Many people spend a lot of their awake time at work. It can be so easy to go about our business and not get involved with our co‑workers. But the people we work with are just that—people. And people have needs in their lives! We can help these people because we have the authority to act on behalf of Jesus Christ—we can meet needs just as he did when he was on the earth. We can listen for needs as we walk by the spirit, and we can be willing and bold to speak and share God’s Word when there is an opportunity.
Since it is not possible to give something that we do not have, we decide to fill up our minds with spiritual, life-giving words—the Scriptures—thereby equipping ourselves to help meet a co‑worker’s needs. We can prepare by studying the rightly divided Word of God.
II Timothy 2:15:
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
We study the Word of God so that we have an abundance to share. We can fill our minds with the Word to the point of overflowing. Picture yourself pouring water into a glass and stopping when you reach the top of the glass. Now picture yourself pouring water into a glass, but this time not stopping until the water is flowing over the top of the glass. That is how full we want our minds to be with the Word of God. We want the Word of Life overflowing from us. Out of the abundance of our hearts, we speak (Matthew 12:34).
Now that we have something to give, let’s live life! At our workplaces, we can be ready to help. In our dealings with our co‑workers, we can listen for and look for needs. For example, we might notice someone who looks sad or overwhelmed. Or perhaps our casual greeting is met with hesitation or a glum response. We can believe to recognize the need. We have the gift of holy spirit to help us. We can be aware as we keep God’s Word in our minds and walk by the spirit.
Galatians 5:25:
If we live in [by] the Spirit, let us also walk in [by] the Spirit.
Having a spiritual connection with God allows Him to provide the necessary guidance in any situation. We can believe for God to work in us to say the right thing, to ask the right question, to be at the right place at the right time in order to help.
Let’s take this hypothetical scenario as an example: You walk into the break room and you see a co‑worker that is usually friendly. But today you can see that this co‑worker has been crying. Before launching into the conversation, you can make eye contact and smile, while believing for the right words to say in order to help. Then start a conversation. Whether it is a simple “Hi,” or “How are you doing?” you can open your mouth boldly, believing to help.
In John 4 Jesus Christ eventually taught some powerful spiritual truths to the woman at the well, yet he started the interaction with a simple request for water. As the conversation developed, Jesus Christ recognized her needs and shared spiritual truths with her. He was bold in what he shared. His conviction about what God could do for her was clear.
We can have the same holy boldness to make known God’s good news.
Ephesians 6:19:
And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel.
For someone in need, there is nothing of greater importance than to hear and believe God’s Word. Fear not! If we are doing God’s will, and it is His will that we speak His Word, then there is no good reason for hesitation or apprehension. We have good news to tell, so let’s tell it.
Helping someone else might not always be convenient or easy at first. But being willing to get involved, to help by sharing the truth of God’s Word, can have positive results. The Word of God always works when we believe it. We can have the conviction, the passion, and the heart to give something that can truly help someone in need. We can offer our co‑workers real, long-lasting solutions and not just temporary fixes for the needs in their lives. Let’s be bold to declare what God can do for the people we spend so much of our time with.
By preparing for our day with a full serving of the Scriptures and by paying attention as we walk by the spirit, we can change someone’s life for the better. We can open our mouths boldly because we have the Word of God to help our co‑workers.