it amazing how we can never be sure…because anything might happen.
Paul , a great guy in the Bible, while he was working for God told the people of Corinth that he would meet them but he ended up going to Macedonia instead. His Boss directed him there.
I have learnt that our ”YES” can never mean yes. What does that mean? It means I can never depend on a man’s yes. IT means my colleagues can make mistakes…I need to know that beforehand and allow them grace. It helps me to be prepared. And be one step ahead in my planning. My colleagues are great , yes.
But even they cannot help it, sometimes. Neither can I.
19For the Son of God, Christ Jesus (the Messiah), Who has been preached among you by us, by myself, Silvanus, and Timothy, was not Yes and No; but in Him it is [always the divine] Yes.
20For as many as are the promises of God, they all find their Yes [answer] in Him [Christ]. For this reason we also utter the Amen (so be it) to God through Him [in His Person and by His agency] to the glory of God.
When God says yes, He means it. So allow God to help you keep your word.
And trust Him to help you get your work done, even if it means handing it out to others whom you cannot be certain of.
God is trustworthy. And He will SURELY help you.
Unless you know that it’s taken from inside a cave….you really find it hard to figure out how the clouds turned red.. No, it’s not a smoky haze that is thick nor is it blood from the sky……
Reminds me of how when we aren’t sure of something or don’t really KNOW, we allow our imaginations run wild trying to FIGURE things out.
This picture won a contest …no idea who exactly took it but just put it up here coz it is neat.
Thoughtful. How much do we think outside the box….to make our work better.
Prove that you are a true child of the Ultimate Creator. Take time to THINK. Stop to really observe and find a solution to your challenge. Yep, its not a problem… it’s a challenge.
Even if it looks like you are inside a cave, the Light will come shining through….and you can see far and beyond.
I was really going to continue on Amazing Grace …but I had to put it on hold as another matter of concern came up and I just had to blog about it coz it excited me so much.
If you have read all my posts, I talk about how wonderful you are in I, me, myself….. well, continue to read with “YOUR FLAVOR” in mind.
Taken from my favourite Book of all time, whichever season I am in. I guess I am on a roll here regarding blocks of passages from this Book.
9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God's] own [d]purchased, special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.(E)
10Once you were not a people [at all], but now you are God’s people; once you were unpitied, but now you are pitied and have received mercy.(F)
11Beloved, I implore you as aliens and strangers and exiles [in this world] to abstain from the sensual urges (the evil desires, the passions of the flesh, your lower nature) that wage war against the soul.
12Conduct yourselves properly (honorably, righteously) among the Gentiles, so that, although they may slander you as evildoers, [yet] they may by witnessing your good deeds [come to] glorify God in the day of inspection [[e]when God shall look upon you wanderers as a pastor or shepherd looks over his flock].
13Be submissive to every human institution and authority for the sake of the Lord, whether it be to the emperor as supreme,
14Or to governors as sent by him to bring vengeance (punishment, justice) to those who do wrong and to encourage those who do good service.
15For it is God’s will and intention that by doing right [your good and honest lives] should silence (muzzle, gag) the ignorant charges and ill-informed criticisms of foolish persons.
16[Live] as free people, [yet] without employing your freedom as a pretext for wickedness; but [live at all times] as servants of God.
17Show respect for all men [treat them honorably]. Love the brotherhood (the Christian fraternity of which Christ is the Head). Reverence God. Honor the emperor.
18[You who are] household servants, be submissive to your masters with all [proper] respect, not only to those who are kind and considerate and reasonable, but also to those who are surly (overbearing, unjust, and crooked).
Hmmm….there is a lot of job-sense here!
See how it says that we are “chosen”, “special” and “ROYAL” ?? Royalty immediately conjures up sophistication, elegance and a stark and keen intelligence ( ?!) in my mind. True majesty even without all the adornment….they say you could recognize a king or princess anywhere.
You are royalty. You may be cleaning equipment in an old office no-where…just to make a few much-needed extra bucks and you come across this on your colleague’s computer screen. It’s true my friend. You are royal.
It’s in you. The way you think. The way you hold yourself up in times of trouble. The way you look to the King of Kings and trust Him whole-heartedly. the way you honestly obey Him. the way you search for the truth.
But why are we royal, chosen and “dedicated” ? …..so that we may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of HIM who has CALLED YOU out.
Which brings me to an important point regarding our sincerity at work in this post-modern era.
