It is my desire that we as Christians grasp that our calling is predominantly lived out in the seemingly godless places – like the marketplace. Imagine the changes that will take place when we realise this! After all, it was Jesus that said that we are the “light of the world”, the “salt of the earth” and further on in verse 16 that we are to “let our light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven”. (Matt 5:13 - 16)

Over the years I have heard the same questions over and over again, “Am I living God’s purpose where I am working right now?” “This can’t be the right job for me... my boss is a tyrant, my fellow workers hate me, I am always overlooked for promotion” and, and, and…
Firstly, let me start by saying that if the saying is true - that we spend 70 to 80% of our lives in the workplace - then we better understand that this is exactly where we live out our Christianity to the world. This is where we are on display. This is also where God works out our character and our ‘’issues’’. The church on Sunday will probably only see your good side, but it’s your colleagues and friends that see the true you!
Too often I hear people separate their work from their more ‘’spiritual’’ activities of church, home group or ministry and call their work something they HAVE to do. If God is central in my life then all I do is unto Him (albeit church, family, or work). We should all be living an undivided life. All the principles we learn and gifts we develop should find their expressions in our places of work and not only in the church ministries.
Who else, I ask you, will be Jesus to your boss, your colleagues or your clients?

An event in Scripture that has me in awe and constantly pondering my role and example in the workplace is found in Genesis 37 – the account of Joseph. We see Joseph as a teenager shepherding his father’s flocks where God gives him two life-changing dreams about his future. He shares them with his family and instantly there is a relationship problem that cannot be overcome. His brothers are offended by his dreams and Joseph ends up at the bottom of a pit and is sold into slavery.

At the end of chapter 37 Joseph is sold to an Egyptian, Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh. Little did Joseph, or his brothers, know that the very plan of God was in action! The fulfilment of Joseph’s dream had started but very differently from what Joseph had wanted or anticipated. I guarantee you that Joseph was wondering if the dream God gave him was ever going to come to pass. Are you in that place? Wondering when your dream will come to pass or why you are in a place that seems far removed from the promises you were given?

I want you to see the Hand of God on Joseph’s life. God knew exactly what He was doing. In chapter 45 we see Joseph looking back, realising and declaring that his life was ordained and ordered by God to save millions. In Genesis 39 Joseph “finds himself in the land of Egypt out of the land of Canaan”. Joseph had grown up with his family and had lived his childhood in Canaan – the Promised Land. He was then thrown out of his family, the Promised Land and into a land of idolatry. How on earth could this be part of Gods plan? But it was. “The Lord was with Joseph and he became a successful man and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands” (Gen 39:2, 3). Here is a young man influenced by God, living the blessing of God through the work of his hands… as a slave. That’s all Joseph was “called” to do – work day and night for his master. The point is that this “unchristian, taskmaster of an Egyptian” realised that Joseph was different, that there was a blessing on Joseph that resulted in all his business dealings and endeavours being blessed. Potiphar wants to keep Joseph around. How about you? Are you the one your boss can’t do without because of your great attitude, support and the blessing of God dripping off your life?

Then suddenly another curve ball is thrown at Joseph. A manipulative woman accuses him falsely and what happens? He lands back in prison for 13 long years. It is justice gone horribly wrong! What had Joseph ever done to deserve this? Nothing. But God… Do you feel that people have accused you unfairly? Everything in your job seems so unfair? “BUT the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Josephs charge, because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed (Gen 30:21-23).

Chapter 40 starts with “Sometime after this…” Sometime was 11 long years and only then did Joseph get to interpret two fellow prisoners’dreams. He asked them not to forget him but they did and only two whole years later we see the cupbearer remembering that Joseph interpreted his dream, and tells Pharaoh about him. How many people in your workplace remember the deeds you have done, the counselling, the support, the prayers you prayed for them and tell others about it?

This time Pharaoh’s own dream cannot be interpreted by the “wise men and magicians” of the day, but God gives Joseph the interpretation! (Gen 41). The amazing thing is that God gives Joseph not only the interpretation but also the strategy that blows recession, famine and possible poverty in Egypt out of the window. A strategy that changes the world’s economy and makes Egypt the most powerful nation on earth.

In these times it will and must be the sons of God that will interpret and give strategies – it will not be the wise men of the day. You hold the answers to your boss’s business, especially in these times of recession. It’s time to function where you are. It’s time for the gifts to operate right in your places of work. Don’t be so caught up in the issues and circumstances of life that you can’t see the hand of God on your life because of the so-called prison bars in front of you. It’s time for the sons of God to arise and make a difference, for them to have an ear to heaven for the problems on earth.

“This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. And Pharaoh said to his servants, ‘Can we find a man like this in whom is the spirit of God?’” (Gen 41:37-38) Joseph learnt how to host the presence of God in his life and his obedience changed a world economy. Joseph thrived in his workplace! Without the fullness of God leaking and spilling from our lives, we are nominal at best and the world around us will never change. God is serious about the workplace. And He is serious about you being the answer there. He is serious about His Spirit moving through you to touch a dying world. Salt cannot stay in the bottle or be aired on a Sunday; it must be out there daily, seasoning the world.

It’s time for our workplaces to change, for our “Egyptian” bosses to experience the blessing of God on our lives that they can see and cannot do without. You may not be in the Promised Land right now but you can change and influence your Egypt! You were called to live an extraordinary life, an undivided life where you represent His kingdom… that includes your workplace.

“You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light” -  1 Peter 2:9

How awesomely world changing is that?