Time Out for Holiness at Work

by Baker, Julie

• ISBN13: 9780781434621
• ISBN10: 0781434629
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-07-01
• Publisher: David C Cook
• More Book Details
• Purchase Benefits

Summary

Living Out Your Faith Is a Fulltime Job Whether you labor at a full-time career or work a few hours a week to supplement the family income, your job provides an excellent opportunity to be a witness for Christ by example and attitude. Yet, who of us hasn't struggled with a difficult coworker or a tyrannical boss? Who hasn't been tempted to participate in office gossip? Or felt a twinge of jealousy when someone else got the promotion we were in line for? Still, the bottom line for Christians is simple: practicing holiness must extend to all our interactions and --professional as well as personal. Holiness at Work addresses the dynamics of the modern workplace and what the Bible teaches us about issues like ambition, work attitudes, professional relationships, and striking a balance between work and family responsibilities. Join Julie Baker in this insightful and practical study designed to teach us the skills we need to be effective Christians on the job and --and to recognize how workplace challenges can help us in our own journey toward spiritual maturity. Julie Baker is the executive producer of the national women's ministry Time Out for Women! She is also the author of Time Out for Prayer and Time Out for Holiness at Home. Julie lives near Grand Rapids, Michigan, with her husband, Paul. They have two adult children.

Author Biography

Julie Baker is the executive producer of the national women's ministry Time Out for Women!

Table of Contents

Before You Begin	7	(2)
Tips for Group Members	9	(1)
Tips for Facilitators	10	(3)
Introduction	13	(2)
Gaining and Maintaining Respect	15	(8)
Working with Difficult People	23	(8)
Dealing with a Difficult Boss	31	(8)
Handling Office Politics	39	(6)
Developing Appropriate Working Relationships	45	(8)
Making Wise Decisions	53	(8)
Learning to Delegate	61	(10)
Becoming a Positive Problem-Solver	71	(10)
Preparing for Promotion	81	(8)
Making a Difference	89

Excerpts

Chapter One

Gaining and Maintaining Respect

* * *

S ometimes it seems that if we want the respect of our coworkers, we need to do the things that make us look good, even if that means compromising our values. Who hasn't faced the temptation to take credit for ideas that weren't entirely ours? Or to drop names, or to buddy up to a boss? But Daniel's story shows us that the best way to gain respect--and maintain it--is to do the things that are good, not that merely look it.

Reflection Questions

Is there a particular person in your workplace whom you especially respect? What about him or her do you admire?

Do you feel that you are respected on the job? For what reasons?

Introduction

If anyone in the Bible is a model for gaining and maintaining respect, it's Daniel. Taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar as a young boy, he quickly gained the king's favor because of his ability to interpret dreams (see Daniel 2). After Nebuchadnezzar's death, however, he was apparently forgotten, because the new king, Belshazzar, had to be reminded of him (5:10-12). Again his ability to interpret visions was called upon, and again it was rewarded by a high position in the kingdom. However, his enemies were determined to get rid of him, and they devised a plot to that end. It is in the face of this plot that we see Daniel's integrity and holiness at its best, and it is from his example that we can learn how to gain and maintain the respect of others.

Study

Read Daniel 5 and 6 together.

1. Why do you think Daniel initially turned down the offer of a reward for his services?

2. Daniel did end up working for Belshazzar (very temporarily) and then for Darius. It is obvious, however, that he regarded the Lord as his true boss. In what ways did that affect the way he was viewed by his earthly boss, Darius?

* In what ways did it affect the way he was viewed by his coworkers?

3. Daniel 6:3 says that Daniel "began distinguishing himself among the commissioners and satraps because he possessed an extraordinary spirit" (NASB). From the story, what character traits do you think were involved in this description?

4. Daniel's story ends well, but there were surely times when he thought it wouldn't. When do you think he might have wondered about the outcome? How did he handle those times?

5. How, where, and when did Daniel display his godliness?

6. Daniel's name means "God is my judge." How do we see the appropriateness of this name:

* In Daniel's actions?

* In the events of the story?

7. What impact did Daniel's character have on the people around him?

* Darius:

* The commissioners and satraps:

* Ultimately, the entire kingdom:

Another Perspective

If Daniel provides us a role model for gaining and maintaining the respect of others, the Book of Proverbs could be considered a how-to manual for holiness. Look up the following passages. What character traits does the writer urge us to develop?

* Proverbs 3:3-4

* Proverbs 3:27-35

* Proverbs 4:7-9

* Proverbs 10:9

* Proverbs 10:26

* Proverbs 13:18

* Proverbs 16:7

* Proverbs 17:27

* Proverbs 20:11

Application

1. From your observations, what character traits earn the respect of your coworkers?

* Are these traits the same or different from the ones that earned Daniel respect?

2. What kinds of character traits earn the camaraderie of your coworkers?

* Are any of these traits at odds with Daniel's character qualities?

3. Is it possible to be both liked and respected by your coworkers? Discuss.

4. This story has a happy ending. Is there always a happy ending when we serve God rather than man? Give examples to support your answer.

5. If you are currently serving God, what part of your own story are you in right now? Are you experiencing a happy ending, or are you experiencing difficulties because of your faith? Give some reasons for your answer.

6. What place does faith have in the workplace? How is it best displayed?

7. Which of Daniel's character qualities do you think people see in you at work?

8. Which qualities do you think you need to work on?

Conclusion

We live in a world where biblical values are not the norm. Our coworkers are likely to be primarily looking out for number one, and that often leaves us feeling as if we need to look out for number one as well, since no one else is going to! But Proverbs 2:7-8 tells us, God "is a shield to those who walk in integrity. ... He preserves the way of His godly ones" (NASB).

There are probably many times every day when sticking to your values is difficult. Perhaps it is when you are asked to take unethical actions, concealing the evidence of misused funds or helping a boss hide his affair, for example. More likely, however, it's in the small things--such as joining in on the jokes about a particularly annoying coworker, or overstating your progress on a certain project. These are the things we all struggle with. Take some time now to pray for each other, asking God to help you in these little daily decisions that make or break our integrity.

Memory Verse

"Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man" (Prov. 3:3-4).

Copyright © 2000 Julie Baker. All rights reserved.