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Transcript - ML218 Faith at Work © 2019 Our Daily Bread University. All rights reserved. 1 of 16 LESSON 04 of 05 ML218 Spiritual Formation Faith at Work In Lesson 1, we talked about how our life’s purpose should bring glory to God. We need to be mindful of time, take inventory of our life, and resolve to set God-honoring priorities. In Lesson 2, we considered the important topic of calling and giftedness. If you are in business or in another vocation, you can honor God with your talents in the same way the pastor or missionary honors God with theirs. You are not a second-class worker, doing an unspiritual work. Work can be a vital part of your service and worship to God. First, you are called to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. Second, you are called to be faithful with the talents God has given you. And third, you are called to give an account for the stewardship of your talents. In Lesson 3, we considered the importance of mentoring in the context of family, Christian community, and the workplace. In Lesson 4, we will examine spiritual formation and how who you are in Christ should reflect what you do in the workplace. Your walk should match your talk; you must guard against compartmentalization. The workplace is an ideal place to live out your Christlikeness among the same pressures and challenges your peers face. We will look at how biblical principles should affect your decision-making. The New Testament challenges each of us: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters” (Colossians 3:23). Introduction It’s Monday, the start of a new workweek. Some people are living for Friday, the last day of the workweek. Their goal is just to make Robert Harp, D.Min. Experience: Executive Director of the Office of Innovation/Biola LaunchPad and Adjunct Professor, Nonprofits/Social Enterprises, Biola University

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Page 1: Faith at Work ML218 LESSON 04 of 05 · 2020-03-18 · same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven”. The above

Transcript - ML218 Faith at Work

© 2019 Our Daily Bread University. All rights reserved.

1 of 16

LESSON 04 of 05ML218

Spiritual Formation

Faith at Work

In Lesson 1, we talked about how our life’s purpose should bring glory to God. We need to be mindful of time, take inventory of our life, and resolve to set God-honoring priorities.

In Lesson 2, we considered the important topic of calling and giftedness. If you are in business or in another vocation, you can honor God with your talents in the same way the pastor or missionary honors God with theirs. You are not a second-class worker, doing an unspiritual work. Work can be a vital part of your service and worship to God. First, you are called to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. Second, you are called to be faithful with the talents God has given you. And third, you are called to give an account for the stewardship of your talents.

In Lesson 3, we considered the importance of mentoring in the context of family, Christian community, and the workplace.

In Lesson 4, we will examine spiritual formation and how who you are in Christ should reflect what you do in the workplace. Your walk should match your talk; you must guard against compartmentalization. The workplace is an ideal place to live out your Christlikeness among the same pressures and challenges your peers face. We will look at how biblical principles should affect your decision-making.

The New Testament challenges each of us:

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters” (Colossians 3:23).

Introduction

It’s Monday, the start of a new workweek. Some people are living for Friday, the last day of the workweek. Their goal is just to make

Robert Harp, D.Min.Experience: Executive Director of the Office

of Innovation/Biola LaunchPad and Adjunct Professor, Nonprofits/Social Enterprises,

Biola University

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it through each day. How about you? Do you give much thought to your work and the unique opportunities you have to live out your Christian faith in the workplace—either as an employer or employee? Do you give thought to how your decisions and actions align themselves with your Christian beliefs?

In this section, we will look at three aspects of integrating our faith with our work: First, our personal spiritual formation (training your mind to think and act biblically); second, our personal interaction with others (treating your colleagues, employees, and customers in a Christlike manner); and third, our personal interaction with the broader social community (showing care and concern).

In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus told a story about wise and foolish builders. He said,

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash”.

James 1:23-25 echoes this thought:

“Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do”.

God has given us the unique opportunity to live out our faith in the workplace—to align our actions with our beliefs. You or I may be the only touch point for someone to see what a life changed by Jesus looks like—how a life committed to biblical principles operates.

Matthew 5:13-16 teaches,

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness,

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how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven”.

The above verses illustrate the integration of faith and work—it’s about the doing. Now let’s look specifically at three aspects of integrating faith and work.

First, our personal spiritual formation matters—our minds need to be trained to think and act biblically.

Character matters. Proverbs 22:1 says,

“A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.”

Integrity is a key biblical concept. Proverbs 10:9 teaches,

“Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.”

In The Quest for Character, John MacArthur observes:

“The greatest cultures throughout human history have always reserved the highest positions of eminence and respect for true heroes—people who distinguish themselves by self-sacrifice, moral excellence, or some truly great accomplishment. The only societies that confer celebrity status on immoral and villainous people have been cultures in serious decline and on the precipice of utter ruin.”

