QUESTION: Should Christians witness to their fellow workers during
working hours?
ANSWER: Witnessing for Jesus should be done on your own time and not
on company time. There is a balanced answer based upon Scripture:
Luke:20:25: And he [Jesus] said unto them, Render therefore unto
Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be
God's.
How can we apply this verse to our own lives?
It is not right to witness about Jesus if you are on the company's time
because your employer is not paying you to witness. The company is paying
you to do your job. Because you are being paid to do your job, not to share
your faith, it is best to do your job to the best of your ability when you are
on the time clock. Perform the things that your employer requires of
you..."render unto Caesar."
When one is witnessing "on the clock" or during working
hours, they are stealing from their employer-- which
makes for a terrible Christian witness. Some Christians
have lost their jobs for this very reason but Christians are
supposed to render unto Caesar and provide an honest
day's work.
Years ago, we knew a Christian man who was an active member of the
church. He was a regional manager for a chain of retail stores. His job
required him to travel everyday, supervising the various stores. While on
the job, he would get sidetracked from his duties because he was always
witnessing on company time to the cashiers and managers and customers.
One day, someone reported him to his superior and this man lost his job. His
boss fired him and told him, "I pay you to go out and do your job. I don't
pay you to tell others about Jesus. You should have done it on your own
time, not on mine."
Some would say, "Well, but he was doing the Lord's work..." Though his
heart was in the right place concerning the Gospel, he was not being honest
on "company time". Being a good witness for Jesus means being honest on
your employer's time clock. This is what is meant by giving unto Caesar.
Your employer pays you and trusts you to do what is required.
Be a Light for Jesus in the workplace!
People see the difference in you when you are different than they. Show
your Light and be an example by doing your job with the highest level
of efficiency. That is the best witness for Jesus that you can possibly
give in the work place, while on the clock. Do everything as unto the
Lord. Christians need to be honest. When you are on the clock, do your
work and do it best. Be reliable on the job. People notice that. Employers
notice that and that says ALOT for your Christian witness when you are
off the time clock!
There is a time for witnessing:
There is a time for witnessing and it is at the end of the workday or
before you start your shift. One can also witness at a social gathering or
lunch break, carpooling, etc.
While on your boss' time, you can be a great Christian example by doing
your job because most in the work force today are not giving their 100
percent. We must give unto "Caesar" the things that are "Caesar's" and to
God, the things that are God's. We should do everything as unto the Lord.
The Lord wants us to succeed in the workplace.
Col 3:17: And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name
of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Col 3:23: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and
not unto men;
Don't Just Talk the Talk
Many Christians "talk the talk" but they don't "walk the walk" and so even
when they witness, their testimony is worth nothing. Their testimony is
dismissed and they are considered "flaky" or "hypocrites". When one is
doing their job, working diligently, always on time, always helping their
fellow workers out, reliable, dependable, etc. then and only then will their
testimony be effective. The world will judge you by SIGHT-- the things
you do and how you live your life.
2Cor 8:21: Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the
Lord, but also in the sight of men.
If one is slacking off at the work place and cheating on their time card like
many workers do, that is NOT a good Christian witness. We have to be
careful to be honest in everything that we do so that others will see the
difference in us. We should be different. Many people, nowadays, like to see
how much they can get away with in the work place. That is the way of the
world. Christians should have a DIFFERENT mindset regarding work.
Psalm 143:10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit
is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
A person who is dedicated to his work (Christian or non-Christian) will get
noticed and will be rewarded. Promotions are given to those who excel
above the others. God will bless you in your workplace and will help you to
succeed.
1Pet 2:12: Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that,
whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good
works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Witnessing for Jesus should be done ON OUR OWN TIME, off the clock.
Words are cheap-- action is what counts. Notice, the above Scripture says,
"by your good works..." Christians need to be on time for work, be
reliable, be dependable!
