Direction 1920x1314 (1)‘Don’t count the days, make the days count.’ Muhammed Ali

Make your workdays count!

Work is not just some place for us to kill time whilst getting paid, says Liam Husband

It was the great Muhammed Ali who said, “Don’t count the days, make the days count.” That reminds me of a job I once had with Colman’s Mustard.

Every break without fail the workers would talk about holidays and retirement whilst calculating just how many days were left until they could walk away. Some of them had walked straight into the factory from school. Probably the only thing that had changed in 30 years of service would have been the labels!

Whatever it is we do, we can’t escape the fact that we spend most of our adult lives at work. We must also realise that work is not just some place for us to kill time whilst getting paid – it’s where Jesus commissions us to ‘go into all the world and make disciples’ (Matt 28:19).

How would we approach our everyday work if we grasped that Jesus authorises us to act on his behalf to fulfil our calling as his witnesses?

Our workplace gives us the perfect opportunity to be salt and light. This isn’t a command to run full throttle into the canteen with your sandwich boards hanging around your neck. It’s the invitation for us to nurture deep relationships and reflect Jesus.

Anything we do in the workplace has to start from a place of relationship. It’s not about grabbing the first moment to bombard a work colleague with the gospel. The goal is to develop healthy relationships from a place of transparency. Sharing your life from a place of transparency presents no threat. Being open builds trust, especially when we share our struggles and the fact that even though we follow Jesus we don’t have all the answers.

Who we are matters, and how we work can communicate Jesus more than our actual words. Whatever your role, you are in a professional environment where the standard and delivery of your work matter above anything else. For your faith to have any value in the workplace you must have your colleagues’ professional respect.

How we work could be the one thing that turns on the light for our co-workers. As Jesus said, “that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in Heaven,” (Matt 5:16).

Every day counts and we need to realise that playing a part in someone’s journey to faith in Jesus could begin with something as simple as having a cup of coffee with a colleague, encouraging someone who is having a tough week, or offering a helping hand to a boss or co-worker under stress.

Liam Husband is a member of the MPower team


This article first appeared in Direction Magazine. For further details, please click here.

Enjoy this article? Don't forget to share

 

Listen and subscribe to the MPOWER Podcast

SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify Podcasts

MPower FFW Header (600 x 80 px

e:MPOWERED - Read the latest email

Loading...
 

  Past Issues | Subscribe

 
The world is crying out for authentic masculinity
To be men in today’s society requires strength tempered with humility, argues Mark Lyndon-Jones
You’re being hunted!
We’re all being pursued, but who is going to find us, asks Gordon Allan
Drawing inspiration from Nehemiah’s epic journey
New book by Mark Lyndon-Jones explores leadership lessons from Nehemiah's strategic mindset
Power of being unplugged!
There are enormous benefits in ‘unplugging’ for a day, argues MPower Director Mark Lyndon-Jones
In The Sphere
Being in God is to be surrounded, saturated, strengthened and safe as adopted sons of our Heavenly Father, explains Gordon Allan

  More Articles in our archives

 

Future Events

Friday 22 November 2024 4:00pm – Saturday 23 November 2024 1:00pm

MP BoB 1

Building on the success of previous years, the “MPower Band of Brothers Gathering” will be a 24-hour experience as well as an event!

Join us on the spiritual journey of the "Courage & Consecration" from 22-23 November 2024, amidst the stunning Malvern Hills. Experience worship, teaching, and fellowship at Elim International Centre, nurturing your spirit and equipping you for life. Led by MLJ and his passionate MPower colleagues, this gathering inspires Christian men to explore their spiritual journey and live with compassion and authenticity.

Don't miss out - secure your place among the brothers now. Men’s ministry practitioners will lead you through our time together, enhancing your spiritual and leadership development.

This experience will commence at 4pm on Friday 22 November and finish at 1pm on Saturday 23 November 2024.

Based on our previous experience places are limited so book now to reserve your places today.

  More Events

Sign up to our email list to keep informed of news and updates about Elim.

 Keep Informed