Though these challenges are complex because we are dealing with confused human hearts, the way we approach work can be reduced to a simple turning of our motives. Jesus’ ending words in a parable from Luke 14 guides us at our workplaces. “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” In light of Jesus’ interactions with people, we are called to “go about the Father’s business” while displaying humble compassion.  We are to love people as helpless sinners because Christ loved us in the same way. Yet though we can all nod our heads in agreement and even feel conviction from the Spirit, it is often hard to connect such an immense call of humble compassion to the struggles of working with unrepentant sinners as a forgiven sinner.  I become frustrated at their laziness, their bitterness, their willful stupidity, and at being an outcast to their visible, vulgar sins. I quickly become proud of my hard work, my positive attitude, my superior intelligence, and at my self-control. I sin in response to their sin.

But you and I don’t have to respond this way in the workplace. In fact, we have been called out of darkness into light so we can shine our light before men. I propose that the first step toward engaging our workplace with the light of Jesus is to follow His example of humility. But how does this actually look? It’s pretty easy to see it in Jesus’ life, but it’s harder to live it in our own lives. My first suggestion is to admit faults and ask forgiveness when you fail. This is a rare thing in the corporate world and in general. When you make a mistake, do you apologize for being wrong without a string of excuses? When you respond in sin to your co-workers with a bad attitude or angry words, do you apologize and ask forgiveness afterwards? The lost make excuses, deceive and lie about their failings, but as followers of Jesus, admitting our failures is the first step toward a continually transformed and transforming life. This is an essential ingredient to being salt and light (Matt 5:12-16). I am the first to admit that this is a very hard thing to do. I have a situation right now at work where I need to ask for information that I just asked for 2 weeks ago, but lost it. I feel like an idiot, and I don’t want to ask for it again. This is because of my pride. Fighting pride by repenting of it is the first step for me and you in putting off pride and putting on humility.

My second suggestion is this. Be willing to listen and love messy, unlovable, messed up co-workers. Listen to their problems. Hear what they like and dislike. Get to know them. Yet please don’t view them as a project, but as persons. Sometimes we can get to know someone just enough to spit the Gospel in their face and run away. Other times we just act like good moral people who are “religious.” Neither of these techniques looks anything like Jesus. Rather, Paul encourages and presses us to be genuine in our love for others (Romans 12:9). When was the last time someone asked you how you were doing yet clearly had no intention of hearing a meaningful answer? And when was the last time you heard that question and gave a meaningful answer? Is that not counterfeit love? Interact with them, and let them be themselves. Christ loved to hang out with sinners because he came to save them instead of the righteous; Christ came for the sick, not the healthy (Matt 9:13). We shouldn’t be scared of building friendships with them from 9 to 5, and even after work. But being friends with our co-workers cannot be an excuse for conforming to the world or even being neutral. Instead, we should act towards them as James 3:13 instructs. ^“Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.”

My third suggestion is to care and serve your co-workers whenever you can. Matthew 20:28 says, “even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” This is not a proof-text for being treated like a medieval whipping boy or constantly kissing the buttocks of your boss, figuratively of course, but a call to put other people first because it brings great glory to God. This is so counter-cultural that it is usually met with perplexed looks, stuttering and gratefulness. A specific way to do this could be helping co-workers who are not very good at their job with patience and grace. Trying to aid them is a great way to serve Jesus; not by enabling laziness, but by encouraging teamwork and trust. “He who gives a cup of water to the least of these” (Matt 10:42) does not apply only to the homeless or the hospitalized. It applies to our co-workers.  

     Finally, whatever happens in your workplace, be encouraged that you are in Christ. If you are a child of God, nothing can separate you from the love of Jesus (Romans 8:35-38)! This includes horrible external pressures and Godless internal problems that plague us at work. Learning humility, like any other discipline of grace, takes a long, long time. Any honest glance at your life will reveal an absence of humility that is so embarrassing it feels like someone pants you in public. Just because you read this or I wrote this doesn’t create humility in each of our hearts. As I’ve written these words, I see afresh how many times my heart falls short of glorifying God in my workplace. It is every day that I need to believe that Christ died for my sins at work and rose again to conquer those sins so I can stand perfectly blameless in Christ before God. All of us need to be humbled by our position in Jesus so we can live in the joyful submission to Jesus not just 9 to 5, but day to day.