SPIRITUALITY
Relating Your Work With Spiritual Principles
By Maureen Jagona Okore
I would like to start off with a quote . ‘ For even when we were with you , we gave you this rule : “ If a man will not work , he shall not eat .” We hear that some among you are idle . They are not busy ; they are busybodies . Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat . ( 2 Thess : 3 )
Here we are introduced to the reward that work brings . And that it is owed only to those that are diligent about their duties .
How many times have you had colleagues within your team , who basically joyride their way through team effort ? You know the infamous , ones who carry huge water bottles soaked in mint leaves and lemons all day , sipping while walking from desk to desk along the corridors ? Yes , those ones … they are the busybodies . Always rushing into ‘ something urgent ’ which remains mysterious to the rest of the people in the office .
Where do we draw our work ethic from ? That is the question that once answered , we may understand why some of us behave the way we do . Now , we all want success , however , some people are willing to put in the work , while others are looking for a beeline to it .
Without a proper , solid example for work ethic , people in the office may resort to ‘ creative ‘ ways to get to the end goal . Now , having been raised Christian myself , I would say I subscribe to the school of thought that effort and strategy must be combined with a little spirituality .
To begin with , it is a rule of thumb that we must work hard . However , when nobody is watching , what gives you that little oomph , or push to really complete the task well ? Mine is the below philosophy :“ Whatever you do , work at it with all your heart , as working for the Lord , not for human masters , since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward .”( Colossians 3:23-24 NIV ).
This verse keeps me grounded and integrous . I am not only working for my employer , but
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Take a well-deserved rest . Don ’ t promote a constant state of grinding and productivity and work without prioritizing rest . From a spiritual angle , even the creation of the Earth , necessitated God to rest on the 7th day . This is an omnipotent force taking a day off work , how much more do you need this as a mere mortal ?
I am first and foremost , working for and answerable to , the master of the universe . Therefore , putting my best foot forward is key .
Secondly let ’ s talk about to-do lists and work plans . When you begin your year or your typical work day , there must at some point be a sticky note or a notebook with your to do list for the day . It is amazing to put our thoughts on paper to gain clarity of how we will prioritize tasks . However , have you ever had one of those days when plans go awry and every item in the to-do list suddenly becomes an emergency or a fire that you need to put out ? And you find yourself running around like a headless chicken ? Well , I have a hack for that too … Commit your works to the LORD , And your plans will be established . ( Proverbs 16:3 ).
The hack is … pray over that to-do list , commit it to God and seek his intervention in bringing every plan to life , without derailment , unforeseen bottlenecks , or fullblown cancellations . It works in your favor .
Thirdly , we must be honest in our dealings at work . Especially those selling actual goods in their line of business . Let your business be known for fairness , and transparency and honesty in it ’ s dealings . For the favor of the Lord rests upon those who maintain transactions of integrity . Aside from the potential legal implications , the law of karma will apply and the good you do to your customers , suppliers or partners , will certainly come back to you . The LORD detests dishonest scales , but accurate weights find favor with him . ( Proverbs 11:1 )
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