We have been given a commission to “Go out into the world and preach the Gospel.” We have a sincere desire to share with people and colleagues about the love of Jesus and how free we are in HIM…
In all sincerity we talk with people at work and witness to them about how wonderful God is and how he has rescued me time and time again even at work when I had done a sloppy job, or had made a mess ….
in fact, we end up “SAYING ” too much instead of actually “ LIVING” out the virtues and perfections of our KING. We try many a time to witness through our talking, and end up nullifying it through our living.
We tell people they need to be true to their work , but we end up going late or not completing a project.
Or even better, we pray during our work hours, instead of working…. and then end up talking ill about our boss, because ( we claim) he doesn’t allow us to talk to God. During work that he has asked you to complete…? At work, we need to work. TO the best of our ability.
We are to CONDUCT ourselves properly so that others may WITNESS our good deeds and come to glorify God. That is witnessing at work.
Do I keep my word ? Do I honestly affirm someone who does?
To be submissive to all our authorities….. phew….so that by doing right we [our good and honest lives] silence (muzzle, gag) the ignorant charges and ill-informed criticisms of foolish persons.
POWERFUL. ROYALTY.
We are to be submissive to our leaders even if they are unjust!!! That is a hard pill to swallow during this time of increased self-respect-edness.
By doing this we silence ( GAG — I like that) the ignorant charges….
Do the right thing. Others at work will respect you and treat you like Royalty. Because you are. Don’t step down from your “chosen ” position. Pray at home. Work while you work. Do your best…as unto the King of Kings.
So, how do we witness? …by LIVING the LIFE the way our King Jesus wants us to more than by just TALKING. And enjoy every bit of your life, your work and your style. No one else has what you have.
If you are a regular reader, you would know by now what my favourite Book is. So here goes, I read this this morning from the book of Romans in the Bible and knew I had to blog about it.
1THEREFORE YOU have no excuse or defense or justification, O man, whoever you are who judges and condemns another. For in posing as judge and passing sentence on another, you condemn yourself, because you who judge are habitually practicing the very same things [that you censure and denounce].
2[But] we know that the judgment (adverse verdict, sentence) of God falls justly and in accordance with truth upon those who practice such things.
3And do you think or imagine, O man, when you judge and condemn those who practice such things and yet do them yourself, that you will escape God’s judgment and elude His sentence and adverse verdict?
4Or are you [so blind as to] trifle with and presume upon and despise and underestimate the wealth of His kindness and forbearance and long-suffering patience? Are you unmindful or actually ignorant [of the fact] that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repent ([a]to change your mind and inner man to accept God’s will)?
5But by your callous stubbornness and impenitence of heart you are storing up wrath and indignation for yourself on the day of wrath and indignation, when God’s righteous judgment (just doom) will be revealed.
6For He will render to every man according to his works [justly, as his deeds deserve]:(A)
7To those who by patient persistence in well-doing [[b]springing from piety] seek [unseen but sure] glory and honor and [[c]the eternal blessedness of] immortality, He will give eternal life.
8But for those who are self-seeking and self-willed and disobedient to the Truth but responsive to wickedness, there will be indignation and wrath.
9[And] there will be tribulation and anguish and calamity and constraint for every soul of man who [habitually] does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek (Gentile).
10But glory and honor and [heart] peace shall be awarded to everyone who [habitually] does good, the Jew first and also the Greek (Gentile).
It’s pretty clear.
We have no excuse or defense or justification if we condemn another. Powerful. NO excuse to condemn any one else. However wrong they may be. So I guess the answer would be NOT to judge.
Now, when it comes to work then where do we draw the line about an employee, employer or colleague?
At work, we identify an individual’s ability, gifts & talents and when we do an appraisal it is about his or her ability to perform the task at hand.
Here, it talks about an individual’s character and reflection of his opinions in his experience of, and with, life and with God.
In the first line, it talks about “judges and condemns” another. To condemn is equal to accuse , put down, lay a verdict on a person’s character . integrity and his personality.
There is a fine line between a person’s character and his ability and performance at work as they are so closely entwined and enmeshed in the person. His character is sometimes portrayed in his performance.
But, again, is everyone perfect?
I love the way it says above, ” the wealth of God’s kindness, forbearance and long-suffering patience..” …makes me love Him so much more. He has a wealth of kindness for me. For you. For who ever you are condemning in your heart today.
And the next line, His kindness leads us to repentance. Our kindness, patience and in this age, acceptance, leads that individual toward repentance. Just as God does it.
