FAITH IN THE WORK PLACE

But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

Hebrews 11:6

I was in line waiting to have my groceries scanned at our local supermarket last week and could not help but overhear a conversation two people in front of me were having regarding who they had over for Christmas and who they had celebrated the New Year with and it would appear from what the one lady was saying, that what was supposed to be a joyful time for her and her family, was anything but happy. It was apparent that on returning to work early on in the New Year she was informed that her services were no longer required and that she was struggling to find work.

On my way home I got to thinking that time seems to have grown an additional set of wings and flown by at an astonishing rate. Although Christmas and New Year celebrations were some time back it did seem that only the other day I was lining up to have my Christmas purchases scanned at the same supermarket.

It also got me thinking that for many the end of year festivities are a happy occasion when family and friends get together to celebrate, exchange gifts and generally enjoy each other’s company. Children, in particular are happy and excited about the prospect of receiving lots of presents and homes are decorated with tinsel, fairy lights and a host of colourful trappings with the Christmas tree taking centre stage.

After Christmas, New Year resolutions are made in earnest but often turn out to be flimsy and are easily broken despite our best efforts at keeping them. Sadly though, for many the festive period is not a good time of year because there are those who do not have families to share it with, and those who do have families find that relationships are anything but cordial and coming together brings out the worst of family feuds. A recent newspaper report drew attention to the fact that there were more marriage and family breakups during the two weeks of holiday than at any other time throughout the year. To add to this, some are in despair, having been laid off and have no job to go to in the New Year. Others were dreading going back to work because they face increased work-loads and longer working hours as a result of wage freezes and staff cut backs.  It used to be that we worked to live, but now it would appear that we live to work.

Accomplishing a balance between work and family life has never been harder and for those who are Christians striving to live a Godly life is fraught with difficulties. It has been said that the emotions and the highs and lows of the Festive Season mirror life today in the fast lane, where men and women everywhere battle to keep body and soul together by working and providing for one’s family, only to find that it is rather empty and hollow.

An interesting article in a well-known magazine told of a group of people who were discussing what would be the perfect antidote to the stress of living in today’s fast moving, battle-scarred world. Some of those taking part said that meeting the President of the United States would be their number one goal in life. Other’s said that meeting various film stars would be the best thing that could happen to them, with a few saying that they would like to escape to a remote island where they would be pampered and waited on hand and foot for their every need.

What these perceived remedies do not tell you is that reality has a nasty habit of raising its ugly head when you least expect it. The reality of life is just that, it is REALITY. It is real, it is life and it is the here and now. All other is make-believe! The meeting with the President would be fleeting. The meeting of film stars would be brief. The sojourn on the remote island could not and would not bring any lasting peace and happiness, for the simple reason that without Christ, life is meaningless, and faith in anything else but Christ, is pointless. It is in fact make-believe!

No matter what life throws at us, Christians have someone to turn to, and that someone is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ went to the Cross and died for us that we might enter into a living relationship with the Father. In the old days the Priest had to offer never-ending sacrifices of the blood of animals to atone for sin and those who asked forgiveness were always kept at a distance away from the mercy-seat. They were barred from the most Holy Place.

Jesus offered Himself once as a full and final sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins and by doing so He opened up the Holy of Holiest which allowed everyone who was washed by the Blood of the Lamb to enter in and be forgiven. Nothing this world has to offer can come even close to this wonderful, eternal truth.

And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God.

Hebrews 10:11-12

Our verse of Scripture at the beginning, reminds us that without faith, it is impossible to please God. Faith is the only thing that gives God His proper place and faith is the only thing that puts man in his proper place. Faith not only believes that God exists, but it also trusts Him to reward those who seek after Him and His will for their lives and for those of us who find the balancing of work, home and spiritual life difficult we can all take comfort from one man who was given a monumental project to work on.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1

By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

Hebrews 11:7

When it comes to faith in the work place, in the factory, the shop floor, an office or at home, trust in the Word of God and faith in the finished work of our Saviour, Jesus Christ is absolutely vital. Even though your faith will be tried and tested by many who will mock and ridicule, it will be music to your ears that God will give you the strength to persevere. When considering the words faith and perseverance, the story of Noah and the Ark always springs to mind. Imagine if you can, receiving instructions from Almighty God Himself to build an Ark and Him giving you details of what wood to use, the exact dimensions and how to waterproof the finished article. In Genesis 6 we are told that Noah trusted God implicitly and did exactly what God told him to do. Can you even begin to imagine the reaction of those who lived with Noah not to mention the surrounding population? If ever you think you are having a tough time at work, think of what Noah had to endure. The jokes, the ribbing, the laughter and finger-pointing would have been endless and relentless.

A day out with the family would be to pack a picnic lunch and go and sit and watch that crazy bloke building a boat when there was no water for miles around. And boy did he take a long time to finish it! And it’s so big! Never mind, we’ve got the problem of what to do with the kids and our entertainment sorted for some time to come!

We all know the outcome of the story. Noah’s faith was rewarded and he and his family were saved, and the world was condemned, reminding us that a tiny minority of believers were right whilst the vast majority who mocked and jeered from the sidelines were wrong. Knowing this should make our decision to follow Christ and cultivate a love for Him, that much easier because God in His wisdom has left us an example to follow. In fact the whole of Hebrews Chapter 11 gives us one example after another of people exercising faith and mentions the word faith 25 times!

In the Scriptures we find that Jesus twice spoke of Great Faith:

•    Matthew 8:5-10
•    Matthew 15:28

And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto Him a centurion, beseeching Him, and saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the *palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and saith, Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldest come under my roof; but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it He marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

Matthew 8:5-10

*A disease that caused paralysis and loss of feeling.

 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

Matthew 15:28

•       In the first instance we have a Centurion.
•       In the second we have a Canaanite woman.
•       Both were Gentiles.
•       Both acknowledged their unworthiness.
•       Both acknowledged His worth.
•       They both came with Humility.
•       They both left with Honour.

The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom and before Honour is Humility. Proverbs 15:33

•       Both sought Blessing for the one they loved.
•       Both received Blessing from the One who loved them.

What is clear from God’s Word is that before we even begin to exercise faith, we need to be in the right frame of mind. The Bible tells us that:

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

Proverbs 1:7

So no matter where we work, no matter what job we have to do in life or how high we consider ourselves to be in the corporate world, every single one of us needs to know that before we approach God, we need to have a sense of fear and humility.

• FEAR: Because we are dealing with The King of Kings and  The Lord of all Creation who is absolutely Holy.
• HUMILITY: Because we recognise the desperate situation we are in together with our feebleness and frailty. 

FAITH

•   Believes the INCREDIBLE.
•   Hears the INAUDIBLE.
•   Sees the INVISIBLE.
•   Perceives the IMPERCEPTIBLE.
•   Grasps the INTANGIBLE.
•   Accomplishes the IMPOSSIBLE.

May God help you to come to the Throne of Grace in fear and humility so that you may draw upon Him for the strength to serve Him. I can think of no other way to live than to place my faith in Him who died for us that we might live victorious lives.

I go on not knowing

I would not if I might,

I’d rather walk in the dark with God

Than walk alone in the light.

I’d rather walk by faith with Him

Than to walk alone by sight.

Helen Casterline

It is my prayer that this will be the year that you will take God at His Word when He tells you that there is nothing about Him that makes it impossible for men to believe. We are to trust and obey, for there is no other way.

If I can be of any help please feel free to contact me at any time.