3 Work Relationships and Gospel Opportunities

How do you fit in to your company's organizational chart? If you haven't given that much thought, it's not a problem. In fact, you company may not have a specified organization chart (Org Chart), but there absolutely is a "pecking order".

• Who reports to who?
• Who is in charge?
• Who answers to who?
• When 'X' speaks, 'Y' should listen and respond.

It may not be complicated, but any business that has more than two or three people on the payroll usually have some kind of flow to communication, responsibility, and role of Leadership.

As I have been a part of organizations, and served at different levels of an Org Chart, it was all wonderfully simplified for me when I realized that the Bible actually lays out the 3 basic work relationships that we have:

1. Manager to Direct Report
2. Peer to Peer
3. Direct Report to Manager

A passage of Scripture that has been primary in my rediscovery of the lost great Mission field that is the American Workplace has been Colossians 3:17:

 "Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do all in the name of the

Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks through Him to God the Father."

 It was on the basis of this verse that God completely shattered my wrong view of what I considered "secular" work, and, as a consequence, missed a great many opportunities to reach people in the workplace who would otherwise not have stepped foot into a church. But, God being rich in Mercy, and richer in Patience it seems, He allowed me to struggle to the point where I was willing to be broken…so that He could rebuild me with a proper perspective.

However, right after Paul lays out this simple verse, he goes into its application listing specifically two spheres of our existence: Family and Work. While talking about our work, he highlights the three relationships mentioned above. Through the rest of this article, I want to briefly look at how each of these relationships is described, and how we might use each one specifically as a platform for Workplace Ministry, and seize any opportunities to live and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

DIRECT REPORT to Manager

Everyone reports to someone. All the way from the bottom up, someone is always having to answer to someone else. Even a CEO has to answer to the Board of Directors, or to the Owner. So, when Paul addresses those who answer to others, we all need to pay attention.

"Servants, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord." Colossians 3:23

Notice specifically that Paul points out that we are to obey our "earthly" masters. This does not say that we only obey, or respect, or provide sincerity of heart to our master in the Lord. We are not do differentiate by means of our actions and attitude between those Overseers who are, or are not fellow brothers or sisters in Christ. ALL are to receive the same the same sincere obedience and care out of our reverence for the Lord Himself. Our drive to serve with sincerity does not come from our feelings about them, our managers, but rather from our Fear, and loving obedience to the Lord. How are you serving your Managers or Supervisors? Is your loving obedience to the Lord evident in your actions and attitude toward those who are your earthly masters?

PEER to Peer

Here, there is not a specific audience in mind except for the Lord. Look at the work you have to do, Paul says. What is the task, or project set before you? Whatever it may be, we are meant to take up that work as if Jesus Christ asked us to do it personally. How different might we serve is Jesus asked us to do something?

"Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve." Colossians 3:23-24

I think it is interesting here that Paul really pins us down: we are to do our work heartily as unto the Lord rather than for men. Too often, we only work heartily if we know we are being watched. When the boss happens by, or when the owner walks through, or a customer is in the store we snap to attention, we go the extra mile. When we know we are being watched, we want to make doubly sure that THEY see us doing a good job. Perhaps we think we will get some kind of recognition, reward, or even a raise for being such a dutiful worker.

However, Paul strips this mentality down to its roots. "NO!" he cries. You are to do your work heartily knowing that Jesus Christ is ALWAYS watching. And more so, because we are ALWAYS representing Him in the work we do, and the attitude with which we do it. Also, how many times have we worked hard, and done a great job only to be ignored by our earthly masters? They see, but they do not care. They are preoccupied with doing what they need to do to look good in front of THEIR bosses, and have no time to recognize your hard work. It happens a lot. But when it does, for the Working Believer, we do our work Heartily for the Lord who is watching us, and who gives the reward we desire, or should desire most: our inheritance in Him: Heaven, Peace, and the opportunity to Glorify Him.

MANAGER to Direct Reports

Manager, Supervisor, Leader…whatever the team, the opportunity to have any kind of authority over others in the workplace is always an opportunity to influence the lives of others. How we go about doing that can be a major champion for our walk with the Lord, or a crushing detriment to our witness and testimony in Christ.

"Masters, grant to your servants justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven." Colossians 4:1

This one is simply stated, and for that I am thankful. How you treat people who are not in a position to help you professional says a great deal about your character. Grant JUSTICE (treat people rightly, and do not play favorites). Grant FAIRNESS (be specifically understanding to the individual and their needs). One of the best ways that we can influence those whom God has placed in our care in the workplace is to extend to them the same Mercy, Grace, and Forgiveness that we have been given in Jesus Christ. That is exactly the motivation that Paul points out: "knowing that you too have a Master in heaven." Recall the parable of the man who owed a great sum, was forgiven, but did not forgive the one who owed him. Powerful!

So now the question is…what will you do differently this week? How will you improve your response to those over you? How will you build upon how you your work and the attitude with which you do it? How will you extend the grace and love of Jesus Christ to those in your watch care? Don't just read this and go away unchanged! Let the Word of God show you the breaks in your character…but also let the Spirit of God set those breaks back into place! Don't just be a hearer: Be a doer!

And give God the glory.

(If you are a Supervisor at your current job, here is a visual rundown of the above. Even if you are the Owner, and you do not answer to anyone within your organization...you always answer to God, and He cares about how you treat your employees, and how you conduct your business.)