OUR RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER CHRISTIANS

Our Bond together There are social and economical differences at work and a variety of nationalities, races and cultures existing there. But those in God’s family are said to be of the same household of faith having the same citizenship of heaven regardless of our differences and backgrounds (Ephesians 2:19-22).

1.  We are said to have the same foundation, meaning all those in God’s family are given the same privileges and rights because of their identity in Christ (v:19).
2. These scriptures also tell us we are being fitted together (v.20), for the purpose of growing together (Ephesians 4:16).
3. When we demonstrate that we have one heart and are growing together as God’s people, regardless of our differences, we are compared in Scripture to the Old Testament temple and tabernacle that was a dwelling of God (v.21-22). In the same way our consistent identification with one another at work will express to others that God’s presence is in our midst (John 17:21-23).

Supporting One Another at Work God intended for His family to be a support to one another. Showing our support of one another is a demonstration to the world that we are one and that we are under one head, Jesus Christ (John 13:34-35). Some of the ways we show our support to one another:

1. Consistent prayers for one another through the challenges of work.
2. Showing visible deeds of the Holy Spirit’s work in us. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Christians Who Connect Under One Purpose (Philippians 2:1-5) Our meeting together, is not by chance, it is intentional. If God’s intentions are to spread through Christians the aroma of Christ in every place (2 Corinthians 2:14) and if this includes the workplace, where we spend a big part of our time every day, then the single most important reason for associating and meeting with one another as Christians is to focus on God’s purposes.

Question: What would be required of us in order to grow together as a healthy fellowship?

As God’s children we see our responsibility of going out into the world in order to bring light to dark places (Philippians 2:15). God has given us a job whereby he will use our contact with people as a sphere of influence. God does not expect non-Christians to act like Christians, so we should not seek to bring judgment on people who live in darkness (2 Corinthians 4:6-7).

OUR RELATIONSHIP TO NON-CHRISTIANS

Having compassion for Those Around Us If we are going to have compassion on people around us at work, we must see them in their true condition, as distraught and as sheep without a shepherd. We should not spend our time debating over issues that are temporal. Our focus should be on the one issue that is eternal and which ultimately will effects their destiny now and in eternity (Matthew 9:35-38).

Investing in the Lives of Unbelievers (John 4:35-38) Evangelism is not to be compared to salesmanship, rather it should be likened to a farmer who spends his days sowing and cultivating for a future harvest (Galatians 6:9-10; Titus 3:1-2).

Question: On a scale of 1-10, 10 being the best, rate yourself as to how well you show yourself friendly with non-Christians? Would you say you would rather ignore unbelievers? Would you say the way you do your work and treat them has had an influence on them? In what way should you be like them? And in what way should you not be like them?

Final Exercise: Ask the group what they think would be some indicators that growth is evident in their lives at work? Some examples: When something unfair happens at work, do you complain or do you use it as an opportunity to turn to God? If the people around me are not friendly, do I react with kindness by reaching out to them or do I return the unfriendly behavior? Allow your reflections from this to be the prayer requests as you pray.