Many of us spend a good portion of each week at work. We may work with other believers who understand principles from the Bible or we may not, but there are always needs that we can meet, and others can always benefit from our encouragement. By showing kindness at work, we can do good for our fellow workers, we can set a positive example for them, and we can be witnesses of the goodness of God.
By being kind with our words, we can do good for our fellow workers.
I Corinthians 13:4,5:
Charity [agapē, the love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation] suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil.
One definition of “is kind” in verse 4 is “to show oneself good, gentle, benevolent (disposed to doing good).” As an example, I like to do good for others with whom I work by expressing my appreciation for them and by genuinely complimenting them on the jobs they are doing. These acts of goodness can help build up their confidence.
We can also set a positive example for others by having the kindness to think before we speak.
Proverbs 15:28:
The heart of the righteous studieth to answer….
There are many ways to think through how we respond when talking to another person. If someone tells me something I already know, I could answer, “I know,” or I can say, “Thank you.” I like the second answer because it allows the other person to give, and it doesn’t hurt me to hear something a second time. The first answer could be hurtful, especially when expressed emphatically. The other person might even have been excited about telling me the information. Taking time to think through an answer allows us to be kind with that answer, and it can encourage others to think through their answers too.
As we look for ways to be kind in the workplace, we are witnesses of the goodness of God.
Galatians 6:10:
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
I Corinthians 16:14:
Let all your things be done with charity [the love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation].
God directs us to do good unto all and to do all our things with the love of God. As we have opportunity and carry out these directives, we show our Word-centered lives and the goodness of God.
My wife and I like to give small gifts of food and treats to people we see at work, especially to trainees and especially on each of their birthdays. Their finances may be tighter than ours, and we remember how others have demonstrated the goodness of God to us by doing the same for us in times past.
These are just a few ideas of how we can be kind to others in the workplace in order to do good, to set a positive example, and to be witnesses of the goodness of God. By looking for ways to be kind, we show God’s goodness and encourage our fellow workers.
Let’s enjoy looking for ways to be kind in the workplace and to show the goodness of our God!