Many of us feel a sense of comfort about who we are when we’re within the walls of our own home. Hopefully, we feel a similar level of comfort within our religious congregations. But, what about the workplace?
Discipleship is a full-time, life-time commitment. So
All things are spiritual in God’s eyes; therefore, we should not have a division of our own between things spiritual and secular. He has asked us to leave the world behind and follow Him. Does that mean we should not work? No, work is part of our growth here upon this earth. However, we should strive for a work environment that is comparable to our standards as disciples of Christ. If at all possible, our path should never lead us away from our spiritual self. In that same token, we should never bring anything with us to a situation that might lead another away from God. We need to be proud to exemplify our belief at any time or place.
WWJD (What Would Jesus Do) does not lose its power because we are not the child or teenager we usually associate this message with. There are many problems, both personal and within our workplace that can be solved by refocusing on the values the Gospel of Jesus Christ has instilled in us. He is to be our example in all things, not a few.
Look for the Savior in your every day lives, in every day things. Just as the Savior taught in parables to help His followers understand His messages, we can find His love, word and example in the simplest things in our own lives. Keeping His perspective helps us avoid the world’s perspective on such things as money, goods and power that seem to be so often central to the workplace.
Start your day with scripture study and prayer. Nephi has counseled us wisely in the Book of Mormon to “feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.” (2 Nephi 32:3) I have found in my own life that when I neglect these two simple steps my day is lacking. No matter how good the activities of the day went, I have missed the presence of the Spirit. If things have gone badly, I have lacked the ability to find peace and the Lord’s will for the situation until I have returned to His basic commandments. Exercise your spirit every morning just as you would exercise your body. Do not leave for work without the power of the Holy Ghost to guide and protect you.
Be honest. Never display yourself as anything less than honest and trustworthy in the workplace. This also includes refraining from gossip or speaking ill of anyone that you work with.
Remember, often times he who is greatest, is the servant. A “what’s in it for me” attitude is not always the best course of action. Rather: “what creates the most good?” Once again, the Savior’s example is clear.
“If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” John 13:14-17
Have courage in your convictions. It is also important to remember that Christ was always appropriate to the situation and occasionally that situation called for Him to defend Himself or reprove those around Him. While it is important not to do nothing that is intended to be mean spirited it is equally important to stand up for your beliefs and help others understand their importance to you.
Pay your tithes. In Malachi we are advised to “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” (Malachi 3:10) Returning a portion of our goods to the Lord helps keep a perspective based on the Lord’s blessings. It acknowledges His hand in our lives and our dedication to Him in everything that we do. It allows Him to be part of our financial decisions and planning.
The Lord is mindful of us in everything we do. A disciple’s goal is to focus our lives on Him in return whether it is at home, at church, at work, or anywhere else we may find ourselves.
