What does God think of the workplace? A businessman asked his pastor this question. The reply was two words—not much.
This perspective is all too common. Many believe that work is little more than a necessary evil—something that we have to do to make money. To these people the workplace is, at best, a place to evangelize and, of course, to practice ethics. But what does Scripture say? Does God care about the workplace? If so, what is His will for the workplace?
The above text reflects Jesus’ mind-set committed to subordinating His will to the will of His heavenly Father. This perspective was not limited to His death; it reflected His worldview of life (John 5:19). Even at age twelve, Jesus was focused on doing the will of the Father (Luke 2:41–52).
Most likely between ages twelve and thirty, Jesus was a carpenter (Mark 6:3). Undoubtedly he apprenticed under the tutelage of his earthly father (Matthew 13:55), which was the custom of the day. I think it is reasonable to assume that Jesus also worked in the workplace in accordance with the will of His heavenly Father.
For additional support of this perspective, consider the Creation account in Genesis 1. A spirit being, whom we know to be God (John 4:24), created the tangible physical universe and declared it to be very good (Genesis 1:31). Good is a divine attribute (Matthew 19:16–17). Therefore, God’s affirmation about His physical creation was that it reflected Him. If the physical universe reflects God, He must surely value it and have a will for it.
Scripture reveals two aspects of the will of God—His general will and His specific will. God’s general will is the mandate to obey the word of God as revealed in the Bible in every area of life. Jesus referred to the general will of God when He directed us to obey His commandments in what is commonly known as the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18–20). God’s specific will is the individual plan and purpose of God for each person (Proverbs 16:4; Ephesians 2:10). God’s general will is the same for all people; God’s specific will is unique for each of us.
Here is your business tip: To maximize your success, be diligent to learn the general will of God—the principles of success in the workplace. Train your workers in the general will of God and develop a culture of alignment with biblical principles. Also, recognize that God has a specific will for each person. Make it a priority to discern and employ each person according to God’s specific will. Obedience to and alignment with the general and specific will of God will not only allow your workers to realize their potential but will also position your organization to realize its potential—a true win-win!
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