Trouble at Work

This is T.E. Johnson. He is the Pastor/Teacher of Word of Faith Worship Center in Bradenton, Florida. That is where I receive my spiritual feeding when I am not feeding myself. He is such a blessing. He does not just preach the word, he teaches it.

We have been in a wonderful series for about 8 weeks that is entitled God's Financial Plan for the Believer. I can't begin to tell you how this has changed the lives of our members (my prayer is that Pastor Johnson will provide these sessions on video in the near future). There are times when the enemy can sneak up on us and we are caught off guard but thank God for the times when the enemy is oh so predictable. God's Financial Plan for the Believer is basically dealing with money and how we as Christians are to handle it. We knew that the enemy was going to try and attack in our personal finances now that God has revealed his plan to us and we had the ear to hear. Pastor Johnson also taught that it is not always the enemy. There are other factors that will come into play when it comes to money. For this time of sharing, I am just going to focus in on what the enemy has tried with me.

For most of us, we receive income by working. For most of us, we work a secular job. For me, this has been the devil's play ground. I knew that he was going to try and attack me at work because one reason that I am there is to make money. The most important reason is to save souls . . . I hope you know that as a believer, that is your REAL job/career. I will save that for another day.

I have been having trouble at work and so have other members of our ministry. There are times when we don't agree with the Higher Ups in the secular world, especially when we feel that we are being singled out. In my study time, the Lord led me to Ephesians 6: 5-9. Paul says, "Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ: not with eyeservice, as menpleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with him."

At this point you should be doing a little praise dance. In just those few words, God has given us what we need to get through the work day. Some may feel that this does not apply to us in present day because this was pertaining to the Master/Slave relationship. As long as this earth is in existence, there will always be someone working for someone else. Although we may not agree with what is going on at work, your duty is to get it done as if for the Lord. So what, if filing is not apart of your "job description". Get it done with the Lord in mind. This is so much bigger than you or your supervisor. There may be another co-worker that is unsaved but watching how you handle the situation. If you perform the duties without attitude, without gathering with other disgruntle employees at lunch to discuss it and complete the task with a smile. That unsaved individual may come to you and ask, "How do you take that? Why is it that you don't go off on them? Why is it that you are always smiling?" This is your opportunity to say, "I am a Christian and I see the bigger picture." You have just planted a seed in that person. They may not ask more about your Christianity that day, but begin to pray for the Lord to stir up a desire in them to hunger for more so that you can feed them a little each day. And know that they will keep watching you. You can't be meek one day and then cursing folks out the next. Lord, help us (LOL).

Is it right for us to be mistreated at work? Of course not. But notice that God placed instructions for the Masters according to the flesh in those words. He loves them no more than he loves you. He knows what they do and he is your protector.

Please study those verses. There are other key points that I did not share, this time. Also, God has given us a wonderful tool called Common Sense. There is a Human Resource Department within companies for a reason.

Peace and Blessings