That’s a fairly popular sentiment amongst those who believe that matters of faith, spirituality, and religion don’t have a place in the workplace. 

But divorcing faith from the workplace is like trying to separate two pieces of paper that have been glued together.  When you try to pull them apart all you have left are two torn pieces of paper. 

That is because God created us to work. Right from the beginning (Genesis 1:28), He gave men and women work to do.  He even said, “have dominion”  over the earth and all that is in it.  Other translations use the word “rule,” or “reign;” however it implies a sense of rigorous stewardship over every area of life.  A creational activity that makes things, arranges thing, assigns things, designs things, builds things, and harvests things.   A pursuit of crafts and careers, farming and framing, selling and sailing, cooking and curing, and every kind of work activity you can think of.  

Integrating faith and work is the most natural thing in the world. Trying to separate them is subversive and undermines our creational mandate.  When we work as an act of faith our work takes on more meaning as we strive to glorify God in all we do.  That is the ultimate “positive attitude,” and the reason excellence is pursued.

We can’t leave our faith “at home” since it travels with us everywhere we go.  It is part of the very fabric of why we do things and how we do them.  In the words of the Apostle Paul, “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” (Colossians 3:23, NLT)  Some translations say, “work heartily” meaning with vigor, with enthusiasm, with a cooperative attitude, with a spirit and sense that whatever you do, this is for the Lord.  

It seems to me, we need to encourage people to take their faith to work.  It makes a profound difference in joy, contentment, loyalty, and ultimately, excellence.  The happiest people in the world are not people who have to compartmentalize everything but can freely flow from one sphere of life to another without encumbrance. 

Take your faith with you—to work, at home, in the classroom, in the garden, on the factory floor, on the floor of the stock exchange, in the corporate boardroom, and in the assembly of your church.  It is the most natural thing you can do.

Friday Faith

Keep your religious life personal and separate from work. 

That’s a fairly popular sentiment amongst those who believe that matters of faith, spirituality, and religion don’t have a place in the workplace. 

But divorcing faith from the workplace is like trying to separate two pieces of paper that have been glued together.  When you try to pull them apart all you have left are two torn pieces of paper. 

That is because God created us to work. Right from the beginning (Genesis 1:28), He gave men and women work to do.  He even said, “have dominion”  over the earth and all that is in it.  Other translations use the word “rule,” or “reign;” however it implies a sense of rigorous stewardship over every area of life.  A creational activity that makes things, arranges thing, assigns things, designs things, builds things, and harvests things.   A pursuit of crafts and careers, farming and framing, selling and sailing, cooking and curing, and every kind of work activity you can think of.  

Integrating faith and work is the most natural thing in the world. Trying to separate them is subversive and undermines our creational mandate.  When we work as an act of faith our work takes on more meaning as we strive to glorify God in all we do.  That is the ultimate “positive attitude,” and the reason excellence is pursued.

We can’t leave our faith “at home” since it travels with us everywhere we go.  It is part of the very fabric of why we do things and how we do them.  In the words of the Apostle Paul, “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” (Colossians 3:23, NLT)  Some translations say, “work heartily” meaning with vigor, with enthusiasm, with a cooperative attitude, with a spirit and sense that whatever you do, this is for the Lord.  

It seems to me, we need to encourage people to take their faith to work.  It makes a profound difference in joy, contentment, loyalty, and ultimately, excellence.  The happiest people in the world are not people who have to compartmentalize everything but can freely flow from one sphere of life to another without encumbrance. 

Take your faith with you—to work, at home, in the classroom, in the garden, on the factory floor, on the floor of the stock exchange, in the corporate boardroom, and in the assembly of your church.  It is the most natural thing you can do.