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10 Top Tips – Faith at Work
At the end of a service people are commissioned to ‘Go!’; going in peace to love and serve the Lord. We return to daily relationships and places, finding and following God in life and work. Whether our work is paid or unpaid, in manufacturing, caring, learning, healing, labouring, trading or logistics, God delights to see justice and mercy in action, and people of faith humbly committed to the transformation of lives and society for the common good.
The quick tips below help us think through how our faith and our life come together in our work and community commitments.
- God provides us with unique skills, gifts and talents, and calls us to particular roles and activities. Even when our labour is unfulfilling, it can still be be of benefit to others. Explore your God given gifts. Pray for those who will benefit from your work today.
- Whether paid or voluntary, our work matters to God, now and eternally, so take the long view. What is decided today shapes what happens for generations to come, so be thoughtful in decision making and take the long view. Use an ‘Examen’ process to think through the impact of your decisions on others in society.
- Work is part of God’s big picture. God is creator, communicator, counsellor, catalyst. The places of our work are the places of God’s work. Can you notice God at work in your place of daily work?
- Quality, character, and ethics are key to doing ‘good work’. Our work overlaps with God’s work in decision making, fair treatment and in our stewarding of God’s good creation. Have trust in doing the right thing.
- To pray is to work; to work is to pray (St Benedict). Offer each day to God in prayer using an app such as ‘Pray as you Go’, or ‘Time to Pray’ on your commute or at your place of work.
- Focus on serving God, asking ‘How can I be a person of peace and share God’s blessing in this situation, today?’.
- Keep a balance! Work and rest are part of a godly, holy life; rest restores and honours Christ at the centre of our lives, acknowledging that all things come from God.
- ‘The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it’ (Psalm 24.1). How we use wealth and resources matters to God. Complete a Carbon Audit with colleagues and look for the changes you can make through a tool such as 360carbon.org.
- Invite your church leader to visit you at your place of work. Introduce them to colleagues, management and support staff. Use this to connect with other Christians – is there an opportunity for a Christian work group or chaplaincy services in your place of work?
- Every person is loved by God, so focus on relationships. Listen before speaking, be trustworthy in small and big things, imagine the homelife of the customer or person behind the email. Challenge unjust or corrupt decisions and actions; notice what angers and frustrates you. Talk to God about this.
Next Steps
There are many resource hubs and networks supporting Christians in applying their faith to their work.
Watch
London Institute of Contemporary Christianity has many video stories about faith at work. A good start is ‘ Life on the Frontline: Anne’s story’ youtu.be/TVKbvE-HQeI
Listen to Ruth Valerio talk about ‘Everyday Ethics’ exploring the impact of decision making on relationships: youtu.be/kerOR7bJLNI
Connect with others
Christians are actively seeking to be part of a transforming movement for good in work and wider society.
Churches Together in all Lincolnshire: www.facebook.com/ChurchesTogetherinAllLincs/
Transform Lincoln works ecumenically across Lincoln for spiritual, social and cultural transformation: transformlincoln.co.uk
Salt Business Network connects business leaders around the shared values of the triple bottom line: people, planet and profit, www.christianaid.org.uk/get-involved/salt-business-network
Sector Specific Ministries
There are many sector specific ministries and chaplaincies across Lincolnshire who would love to connect with people in: Agriculture, Food & Horticulture, Schools, Care Homes, Prisons, Hospital. Waterways, Industry, Ports & Airports etc.
Sector-specific Christian networks: Connect with other Christians in similar work sectors at: www.transformwork.net/
Examen Prayer Tools: A process of review, discernment and prayer grounded in Ignatian Spirituality: Prayer Tool: How to pray the Examen
Discerning your Gifts: ‘Gifts for Everyday Faith’ is an audit tool from Oxford Diocese to help you discern your God given gifts: www.tinyurl.com/2yt42ysd
Group Discussion Tools
Salt Network have a five-week Bible study resource ‘More than Toil’: www.christianaid.org.uk/resources/get-involved/more-toil-salt-small-group-resources
‘Fruitfulness on the Frontline’ and ‘Growing on the Frontline’ by LICC, and other group resources available for free loan from collegeofsthugh@lincoln.anglican.org
If you’d like to speak to someone about faith at work please contact: sarah.spencer@lincoln.anglican.org Tel: 01552 50 40 75