I'm wondering, have you read the verse which says, "Be kind to everyone who is kind to you. Be kind to the people you like. Be kind when you want to impress someone, or when there's something in it for you"? No, you haven't seen this verse in Scripture, but Paul wrote to Timothy,
And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful (2 Timothy 2:24).
That’s my word of wisdom for the workplace today: Be kind to everyone.

In fact, we’ve put these words on a set of cards, designed to help you remember them or to pass them along to someone else who may need a word of wisdom for the day. You’ll find them ready for your use here.

Today it’s “Be kind to everyone.” I once witnessed a situation in which a Christian sister was obviously unkind to a person simply because she didn’t like that kind of person. Based on her prejudices and some bad experiences she had, she had classified a group of people as undesirable. And so, she was obviously unkind to this person.

My heart was hurt to see a Christian treat someone unkindly. Then I realized I probably do similar things all too often. I mean, it's easy to be kind to people who seem to deserve our kindness. But the Bible says we are to be kind to everyone. That includes strangers, people who irritate us, people who are not kind to us—everyone includes everyone!

Once I was unkind to a clerk at a hotel who was not very efficient at her job. Her lack of efficiency inconvenienced me just a bit, and though I didn't say anything, I'm sure the look on my face and my body language was most unkind.

How easy it would have been for me to say something kind to her, to make her feel a little more comfortable, to forget my minor inconvenience and try to help her a bit. The Holy Spirit hit me between the eyes as I walked away. I heard him say, “You had one chance to show her what Jesus is like, and you showed her what you are like.” Ouch! The Lord's servant must be kind to everyone, even people who don't do their jobs as well as they should.

Where do you often fail to be kind? Shore up this area with prayer and ask God to help you to be kind, as the servant of the Lord should be, to everyone.

Are you tired today? I have a word of wisdom for you. You can have these nuggets of wisdom on some cards we’ve prepared. Then you can use the cards to remind yourself of these important principles, or you may want to give some to others who are struggling with workplace issues.

Today’s wisdom for the workplace is: Remember being tired is inevitable, but if you’re tired for the wrong reasons, then you need to take some action.

First, let me assure you it's okay to be tired. Jesus was often tired while he was here on earth. You remember when he fell asleep on the boat, and a terrible storm didn't awaken him. He was tired. We read in John 4 he was tired from a long journey.

We know Jesus understands our tired bodies and minds because he experienced it while he took the form of man on earth. He sympathizes with our weaknesses and the limitations we face. Just knowing that helps me a lot.

But we need to determine if we're tired for the wrong reasons. Have you been trying to be all things to all people lately? It’s exhausting—and you can never succeed. Perhaps you've taken on jobs God never intended you to do, and you're tired from trying to do too much. Maybe you're trying to do everything to total perfection. Perfectionists are usually very tired people, trying to prove something to themselves and to the world by being perfect all the time.

You may be tired because you've got your priorities confused. Someone has said, "There's always time to do God's will," and I think it's true God would never ask of us more than our bodies and minds can do without going into overload and burn-out. But when we confuse our priorities, it causes weariness and exhaustion.

Remember this important message from Isaiah:
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint (Isaiah 40:30-32).
You may have a copy of this devotional as well as these cards giving these words of wisdom for the Workplace. You can use these cards to encourage yourself each day or pass them on to others who may need a word of wisdom. This is available here.

I want to give you some specific wisdom for the workplace. In fact, I want you to have a set of cards with these nuggets of wisdom which you can take to your job, use them for yourself, or even give to others as an encouraging word. You’ll find those here.

Here’s today’s wisdom for the workplace from Luke 12:15: Jesus said,
Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed (Luke 12:15).
This greed problem is nothing new. And we certainly must watch out for the many kinds of greed. There's greed for power, the drive to have authority and influence over other people. And greed for prestige and fame. Of course, greed for material possessions is very commonplace. Almost daily we hear of another scandal where greed for money has driven people to destroy their whole lives.

When you think about it, greed is pride. It is that desire within us to show the world who we are by our status in life, our possessions, or our fame. Greed is a direct result of the pride of life.

Greed is contagious. If you're around people who have lots of things and who focus their life on getting more and more things, you'll discover it's very difficult not to be swept right along into their greedy mindset.

Greed is cancerous. It grows fast, and it consumes and destroys everything it touches. No wonder Jesus said we must be on our guard against all kinds of greed.

Jesus went on to say a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. Greed can overtake us quickly and completely distort our priorities and our commitment to the Lord. Jesus said life is more than food or clothes; life is peace and contentment. Those can't be bought; they are found only in Jesus.

Our wisdom for the workplace today is: Be on your guard today against the greed that surrounds you, especially in the working world. It wants to drag you right into its currents, but by God's grace, you can be victorious.

We have seen how Jesus was such a great leader because he knew who he reported to, and he made sure he fulfilled his boss's expectations. Also, he knew what his mission was, he stayed focused, and he didn't try to jump through the expectation hoops of others. Jesus was always ready to celebrate, and that made him a great leader. Then one thing I really love about Jesus is he always had time for little people—every individual was important to him no matter his/her age, status, or position.

