Good stewardship in the workplace
Last week, while discussing with a colleague work that needed to be done, his response was, “That’s easy.” I shook my head in disbelief because, for me, it seemed like a daunting task.
Later, I sat down and in two hours drafted a two-page business proposal. “How did you do that so quickly?” someone asked. My reply, “Oh, that was easy!”
We can say, “That’s easy!” when the task at hand aligns with the abilities and talents God has blessed us with—as long as we’ve been a good steward of those talents by developing them and not letting them lie fallow.
Abram’s story
In Genesis 14, we are told the story of how Abram’s cousin Lot was taken captive along with the people of Sodom. When Abram hears this story, he doesn’t hesitate to act. He was prepared for this eventuality.
Abram knew he lived in an area where battles were fought. For years he put part of his wealth toward training his servants in battle, building an armory, hiring people to make weapons or buying weapons to prepare for a future battle. Abram earned the loyalty of his army with the way he treated his people. As a result, they trusted him when he led them on this battle mission. Abram learned which leaders he could trust in stressful situations. When planning the ambush, there was no doubt in his mind as to who he would choose to lead the ambush.
Abram learned battle strategy by observing the brilliant commanders during his era. More importantly, he was a good steward of God’s Word. Trusting God, relying on His wisdom and knowing He was faithful to His promises, Abram successfully rescued Lot.
Here are six ways you can also be a good steward of God’s blessings.
Your skills
You are God’s child and are the steward of the gifts, skills, relationships and position with which He blessed you. God provided your job and everything you need to do it with excellence. He is honored and glorified when you’re a good steward of these.
If you aren’t a good steward of your skills, you won’t be able to effectively love and serve in your current position or possibly in the next opportunity. God placed you where you are today so you can refine the skills, wisdom and relationships you need for the future.
Your team
As a good steward, surround yourself with the team you need to accomplish what lies ahead. Through your actions, earn the trust and loyalty of your team and those around you. Treat each team member as a blessing from God. Take the time to get to know the capabilities of each team member and of the teams you work with, so that you know what tasks you can entrust them with.
Strategic thinking
As a good steward, take the time to learn and develop strategies to best utilize the skills and the team God blessed you with. Strategy is an intrinsic part of the nature of God’s creation. As you learn strategic thinking, you are learning more of the character of God, and the ways of God’s creation. When the opportunity arises, you will be able to develop a shrewd plan if you have been a good student of strategy.
God’s Word
Be a good steward of God’s Word, so you might know how to live in His kingdom. In whatever situation you face, God will reveal his love, wisdom, faithfulness and holiness through His Word. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
When life serves you lemons
In difficult circumstances, it’s tempting to stop good stewardship, learning or applying yourself. Instead, continue developing your skills, for eventually, God may place you in a new situation. Then, when you’re asked why this new job is easy, you will say because of the skills you learned while juicing lemons into lemonade.
Joseph spent years working as a slave, and many more years unjustly accused in prison. He used those years to develop his leadership skills and financial acumen, not knowing what the future would hold or if he would ever leave prison. Then one day, Pharaoh had a dream. Joseph never imagined God would use a dream to move him from prison into the second most important position in all of Egypt. Joseph was ready for that position because he continued to develop his skills during imprisonment.
When you’re in the desert
Maybe you’re in a desert season. During these times, it is much easier to let your skills and talents go fallow. God has given you the skills to navigate the desert. The desert is a great place to hone your skills because it is a safe place where you don’t need to worry about other people’s perceptions. Like Moses, one day God will lead you from the desert into a new season. Then, you will say, “it’s easy” if you’ve proven God to be faithful and obedient to God while in the desert.
Photo source: istock
 | James Bruyn is a bi-vocational visionary leader, writer and speaker who enjoys helping individuals integrate their faith in God with their daily life. He leads a ministry to Christians in the marketplace in Calgary, provides leadership coaching, and consults for the rail industry. He writes a weekly devotional and also has a devotional book, 31 Days with God at Work (Marketplace 2018). Learn More » |
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