I remember the time a plumber came to our house to fix a leak under our sink. As he was assessing the situation, he discovered a small crack in the plastic pipe. His explanation intrigued me. He said that the pipe’s integrity had been compromised. Keep in mind that it was just a small crack. But the issue was integrity. Is that not how it is with us? We need to be sure that none of our decisions compromise the integrity of who we are in Christ—even the small decisions. A small crack compromises our integrity. When you witness the moral fall of an individual in business,

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politics, faith, or sports, you can most likely trace it back to a small crack—a compromise in moral integrity.

Spiritual formation requires discipline. In 1 Timothy 4:7-8, Paul writes,

“Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”

Discipline is making the right choices in a consistent manner—even when you don’t feel like it. John Wooden, named by ESPN as the greatest coach of the 20th century, said,

“There is a choice you have to make in everything you do. So keep in mind that, in the end, the choice you make, makes you.”

The Bible clearly teaches the principle that we reap what we sow. Just as there are physical laws, there are spiritual laws. If we violate them, we will experience the consequences.

Galatians 6:7-10 says,

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

If our Christian faith is expressed only in church or in the context of Christian community, we are compartmentalizing our lives. Our Christian faith needs to be evident in the workplace by the way we make decisions and by the way we treat people.

As Scott Rae and Kenman Wong point out in their book Business for the Common Good: A Christian Vision for the Marketplace, “The Bible is very clear that we are to live all of our lives under the lordship of Christ, that he is the boss over every aspect of our lives. No part of our lives is to be exempt from his scrutiny and direction. Following Christ is not something we reserve for the weekend—it is a full time vocation.”

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As we press on toward the goal of reaping a life honoring to Christ in the workplace, consider these five principles.

The first principle to sow in our lives is to know that Jesus is of great worth. Paul said,

“What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8).

In Philippians 3, Paul articulates his impressive list of credentials, which would rival the most accomplished resume. But for Paul nothing was as great as knowing Christ. Instead of getting caught up in our credentials, titles, or where we work or have worked, we are to focus instead on the eternal truth that Jesus is of great worth. His value does not change based on what’s happening in the stock market, real estate market, or in political discussions.

The second principle to sow in our lives is that the Bible can be trusted and will guide our decision-making. It is our lifeline—not a book to be occasionally read in leisure. Remember the words of Joshua 1:8,

“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”

The following are selected Scriptures with wise counsel:

Make Wise Decisions

“For your ways are in full view of the Lord, and he examines all your paths” (Proverbs 5:21).

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

What God Hates

“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community” (Proverbs 6:16-19).

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What God Expects of Us

When asked which was the greatest commandment in the Law, Jesus said, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:36-40).

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12; see also Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 5:6-21).

Years ago, my family visited the Grand Canyon, and one of the impressive moments was watching the sunrise light up the canyon. It was stunning. In Proverbs 4:18, we are reminded,

“The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.”

(See also Matthew 5:16.) That’s a great word picture. Remember, our lives—our light—illuminates the workplace.

We also need to beware of the traps that can be found in the workplace. In his book Business for the Glory of God, Wayne Grudem discusses how business can glorify God when it is conducted in a way that honors Him. He also reveals the traps that can ensnare us when business is conducted in a selfish way. Grudem addresses such topics as employment, profit, money, and competition.

In his book The Quest for Character, Chuck Swindoll points out the four biggies when it comes to temptation (the traps): fortune, fame, power, and pleasure. The workplace offers all four of these in different disguises. To safeguard our spiritual walk, we must study what Scriptures says about these four temptations (traps):

Fortune (Money)

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24).

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you;

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never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs” (1 Timothy 6:6-10).

“Two things I ask of you, Lord; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God” (Proverbs 30:7-9).

Fame (Ambition)

“Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody” (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12).

“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such ‘wisdom’ does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness” (James 3:13-18).

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” (Philippians 2:3-4).

“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who

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fears the Lord is to be praised” (Proverbs 31:30).

Power

“Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:2-3).

“But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble’ ” (James 4:6).

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” (Philippians 2:3-4).

Pleasure

“For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools” (Romans 1:21-22).

“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life” (1 Timothy 6:17-19).

“Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22).

Benchmarking

How can we know that we are making progress in our spiritual formation? The four biblical passages below provide insight into what our lives should be evidencing. No one is perfect, but we should be making process toward this end.

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“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:5-8).

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).

The third principle to sow in our lives is to take time to pray. We are wise if we pray for wisdom regarding the decisions we need to make and pray for the people with whom we work. As Oswald Chambers, author of My Utmost for His Highest, said so well: “We tend to use prayer as a last resort, but God wants it to be our first line of defense. We pray when there’s nothing else we can do, but God wants us to pray before we do anything at all.”

