Honour in the Workplace

A vital key to healthy relationships is the practice of honour between people - at home, at work and in our local community. Honour is the expression of esteem or value that we place upon something or someone. Sadly we often value things more than we do people.

When we know that God is the source of our well being, we will learn to honour people. When we know that God is with us, we will begin to experience favour. The story of Joseph in Genesis is the story of a man who knew God's favour in the midst of circumstances that seemed to be against him. Yet the Bible says that "the Lord was with Joseph and he was a successful man..." (Gen.39:2) The reason the believer has favour is because God is with him. A long as Joseph was serving in Potiphar's household, the whole household was favoured. Even when he was in prison, he was favoured. Where you work, you can become a vessel of amazing favour. Favour is not about what you do; it is about who is with you!

When you know that your validation comes from and through Christ, you can expect to do well in your place of work. You will be able to serve and work with a sweet attitude as you honour your co-workers and your boss. 1 Tim.6:1 says "let as many as are servants...count their masters worthy of all honour..." We serve with honour when we simply ask ourselves the question, "what can I do to serve you in this place." By the way serving others is proof that our Master is Jesus. We can serve others but in serving others, others are not our master. Only Jesus is the Master. But we serve as if we serve Him.

Honour in the workplace will always uphold integrity. When Mrs Potiphar tried to seduce Joseph, Joseph declared that he would never betray the trust that he had been given by his master. He said, "how can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?" Joseph refused to compromise his own integrity. He paid a price for this because he was falsely accused of rape and was duly imprisoned. Yet the expression of integrity 'in the workplace' opened up doors for his future that he could never imagine possible. "The integrity of the upright shall guide them" (Prov.11:3)

If your boss is treating you unfairly it is best to act and not react. We can act by 'going the extra mile'. Again the principle is that we "serve them sincerely as you would Christ." (Eph.6:5) I have discovered that if favour doesn't begin to happen in the workplace then God will begin to open another door. The work place is your patch. Because you carry His Presence you have authority in the workplace. This has nothing to do with what you do but has everything to do with who you are in Christ!






This blog is based on a message given by Ross Smith at The Vine church, Springwood, Logan City, Queensland, Australia on Sun. 14th August 2016. The full message can be accessed by podcast from www.thevine.org.au/teaching