How can one possibly be a good witness in the work place if he is slothful
and late for work and chatting on the boss' time when he should be giving his
100% to his employer? It would be best for his co-workers to not even know
that that person is a Christian. God forbid that a Christian should behave
that way in the work place. Christians are to be the BEST employees that
they can be. The Lord can enable His children to be the best-- one just
needs to ask Him. Be a light for Jesus!
Mathew 5:16: Let your light so shine before men, that they may see
your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
When Witnessing, Ask God to Lead You -- Be Tactful
We have all known so called "Christians" in our life who love to shove the
Bible down other people's throats and they are NOT lead by God in their
witnessing. These same people exhibit no love of Jesus, they are bad
examples, many are lousy workers, etc. and that is why their witness will
never be effective. They turn others off to the Gospel. They are like a
foolish farmer who plants 40 seeds into one hole in the ground and yells at
the seeds, "Now, Grow!" As funny as that sounds, many Christians witness
that way. They throw everything at the person they are witnessing to.
Christians should be kind, cordial, always willing to help and to keep the
Golden Rule. Sometimes, witnessing is planting a small seed first and then
little by little, watering it. Ask God to lead you when sharing your faith.
Remember that Jesus, when speaking to the Samaritan woman was tactful in
His conversation. He lead her into a conversation in which she would
ask questions concerning the Messiah. He did not start out by saying to her,
"You sinner, don't you know who I am?" Jesus was tactful in His words
towards unsaved people and we must follow His example. We must be
sensitive to the Lord's leading when we witness to our friends and
co-workers. All things must be said in love and in truth, with a humble spirit.
One Christian brother we knew would witness to his atheist co-worker while
they would drive together to their onsite job locations. Every day he would
plant little Gospel seeds and after much prayer, one day, he gave his friend
the Gospel of John to read. His co-worker friend read the Gospel of John
and believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and became a Christian. Many prayers
were prayed for that one man. All those seeds that were planted eventually
took root. It took a while-- about two years. Remember seeds take time to
grow.
Luk 8:15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and
good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with
patience. Notice that Jesus says, "with patience".
Many Christians make the mistake of preaching right off the bat when
starting a new job, "Well, I am a Christian...and I...", which turns many
people "off" [because of their past experiences with so called professing
"christians"] and then they just observe you and try to catch you doing
something wrong and judge you rather than getting to know you and
eventually trust you for who you are. Some people are prejudice toward
Christians for the very reason that they have only met professing ones and
have yet to meet one that is REAL. They have yet to meet a real Christian
who has Jesus within their heart. Ultimately, it is Jesus that they must see in
you. LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE and let Jesus shine through you. Ask God
to lead you in all your witnessing. When light shines into a dark room, people
start to see things so much clearer.
1Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready
always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the
hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Phil 2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
Phil 2:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God,
without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among
whom ye shine as lights in the world;
Jam 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Jam 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew
me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my
works.
Ultimately, your employer and co-workers will judge you not by the words
that you say but by the things that you do-- your work performance,
your work ethic, your honesty, your interaction and treatment of
others.
How do you conduct yourself in the workplace? How well do you render
unto Caesar? This will make all the difference when you share the Gospel of
the Lord Jesus Christ off the time clock.
1Peter 2:13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the
Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
1Peter 2:14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for
the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
1Peter 2:15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to
silence the ignorance of foolish men:
Rom 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest
in the sight of all men.
CONCLUSION:
Pray so that you will be effective witness for the Lord Jesus. It is the Lord
who enables us to live the Christian life and to be fruitful in all things.
On the time clock = SHOW YOUR LIGHT
On Your time = TELL OTHERS ABOUT THE LORD JESUS
Copyright © 2005 Cobblestone Road Ministries
All Rights Reserved
INTERESTING ARTICLES:
Spiritually Childproofing Your Home
Being a Godly Christian Parent
Laying Up Treasures- Where Is Your Treasure?
Trust In God- Hope In God
working hours?