Now, let's look at some additional examples of what made Jesus such a great leader.

Jesus was a great leader because he was willing to look foolish to others.

Do you realize great leaders throughout history have been willing to take risks with their public image, and they didn't spend their time worrying about what people would think of them? Anytime a person is primarily focused on what others think, they are handicapped because they lose the freedom to do what they think is the right and best thing to do.

How do you think Noah looked when he started building the ark? Pretty foolish and stupid, don't you imagine? And when Moses told Pharoah to let his people go, he had to look like an insane person, approaching Pharoah with his threats. The great prophet Elijah had to ask a poor widow for food, which some would have considered very demeaning. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was willing not only to look foolish, but also to lose her good reputation in order to bear the Son of God. Had any of these people been primarily concerned with what the neighbors would say, none would have accomplished their God-given purpose.

Jesus was not concerned about what people would think. For example, he cried over a city that was not repentant—a grown man crying. But he didn't care what people thought. His heart broke for those people. He rode a donkey in a parade, a lowly beast. Most leaders would have demanded more appropriate transportation, but he sought out a simple donkey to ride on.

And, of course, the ultimate example was he was willing to go through a shameful trial and die on a cursed cross, enduring the scorn and abuse of his enemies, to accomplish God's plan.

We need to consider this as we approach our jobs and duties. Are you overly concerned with what people will say or think? If so, you may miss the opportunities and blessings God has for you. It's impossible to please everyone anyway, but when we focus on pleasing God, we will please more people as well.

Jesus was a great leader because he was willing to do the difficult work.

Do you remember the time Jesus determined to go to Jerusalem for Passover? His disciples did not want him to go there because they knew there were people plotting to kill him, just waiting for him to arrive. They wanted to spare him that difficulty, but he knew he was supposed to be there, and he went.

Also, he was willing to say no to people when necessary, though I'm sure he didn't enjoy disappointing people. Often the disciples wanted him to do one thing when he knew he should do another, and he would tell them "no.” He even said "no" to his mother and brothers who wanted to interrupt his teaching to speak to him.

Jesus also said "no" to himself. Satan tried to tempt him with very enticing promises, and he had the wisdom to say "no" to the easy way out. He knew he had to discipline himself to do what God wanted him to do.

Then there was Gethsemane, where Jesus came face to face with the most difficult thing he would ever do: Drink the cup of death and sin that was necessary to pay the price of redemption. None of us can even imagine how hard that was to do—to become sin for us even though he had never sinned. But he did the difficult thing because it was the right thing to do.

If you and I are ever going to be effective leaders,

Presented by Julie Busteed

I’ve been looking at what it takes to build healthy relationships. And I’ve saved the best for last: forgiveness. This verse in Matthew always catches me short.
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins (Matthew 6:14-15).
I need to take to heart this command!

Relationships are living, growing things because they involve people who are growing and changing. And because you are human, there will be times when words are spoken or actions are taken that hurt someone in the relationship. You and I need to forgive others and also ask for forgiveness—things that are not easy to do, except through the power of the Holy Spirit.

But wait—there’s more! Jesus said we should love our enemies.

I look at Jesus’ example of laying down his life for you and me. When he was on the cross, suffering, he forgave those who crucified him.
Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34).
That’s the ultimate in forgiving your enemies. It really seems quite impossible, doesn’t it? Jesus was fully God and fully man. But I don’t think that excuses you or me to forgive even our enemies.

Corrie Ten Boom and her family helped many Jewish people escape the Nazi’s in WW2. As a result, she was arrested and sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp. She survived and wrote books and spoke about her experience. Corrie recounts the following as she was speaking about forgiveness at a church in Munich in 1947:
Afterward, I saw him—a man moving toward me through the crowd. I recognized him instantly: a former guard from Ravensbrück, the concentration camp where my sister Betsie and I had been imprisoned for hiding Jews.

He approached me, now dressed in civilian clothes, and said, “A fine message, Fräulein. How good it is to know that all our sins are at the bottom of the sea.” Then he extended his hand. “I was a guard at Ravensbrück. I’ve become a Christian, and I know God has forgiven me, but I would like to hear it from you. Will you forgive me?”

I stood frozen, remembering Betsie’s suffering and death. Forgive him? I could not. Yet I knew Jesus’ words: “If you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive yours.” Forgiveness is not a feeling—it’s an act of the will.

So, I prayed silently, “Jesus, help me. I can lift my hand; You supply the feeling.” Mechanically, I reached out—and as I did, a current seemed to pass from my shoulder to our joined hands. A warmth filled my heart.

“I forgive you, brother,” I said, “with all my heart.”

In that moment, I felt God’s love more deeply than ever before.[1]
May you and I be obedient and lift our hands and trust God to fill us with his love.

---

[1] Corrie Ten Boom, Sherrill, E., & Sherrill, J. L. (2008). The hiding place. Chosen Books.

Presented by Julie Busteed

Humility may not be the first trait that comes to your mind as an essential element in healthy relationships. That’s what I will look at today as we continue to seek to grow healthy relationships.

The first thing that comes to mind when I hear the word humility is I need to have a low opinion of myself. But that’s not correct. It’s about being interested in others. Serving others. Yes, modesty is part of humility, but it’s not being down on yourself. It’s putting others first.

