Loving with Unfeigned Love
Gregory D. Blake, Chief Encouragement Officer for PepWorks International, has a biblically based seminar called P.L.A.S.M.A.—Lifeblood Lessons for Serving Others in the Workplace. He gives six biblical principles that specify how to be a servant and love others at work. Walter Fremont condensed the following principles from Blake’s outline and notes taken at one of his lectures.
1. Put Your Priorities in Order
Matthew 6:33
Put God first and people second in your work! People are more important than things. Be alert and prepared for opportunities to share the gospel. Extend your circle of friends to include all of the employees. At break or lunch time, seek out the new employee or loner and ask questions about family, details of his job, and sports or TV programs he likes. Love abounding is a vital part of a successful person in all areas of life.
2. Listen to Others Empathetically
Philippians 2:7
Compassionate servant. Hear, understand, and meet the real needs of others. If there is an immediate need with which you can give help, humbly render assistance in loving service. Their greatest need is to hear the message of salvation in Christ by grace through faith only, without any works that man can do to earn it.
3. Accept and Embrace the Changes of Life
Philippians 2:15
God’s timing. Many changes are constantly occurring in our health, energy levels and stamina, family, workplace, and relationships. World conditions, politics, and weather are in a constant flux. Change is a part of life, and how we adjust to it reveals our character. The only things that never change are life principles and core values that are based on Bible truths and the eternal words of Jesus Christ. Christians can depend on unchanging Jesus Christ (the same yesterday, today, and forever) and the eternal truths of God found in the Bible to give stability in our journey through life.
4. Share Your Heart and Head with Others
Philippians 4:7
Loving sacrifice. Meet the real needs of others by sharing information, praying about their concerns, and helping them to be more efficient on the job. Share ideas that will increase their productivity and show them how to save steps and motions, resulting in less fatigue at the end of the workday. This kind of practical help paves the way for a gospel witness.
5. Make Somebody’s Day with Praise
Philippians 2:3
Bless individuals. Praise instead of blame. Use public and private praise appropriately. There is usually some character trait, good deed, or something about the person that you can appreciate and praise. Rejoice with him over a promotion or some honor or success in his life. Make sure the praise is specific and genuine and not perceived as just flattery to gain some advantage.
6. Have an Attitude of Forgiveness
I John 1:9
Choose a positive attitude every day with a clear conscience, minus any remembered guilt or revenge feelings. Remembering past occurrences of snide remarks, snubs, rejections, and outright hatred is depressing and causes revenge feelings to predominate. Forgiving includes forgetting and not rehashing verbally or mentally incidents that caused emotional distress or anger. Confess negative revenge and hate thoughts to God. Ask for grace to handle the situation the next time you come in contact with the individual or group. Make a conscious effort to bestow acts of kindness and show love to those that treat you badly.
These six principles can be used in just about any organization or ministry to make it a more friendly and enjoyable place to work.
Dr. Walter Fremont is Dean Emeritus of the School of Education at Bob Jones University and is the author of Becoming an Effective Christian Counselor, Forming a New Generation, and Power to Serve.