Finding Financial Balance: WorkingUzorak

THE PEOPLE YOU MEET

It is no accident that most Christians find their gifts and talents leading them to work in places outside of the church. There are a lot of physical and social needs that God wants to meet in the world. Addressing those needs requires many different types of businesses and services — and these are often places filled with people needing to know that He cares. Of course, He would send His people out into these "fields" to labor with Him!

In the most basic ways, our relationship with Jesus impacts these places and people simply by the way we handle ourselves. Our time with Him bears the fruit of the Spirit, and God’s character is reflected in our actions and attitudes, even when we don’t say a word.

But more than that, Scripture tells us that believers are both the temple of the Holy Spirit and a royal priesthood. When we enter areas of business and engage with people there, we can invite the presence of God into the midst of meetings and mailrooms. As we take up our role as priests, we begin to see our co-workers and clients through spiritual eyes. We can resist the temptation to compartmentalize our lives and instead intercede for those we encounter.

Ask Yourself:

— What do you think it means to be a priest in the kingdom of God?

— How would your work habits and interactions change if you started thinking about them as part of a holy sacrifice?

Pause to Pray: Heavenly Father, I confess that I don’t always look at my co-workers and customers through spiritual eyes. Help me to love them as you do. Help me to have compassion in the hard moments and to be faithful in ministering to them as you lead. Amen.

Take a Next Step:

Ask God how you can intercede for someone or something at your workplace this week. Maybe you add them to your prayer list during your daily devotion time, maybe offer private prayer over a common meeting room, or perhaps you ask a co-worker how you can pray for them. Be open to His leading!