Paul exhorts the Philippians and us to do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others (Philippians 2:3-4).

Becky Harling, author of Cultivating Deeper Connections in a Lonely World, writes humble people come in curious to the conversation, and this curiosity is the superpower of connections! They listen and ask questions. They don’t come in like the expert. I love that! We can have this superpower if we are simply interested and curious. And that’s what I think the Apostle Paul is talking about—to look not to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Humility also is shown by just being kind, lending a hand, helping a coworker.

My friend Heather recently showed a beautiful example of humility. She had her day carefully planned with a full to-do list, but when a friend reached out to spend time together, she chose to set her plans aside. It wasn’t what she had intended for the day, and honestly, it wasn’t what she felt like doing at the moment—but she recognized her friend needed someone to listen.

What makes this even more meaningful is this friendship isn’t always easy or comfortable. Yet that very morning, Heather “happened” to read Proverbs 3:27–28.
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, ‘Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you’—when you already have it with you (Proverbs 3:27–28).
Those verses were a timely reminder that God sometimes calls us to act in the moment—to give of ourselves, our time, or our attention—when it’s within our power to do so. Heather reflected the heart of Christ that day by choosing relationship over routine, allowing herself to be “interrupted” in order to show love and kindness right when it was needed most.

I pray you and I will be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love (Ephesians 4:2).

Presented by Julie Busteed

I’m looking at some strategies to help grow and build relationships—principles that apply at work, home, church—with everyone. The first two strategies I looked at were loving others and communication skills. I think integrity is also an important component in healthy relationships.

Integrity really covers several qualities. It’s being honest, having strong moral principles, and being trustworthy and reliable.

A great example of integrity in the Old Testament is Daniel. He was taken into captivity from Israel to Babylon, and he became an adviser to the Babylonian kings because of his integrity and trust in God.

For many, it’s a familiar story but to recap: Daniel refuses to bow down and worship a man-made idol. He worships and prays to God. As a result, he is thrown into a literal lion’s den. The next morning, he testifies that my God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight (Daniel 6:22a). Not only did God protect and preserve Daniel, but King Darius also decrees everyone in his kingdom must fear and revere the God of Daniel.

Daniel’s integrity and courage not only effected his own life, but the entire kingdom was now to fear God. He trusted and honored God in his actions, and his integrity was evident to his employer, resulting in a testimony to the entire kingdom.

Integrity can also be something significant done privately, not for public recognition. A friend of mine recently showed a great example of integrity. She just published a book through a traditional publisher. Normally, when you work with a publisher, you receive an advance against future royalties—meaning you don’t earn additional royalties until the book’s sales cover that advance. And if the book doesn’t sell enough to cover it, the author doesn’t have to pay it back.

That’s completely normal. But my friend told me she wants to make sure her book’s sales do reach that advance amount. She’s putting in extra effort to promote and market her book because she doesn’t want to be a burden to the publisher. She isn’t required to do this—it’s not part of her contract—but she feels it’s the right thing to do. Quiet integrity.

In both of these examples, integrity was a vital characteristic in dealing with others. Integrity directed how they should act in certain situations—be it life or death—or something that’s not really seen by others. With faith in God and belief he is faithful, they lived out their lives in honor to him.
Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out (Proverbs 10:9).
When we live our lives with integrity, we can walk securely—quietly resting upon God’s favor and gracious providence.

Presented by Julie Busteed

Are there people in your life you find difficult to get along with or really understand? I am examining biblical strategies to help grow and build healthy relationships, and communication is a key tool.

A verse you might be familiar with is everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry (James 1:19b). Honestly if we all practiced that, I think there would be much less miscommunication.

Let’s break this down. What does it mean to be quick to listen? Studies show good communication is essential for organizations. Marjorie North—a communications expert—says we only hear half of what is being said in any given conversation. It’s true, isn’t it? I can be distracted by something outside the conversation, or I can begin to form a response to something the person said. No matter what distracts me, I struggle to listen.

You and I need to practice active listening. And I mean practice; it will take a lot of practice. Put the distractions away—and by this, I mean your phone! Give the person your full attention. I know someone who is so good at this. I can tell when I am speaking to him I have his full attention. It’s a great thing to be heard—really heard.

Some other ways to be slow to listen is to repeat back what you believe you heard the person saying. And if you don’t understand something, ask clarifying questions. Try not to interrupt them.

What does it mean to be slow to speak? I think we need to be careful and thoughtful. Examine your words before you say them. Depending on what the conversation is, you might even need some time to think before responding.
Do you see someone who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for them (Proverbs 29:20).

Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin (Proverbs 13:3).
James also goes on to talk about our tongues—what we say and how our words can bless or curse others. He compares our tongue to the bit that steers a horse or the rudder that guides a ship. What comes out of your mouth can not only corrupt your whole body but others as well. The Psalmist prays to set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips (Psalm 141:3). And the Apostle Paul encourages the Ephesians to not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen (Ephesians 4:29).

Good communication in relationships is necessary. It’s a skill you and I can practice and improve, but we need to be mindful and intentional.

