Workmatters Devotions

Jesus’ Love At Work (Devotional)

This plan provides simple steps you can take to be more loving to your coworkers that will transform those relationships and increase both joy and productivity at work.

You can find this devotional on the YouVersion Bible App (download the app here), or read the Jesus' Love at Work devotional on Bible.com

Excerpt:

We hear what love is like at weddings, but the qualities in 1 Corinthians 13 are meant to apply much more broadly to all relationships – including, and not least of all, to our relationships at work. Here are some ways these verses apply in a workplace context.

• Love is not self-seeking, does not envy or boast, and is not proud. It’s not about you. It’s not about your success or making yourself look good. It’s not about your personal agenda. Loving your coworkers means that you put their interests first, serve them and help them succeed.
• Love is kind and patient. It’s a lot easier to work with people when you treat them with kindness, and respond with patience and grace. You can demonstrate love with a smile, a kind word, encouragement when mistakes occur and a friendly tone in all circumstances.
• Love keeps no record of wrongs. We all fall short. Love means you forgive your coworkers as you have been forgiven and want to be forgiven – over and over again.
• Love rejoices with the truth, always protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres. Gossip and self-serving agendas destroy relationships, but truth promotes growth and teamwork among coworkers. You can support the growth of others by providing honest, candid feedback and encouragement.

Read Jesus' Love at Work on Bible.com

This plan was written by Workmatters in partnership with The Theology of Work Project. Learn more about Workmatters at www.workmatters.org

Tension At Work (Devotional)

The tensions that arise between people at work can break important relationships, hurt your career, and ruin your ability to share your Christian faith with coworkers. This plan uses Esther's example to teach you a healthy approach to addressing workplace conflict.

You can find this devotional on the YouVersion Bible App (download the app here), or read the Tension at Work devotional on Bible.com

Excerpt:

Anger and other negative emotions that arise during times of conflict are often triggered by experiences from our past – some we may not even be aware are still influencing us. In chapter 3 of the book of Esther, Haman and Mordecai reacted not just to each other, but to a long history of hate and violence between their forefathers.

So what should you do when those triggers are pushed? When Mordecai learned about Haman’s edict to annihilate all the Jews, he mourned in ashes and sackcloth before God. (Esther 4:1) The best way to process any negative emotion is to bring it before God. Acknowledge how you feel through prayer, and ask God to work in your heart and reveal truth so you can process through it in a healthy way.

Read Tension at Work on Bible.com

This plan was written by Workmatters in partnership with The Theology of Work Project. Learn more about Workmatters at www.workmatters.org

When People Fail You At Work (Devotional)

You've put in your all, only to see a project fail because of others. The book of Nehemiah offers a way to move forward when other people fail you.

You can find this devotional on the YouVersion Bible App (download the app here), or read the When People Fail You at Work devotional on Bible.com

Excerpt:

The biggest temptation when facing the failure of others at work is to create an "us vs. them" relationship with others and play the blame game. Marketing blames manufacturing. Operations blames R&D. Sales blames finance. The team blames the manager. The manager blames the team.

When Nehemiah heard about the shame and trouble his people in Jerusalem were experiencing, he mourned for days, praying to God about the failures of his people. He didn’t blame. He didn’t create an "us vs. them" relationship between the "good" exiled Jews of Babylon and the "bad" returned-exiled Jews of Jerusalem. He prayed: "… I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father's house have sinned."

Read When People Fail You at Work on Bible.com

This plan was written by Workmatters in partnership with The Theology of Work Project. Learn more about Workmatters at www.workmatters.org

Facing Opposition At Work (Devotional)

The book of Daniel teaches us how to face trials with the power of God and maintain strong Christian ethics. This plan contains spiritual insights that will help you succeed, even in a hostile work environment.

You can find this devotional on the YouVersion Bible App (download the app here), or read the Facing Opposition at Work devotional on Bible.com

Excerpt:

Studying the astrology and magic of the Babylonians must have been odious to Daniel. And yet he embraced the education, knowing that it would make him useful to his new organization. He needed to adopt a new mindset—an exilic mindset. He could expect discomfort, insecurity and risk, and trust God to protect his faith. As an exile, his new motto was, "Expect trials. Bless in response."