When I gossip about someone else and pass my condemning words, it is like a disease. It spreads. That’s what they call a rumour. “For in posing as judge and passing sentence on another, you condemn yourself, because you who judge are habitually practicing the very same things [that you censure and denounce]. “ We condemn ourself when we condemn another. Do you get it?
Maybe a colleague passed on information about me that is untrue. Do I do the same about her? Then, will I not be condemning myself? the wrath and indignation of God.
You know, most of the time when one is faced with an injustice ( according to our own principles) or when one feels condemned, ( I said, one feels condemned not that someone has condemned –there is a difference) , one reacts with accusatory thought, word or deed.
We need to take a step forward and try to understand individuals. Most people have a reason that is justifiable to themselves. That is why God says, show kindness. God knows and understands the frailty of man and his attempts at righteousness and self- justification.
That’s why only God can really judge. Why? Simple, because we never really know WHY a person did that or said this.
They say, step into the other person’s shoes and you would understand. Why did an addict become one? Do we take the time to understand and help and show kindness and long-suffering patience ? Or do we just condemn him for his actions. Who do we think we are?
thought-provoking. But I do hope it is more action-provoking.
Relationship between work and people. How much time do we take to understand people nowadays? If a machine conks out, oh, it must be this or the power supply or that…we take time to figure it out and help restore it. But a person?
Don’t be a judge, be a man. ( this is not for licensed court judges 
For every person will be judged by God for his or her deeds. That would be enough.
Did you see how it says those who “habitually ” do evil, there will be tribulation. And for those who “habitually” do good, there will be glory and honor and peace. This is not for us to say, “oh he is in a lot of tribulation, he must be evil”. There you go judging again. Habitually condemning?
If you trust God, then leave it to Him, like He said. Don’t go all out taking revenge on your colleague to make yourself look good. Let God handle it.
If you have to stand for the truth though, do it. God will stand with you if you are the one being accused and your motive was true.
For God is watching. And waiting to see if we obey Him. For He is our judge.
The righteous Judge. Who has AMAZING GRACE. Which will be continued on my next post.
Have a great day!
You must have figured it out by now…that this post is going to be about the ” ME ” generation and I am going to rant and rave about how wrong it all is…. well read on.
Many have quoted this famous saying, ” I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” It is taken from the Bible.
Do you actually KNOW how wonderful you are? Stop. Don’t think about what other people have said to you, and all your failures, and all the skeletons in your closet. Yes, take this from me. You are wonderfully made. You have been created and crafted by God who believes in you.
In this age of comparisons and size zeros and home-owners, we tend to just be LED by what OTHERS are saying. Remember , you are wonderfully made. So you have that something special in you. You are unique. That is a gift from God.
You can have nothing, you can be an overly plus size ( forgive me for being blatantly honest), you can be a messed-up individual sinking in your own “image ” of yourself. Let me say this again, you are fearfully and wonderfully made. You were created by God and knit together in your mother’s womb.
The make-up, the show of better-than-anyone and the holier -than -thou attitude may be hiding a nervous wreck inside. You may be aiming for a better job — just to look better to the world around you. Just to prove yourself. To whom?? To yourself?? Or to that one person who keeps getting to you?? Check yourself.
Just because you are not “knowledgable” about the “current” happenings and you are not -so-hot in your sense of style, and you are whatever it is that that someone has said about you, it does not mean you are what they have said. You are WONDERFUL.
Why am I saying this here? Coz it reflects in your behaviour at work. Being secure at who you are and what you believe in helps you breeze through with an attitude of joy and assurance in yourself and in the God who created you. Because you are HIS, you can trust Him to never let you down. WOW! Yep, HE will never let you down nor let you look ashamed. That’s what most people fear about themselves. Would I be put to shame? If you trust GOD and yield to HIM, you will never be put to shame.
This is not a post about looking inward into your self. No. No. No. this is about KNOWING WHO created you and reflecting on Jesus Christ, our Maker. There is no deviation from this truth.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart … Again , from the Bible. When you trust in God then you will let Him take you wherever HE wants you to go. In your choice of work, and lifestyle, make sure you are where your Creator wants you to be. Coz He knows best. After all, He created you. How can clay contend with it’s Maker?
How is my attitude at work today? Do I respect myself and what I do? Does that affect how I respect others? Do I have a tarnished image of my self and my abilities that it affects my career and my choices?
Do I know my weaknesses and my strengths? Does my love for myself affect the way I relate to my loved ones? Do I hate the world? Check if you hate yourself…and get out of the “hate” rut. You will go nowhere.
