Are you the kind of worker who wants to be the best in your company? Do you work hard and strive to be the employee of the year, salesman of the month or top performer? Christians have all the opportunity to excel and stand out in the workplace because Jesus has set the example for us and we can be empowered by the Holy Spirit to work harder than ever before.
The Bible tells us the story of four young Israelites who had entered the kingdom of one of the most powerful rulers in the world during their time. Their names were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. The four were part of a Jewish remnant who had been set apart to serve the office of the king Nebuchadnezzar.
By the request of their leader Daniel, the four had set themselves apart for the Lord by asking that they eat only vegetables and drink only water, declaring that by doing so they would become better than all the others in their batch.
Daniel 1:19-20 tells us, "And the king spoke with them, and among all of them none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore they stood before the king. And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom."
What was it that made the four stand out and become ten times better? It wasn't because they chose to become vegans, if that's what you're thinking. At the deep core of the intent was devotion to and faith in God. Daniel and the others believed that if they put their faith in God, they would become better than all others regardless of the food they ate or the edge that they did not have.
Often we find ourselves trusting in so many other factors to stand out in the office -- popularity, educational attainment, favors and even our own good works. While God does desire that we be diligent in all we do, He calls us to depend most on Him for strength and ability to become diligent.
When we devote ourselves to God and ask Him to take care of our affairs and give us the wisdom, skills and opportunities, He will make our work fruitful. Proverbs 16:3 gives us this promise: "Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established."
When we depend on God for a competitive edge at work, He will empower us to be better -- probably even ten times better -- than we ever were. Just as Jesus called us to be leaders in any area, He enables us with His Holy Spirit to become better so that His name will be glorified through our deeds.