Presented by Julie Busteed

Have you ever said or thought this? “I’d love this job if it just wasn’t for the people!” I know this is a sarcastic saying—it’s more tongue in cheek—but it’s how we feel sometimes isn’t it? Yet as Christ-followers, the greatest command Jesus gave us is to love God and love others.

This week, we’ll look at some strategies to help us as we relate to others around us—our family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors.
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” (Matthew 22:37-39).
The first priority in dealing with our relationships is to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind! Our relationship with God is essential. It affects everything, including our relationships with others. Take a minute to ask yourself these questions: Are you spending daily time with God? Reading his Word? Praying? This is the first place to start. It’s vital for you and me to make our relationship with God the foundation of our lives.

Sometimes it can be easy to think, “I have a relationship with God, and that’s enough. I don’t need others. I don’t need to go to church.” But that’s not true either. God is a triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. There is community between them, and as image-bearers, we need community not only with God but also with each other. God made you for community and connection.

Since you and I are made to be in community, how do we do this well?

Jesus goes on to say we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. What does it mean to love your neighbor? Love is an action—not just a feeling—a romantic feeling. It’s not the same as like. Love is giving of yourself and putting others first. It could look like delivering a meal to someone in need. Or helping a coworker with a project. Or praying with or for someone. It can take many forms; the main thing is that you see others—notice when they are in need—and reach out to help and care for them.

It seems like many people don’t think of themselves as a leader because they don’t hold a position that identifies them as a leader. So, when they hear messages on how to be a better leader, they figure it doesn’t apply to them. But you know, the truth is we are all leaders in some way or another. Some of us are the up-front obvious types who lead groups of people. Others are quiet leaders, who influence and persuade others behind the scenes. And believe me, there is someone in your life right now who looks at you as a leader. So, whatever form of leadership you may have, this message on the leadership qualities of our Lord will apply to you.

Why was Jesus such a great leader? Here are some reasons:

Jesus was a great leader because he fulfilled his boss's expectations.

Jesus kept in close contact with his Father. He said again and again that he always did what pleased his Father and spoke what the Father taught him. In John 7:18, Jesus said, Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.

When is the last time you checked with your boss to see if you're working to his or her satisfaction? Do you spend enough time with your boss to understand his or her priorities, so you are doing things that please your boss? It really is your job to make sure you've got the marching orders right. And besides, it is simply smart to take initiative of letting your boss know you need and appreciate his or her feedback.

Maybe you're thinking: You don't know my boss, Mary. It's impossible to communicate with him or her. Well, that may or may not be true, but you should do everything you can to improve that communication. Many times, we excuse our own lack of effort by saying "He never listens to me" or "I can't get any feedback from her," or "This company doesn't care what I think!” Pray about it and ask God to give you some creative ways to improve communication with your boss. That's the mark of a good worker and a good leader; certainly, Jesus was careful to stay in close contact with the One who had sent him.

In any business or organization, the ultimate boss is the customer. Ed Koch was a mayor of New York famous for walking the streets of his city, stopping people, and asking them, "How am I doing?" He recognized he reported to the people who had elected him, and he wanted to please them if possible.

Who is your customer? You may think I don't have customers; my company does. Or I don't have customers; I work at home. But I would ask you to re-think that response. Everybody has customers! Here's why:

Your customer is the person who creates the need for your job. If they didn't exist or didn't have certain needs, your job would be unnecessary.

Think about it and clearly identify your own personal customers. Those are the people you need to please. Your customer probably falls into several categories—internal and external, above and below you, business and personal. People outside and inside your organization who depend on you for help, information, service, etc. Even those who are not employed have customers. For moms your customers are your family members; they certainly create the need for your job.

So, in a real sense, we all work for our customers. Therefore, we should be very attentive to their needs and requests, since they are critical people in our lives and livelihood. But more importantly, we should want to please them out of a desire to do things right, just as Jesus wanted to please his Father. So, Jesus was a great leader because he gave careful attention to his boss, the Father, and did what the Father wanted him to do.

Another reason Jesus was such an outstanding leader is he knew what his mission was, he stayed focused,

How would you like to work with someone who resents you, is jealous of you, and treats you rudely? That’s what our friend Fran is facing on her job. Jenny, a new coworker, has been asked to work under Fran’s supervision, but her jealousy and resentment have become obvious to the boss, Marilyn.

While Marilyn is having a private talk with Jenny, Fran is in her office praying for guidance. She told God if he wants her to relinquish this new account to Jenny, she will do so.

In a few minutes Marilyn walks into her office. “Fran, I explained to Jenny that I make the business decisions here, and I reminded her she was fully informed of what her status would be when she requested the transfer here. So, she’s agreed to work with you on this account. If you have any problem, you let me know.”

“Marilyn,” Fran says, “I’m willing to give her the account if you want me to. But I’m not sure how easy it’s going to be for us to work together.”

“There’s no way I’m going to let you give up that account. You won it, and it’s yours. And if anybody can work with Jenny, you can, Fran.” And with that Marilyn goes back to her office.