Are you afraid to love yourself thinking it is a step toward becoming proud and against God?
Love God. Love yourself. ” You are fearfully and wonderfully made.” God knows you inside out. Let Him heal you.
And head out to work confident in God, in your image. Remember, it is God who created you. You have to be unique! Trust Him!
Loads of work but no fruit ? Trust in God. He will never put you to shame.
The other side of the coin is when you think too highly of yourself. Get down. This whole world is not about just you. Even if it is self-pity , you are still thinking about yourself. So stop just concentrating on what he said to you, or how your colleague snubbed you in fron tof all those people, or how you were not promoted even though you were right for the job.
My sister said this recently, salt by itself is not flavor-ful. Only when it is added to something else, it’s flavor is wonderful. You are wonderful, yes. When in a group at work or anywhere, you add flavor. You add spice. You make a difference. Minus you would be like minus salt. ” You are the salt of the earth.”
Add YOUR flavour. You are wonderful.
Just take a minute to read this. I see loads of quotes from all over the internet but this beats ‘em all when it comes to work and maturity in work.
Taken from , you guessed it, the BIBLE.
11And His gifts were [varied; He Himself appointed and gave men to us] some to be apostles (special messengers), some prophets (inspired preachers and expounders), some evangelists (preachers of the Gospel, traveling missionaries), some pastors (shepherds of His flock) and teachers.
12His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ’s body (the church),
13[That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [[b]full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ’s own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him.
14So then, we may no longer be children, tossed [like ships] to and fro between chance gusts of teaching and wavering with every changing wind of doctrine, [the prey of] the cunning and cleverness of [c]unscrupulous men, [gamblers engaged] in every shifting form of trickery in inventing errors to mislead.
15Rather, let our lives lovingly [d]express truth [in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly]. Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all things into Him Who is the Head, [even] Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
16For because of Him the whole body (the church, in all its various parts), closely joined and firmly knit together by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied, when each part [with power adapted to its need] is working properly [in all its functions], grows to full maturity, building itself up in love.
Oh how beautifully inspired this is! WHEN EACH PART (WITH POWER ADAPTED TO ITS NEED) IS WORKNG PROPERLY IN ALL ITS FUNCTIONS….GROWS TO FULL MATURITY, building itself up in LOVE.
When each part works properly — an individual who is at a partcular job is required to do his or her part , and if unable then acquire power adapted to its need. This reminds me of Phil 3:19 where it says “I can do ALL things through CHRIST who strengthens me”.
If unable to work properly, find out your need — or your lack, your weakness or strength and just get the power , and just work at it. Inability need not be a season where one goes off on a trail of covering it up through a show of over-confidence, or looking down on colleagues or justification in order to feel good about self. ACCEPT yourself the way you are, claim the POWER of God over your situation, work and build yourself up with LOVE and just move on.
We work until We arrive at the completeness of personality, which is the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ and the completeness found in Him. Oh to be complete! To be filled to the brim. That is the search many are on today…when it comes to work. What will I find most joy doing? What can I do that would fill me up to the brim? It does boil down to first, WHO we are and WHAT we believe. Why the search? Why does mankind want to keep growing? There is an inborn thirst in him…to know where he is destined to go. The completeness found in Jesus.
We work to build the Kingdom of God WHEREVER we are – toward perfecting, equipping and ministering. Both self and others. Toward that completeness found in Jesus.
This is not about our jobs. This is about our lives. Where and how we work is an extension of who we actually are.
Well, what do you say??
How would you describe the BEST Christian job?
Thinking about it now, would it be a job that glorifies the Christian or …Christ?
Would it be a job that satisfies the Christian ? …. Or Christ?
Would it be just a job in the Christian field or …in Christianity?
Sometimes, it does come back to performance and reward, many might say.
Is it expounding the morals and ethics of being the most successful in one’s field??
Today’s world is filled with competition and the race for fame. Jesus said, “the last will be first and the first shall be the last..” A fine line between true humility and false modesty as many desire the fruit of being the last …:-))
Or would the best job be prayer? Or should I say, answered prayer? Again, it is like performance and reward.
” Whatsoever you do, do it heartily , as unto the Lord, and not unto men.” That sums up a lot of the very essence of being Christ-like , according to the Bible.
The integrity of working in or having the best Christian job is not in the title, but comes from the very heart of one’s motives toward ANY job. When performed as unto the LORD, one cannot fail, and one cannot be mediocre and thus it would result in the very best ability, bringing joy not in the reward but in the contentment obtained in giving one’s best to the Creator.
