Dear Christian in The Workplace,

You have been heavy on my heart. Some days almost 24/7. Some nights I wake up thinking about you—praying for you. You have an incredible role to play in the history of the world. This is your moment, and I’m praying that you will shine for the glory of God.

Given the probability that we have never met (though I am praying we do) you might be wondering why you are heavy upon my heart. Simply put—I believe in you. More pointedly, I am convinced more than ever that YOU are God’s man, YOU are God’s woman for this critical juncture in history.

Slowly, but surely, there has been a shift within our culture, and we have moved into a postmodern world, some even call it a post Christian world. In light of this culture shift, it is the working Christian that has the greatest potential to impact the world with the love of God. He is inviting you to partner with Him and make a difference in this beautiful broken world.

Let me frame this for you in a way that perhaps you have never considered. Your workplace is your pulpit and the congregation is your staff, your co-workers, your customers, or anybody who falls within the shadow of your influence. Your love and your leadership is desperately needed.

In the midst of this culture shift, this changing worldview, in His sovereignty, God has strategically placed you right where you are. Make no mistake, you didn’t just stumble into that job. He sent you into that job because no one can love that specific group of people the way you can.

Every moment of your life has prepared you for the exact place where your feet are now planted. Oh please, let that sink in for one holy moment. You have been handpicked to be His man, to be His woman at a particular place of business, at this particular time. You are there to be a difference maker in the lives of those you love and lead.  So how you lead, how you treat others, how you admonish has eternal implications.

Think with me for just a moment. Who gave Jesus the most sorrow? Who provoked Him to anger? I know you know the answer. It was the religious establishment. The ones entrusted to care for  the community—made the lives of the people unbearable. The leaders placed difficult demands upon the people and then profited at the expense of the people. This angered Jesus—made Him so mad He grabbed a whip and drove some of them (the money changers) right out of temple.

Listen up, because this is an important lesson for those of us who called by His name and are employed in the world of business. Our biggest opportunity to make the greatest difference in the workplace is the manner in which we treat people—that includes superiors and subordinates, co-workers and customers, and everyone in between.

And should you be tempted to think I’m going too soft on you, last week a leading business analyst said, “The number one reason people quit their job is because of a money-changer, oops … I  mean a manager. Surely the Freudian Slip is not lost on you.

If ever there was a time to lead with love, the time is now. Job dissatisfaction has skyrocketed. Job disengagement is off the charts. Job-related depression is stealing joy. In fact, the majority of workers hate their jobs. Something has gone terribly wrong because God loves work. The first glimpse we ever get of God is God showing up in creation as a worker—a worker who at the close of every day said, “It is good. It is very good!” That joy of work is what He wants for everyone.

So, Dear Christian in the workplace … He is looking for men and women who will engage the process of rediscovering His glorious intent for work. Will you accept His invitation, will you partner with God and become a catalyst for change, infusing work with meaning and purpose, exchanging job hours for joy hours, enriching the lives of others and growing the bottom line for the flourishing of all? He is calling. What will your answer be?

Joan Turley

Author of Sacred Work in Secular Places

P.S. I’d love to hear from you.