Since it’s almost quitting time, Fran heads for the door just as Jenny is leaving. “Jenny,” Fran says, “I know you’re not happy with this latest arrangement. I can understand how you feel…”

“Oh, give me a break, Fran. You don’t understand or care how I feel,” Jenny comes back with great anger. “Just don’t think I’m going to do all the dirty work.”

“Jenny, please,” Fran begins, “I even offered to give you the account, but Marilyn insists we can work together. I certainly want to try.”

“You offered to give me the account?” Jenny is incredulous. “I don’t believe it. You’re just trying to make points with Marilyn. Just don’t expect me to do your work for you, Fran.”

Fran recognizes there is no way she can have a rational conversation with Jenny, so she goes to her car and heads home. The tears start to come. “Lord, what am I going to do?”

What is Fran going to do? There’s no happy ending to this story. Fran cannot turn Jenny around, and as they work together, Jenny increases her attacks on Fran. Many times, Fran is tempted to go to Marilyn and tell her what’s happening, but each time she has a check in her spirit. She spends many miserable days trying to work with Jenny.

Finally, Jenny resigns her position and leaves the company, full of bitterness and anger.

“It’s so sad,” Fran says to the Lord, “and I feel bad for her. But Lord, what more could I do?”
Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy (Proverbs 27:4).
Not every story has a happy ending, even when we obey the Lord and do what he tells us to do. But we can trust the results to him.

Jealousy can cause any of us to do and say things that are hurtful and wrong. Fran is learning first-hand how the jealousy of a coworker can be very painful.

Jenny is jealous of Fran because of her success in the company. Now with a new account Fran has just signed up, it appears Marilyn is going to assign Jenny to work with Fran on it. For Fran, it’s the worst possible news she could hear, because Jenny has been openly arrogant and rude to Fran.

As she and Jenny go into Marilyn’s office, Jenny says to Fran, “If you think I’m going to take orders from you, think again, Fran. I know more about this account than you will ever know.”

Fran has no opportunity to respond, as Marilyn walks in at that moment. “Well, it seems to me,” Marilyn says, “you two are a perfect match to work on the Edwards account, since you have a lot of good experience with construction companies, Jenny.”

The silence is deafening. Nobody says anything. Marilyn continues, “I am right, am I not, Jenny? You had a large construction account in Atlanta?”

“I certainly did,” Jenny begins, “much larger than this one.” The anger in her voice is obvious.

“I see,” Marilyn says, beginning to sense there is a problem here. “Do you have a problem working with Fran on this account?”

“Well, truthfully, I think Fran should be working with me on the account, Marilyn, seeing how I know this business much better than she does,” Jenny says. She is beginning to lose control. “I think you should just let me handle this account. That would make the best business sense.”

“I see,” says Marilyn. “So, you don’t want to work with Fran on the account?”

“Like I said,” Jenny begins again, “I think she should…”

“I know,” Marilyn continues, “you think she should work for you. We better have a talk about this. Fran, would you excuse us please?”

As Fran walks back to her office, she is literally shaking. Fran prays, “Lord, do you want me to just volunteer to give her the account?” A battle goes on inside of Fran as she wrestles with this issue. She prays and fumes and thinks, and finally she says, “Lord, I can’t stand Jenny, and there’s no way I could give her this account. But if you want me to do it, I can do it for you. So, right now I relinquish the control and I’m willing to do what you want me to do. Just show me.”

And with that, she sits quietly. Her spirit calms down, and the peace of God descends upon her—that peace that passes understanding. As soon as she lets go of her rights and gives the Lord permission to do his will, she can relax. Now she is in a win-win situation.

It’s difficult to let go, isn’t it? But letting go and giving God the control always brings peace.

We continue our most recent story of Fran and Jesus on the Job. Fran finds herself on the receiving end of a jealous coworker, who is very vocal and very vicious in her attitude toward Fran.

A week ago, Fran made an important presentation to a new prospect, and today is the day she is to get their answer. This morning, in some quiet time with the Lord, Fran prays, “Lord, once again I give over to you the results of this new business. I pray you will give me a favorable response, but no matter what happens, help me to be gracious and kind.”

Then she thinks about Jenny. Fran has struggled to have a right attitude toward her, because Jenny has said some unkind and rude things to Fran. “Lord, I know Jenny is not in my life by accident. I don’t like her, Lord, but I want to be willing to let you love her through me. And Lord, help me to see her the way you see her. I know underneath her tough exterior and her angry demeanor, there is a big hurt only you can heal. Please help me to see her through your eyes.”

About ten o’clock that morning, Fran makes the call and to her great delight, she learns they will sign a contract with her. She makes an appointment to be at their office first thing tomorrow morning, then goes in to tell her boss.

“Congratulations, Fran,” Marilyn says, as she shakes her hand. “That is great news. We’ll announce it at the meeting this afternoon.” Marilyn is obviously pleased.

As the department gathers for the meeting, Marilyn enthusiastically announces Fran’s success. “This is a very significant account, and Fran did a great job to land it. Obviously, she’ll be needing help from the team. In fact, Jenny, since you’ve had some experience with construction companies, it might make sense for you to help Fran out. We can talk about that.”

Fran’s stomach does a couple of somersaults. How could Marilyn do that to her? She can never work with Jenny. Now what is she going to do?

