Run Forest Run
What does a Christian do when they find they are working in an oppressive organization? Do you stay or do you leave? The answer lies in talking with God and asking His purpose for your being at this business. It lies in prayer and scripture. As you do this, you may want to consider:
Does God have a plan that involves you at this business? Could you be the one light that God has shining for His sake? Will you be the only mirror and support for other Christians in this workplace? Are you there, by your example, to help lead others to Christ? I once pleaded, "God, please, please, please get me out of here!". God simply let me know that He had a plan for me and to stop complaining and get on with it. You see, the Bible is full of examples of bad working conditions and bad places for Christians to be. You can go to almost any Biblical book and find examples of Christians working and God leading. I hate to go to Job because he is the tops (or bottom) in persecution but His devotion, without wavering, was and is a perfect example. Job 2: 7-10 "So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes. Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. But he said unto her, Thou speaker as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips." You want an example of someone who didn't know what "pity party" meant - Job is your guy.
It refers to evil in Job. Let me tell you Christian, there is evil in some work places. These oppressive, mean spirited and dangerous things in the business world sometimes have the real smell of evil. I use the word smell because you can feel evil in some places. Do you run? Running is my first reaction but it isn't always God's direction. If God has put you in this place and you find He wants you to stay there, then look around and find out why. God apparently thinks there is work to be done in others, as an example to others, or on yourself and YOU are the person chosen. God will decide how and when you leave and He will make it available when He thinks it is best. James 5:11 "Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy."
God will not give you more than you can endure. Those things that He gave me when I pleaded to leave made me stronger in my faith, in my reliance on Him, and when He made leaving perfect, I saw His plan and rejoiced. He had allowed me to do work on His behalf. I am so sure He does not plop down strength and wisdom while we sit at our desk and doodle. We can only gain in our Christian walk when God uses situations - often hard, sometimes painful, l-o-n-g, and contrary to our wishes. Stop fighting and listen to God. Stop complaining and rejoice in His mission for you. ALL workplaces are missions. Stop wasting time and get on with your job - both for the company and for God.
If leaving is your opportunity, run towards something new God has planned. But don't run away without consulting your chief supervisor, the big boss, the mission of all mission statements, THE plan! How foolish it would be to heap more distress upon yourself in a bad situation. Staying may be hard but flailing around without God's design is hopeless. James 4:17 "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin."
Does God have a plan that involves you at this business? Could you be the one light that God has shining for His sake? Will you be the only mirror and support for other Christians in this workplace? Are you there, by your example, to help lead others to Christ? I once pleaded, "God, please, please, please get me out of here!". God simply let me know that He had a plan for me and to stop complaining and get on with it. You see, the Bible is full of examples of bad working conditions and bad places for Christians to be. You can go to almost any Biblical book and find examples of Christians working and God leading. I hate to go to Job because he is the tops (or bottom) in persecution but His devotion, without wavering, was and is a perfect example. Job 2: 7-10 "So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes. Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. But he said unto her, Thou speaker as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips." You want an example of someone who didn't know what "pity party" meant - Job is your guy.
It refers to evil in Job. Let me tell you Christian, there is evil in some work places. These oppressive, mean spirited and dangerous things in the business world sometimes have the real smell of evil. I use the word smell because you can feel evil in some places. Do you run? Running is my first reaction but it isn't always God's direction. If God has put you in this place and you find He wants you to stay there, then look around and find out why. God apparently thinks there is work to be done in others, as an example to others, or on yourself and YOU are the person chosen. God will decide how and when you leave and He will make it available when He thinks it is best. James 5:11 "Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy."
God will not give you more than you can endure. Those things that He gave me when I pleaded to leave made me stronger in my faith, in my reliance on Him, and when He made leaving perfect, I saw His plan and rejoiced. He had allowed me to do work on His behalf. I am so sure He does not plop down strength and wisdom while we sit at our desk and doodle. We can only gain in our Christian walk when God uses situations - often hard, sometimes painful, l-o-n-g, and contrary to our wishes. Stop fighting and listen to God. Stop complaining and rejoice in His mission for you. ALL workplaces are missions. Stop wasting time and get on with your job - both for the company and for God.
If leaving is your opportunity, run towards something new God has planned. But don't run away without consulting your chief supervisor, the big boss, the mission of all mission statements, THE plan! How foolish it would be to heap more distress upon yourself in a bad situation. Staying may be hard but flailing around without God's design is hopeless. James 4:17 "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin."
posted by Diane Gibson at
7:07 AM