ANSWER: Witnessing for Jesus should be done on your own time and not
on company time. There is a balanced answer based upon Scripture:
Luke:20:25: And he [Jesus] said unto them, Render therefore unto
Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be
God's.
How can we apply this verse to our own lives?
It is not right to witness about Jesus if you are on the company's time
because your employer is not paying you to witness. The company is paying
you to do your job. Because you are being paid to do your job, not to share
your faith, it is best to do your job to the best of your ability when you are
on the time clock. Perform the things that your employer requires of
you..."render unto Caesar."
When one is witnessing "on the clock" or during working
hours, they are stealing from their employer-- which
makes for a terrible Christian witness. Some Christians
have lost their jobs for this very reason but Christians are
supposed to render unto Caesar and provide an honest
day's work.
Years ago, we knew a Christian man who was an active member of the
church. He was a regional manager for a chain of retail stores. His job
required him to travel everyday, supervising the various stores. While on
the job, he would get sidetracked from his duties because he was always
witnessing on company time to the cashiers and managers and customers.
One day, someone reported him to his superior and this man lost his job. His
boss fired him and told him, "I pay you to go out and do your job. I don't
pay you to tell others about Jesus. You should have done it on your own
time, not on mine."
Some would say, "Well, but he was doing the Lord's work..." Though his
heart was in the right place concerning the Gospel, he was not being honest
on "company time". Being a good witness for Jesus means being honest on
your employer's time clock. This is what is meant by giving unto Caesar.
Your employer pays you and trusts you to do what is required.
Be a Light for Jesus in the workplace!
People see the difference in you when you are different than they. Show
your Light and be an example by doing your job with the highest level
of efficiency. That is the best witness for Jesus that you can possibly
give in the work place, while on the clock. Do everything as unto the
Lord. Christians need to be honest. When you are on the clock, do your
work and do it best. Be reliable on the job. People notice that. Employers
notice that and that says ALOT for your Christian witness when you are
off the time clock!
There is a time for witnessing:
There is a time for witnessing and it is at the end of the workday or
before you start your shift. One can also witness at a social gathering or
lunch break, carpooling, etc.
While on your boss' time, you can be a great Christian example by doing
your job because most in the work force today are not giving their 100
percent. We must give unto "Caesar" the things that are "Caesar's" and to
God, the things that are God's. We should do everything as unto the Lord.
The Lord wants us to succeed in the workplace.
Col 3:17: And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name
of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Col 3:23: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and
not unto men;
Don't Just Talk the Talk
Many Christians "talk the talk" but they don't "walk the walk" and so even
when they witness, their testimony is worth nothing. Their testimony is
dismissed and they are considered "flaky" or "hypocrites". When one is
doing their job, working diligently, always on time, always helping their
fellow workers out, reliable, dependable, etc. then and only then will their
testimony be effective. The world will judge you by SIGHT-- the things
you do and how you live your life.
2Cor 8:21: Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the
Lord, but also in the sight of men.
If one is slacking off at the work place and cheating on their time card like
many workers do, that is NOT a good Christian witness. We have to be
careful to be honest in everything that we do so that others will see the
difference in us. We should be different. Many people, nowadays, like to see
how much they can get away with in the work place. That is the way of the
world. Christians should have a DIFFERENT mindset regarding work.
Psalm 143:10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit
is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
A person who is dedicated to his work (Christian or non-Christian) will get
noticed and will be rewarded. Promotions are given to those who excel
above the others. God will bless you in your workplace and will help you to
succeed.
1Pet 2:12: Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that,
whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good
works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Witnessing for Jesus should be done ON OUR OWN TIME, off the clock.
Words are cheap-- action is what counts. Notice, the above Scripture says,
"by your good works..." Christians need to be on time for work, be
reliable, be dependable!