As the meeting ends, everybody is congratulating Fran. Jenny starts to walk out without saying anything, when Marilyn stops her. “Jenny, why don’t you and Fran come into my office for a few minutes. Let’s talk about this new account.”

“Lord,” Fran prays silently, “I need wisdom, and I need grace. Please help me. You know I can’t work with Jenny. Please deliver me.”

She can hear that inner voice of God’s Spirit responding to her panic. “What you can’t do, I can.” With that assurance, she heads toward Marilyn’s office.

Solomon wrote: Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy (Proverbs 27:4).
Who indeed? Fran is discovering just how dangerous it is to work with a jealous coworker. A woman named Jenny transferred to Fran’s office and accepted a lower position. She has become more and more vocal about how over-qualified she is for her job.

Today Fran and her good friend, Louise, are walking to the cafeteria when Jenny walks in behind them. Fran and Louise have tried unsuccessfully to be friendly to Jenny, but they try once again. “Want to join us for lunch?” Louise asks.

“Yeah, why not,” Jenny responds. As they sit down to eat, Jenny says to Fran, “You had a presentation today, didn’t you, Fran?”

“Yeah, we’re trying to get the Edwards Construction account,” Fran replies.

Jenny says, “I landed the largest construction company in the Southeast when I worked in Atlanta, you know.”

Fran can feel the anger start to creep up within her. She sends up a wordless prayer before she responds. “I wish I had known, Jenny. I could have used your help.”

“Well, they should have let me have that account,” Jenny says. “I’ve got the experience that would have guaranteed we would get it. How did the presentation go?”

It’s all Fran can do to answer Jenny with a civil tone of voice. “I really couldn’t tell. They said it would be a week before they decide.”

Louise is angry, too, and she just can’t sit there without defending her friend. She says, “I can assure you, if anyone can get that account, Fran can. I’m sure you did a great job, Fran.”

Jenny laughs and says, “Well, Louise, I’d expect you to say that about your good friend, but I’m looking at it from a business perspective. With my experience, I would have done a better job.”

“Excuse me,” Louise retorts, “but that’s your opinion and you ought to keep it to yourself.”

“Oh, Louise, don’t take everything so personal. I’m just saying it like it is,” Jenny replies.

“I call that rude,” Louise says.

“Hey,” Fran interjects, “this conversation is getting out of hand. Thanks for your loyalty, Louise, but Jenny has a right to her opinion. Maybe we better get back to work.”

As they start to leave, Jenny says, “You know, it’s stupid for women to be so emotional about these things. I’m just talking business, and you two keep taking it personal.”

Fran and Louise walk away without another word to Jenny, but steam is coming out of Louise’s ears. “Can you believe that woman? She’s just jealous of you, Fran.”

And jealousy can be dangerous.

Have you ever worked with someone who was jealous of you? In Fran and Jesus on the Job, Fran discovers a coworker is not only jealous of her but seeks to ruin her. As I periodically present these stories of Fran and Jesus, it is my prayer you will be encouraged to practice the presence of Jesus on your job and seek his guidance in every situation you face.

On this Wednesday morning, Marilyn, Fran’s boss, comes into her office and says, “Fran, I want you to meet Jenny. She just transferred here from our Atlanta office, and she’ll be working with Phil as his assistant.”

“Glad to meet you,” Fran says, as she extends her hand. “If I can help in any way, let me know.”

“Yes, Jenny, you can always count on Fran. She’s one of our best account reps, so she knows the ropes well,” Marilyn adds.

“That’s nice,” Jenny says, “but I can hold my own. I…uh…I was sales leader in the Atlanta office last year, but I had to transfer out here because my husband took a new job, so…”

“Well,” Marilyn chimes in, “we just didn’t have a sales slot for Jenny right now, but I’m sure something will open up before too long.”

“I sure hope so,” Jenny says. “I didn’t put in all that hard work as an account rep to work as an assistant.” It is obvious Jenny is not happy with her current assignment.

As they leave, Fran thinks: She acts like she’s too good to have that job. I think she’s going to be trouble. But as soon as she starts that kind of thinking, the Spirit of God convicts her. “I’m sorry, Lord,” she prays quietly, “forgive me for thinking of her in negative ways. Help me to have the right attitude toward her.”

Fran is learning a very important principle about dealing with people. When you are working with someone you don’t particularly like, don’t allow yourself to indulge in derogatory thoughts about the person. Instead, pray for him or her. Every time you are tempted to think unkind thoughts about the person, just stop right in the middle and change those thoughts to a prayer. Pray for your attitude toward the person and pray for him or her.

I don’t know about you, but I find I can easily make commitments. I can decide I really want to do something and set my mind to do it. But if I don’t have a plan as to how it gets done, it just remains good intentions that usually don’t become reality. So, what I’m hoping is that you will not only be inspired to reflect Christ more on your job, but you’ll have some specific actions that will make a difference in your life and in your workplace.

