Like a Rock, The Work Place

by Charles Ligon

Let’s be honest, some people in the workplace are hard to love. You know who I’m speaking of…he is abrupt…or arrogant…or especially mouthy. She is a know-it-all…a busy-body…one who injects too much strong opinion and stirs gossip. No matter how spiritual you try to be, it is difficult to “love them in the Lord”.  In fact, way too often, we avoid them and go the other way.

When I was a children’s pastor I used to keep a jagged and unattractive rock about the size of a softball on my bookshelf. The ugly rock was there to remind me on a daily basis…that, while presently unattractive, within it existed a very beautiful sculpture. The rock simply needed someone to carve, chip away and hone the jagged edges so that the masterpiece within could be revealed.  The rock was a constant reminder to me that the children in my ministry were the same way. Sometimes because of wrong and/or disrespectful behavior they were very difficult to love. However, I knew, and the Bible reminded me in Psalm 139:14, that every human being had been “fearfully and wonderfully made” by God. Wrong behavior did not change that fact. So, I needed to see them as His creation and praise Him for His marvelous works. Their parents and I were slowly chipping away, polishing and perfecting the beautiful sculpture that God had already created within these children. 

The people in our workplaces are no different. They have been fearfully and wonderfully made by God and repulsive behavior does not change this fact. God created them, He loves them…and He calls workplace believers to see them and love them as He does. Perhaps our example and our love for them will contribute to the honing process.  Perhaps God wants to use us to refine some of their rough edges. Furthermore, perhaps our changed perspective in this regard will polish a few of our rough edges…making us more into the image of God.  

 

Workplace Challenge: Adjust your perspective and start seeing the unlovable people in your workplace as God’s special creation. Begin to look through His eyes and see them as He does. If necessary, find an unattractive rock and place it on the corner of your desk as a reminder that within everyone is a beautiful sculpture, a masterpiece created by God. Now that is workplace ministry at its best!