At work, being dishonest can get you into a lot of trouble. Fudging a report, spreading lies about a coworker or misrepresenting yourself are all collectively frowned upon. And for good reason.
Every person of character values telling the truth. It doesn’t matter where you are, being honest is a universally applauded social currency.
With these basics in mind, the real question is: on what truth are you standing?
When you decide to follow Jesus, you recognize truth is established by God. He determines right and wrong, good and evil. Jesus himself called the Holy Spirit the “Spirit of truth”:
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.
John 16:13
Being anchored to a universal truth – specifically, faith in Christ – can seem limiting, harsh and offensive in modern culture. Especially in the workplace, where we see an increasing desire to separate faith and business.
It’s no wonder the truth of the Gospel seems offensive since the growing phenomenon of relative truth.
Relative truth – that is, everyone can define truth on their own terms – means we drift away from a normative fabric that promotes trust and confidence. How can we consistently trust one another if we don’t hold an objective standard of right and wrong? If everyone has “their truth,” where do we go when we need THE truth?
They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator – who is forever praised.
Romans 1:25
It is important to remember that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. In other words, His truth hasn’t changed. It takes courage to share the truth of the Gospel with coworkers, customers and peers. I find myself consistently wrestling with the question, “whose approval am I seeking – man’s or God’s?” This is a pivotal question when considering difficult things at work.
Keep in mind sharing the truth isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. The Spirit of Truth won’t lead you into a spirit of condemnation, anger or belligerence. However, the Spirit of Truth does produce the Fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, etc.
It will also convict you to speak up in situations where you may not feel comfortable. Nowhere in scripture does it say that following Christ was going to be easy or convenient. In fact, you might end up risking something. We have to learn to say “no” to ungodliness.
It will take wisdom, maturity and obedience as you listen to what the Lord is calling you toward. The good news? It’s worth it.
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Hebrews 11:6
If you love someone, you tell them the truth. Suppressing your faith isn’t kind, it’s cowardice. Don’t settle for “sanctified common sense” – using your intellect while bathing it in religious language – if you expect your faith to bear fruit.
Leadership is primarily rooted in character work, and God’s truth will sharpen your character. Without an anchor on truth, your leadership will drift. If you are inconsistent or phony, it will be obvious you have competing priorities in your life.
A person who calls Jesus lord of their life should have the highest degree of integrity, compassion and servant-heartedness. A Christ-follower should at minimum enrich those around them. Not with false pretense, but with true joy.
If you do the little things well in faith – daily obedience to the still small voice of God – you’ll have the courage to do the big things with certainty. However, there is always a plausible reason to avoid doing the right thing along the way.
As a Christ-follower, you can choose whether to cooperate with the Spirit of God. Make hard choices for God’s truth. You’ll have to decide to stand whether you know it or not.
When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened.
Billy Graham
The Better Word:
- What part of God’s truth do you recognize but choose to ignore? Oftentimes, we know the truth but lack the courage to stand for it. Don’t compromise what you know to be right. “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe” (Proverbs 29:25).
- You never know who God may have put in your life that needs you to point them in the right direction. God’s truth at work in you has the power to change the world, one person at a time.
- Use discernment in your conversations by always asking yourself: whose approval am I seeking – man’s or God’s? It may not seem like an act of courage, but standing up for God’s truth today certainly is.
- Sometimes life at work can feel like “crisis in motion.” Rest in that we experience the greatest security when we trust the truth God has given us.
Speak A Better Word 