So, here’s my fourth suggestion (view part one for the first three suggestions) as to how we can more perfectly reflect Christ on our jobs:

Be Transparent and Vulnerable

Jesus gave us clear instructions as to how we are to live as Christ-followers in our worlds. In Matthew 5:14-16 we read from his sermon on the mount:

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

In other words, we’re not called to be undercover Christians. Even in our post-Christian culture, Jesus’ challenge does not change. We are not to hide our lamp—our witness—as Christ-followers, and that includes on our jobs. The challenge we face is how to do that naturally, organically, and not in an unnecessarily offensive way.

Someone has said that too often we Christians are more interested in giving out the right news instead of the good news. We believe we’re right, based on God’s Word, and we never compromise those beliefs. But we do it through being real, not with a know-it-all attitude or arrogance of any kind.

You and I must be approachable, real, and transparent in the way we live if we ever hope to have influence in our world today. If you project a plastic image to those around you, an image of “I’ve got this all figured out, and my life is always together,” then who can ever relate to you?

Let me ask you: Do you fake happiness even when you are sad about something? Do you share personal struggles and concerns with coworkers appropriately? Can you and do you naturally talk about how God has helped you through hard times, how he has answered your prayers?

Are you willing to be vulnerable, admit your mistakes, or talk about your struggles? Or are you trying not to show a trace of doubt or misgivings or let anyone see the pain in your life? If so, you are putting up a barrier between you and others, and they just don’t know how to relate to someone who seems to always be in control! Living a transparent and authentic life means being yourself, without any pretensions.

There was a woman who worked for me many years ago who was just always perfect. She was vocal about her faith, but she was also vocal about how perfectly she did her job. She subtly would let everyone else know they should be like her and do their work like she did. Now, she was an excellent worker, but she made everyone else in the department uncomfortable by her perfectionist demeanor. I often wondered what she was like at home with her husband. And I noticed that she really had no connections in our office; she worked in an isolated atmosphere. That’s never going to be an effective way to reflect Christ.

So, one powerful way you and I can reflect Christ—be like Jesus—in our workplaces is to be transparent, inviting, and willing to share our lives, the good and the bad, with others.

Reflect Christ by Developing the Fruit of the Spirit

I come to the fifth suggestion for reflecting Christ on your job, and it is to consistently display the fruit of God’s Spirit in your life. Honestly, this is an impossible assignment until and unless you become intentional about bearing much fruit.

Presented by Lauren Stibgen

In this digital age, it feels like our community is giant! Some days it feels like I have a community of a thousand friends. Honestly, if I ever heard from one of you listening today personally, I am sure it would be like chatting with a lifelong acquaintance! I feel the same when someone reaches out via social media or on LinkedIn to connect about our faith or even a business matter. But truly, how many “friends” can we have?

In my opinion, the current workplace culture has us thinking about relationships all wrong. All these different professional groups and networking meetings bring new contacts, but are they true connections? How often are we trading time with a network for true, authentic connection?

I say get small! What do I mean by this? Take a sheet of paper. I want you to write down a list of your deep, authentic connections. These are the friends you pray with, laugh with, cry with. The ones you go to for good, biblical advice. These friends know your favorites in life. The good and bad. You should want not only to receive from them but also to give to them in return. How many are on your list? Can you count them easily or did you quickly fill a sheet top to bottom?

Jesus held 12 closest to him—the disciples. Surely, he did daily life with others whom he was closest to like Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, but those in his inner circle were fewer than 20. Although Luke says he had a larger group of around 70, this was more of the community around him—think of people who you are friendly with at work or even at church.

Going back to your list, who are your inner, most sacred connections? Who are your 12? Who make up your 20? How can you build deeper connections with those closest to you? Maybe some of these connections have come from work—some could be family, and others from church. Building connections and relationships is important to Jesus, and I want all of you to be encouraged if perhaps you aren’t finding this community and connection at work.

Those of us who are connected in the community of the Body of Christ can be encouraged that God has brought us into his family. Another song for this week: What a Friend we Have in Jesus! Above all, of the friends you have written down on your paper today, write JESUS in big letters at the top!

Presented by Lauren Stibgen

As we talk about social connections and community at work, I have been talking about some of the more difficult aspects of this connection—not fitting in, feeling lonely, being exhausted. One common workplace issue I hear from many women is the loss of workplace connection due to betrayal.

We can feel betrayed in many ways. Maybe you learn you have suddenly become the topic of office gossip, or a colleague is speaking poorly about your performance to a superior. It could even be you are suddenly left out of lunch or happy hour invitations or other gatherings you would typically attend. If you aren’t sure about what has caused you to be the odd “woman” out, this can make the feelings sting even more.

Joseph was betrayed deeply by his brothers because of their deeply-rooted jealousy. They were so jealous they thought to kill him but chose to sell him to slavery instead. Joseph was then betrayed by the wife of his employer who lied and said he was making a pass at her! The story of Joseph is in the book of Genesis chapters 37-50.

Let’s consider Joseph for a moment. Being his Dad’s favorite wasn’t his fault, but it surely didn’t help him. Are you a favored employee at work? Maybe this favoritism made the young Joseph a little prideful. He sometimes recounted his dreams about ruling over his brothers. If you are that favored employee, are you humble or prideful about it?

