21 Nov 7 Ways to Integrate Your Faith and Business

7 Ways of Integrating Your Faith in Business

Have you ever felt reluctant to let people know you are a Christian where you work? Integrating your faith and work doesn’t mean that you become the token “Jesus Freak.” Every once in a while we will say things like, “praise God, I’ll pray for you, I’m blessed,” as a way to nonchalantly sprinkle christianity in there. The truth is that the Christ Centered Business person is one that is filled with power, love, boldness, wisdom, and constantly lead by the Holy Spirit. You don’t have to become the loud preach from a soapbox evangelist but you can take simple steps that are highly effective to share Jesus where you work.

There are two very important scriptures that frame this blog post: 7 Ways to Integrate Your Faith and Business.

For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up. - John 6:44

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. - John 15:4

What this blog post is not, is a limitation on the ways you can integrate your faith. This blog post shares practical ways to share Jesus in the marketplace and glorify God through how you work. 

Here are 7 ways to to integrate your faith and work. Now some of this may seem like a cliche, simple, or may even make you roll your eyes. If this is the case, this post is especially for you and I want to challenge you to try these 7 ways for 1 week. Then journal each evening on your experience and reflect on the day practicing these principles. We never want what we are doing with God to be an empty religious practice but instead a powerful action and realization of the power of God’s Word in action. If you are implementing this list remember that it is God that is doing the work through you; that is a beautiful partnership.

7 Ways to Integrate Your Faith and Business

1. Prayer – Prayer is probably the easiest way to integrate your faith and work. You can be praying for the people you work with.  A great challenge in your workplace is to find one thing you can pray for each person where you work. Genuinely have faith and be believing for a good outcome in their life. Often times people need someone to stand in faith and believe with them.  As Christians we can pray and believe for breakthrough for others when they don’t have enough strength to believe for themselves. What I found even more impactful is to offer to pray WITH the person you are speaking to. You assist them in directly going to the Father. Not only does this take them to God, it shows them love, it impacts them, and it expresses Christ’s love for them through your compassionate action.
2. Co-labor Partner with God – Everyday before I go into work I invite God to co-labor with me. I declare that he is CEO and I am His manager. Asking Him to direct my steps, gives me wisdom, and shows me the most valuable work to do today. When I do this my day goes way better and is less stressful. This may sound weird but I have even brought an empty cup of coffee or an additional chair to my desk to intentionally remember that God is with me and that I’ve partnered with Him today.  Remember our key verses from above! Additionally Colossians 3:23 shares, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
3. Talk about What God is doing in Your Life – Everyone talks about negative things on the news, bad things that are happening, or just complains. Instead share words of hope and life.  Testimony can be well received and may be exactly what someone else needs to hear. Proverbs 25:11 says, “Like apples of gold in settings of silver Is a word spoken in right circumstances.” However, people who are not believers can often find what God is doing in our lives as weird or confusing. This is normal! The Bible shares in 1 Corinthians 1:25, “In for the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.” When you share about what God is doing in your life nonchalantly it creates curiosity in other people on how you work and do life.
4. Christ Centered Coaching Pin – What does being Christ Centered mean to you? When you wear our Blue Lion pin (which represents the Lion of Judah) you are declaring that you are a Christ Centered person. People will ask, “What is that lion pin about?” When this happens you have an opportunity to share what being Christ Centered means to you, share your testimony, or share how you are trying to co-labor with God in your work. This is an attractive and non-intrusive way to get others to approach you about your faith. Often times we feel apprehensive or reluctance to share our faith but when someone asks us about it. With someone asking us about the pin we have a green light to share our faith. If you would like to order one of our pins and some complimentary start up conversation points, Click Here to Grab Your Christ Centered Pin and Journal.
5. Obedience – There is blessings in obedience (Deuteronomy 28).  Some things we do have impact that we may never know about it. The truth is that God can use your obedience to impact other people in ways that we do not even know. When we are obedient we are working with God and participating in how he is already working.  In Corinthians 3:6-9 the Apostle Paul shares with us, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.” If that was good enough for Paul, that is good enough for me.
6. Not Reacting – Bosses, coworkers, vendors, and customers can all be challenging at times. People speak hastily and rudely to each other. Most of the time it has nothing to do with you. It is always better to respond, than react to the words that are spoken to us. Proverbs 15:1-2 shares, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable, But the mouth of fools spouts folly.” This is also where our first from the beginning on the post comes into play John 15:4.  It is much easier to react and I still do this and mess up here.  It is only through the Holy Spirit’s power that He will calm your heart and mind so you can speak in words of love and peace.  Remember that anyone who speaking to you harshly may have something else going on in their life that is the real reason for their poor communication with you. This is why it is crucial you integrate Jesus’s love with your communication to others. Invite the Holy Spirit to help you with your words and He will. Your interaction can be how they experience Jesus today.
7. Counter Cultural Moves – Your calling is to share light in the darkness.  Gods Word is a lamp unto our path and light onto our feet. His Word fills you with wisdom and knowledge to know what to do in life. As a believer the Bible calls you children of the light and the salt of the earth. Therefore, take actions that go against traditional business culture.  When you are on the receiving end, Jesus’s grace is so radical that it can seem upside down or confusing why we are being treated so well. I’m not saying let people walk all over you or take advantage of you. What I am saying is to make moves of Christ’s love to people that goes against the world. Our world screams, “me first, all or nothing, my way or the highway, pay vendors late, force, drive, and compel to the top.”  Ephesians 5:8 “for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” Don’t do business the same way as the world. Share the light of Christ that is in you.`

For example: if a vendor undercharges you or over delivers product. Don’t take advantage of the vendor’s mistake by saying nothing. Call that vendor and make the correction by returning product or paying for it. If you were overpaid for product, services, or affiliate commissions go back and correct it!  It will surprise you how your counter cultural acts of love can impact people.

7 Ways to Integrate Your Faith and Business 

Jesus is truly amazing and if your on this blog post you’ve probably realized that for yourself already and want others to know about Him too. But here is the deal, doing this steps WITHOUT God can be empty and nothing more than religiosity.

I mention John 15:4 because when you are abiding in God, He will prompt you to make these actions. He changes your heart and mind to naturally live more and more like Jesus.  Exercising this steps are not always easy and we don’t want to do things out of legalism or a “works mentality” (do this to get that). This verse says that without God we cannot bare fruit.

It parallels 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. - 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

I mention John 6:44 at the beginning of this blog post because it is important for us to remember that we are not the Holy Spirit.  This verse says that it is the Father who draws men to Himself. Our job is to be obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit. There is blessing in obedience.

Take this step today and pray this prayer: “God, I want you to live out through my work, actions, and words. Overtake my work and lead me in all things. Please empowering me as I go into work to boldly carry your spirit and let your light shine in the darkness. Thank you for loving me and empowering me.”

We need His abiding power to live Christ Centered. If you enjoyed 7 Ways to Integrate Your Faith and Business please share or comment below.

Rev. Ron Gelok III

Want to represent  that you are Christ Centered? Click Here to pick up the Christ Centered Coaching Pin and Journal.