Christians in the modern workplace have much in common with Daniel. In fact, Jesus said in Acts 1:8 that he was sending us out as exiles into our places of work. We should expect trials because of our faith, and prepare to bless in response.

Read Facing Opposition at Work on Bible.com

This plan was written by Workmatters in partnership with The Theology of Work Project. Learn more about Workmatters at www.workmatters.org

Serve At Work (Devotional)

How we view our work – in service to ourselves or in service to others – makes all the difference in our ability to be witnesses for Christ. Paul gives us a powerful example of what it looks like to shift from self-interest to serving others so that we can be a light for Christ at work.

You can find this devotional on the YouVersion Bible App (download the app here), or read the Serve At Work devotional on Bible.com

Excerpt:

The Judaizers were a segment of early Christians who were not about to cut anyone slack, least of all the Gentiles. They expected Gentiles who came to faith in Christ to be circumcised, just as they were... But Paul understood that God did not want to place any such burden on the Gentiles. In fact, God gave the Gentiles the Holy Spirit as a result of their faith, not due to any outward sign or ritual. Paul appealed to the Jewish leaders to remove this unfair burden from the Gentile converts. In the end, the Jews came to a new understanding of fairness – there was no requirement that everyone had to be the same to work for God.

Bringing our faith into our work requires looking critically at the burdens we take on and the burdens we put on others. Rather than comparing our workload with someone else’s, we can acknowledge their unique contributions to the team and how we can support them. We can bear the burdens of other people and still have a fair workplace environment. The key is to start by seeking God’s perspective on His definition of fair.

Read Serve At Work on Bible.com

This plan was written by Workmatters in partnership with The Theology of Work Project. Learn more about Workmatters at www.workmatters.org

Balance At Work (Devotional)

The story of Martha and Mary holds important lessons for men and women of all walks of life about God's design for balance.

You can find this devotional on the YouVersion Bible App (download the app here), or read the Balance At Work devotional on Bible.com

Excerpt:

Martha was distracted by the expectations of others, and she worked herself into an emotional state. She called Jesus "Lord," yet she had the audacity to tell him what she thought he needed to do to relieve her stress. Martha put her work and momentary stress above her relationship with Jesus. Jesus’ words help us to see the negative effect this had on her attitude. He said, “you are worried and upset about many things.” Rather than experiencing the satisfaction that comes from a job well done, Martha was worried and upset.

Like Martha, it is so easy for us to be distracted by the noise around us at work – the expectations of others, last minute demands and fires to put out. What can we do to work through the distractions that can keep us from choosing Jesus and choosing peace?

Read Balance At Work on Bible.com

This plan was written by Workmatters in partnership with The Theology of Work Project. Learn more about Workmatters at www.workmatters.org

Excellence At Work (Devotional)

But what does excellence at work really take? Joseph's story shows us how to work with God as the source of excellence, in both good times and bad.

You can find this devotional on the YouVersion Bible App (download the app here), or read the Excellence at Work devotional on Bible.com

Excerpt:

Many of us grew up believing that the only work that lasts into eternity is "saving souls," and that other work doesn't really matter to God. The message was: if I want to do work that lasts, I'd better go out and evangelize.

But Joseph teaches us that all work has the potential for lasting value, if it's done with faith, hope and love. When Pharaoh needed someone who could interpret his dream, Joseph was brought to him from prison because he had demonstrated this ability years earlier for the Cub-bearer. Joseph began by making it clear to Pharaoh that man does not interpret dreams, but God provides the interpretation when we ask Him. After Joseph explained that the dream was meant to alert Pharaoh to prepare for seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine, Pharaoh placed Joseph as second in command to ensure that preparations would be done with excellence.

Read Excellence at Work on Bible.com

This plan was written by Workmatters in partnership with The Theology of Work Project. Learn more about Workmatters at www.workmatters.org