One of the principal arenas of the believer’s life is our vocational life. Work consumes at least 8-12 hours of our lives each day if not more for others. We are created in some sense for honest, hard work (as Adam is called to tend the garden) to glorify God with our hands and feet in industrious and productive labour. The kingship in the workplace requires a biblical perspective of the Christian as a redeemed, justified and sanctified believer first and secondly as a worker, and not a worldly one. A fine balance with our family and spiritual is to be maintained or else work may become an obsession and may have the potential to distract us from the eternal things of life that are more important.

The buzzword of every young aspiring Singaporean is the word "SUCCESS". What is Corporate Success for the Christian? We crave for and pursue success in everything we do; in our studies, our career, our family life and in the ministry of the church and we defined it in a certain way.

Success is NOT defined as the following for the believer:-

1. Amassing wealth, temporal possessions and assets (MBA: Must Buy & Acquire).

2. String of degrees, accolades and worldly prizes and achievements.

3. A big family with a house and a car to go with and also membership in clubs and holidays overseas.

4. Power, prestige, recognition from men and the world.

5. Ability to enjoy any pleasure you want.

6. 5Cs: Credit Card (cash), Car, Career, Condominium, and Club.

Beware that we do not worship our work, work at our play and play during worship. In the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF) 1643-1648, Q1 of the Shorter Catechism: "It is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever." Our ultimate success is the glory of God and the enjoyment of Him, which is also our principal aim in this life. True lasting success is achieved in our relationship with God, our personal growth and devotion, godliness, faith and Christian piety.

The world has placed a high premium on success in our secular work, often to the detriment of our spiritual lives and ministry for the Lord. The ultimate purpose of work according to them is to fulfil oneself in all our needs, which include self-actualisation in Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: beware of such humanistic godless teaching that is prevalent. Success in work means success in life and that is everything that matters to them. You can tell a successful man by his position in his company, material wealth, professional qualifications and assets. You got to do whatever to get the job done (ie end justifies the means-Pragmatism) or another will say "I just get to work to earn a living" (precept of Utilitarianism). Notice how the world almost always defines success in quantitative and temporal and not qualitative and spiritual terms. God defines it beyond just the earthly and physical. Below is a biblical perspective of vocational work for the believer.

Work is an integral part of human life and is given before the Fall (Gen 2:15, 3:13, 18:1). Everyone should work, for work is glorifying to God (Ex 14:21; Prov 3:6-8). Working hard is satisfying intrinsically and proper (Prov 14:23, 18:9; Ecc 5:12) in the sight of God and contribute to the spiritual and physical good of society. Healthy Work is an antidote to laziness (2 Thes 3:10) as God requires us to labour with our hands. Work enables us to provide for our family responsibly, commanded of God (1 Tim 5:8). Be an obedient and submissive employee, pleasing God and not men (Col 3:22; Acts 24:16). We should be a fair and just employer in the manner we treat our workers (Col 4:1; Lev 19:13). Make excellence your working standard as a good testimony and witness for God (1 Thes 4:11, 12; Prov 22:29). Desire to serve God and be an effective servant and a witness for Him (Matt 5:16). To be a good, accountable steward and exemplary to others (1 Tim 3:1; 1 Cor 4:2).

Jesus Christ already warned us of this when He asked, "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matt 16:24-26). Finally, when it comes to defining success, most people leave God out of the equation. If you leave God out of your perspective of success, success will be your god and there are serious consequences later.

There is sometimes a misconception about God and success. Some people have the idea that God is opposed to success and material wealth; that it is wrong for a Christian to have wealth or prosperity, which were inherently evil (while the charismatic think that we must have it as an evidence of God’s physical blessings, which we rightly deserved-is equally erroneous). This is a fallacious idea. Consider the lives of godly and wealthy men like Joseph, King Solomon, David, Abraham, Job and many others who are blessed of God in a material way and they are positive models for us to emulate. Either wealth or the lack of wealth is not intrinsically wrong in itself. It is what we do with them that is more important.

God blesses us spiritually and often physically as well. Paul said, "All good things and perfect gifts are from God above". The parable of the talents in Matt 25:14-29 shows us the implication of stewardship of how 3 servants performed their duties and the respective commendation and condemnation received from their master. We need to remember that there is a Day of Reckoning in and an answer has to be given to the Almighty Jehovah of our management of our God-given time, talent and treasure on earth. (2 Cor 5:10, Rom 14:12). Our constant awareness of this biblical principle will guide us in our overall philosophy and morality of our vocational life.

What are the factors that help to measure and define success to a Christian? As we look at the master’s response to each of the 3 servants, we learn to distinguish what is essential in life, from what is peripheral. What matters in the parable for us today is faithfulness to Christ in whatever we do. In fact, success or failure of the manager is determined not by the amount of money they either were given or earned, but by their faithfulness and diligence to carry out their master’s wishes. This brings us to what life (including work) is all about. It is to glorify God and let him rule and manage our lives.

Lordship in work place means: Faithfully pleasing God with all the Resources and Responsibilities He has given us. The 3 important factors to success in life, as opposed to that of the world are:-

1. Cultivate a Close and Intimate Relationship with Christ

The fundamentals of true saving faith is back to the basics. A consistent QT and a daily prayer life is vital to the success of other areas in our life (Mark 1:35). The spiritual dimension is the key factor to the working of our soul that we increase in faith, grace and knowledge of the Lord and abound in all good works including our career. Success and prosperity (ie not prosperity gospel) is defined in Josh 1:8 "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."

