SPONTANEOUS MINISTRY IN THE WORKPLACE

 Whether you realize it or not, things will come your way unannounced on a regular basis in your work setting. The question is…do you see the potentially great value in even the small and brief encounters around you daily? God tells us that because the days have plenty of evil in them, it is important that we should be redeeming the time.

 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (Ephesians 5:15-17)

 In this passage there are two words used for “time” in the original language. One speaks of time as a measured period, like twenty-four hours or seven days. The other word defines time as an occasion that is characterized by a quality we ascribe to it. We may describe how a certain time or event was a good or a bad time. The phrase “redeem the time” uses the latter word for time, as an event or opportunity, and the word “redeem” here means literally to salvage from loss. It could be illustrated by one company buying out another company, preventing it from going into bankruptcy.  Please don’t miss this – it is too important! You will want to remember this as you run into difficult circumstances or challenging situations which could bring about damage or loss. You may face a co-worker who is mistreating you, or perhaps you could be asked to cover up a wrong activity. When such opportunities present themselves, and it’s within your ability to act, don’t write them off as worthless. Instead capture the occasion by responding God’s way and redeem them from loss.

The Bible instructs us to overcome evil by our responding with good (Romans 12:21) This does not mean that by responding God’s way the circumstances will immediately change in your favor. However, it does mean that you have invested what is good and right in a deteriorating situation.[ii] By doing so, it could prevent the situation from worsening and keep you from being trapped in it.  Don’t let the adverse circumstances of work rob you of redeeming them; instead acknowledge God’s active presence by first turning to Him in prayer.

We are told that each day has enough troubles of its own. Instead of ignoring the troubles or writing them off as worthless – redeem them! And remember, these are often the occasions God uses to lead people to Himself just as He did with Larry and those pilots.

God places great value in the small surprising situations and brief encounters with people that come our way each day. You may not have an explicit opportunity to share your faith with someone, but you can introduce your faith to people in the ways you respond to them. Jesus put great importance on the simplest gestures, even giving a cup of water to someone who at that moment is in need of it, regardless of his or her status.(Matthew 25:45) Each of the following scenarios is a real life story that I have personally heard.

• Liz, a Flight Attendant, captures the moment when a passenger who is upset treats her harshly and is rude. Liz chooses to redeem the moment by responding kindly to him.
• Jerry, a Captain, chooses to capture the occasion of a recurring procedure when he offers to do the walk around of the plane for inspection. He redeems the moment as his first officer (whom Jerry could order to do this) is having a hard day and the weather is bad outside.
• Tom, a teacher, captures the moment when he hears a co-worker needs help to finish his job. Tim redeems the time as he shows his willingness to go the extra mile to help his coworker even though Tom’s work is completed and he could go home.

There are endless unexpected opportunities for redemption in the workplace! Next let us consider how we can engage in ministry with regularity and forethought. We can glean insight from how our Lord viewed ministry, as He and His disciples often likened it to working in a harvest.(Matthew 9:37-38; Luke 10:2; John 4:35-38; Romans 1:13; James 3:18)

Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. (Matthew 9:36-37)

 Excerpt from Paul Curtas’ book  “When God Shows Up At Work”