Thank God It’s Monday
9 “Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour”
~ Titus 2:9-10
As you head into work on Monday morning, how do you feel about your job? Do you feel that you are doing something significant? Or not? Even if you are doing something that feels worthwhile, many still find it hard to perceive the significance of our work for the kingdom of God. For those facing ethical dilemmas in the workplace, recognising the significance of our work feels even harder. Since we do spend so much time in the workplace over the course of our lives, it’s important to pause and consider this question: What is the significance of our work for the kingdom of God?
In Titus 2:9-10, we see that every workplace can be a place that is highly significant in God’s Kingdom. The same is true of our neighbourhoods, schools, and homes. In Titus 2, Titus is instructed to teach the Christians in Crete how to be godly in their various circumstances. In verse 10, workers (bondservants) are instructed to live in such a way that their behaviour and actions adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour. In other words, our behaviour and relationships in the workplace should make the gospel beautiful, drawing those who don’t know Christ to him. Isn’t it motivating to know that how behave at work can have such huge significance?
We are to speak the gospel in the workplace
However, in order for our work to adorn the gospel, it is crucial that we also speak the gospel in the workplace. Yes, the way we do our work will increase or decrease the attractiveness of the gospel. But only if they know we are Christian. If no one knows that we are a Christian, our colleagues are more likely to attribute our moral actions to our own goodness, rather than to Jesus. Our lifestyle alone will not adorn the gospel if we do not also speak the gospel. But if we do make known our faith, our lives in the workplace can be a powerful testimony for Christ.
The challenge for us then is this: Have we told our colleagues (course mates, neighbours etc.) that we are Christian? If not, that is the first step to take. We need to be determined to tell people that we are a Christian. But that is only the first step. For once we have told our colleagues that we are Christian, they will begin to watch our motives, actions, and attitudes to weigh us up as Christians.
However, whilst a good first step, telling people that we are Christian is still insufficient. Verse 10 says our lives are to make the doctrine (or teaching) of God our Saviour more attractive. That is, we must not just identify ourselves as Christians, but explain the gospel to our colleagues: how Christ saved us from our sins. If we only tell people that we are Christian and go about living a well-behaved life, then people may begin to think that being a Christian is simply about being moral and good. They will not begin to recognize their sin or their need for a saviour. Thus the doctrine of God our Saviour will not be adorned as it should.
By default, the world thinks that salvation comes by works. That is, if we are good enough, we will be accepted by God. If we do not explain how God is our Saviour, the world will think no differently of Christianity when compared to other religions. They will continue to think that salvation is by works. Only when our colleagues know how God is Saviour, will our life at work really adorn the gospel.
When Paul wrote this letter to Titus, he well understood the godless and immoral culture of Crete. That is why Paul wanted the Christians to be different, that their lives may adorn the gospel. Likewise, as we tell our colleagues we are Christian and look for opportunities to explain the gospel of God our Saviour to them, our countercultural lifestyle at work will adorn the gospel.
Showing our new status and identity as children of God
Finally, we can adorn the gospel at work as our colleagues observe that the gospel has not only saved us from our sin but has also freed us from finding our identity in our work. The culture around us is status hungry with our colleagues constantly searching for their value, status, and significance through their work. But the gospel has rescued us from self-centredness and has given us a new status and identity: we are children of God, citizens of heaven.
So when you go into work next Monday morning, seek to adorn the gospel through the way you live and speak for Christ. Perhaps you can ask yourself these questions:
- How can I be countercultural in my workplace by living a godly life?
- How can I make it known that I am a Christian?
- How can I share the gospel of salvation?
Ultimately, our gospel witness is a key part of what gives significance to our work. So what better way to spend next Monday morning, than to be at work witnessing to Christ and his gospel?
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Gary Lee is currently attending Crossings Church in Singapore and was part of St Mary’s Cathedral Kuala Lumpur. He is an engineer by profession and has a passion for seeing the Gospel upheld and proclaimed in the work place. He desires to see Christians continue to find their identity and rest in Jesus Christ whether in the workplace, home, neighbourhoods, schools and Church.
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