Start Here: Battle for the Workplace

There’s a spiritual battle being fought over the workplace. The armies of the Lord and true followers of Christ are warring against the forces of the Enemy and the economy of the world. What’s being fought for is the hearts of workers including, unfortunately, the hearts of many believers who don’t even realize they’ve been captured and imprisoned in this battle. That statement may strike you as odd and you may be wondering how hearts could be won or lost in the workplace. In many cases the hearts of those in the workplace may seem to be nowhere in sight. But the truth is that work has become an idol in the lives of countless workers…they spend all their time and talents trying to build empires, create reputations, amass fortunes, and gain status by serving gods of the workplace for the treasures they think they’ll find there.
Obviously there is nothing wrong with working hard; industriousness is truly a virtue. There is no dispute that God created man to be fruitful and to be responsible for the cultivation of the Earth through productive effort. In Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 we read “I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.” Man was designed for work and in working to find satisfaction. Our Creator intended for us to be happy and to do good. But while workers were devoting themselves to working hard, an Enemy entered the picture and began to pervert the original purpose of work. Over time men were lead to believe that work itself was the source of happiness, satisfaction, food, and purpose; obtaining things with income earned became the sole purpose for expending effort and talent. A subtle and persistent distraction has diverted attention from the true Source and Provider and focused attention on the world’s glittering counterfeits—leisure and entertainment, luxurious lifestyles, comfortable circumstances and self-serving pursuits.
And so a battle is raging for the hearts of workers everywhere — caught up in situations ranging from overwork to unemployment, from drudgery and lack to frenzy, fame and material excess. To address the situation God is completely engaged in this fight today. Furthermore, He is the only One who is willing and able to pull us out of this workplace mess and rescue us from the Enemy’s deception and world’s economy. Jesus is the One God sent to accomplish that purpose 2,000 years ago and He is still in the redemption business today, thank God! Believers have only to follow Jesus as He makes a way out for us. And here’s His first start-up instruction. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37, NIV)