2. Be Faithful and Accountable to God in all Our Actions

Be grateful, faithful and responsible to God and men in all aspects of our life and learn to balance, manage our time, discharge of all duties and responsibilities. Accountability to God and men is also important: to keep us in check and faithful in our obligations and commitments (1 Cor 4:2, 2 Cor 5:10). A good Christian worker is reliable and trustworthy, not indolent nor incompetent before God and men.

3. Commit Us to a Christian View of Success at Work

It is all in the heart and mind of every one of us on how we define success for ourselves. Have a godly perspective and view of things in our life and be not affected by the cares and conformity of the world (Josh 1:8). Do not let material rewards shape your thinking of what is right or wrong. Work is more than earning a living. The cares of the world and deceitfulness of riches (Matt 3:15) have affected many Christians adversely. The Christian view of work has 5 basic elements:-

a. Commitment to submit to the Lordship of Christ in all things that we do (Col 3:23).

b. Commitment to ethical, purity and integrity in our lives (Gen 39:9).

c. Commitment to godly and prayerful decision-making (Eph 5:15, 16).

d. Commitment to trust only on God in all circumstances and look up to Him always (Heb 11:1, 6).

e. Commitment to contentment in our lives and not the pursuit of insatiable worldly gain (1 Tim 6:6,10).

A good model to follow is an OT saint. Consider Daniel in Dan 1:8, "But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself." As Daniel honoured God first, God also honoured Daniel in his career and promoted him to be the second man to the Pharaoh in Egypt and he honours God with an impeccable character that is above reproach. God blesses those who put Him first (Matt 6:33).

The Word of God is replete with many good and bad examples of relationship between individuals and the factors responsible for each one of them (Prov 27:17; 1 Cor 15:33). One of the most instructive example of faithful friendship is perhaps David and Jonathan in 1 Sam 18:1-3 where Jonathan loved David as his own soul, as well as Daniel and his three friends. There are also negative examples of a collapse in relationships and the dire consequences that follow the example of Demas the Coppersmith and Paul (2 Tim 4:10).

The positive elements including temperance, longsuffering and tolerance on our part is required as we relate to different people in the workplace. The fruit of the Spirit recorded in Gal 5:22, 23 includes self-control which is needful to manage or negate emotions like anger, strife, impatience, jealousy and pride. Be patient and in control of yourself that we do not manifest unchristian behaviour, speech or conduct in our daily lives. It was said of Alexandra the Great; in a fit of anger, he threw a spear and killed one of his generals who helped him in his conquests and he regretted this for his whole life. A biblical example on anger was the consequence of King Uzziah in 2 Chr 26:18-20 who was punished with leprosy. Remember that Anger is one letter short of D[anger]. The only way to be angry and not sin is to be angry at nothing but sin. Do not let the sun go down on your anger (Eph 5:26).

Ethical and moral integrity or cleanness is to be the testimony of every Christian worker who refuses to compromise over moral issues. Earn the respect of others by your holy conduct and stay clear of temptations and immorality. Satan is a roaring lion and seek any that he may devour (1 Pet 5:8). Especially when you travel overseas and you are alone, beware for temptations abound. Remember the good testimony of Joseph in Gen 39:9 in fleeing temptation and the fall of David and Samson (2 Sam 11 and Judges 16:10-20) and their consequences of sin. Remember your marriage vows and keep it before the Lord (Mal 2:14) or else there will be consequences.

Finally, we are living in a knowledge-based economy. A good Christian worker is characterised by professional competence and God-honouring productivity and industry. Laziness is a curse but industry is a great blessing. Learn a lesson from the hardworking ant, which is rarely stationary, but always working in getting food for the ant community. Solomon encourages us in Prov 6:6-11 "to be a hardworking colleague or subordinate" and you will be well appreciated. Remember that God rewards the hands of the diligent but the slothful and indolent shall suffer the consequences of their actions (Prov 19:15,18:9).

In these darkening days of moral and ethical compromises and much unsound practices in the office place, we need a return to the Christian perspective and practices in our workplace with godly principles and Scriptural convictions upheld in the world, that is at enmity with God (Jas 4:4). Be careful we are not squeezed into the mould of this world and be part of them, but rather be transformed by the renewing of our minds through the study of Scriptures (Rom 12:1, 2). Stand up for your Scriptural persuasions and dare to be different/do right in a hostile and non-Christian environment for the Lord and He will surely bless and prosper you (Dan 1:8, Gen 39:9). Let your light so shine forth for the Lord in a dark and perverse generation such as ours today.

The Lordship of Christ in the workplace requires a deep and faithful commitment to Christian principles and practices taught in the Word. Do not over or under work and/or be obsessed with getting the job done only. Ultimately we serve God and not men. Thus we should not compromise on our Christian values and doctrines. We need to be prudent, discreet, and at the same time, be willing to open up and reach out to others in the office. Share with others and help to bear one another’s burden (Gal 6:2-5) and help fulfil the law of Christ. Be careful we are not squeezed into the mould of this world and be conformed to its standards, but rather be transformed by the renewing of our minds through the study of Scriptures (Rom 12:1,2).

Stand up for Scriptural convictions and dare to be different. Do right in a hostile and non-Christian environment for the Lord (Dan 1:8, Gen 39:9) and the Lord will surely bless and keep you. Ultimately the Christian worker must be anchored on a healthy and vital relationship with Christ first, a working knowledge of His Word, an unswerving commitment, willingness to apply, obey biblical injunction and be a good witness for Christ our king in our workplace. Finally, remember the conclusion of Ecclesiastes by Solomon who says, "... fear God and keep his commandments for this is the whole duty of man" (Ecc 12:13,14).