The apostle Paul exhorts us:

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

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And James 1:5-8 teaches:

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.”

The tireless reformer Martin Luther wisely stated,

“I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” How about you and me? During busy and stressful seasons in our lives, do we invest our time in prayer? Let’s make that a “yes”!

The fourth principle to sow in our lives is to guard our hearts and minds. Consider these passages of Scripture:

Guard Your Heart

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (Proverbs 4:23).

“A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart. To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice” (Proverbs 21:2-3).

Guard Your Mind

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8).

The fifth principle to sow in our lives is that Jesus is our source of strength in the middle of all the pressures in the workplace. Paul testified that he received his strength from Christ. In 2 Corinthians 12:10, he wrote,

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“That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Some of us have experienced weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties in the workplace. When that happens, we don’t want to pull away from Christ. Instead, if we lean on Him, we will find that He will be our source of strength.

I’ve never seen a resume that draws attention to the difficulties and setbacks in one’s career path. Yet our life stories all have some. The real story is what happened to us during the setback. Did it draw us closer to or move us further from Christ? The big question is whether or not we matured in our Christian faith during the setback. These difficult experiences play a major role in our spiritual formation.

One of the worst games we can play is the “What if?” game. We try to construct a scenario where everything is perfect, where things don’t go wrong, where pain can be eliminated. The unchangeable truth is that God can use pain in our lives to prove His faithfulness amidst difficult (sometime unbearable) circumstances. We may wish that we didn’t have the pain, but pain can draw us closer to God.

Most people cannot relate to the “perfect” person, but they can relate to an authentic person. Second Corinthians 1:3-4 assures us that the pain in our lives can be used to minister to others:

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”

Have you had financial difficulty? You will be able to minister to someone who has financial challenges. Have you lost your job or been demoted? You will have compassion for someone in this same dilemma. God can use your hurt to minister to others.

The childhood game of musical chairs can painfully parallel the business world. Chairs/positions are eliminated not by music but by the decisions of others, sometimes seemingly at random. In those painful moments, we need to remember that Jesus is our source of strength. And when we see someone else lose their chair, it is an opportunity to be compassionate and show the love

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of Jesus.

We reap what we sow. Therefore, sow biblical principles thoughtfully and wisely. Your personal spiritual formation is key to living a life that honors God and effectively impacts others in your workplace.

2. Our personal interactions with others (treating our colleagues, employees, and customers in a Christlike manner).

Next, we will look at our personal interaction with others—colleagues, employees, and customers, keeping in mind that everyone is trying to find some sense of satisfaction in their work. Whether it is derived from the work itself or the financial benefit of putting a child through college or caring for a loved one, each person has a story.

As a Christian in the workplace, our story is to reflect what it means to integrate our faith with our work and show how this makes a difference. This not only will impact how we do your work but also how we treat others.

In Larry Burkett’s Business by the Book: The Complete Guide of Biblical Principles for Business Men and Women, he states six basic business minimums for a Christian in business:

1. Reflect Christ in your business practices.

2. Be accountable.

3. Provide a quality product at a fair price.

4. Honor your creditors.

5. Treat your employees fairly.

6. Treat your customers fairly.

Most companies have a statement of mission and core values. The Beckett Corporation, Chick-fil-A, Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated, Hobby Lobby, and Interstate Batteries are good examples of companies who publicly express that their mission is to honor God in their business practices. Take a look at how their missions and core values are expressed on their respective websites. Perhaps you can glean ideas on how your business could

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be integrated in this way.

The above are corporate examples of leadership setting forth a mission, core values, and business practices to honor God in the workplace. Take time to think about how this relates to your business. If you own your business or are in a leadership position, how does your firm’s mission, core values, and business practices line up with honoring God in the workplace?

Now, on a personal level, what does integrating faith and work look like? How do you as an individual live this out?

Ken Eldred, in his book The Integrated Life, points out,

“If we’re to influence others in the marketplace to become followers of Jesus, we need to take our faith to work. When our faith is divorced from our work, we also fail to infuse industry with biblical values, practices and views. By compartmentalizing God from our work life, we adopt wholesale the ethic of the marketplace without infusing it with the fragrance of Jesus.”

Ram Gidoomal, CBE, Chairman of Traidcraft plc, UK, and chairman of the Lausanne Movement

“It is living out Romans 12:1-2, ‘Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.’”