How can one possibly be a good witness in the work place if he is slothful
and late for work and chatting on the boss' time when he should be giving his
100% to his employer? It would be best for his co-workers to not even know
that that person is a Christian. God forbid that a Christian should behave
that way in the work place. Christians are to be the BEST employees that
they can be. The Lord can enable His children to be the best-- one just
needs to ask Him. Be a light for Jesus!
Mathew 5:16: Let your light so shine before men, that they may see
your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
When Witnessing, Ask God to Lead You -- Be Tactful
We have all known so called "Christians" in our life who love to shove the
Bible down other people's throats and they are NOT lead by God in their
witnessing. These same people exhibit no love of Jesus, they are bad
examples, many are lousy workers, etc. and that is why their witness will
never be effective. They turn others off to the Gospel. They are like a
foolish farmer who plants 40 seeds into one hole in the ground and yells at
the seeds, "Now, Grow!" As funny as that sounds, many Christians witness
that way. They throw everything at the person they are witnessing to.
Christians should be kind, cordial, always willing to help and to keep the
Golden Rule. Sometimes, witnessing is planting a small seed first and then
little by little, watering it. Ask God to lead you when sharing your faith.
Remember that Jesus, when speaking to the Samaritan woman was tactful in
His conversation. He lead her into a conversation in which she would
ask questions concerning the Messiah. He did not start out by saying to her,
"You sinner, don't you know who I am?" Jesus was tactful in His words
towards unsaved people and we must follow His example. We must be
sensitive to the Lord's leading when we witness to our friends and
co-workers. All things must be said in love and in truth, with a humble spirit.
One Christian brother we knew would witness to his atheist co-worker while
they would drive together to their onsite job locations. Every day he would
plant little Gospel seeds and after much prayer, one day, he gave his friend
the Gospel of John to read. His co-worker friend read the Gospel of John
and believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and became a Christian. Many prayers
were prayed for that one man. All those seeds that were planted eventually
took root. It took a while-- about two years. Remember seeds take time to
grow.
Luk 8:15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and
good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with
patience. Notice that Jesus says, "with patience".
Many Christians make the mistake of preaching right off the bat when
starting a new job, "Well, I am a Christian...and I...", which turns many
people "off" [because of their past experiences with so called professing
"christians"] and then they just observe you and try to catch you doing
something wrong and judge you rather than getting to know you and
eventually trust you for who you are. Some people are prejudice toward
Christians for the very reason that they have only met professing ones and
have yet to meet one that is REAL. They have yet to meet a real Christian
who has Jesus within their heart. Ultimately, it is Jesus that they must see in
you. LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE and let Jesus shine through you. Ask God
to lead you in all your witnessing. When light shines into a dark room, people
start to see things so much clearer.
1Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready
always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the
hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Phil 2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
Phil 2:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God,
without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among
whom ye shine as lights in the world;
Jam 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Jam 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew
me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my
works.
Ultimately, your employer and co-workers will judge you not by the words
that you say but by the things that you do-- your work performance,
your work ethic, your honesty, your interaction and treatment of
others.
How do you conduct yourself in the workplace? How well do you render
unto Caesar? This will make all the difference when you share the Gospel of
the Lord Jesus Christ off the time clock.
1Peter 2:13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the
Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
1Peter 2:14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for
the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
1Peter 2:15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to
silence the ignorance of foolish men:
Rom 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest
in the sight of all men.
CONCLUSION:
Pray so that you will be effective witness for the Lord Jesus. It is the Lord
who enables us to live the Christian life and to be fruitful in all things.
On the time clock = SHOW YOUR LIGHT
On Your time = TELL OTHERS ABOUT THE LORD JESUS
Copyright © 2005 Cobblestone Road Ministries
All Rights Reserved
INTERESTING ARTICLES:
Spiritually Childproofing Your Home
Being a Godly Christian Parent
Laying Up Treasures- Where Is Your Treasure?
Trust In God- Hope In God
HOW SHOULD ONE WITNESS AT WORK?
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