March 23rd

Better Jobs

Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 4:1-2

Imagine with me for a moment that you stand before a room full of business owners and you can say anything you want to them, but you only have one sentence to do it. What would you say?

Boil everything down into the most simple, yet powerful thing you could tell them. What could you say to them in that brief moment that would still be worth saying?

Paul did exactly this, and what he told them was, Remember that you have a boss, too. Remember the way that your Boss treats you, then treat your employees the same way. Become a picture to your employees of your Employer so that they will see Him through you.

He followed this simple, transformational business principle up with the most impacting business strategy he could think of-Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.

Remember that Paul could speak to business owners from firsthand experience. He had run a business as a tentmaker in Corinth while also planting and pastoring a church (talk about busy!). His experience in business taught him that you need the same things in running a business that you need in running a church-lots of prayer.

And not just prayer from other people, though that is good, too. No, Paul says you have to be the leader in your workplace prayer movement. You continue earnestly in prayer! Then let others join you in that, but the responsibility falls on you first because you are the owner.

Pray for your business. Pray for your employees. Pray for your future business. Pray for your clients. Pray for the atmosphere of your office. Pray for the companies who are your neighbors in your office building. Pray for your customers. Pray for your suppliers. Pray for your competitors.

Pray! And when you pray, pray earnestly. Do not be passive and removed from the circumstances for which you pray. Rather, dive into them wholeheartedly so that you are earnest in your prayers.

Finally, be vigilant in your prayers, not forgetting to be thankful for what God has already given you. Even, I challenge you, be thankful for the things for which you are praying even before God grants your request.

God wants your workplace. Will you follow His Word and invite Him in?

Prayer Lord God,

You are a good and just Master, and I thank You for the way you treat me. Please help me to be earnest and vigilant in praying for my workplace and help me to be the employee/employer You call me to be.

Amen