Gidoomal says,

“A Christian’s ethics and integrity should be at the highest order. No shortcuts for quick results. Do not compromise your values. Competition may be cutting corners to drive down prices and win deals; but our response must focus on building good, solid, values-based relationships underpinned by integrity and creating a sustainable business model that will ensure a fair return for all in the long run. Otherwise, someone, somewhere, gets hurt.”

Six values drive Gidoomal: social justice, compassion,

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reconciliation, empowerment, respect for life, and stewardship of resources. He also sees his role in business as a platform to connect with others in industry and to raise the spiritual questions—earn the right to engagement.

Traidcraft plc’s mission is to fight poverty through trade, practicing and promoting approaches to trade that help poor people in developing countries transform their lives. The Lausanne Movement works to see “the Whole Church taking the Whole Gospel to the Whole World.”

Bonnie Wurzbacher, Management Consultant and Sr. Vice President, The Coca-Cola Company (ret.)

“In a nutshell, I had to understand the theology of my work before I could really integrate my faith very well. I used to think that integrating my faith and work meant, primarily, ethics and evangelism, but came to realize it was much more than that and included both the product and the process of my work as well. I believe God’s purpose for business is to advance the economic wellbeing of communities and, as the only source of wealth creation, to enable every other social, civic, and spiritual institution to exist. Once I understood that, I was able to bring much more meaning to my work at Coca-Cola and to appreciate the immense value of a profitable, sustainable business that reaches just about every community in the world. I also began to value my sphere of influence more—understanding the wide range of people I could encourage (or not) by the way I interacted with them and began to pray for them (and the work itself) more intentionally.”

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world’s largest beverage company.

Paul Saber, President and Chief Executive Officer, Manna Development Group

“You don’t need to become overtly obnoxious about your faith; but you do need to become intentionally obvious about your faith. That’s the beginning. And if you combine servanthood and excellence in your work, you will make the biggest impact in any workplace you are in. The decisions you make, how you treat people—everything has to do with your faith. Everything you do is either aligning you in the

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Spiritual Formation

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flesh or aligning you in the Spirit.

You really need to take inventory of every decision and action you make. Everyday you are given opportunities to be overtly obvious about your faith. We must think, ‘Moment by moment, through excellence in service, I’m going to demonstrate the love of Christ throughout my day.’ ”

Manna Development Group is the master franchisee of approximately 56 Panera Bread and Bakery Cafés in the US.

In summary, we’ve looked at how companies can set forth a mission statement and core values for the purpose of honoring God in the workplace. We’ve also looked at how business leaders on a personal level can do the same.

Now let’s ask the question of ourselves. How do we integrate faith and work on a corporate level? Personal level? Let’s give this some thought and prayer. It may be time to recalibrate.

Our Country

In 2008 and 2009, two significant documents were released in the United States: An Evangelical Manifesto and the Manhattan Declaration. Signatories to these documents include business leaders. Take a moment and read the summaries for each document and visit their websites. The rallying cry of these documents is: There is a place and a need for evangelical representation in the public square—not as a political force, but as followers of Christ. We must not only pray for our country, but we must be active participants in the public square.

Big idea: Christian values must be represented in the national public square, not just by the politicians, clergy, and academicians—but by you.

Our World

In October 2010, the Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization was held in Cape Town, South Africa. As a result of the Congress, The Cape Town Commitment http://www.lausanne.org/en/documents/ctcommitment.html was issued. Here is an

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Christ-Centered Learning — Anytime, Anywhere

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excerpt as it relates to the topic of integrating faith and work. Keep in mind this is a global declaration.

What if this message was acted upon by Christians in the workplace, in Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, North America, Latin America and the Caribbean? How might our world change?

If possible, you might consider establishing strategic relationships with nonprofits to help them reach their goals. In the hospitality industry, examples include:

Habitat for Humanity and Movenpick Hotels & Resorts and World Vision and Best Western International

The big idea? We want to think beyond our current business endeavors and locale. What else might we do with the time, talents, and resources God has given to us?

Note: In the Appendix, you will find additional resources. Check out Academia, Conferences/Retreat Centers, Financial Stewardship, Leadership and Publications.

Conclusion

In some ways, Lesson 4 is a wake-up call to get excited about the posts we occupy. Let’s dream again. It’s more than a job—work is a place to honor God with our talents and to be a blessing to others as we capitalize on the good gifts God has given each of us. If we tend to our own soul first, then we will be able to tend to others.

As we evaluate our current work situation and future plans, we can prayerfully ponder this thought by St. Francis of Assisi.

“Remember, that when you leave this earth, you can take nothing that you received—fading symbols of honor, trappings of power—but only what you have given: a full heart enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice and courage.”

Make your life in the workplace count!