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What does it mean to “reflect Christ”? It’s a rather unusual use of words. Has anyone ever said to you, “You reflect your mother”? No, usually we say something like “You look like your mother,” or “You remind me of your mother,” or “That’s exactly what your mother would say.” If I reflect my mother, even though I don’t look like her, people might comment on how very similar my mannerisms, words, or way of life are to her. That, of course, is because she raised me, and it’s only natural that I would take on her ways and attitudes.
For example, my mother would always clean the house really well before going away for a few days, so I do the same thing. I just don’t want to come home to a dirty house. But my husband found this strange. Nobody’s going to be here so who cares how it looks? That’s the way he saw it. But I’m like my mother. I watched how she did things, and I followed her in her ways. In that way, I reflect my mother.
Obviously, it’s very important who we choose to reflect. Thankfully for me, my mother was the best person in the world for me to emulate. But I know that’s not true of everyone. Maybe you’re having to deal with some ways of doing things you learned from someone, but they’re not positive or helpful. That’s another “kettle of fish,” as we say.
I want to talk about how we who call ourselves Christ-followers—people who have claimed the gift of salvation Jesus offers and have placed our faith in him, becoming children of God—should and can reflect Christ particularly on our jobs. Of course, we should reflect Christ in all areas of our lives, but I want to look at it from the perspective of reflecting Christ in the often-godless environments you may encounter on your job.
Your job is typically not a place you can take time to open the Bible and share your faith. You’re there to do a job and do it well. But there are so many ways you can reflect Christ as you do your job—things that will perhaps open doors for you to share your faith. You just need to be intentional about it, and that’s what I’m hoping to help you with.
- Reflect Christ in Your Thought Life and Attitudes
Everything begins in your thoughts. The Bible says as we think in our heart, so we are. What you allow yourself to think about and what you refuse to think about is critical to success in any area of your life. Did you know you have the power through Christ to put wrong thoughts and wrong thought patterns out of your head? And if you know that, do you practice it?
Your thought life will determine your attitudes. Think about your attitude toward your job. Are these thoughts mostly positive or mostly negative? If you see your job as simply a duty required of you to pay your bills or a necessary drudgery, I suggest this attitude does not reflect Christ. Maybe you really want a job but not the one you have. So, it’s your attitude toward your specific job—the work environment, the people you deal with, the job content itself. Do you face most of your days with a sense of drudgery? With a “It’s time to make the donuts” attitude? If so, believe me it shows, and it is not a reflection of Christ.
In writing to the Christians in Colossae, Paul said: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving (Colossians 3:23-24). If you want to reflect Christ on your job and please the Lord Jesus, make sure you keep your attitude toward your job in good shape. You’re working for the Lord, so work at it with all your heart. Others may never appreciate your good work, but you will receive a blessing—an inheritance—from the Lord as a reward.
That means you don’t bad-mouth the company, the boss, your coworkers—never! It doesn’t mean you stick your head in the sand and ignore wrong practices or behavior, but unless you’re doing something to make matters better, you keep your mouth shut. And instead, you pray about what or who is wrong.
Also, reflecting Christ in your thoughts means you don’t live in continual worry mode. Things like losing a customer, being micromanaged by your boss, or working with a coworker who backstabs can keep you in worry mode. This doesn’t reflect Christ, does it? Jesus made it very clear we are not to worry because we have a heavenly Father watching over us, supplying our needs. Therefore, to reflect Jesus, you must keep your thoughts from residing in worry territory.
Maybe your thoughts are proud, thinking you can do it, you’re the best, or you’re better than those you work with or for, and therefore you have forgotten everything you have is a gift from God—including your gifts and abilities and any accomplishments. Or perhaps your job is all about you. How high can you climb the ladder? How much money can you make? How soon can you get the next promotion? If this is your attitude toward your job, it doesn’t reflect Christ. These are all common attitudes in the workplace, with people you work with or for, but they should not be your thoughts and attitudes if you truly want to reflect Christ, because to reflect Christ, you have much different guidelines for your thought life.
- Reflect Christ in Your Words
We say what we think, so in a way you could say your words will reflect Christ if your thoughts do. And that is true, for the most part. However, we still need to develop a sensibility and give thought to our word choices and to the kind of talk we engage in on the job.
For me, I am often too quick on the trigger. I can come back with something I think is funny or cute, when in fact it can seem offensive to someone else. Or my tone might sound irritated or harsh, and I don’t even realize it. Maybe I make a sarcastic remark or tease in a way that comes across as hurtful. Not a good reflection of Christ.
Think about it—is there a good bit of gossip going on where you work? How about malicious talk or lots of criticism? If you want to reflect Christ where you work, you should never be part of this kind of talk. Talking about your boss behind his/her back is not only wrong for us as Christ-followers, it is just not smart.
There’s a verse in Ecclesiastes 10:20 which gives good advice. It says:
Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird in the sky may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say.
Once again, we see how your words begin with your thoughts. Wise Solomon tells us not to have malicious thoughts about those in authority. He says those thoughts are likely to turn into words, those words will eventually get back to your boss, and you will regret saying them. Here’s a good biblical principle when it comes to what you say: Don’t say anything about anyone that you would not say to them. Jesus said if you have something against someone, or they have something against you, go to them in person and try to resolve it.
So, if you’re going to talk about someone, run it by this criterion: Would you say the same thing to a person you said about him/her? Thinking about your words before you say them could save you many regrets, and you will reflect Christ.
- Reflect Christ in Your Relationships
It’s been written we live in a culture of indifference. We are so busy we don’t have time to show concern or compassion for the people around us. I don’t have to tell you we will never reflect Christ on our jobs unless we truly care about the people around us and show this care in appropriate ways. Jesus said there are two key commandments: Love God and love others—love your neighbor as you love yourself (Matthew 22:37-40).
Isaiah 61:1 says: The Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. In other words, a Christ attitude reaches out and connects with people.
What have you done or are doing to try to form closer connections with the people on your job? Have you gone out of your way to be a friend, a counselor, an encourager?
I think of my friend, Janet, who truly sees everyone she works with and for, as well as her many clients, as people God has put in her life to show the love of Jesus. She’s a successful and busy lawyer, but every day she’s thinking about, praying for, and trying to help the people she interacts with on her job. She often will send me a text to pray for a coworker in need or for an upcoming conversation with a client, and her prayer is to show the love of Jesus to them in the way she talks, listens, and responds to them. She reflects Christ on her job, and she does it because she is intentional. That’s uppermost in her mind as she heads to work each day.
Well, I promised to give you five things you can do to reflect Christ on your job, and I only had time to cover three. So please read part two as I complete what I hope is an encouraging message on how you can reflect Christ on your job.