Like young Joseph’s brothers, perhaps your colleagues are jealous, but they also don’t like how you are responding to all the positive attention you are receiving. Maintaining humility and recognizing the achievements of your colleagues, contributes to a balanced approach to success in the workplace.

In Joseph’s later years, the betrayal by the wife of his employer was not his fault. My point is sometimes you just cannot control what someone says about you, and this is very hard.

Through all this betrayal, Joseph looked to the Lord. He trusted God’s plans for his life, even when he was alone in a pit, sold as a slave, and placed in prison for something he clearly did not do.

If you suddenly find yourself on the outs with workplace friends, carefully reflect and look to the Lord in prayer. Turn to a connection outside of work to help you consider how you may approach the situation with care, as a follower of Jesus. Rather than rushing to a judgement, prepare to ask some questions and seek to understand.

Presented by Lauren Stibgen

We have been talking about how much time we spend at work—one-third of our waking hours—and the social friendships and connections we may or may not have there. Like me, you may be just too exhausted to even think about being social at work! After all, sometimes these connections require even more of your time, and your calendar outside of work can be just as busy.

Spending time with other Christian working women reminds me all working women—Christian or not—feel the burdens of the elusive work/life balance more than their male counterparts. A 2024 Gallup poll found 51% of women compared to 39% of men feel stressed at work.[1] Women are more likely to juggle personal items during work hours, which also adds to this. Women are balancing work, caregiving, health, and perhaps additional education opportunities making their days long. Making time for more social connections often feels like another thing they just cannot add to their day.

Being too exhausted to engage socially is impacting more than just social connections for women; it is also impacting their opportunities for promotion. A study by Leanin.org found women are less likely to be promoted than men, partly because they participate less in informal social interactions.[2]

Our Savior Jesus was sometimes too exhausted for more social engagement too! Hebrews 4:15 reminds us we have a high priest who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses. Jesus experienced weariness too. In fact, his exhaustion is one of the things that lead to the interaction with the woman at the well.
Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon (John 4:6).
Jesus had sent the disciples ahead to bring back food to him, and he was alone. Wearied in the Bible refers to deep physical and emotional exhaustion. We know Jesus was facing both. And I am sure this resonates with you. Your physical body and emotional state are just gassed.

Knowing Jesus felt the same way, what habits did he engage? Jesus went to his Father for refreshment. We see this repeatedly in the gospels.

Luke 5:16 and 6:12 tell us Jesus withdrew and went up to a mountain to be in prayer with God. We also read this in Mark 1:35.

When you feel too exhausted to connect socially, connect with God in prayer. Take time to bring your burdens to the Lord. Pray for the right connections and interactions. Pray for balance and refreshment. Pray for the right opportunities at work. After all, God is your best social interaction.

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[1] Barry, K. (2024, December 4). More Than a Program: A Culture of Women’s Wellbeing at Work. Gallup.com; Gallup. https://www.gallup.com/workplace/653843/program-culture-women-wellbeing-work.aspx

[2] Women in the Workplace. (n.d.). Lean In. Retrieved September 29, 2025, from https://leanin.org/women-in-the-workplace/2018/women-get-less-support-less-access-at-work

Presented by Lauren Stibgen

With one-third of our life spent working, it is no wonder we seek friendship and connection from our colleagues. A recent Forbes article from March 2024 titled How Loneliness Can Impact Your Job (And Life) by Tracy Brower says 69% of employees report they are unsatisfied with their social connections at work, and 43% don’t feel a sense of connection with their colleagues.[1] Loneliness is universal, and it doesn’t hold a title or age. CEOs and assistants are equally impacted by these feelings of disconnection. Since it is subjective, we need never negate our own personal feelings of loneliness or those feelings of a colleague.

As followers of Jesus, what does this mean for us? First, what if we are the employee feeling dissatisfied with our social connection at work? Turning to the Word of God can remind us it is our God who sees us in our daily work even when we feel alone.

Consider when the woman at the well went to draw water. She went in the middle of the day, the hottest time. Although we are not told about her feelings, we know she went alone because she likely was not accepted by the other Samaritan women. She was alone, and perhaps lonely when she encountered Jesus. He knew the intimate details of her not so perfect life and offered her living water—salvation in him! You can read this story in John 4:4-30.

And, what about Hagar? She was sent away, pregnant and alone when she was met by God and felt seen. Read more about Hagar in Genesis 16.

The woman at the well and Hagar are reminders that even when we are walking alone, God sees us.

Maybe you aren’t lonely at work. You have a wonderful social community! As a follower of Jesus, we are called to see others. Just as Jesus saw the woman at the well and God saw Hagar, who do you see in your workplace who could use some social connection?

There is a Christian song by Brandon Heath, Give Me Your Eyes with perfect lyrics: “Give me your eyes for just one second, give me your eyes so I can see…”[2] Take a listen. It can encourage you to see those in your workplace that could use you extending your care and connection in that moment!

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[1] Brower, T. (2024, March 21). How Workplace Loneliness Can Impact Your Job (And Life). Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/tracybrower/2024/03/21/how-workplace-loneliness-can-impact-your-job/

[2] Heath, B., & Ingram, J. (2008). Give Me Your Eyes [Song]. In What If We [Album]. Reunion Records.