Be Holy In All Your Conduct - At Work/School

Before we begin. let's do a quick review:

• In your marriage you faithfully honour your vows, and you love and respect your husband as head of your family. You don’t allow even a hint of immorality to taint your relationship (Ephesians 5:3)
• As parents you exhibit physical purity and moral uprightness to your children. You set boundaries on media, behaviours, and words. You guide your children toward God, through His word and through prayer, seeking Him first in all things (Ephesians 6:1-4). You keep trying (Galatians 6:9)!
• While online you remember first and foremost, that you wear the name Christian. You are not to look like the rest of the world (Psalm 101:3a, Romans 12:2), but rather be a beacon showing the way to God, shining your light for Him at all times (Matthew 5:16).

    Today, as we continue our study of being holy in all our conduct let's consider 'Holiness in the Workplace/School'

    It's easy to be a Christian at church services or bible studies, but it’s harder when you are surrounded by people who challenge your beliefs and/or make fun of you for living to a higher standard.

    Whether you are at school for 6-8 hours each day or at work for 8-12+ hours, you can face the same difficulties. Where students have peers, teachers, and principals/presidents, employees have co-workers, bosses, and supervisors.  So, how can you be holy in all your conduct at school or work?

“Exhort bondservants* to be obedient 

to their own masters, to be well pleasing 

in all things, not answering back, 

not thieving, but showing all good honesty, 

that they may adorn the doctrine 

of God our Saviour in all things.” 

(Titus 2:9-10 NKJV)

*a bondservant is someone who chooses to stay; chooses
to work. Sounds like a modern-day “employee”, eh?

    Now, consider this, employees are to avoid doing those bad things and instead do good things – why? – that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. 

    The word “adorn” comes from a Greek word meaning, ‘to trim (a wick on) a candle’. Trimming a wick allows the fuel to be used efficiently; allowing the flame to burn bright with minimal soot left behind!

    Hmmmm, Matthew 5:14-16 and Romans 12:2 are coming to mind now!

    We are human, we will make mistakes, we will create a bit of soot, but when we keep our wicks trimmed (maintain holiness) by serving God first and foremost, we will quickly make up for our mistakes by continuing to be the best employees we can be  - all the while burning bright for God! We will exhibit God’s higher standard, we will prove what is His good, acceptable and perfect will!

Some things for students and employees to remember:

• Listen to/obey your boss/teacher, yes, even the mean ones (1 Peter 2:18-21, Ephesians 6:5)
• Work honestly, not just when the boss/teacher is around (Ephesians 6:5-8, Colossians 3:22)
• Don’t “steal” time from your employer by being lazy (Titus2:9-10, 3:1, Proverbs 14:23)
• Be honest. Conduct yourself with integrity and uprightness (Titus 2:9-10, Colossians 3:23-24)
• Go the extra mile (Matthew 5:38-42, Colossians 3:23)
• Be kind. Be humble. We used to behave badly too, but now we know better (Titus 3:1-8)
• You’re not here to serve yourself, you are here to serve God (Colossians 3:17, 23-24)
• Stop complaining, just do the work that is required (Philippians 2:14-15, 1 Peter 2:18-21)
• Don’t involve yourself in gossip, flirting, or coarse joking (Ephesians 5:1-7, Proverbs 11:9, 16:28)
• Be quick to forgive offenses (Proverbs 19:11, Colossians 3:12-14, Matthew 5:44-48)
• Shine your light, that God may be glorified (Matthew 5:16)
• It’s not going to be easy, but it is worth it! (1 Peter 4:1-4, John 15:18-19, 1 Corinthians 4:17)

“I beseech you therefore brethren, 
by the mercies of God, that you 
present your bodies a living sacrifice, 
holy, acceptable to God, 
which is your reasonable service." 
(Romans 12:1 NKJV)

Be Holy In All Your Conduct Online

    A few years ago, my daughter competed in the big school board-wide track & field event. She was given a sports jersey to wear with her school’s name emblazoned across the front of it.  The staff and students of her school expected her to do her best, compete fairly, and exhibit good sportsmanship because she was representing them; her behaviour and her words, good or bad, reflect on her school because of the name she wears.

    We wear a name too, every day: “Christian”

    What we say and how we behave reflects, good or bad, on the church and on God’s reputation.

    Sadly, I think we sometimes forget that when we are using social media.  

"I will set nothing wicked before my eyes..." 

(Psalm 101:3a NKJV)

    The world is at our fingertips. Social media has become the norm for everyday communication. News broadcasters use most every platform; celebrities, businesses, educators, and the average person can as well.

    As with all things, social media can be used for good and it can be used for evil.

    So, how do you remain “holy in all your conduct” while online?

    First and foremost, pay attention. Do you look like the rest of the world in your interests, likes, shares, and reactions?

    Let’s use Facebook as an example. Consider what you are about to post:

1.  Is it an angry rant? Before you post read: Ephesians 4:26, 29-31, Proverbs 22:24-25, and Colossians 3:8
2.  Is it a complaint/criticism? Before you post: please read Ephesians 4:26, 29-31, Colossians 3:12-13. Forgive instead of unloading on your innocent friends.
3.  Do your words exhibit holiness?

    Look at what you are about to share… Whether it’s a meme, a video, or a post, does it include cuss words or swear words? Does it contain nudity drawn or photographic? Does it use abbreviations for swearing or for God’s name? Does the original poster’s name contain anything rude/offensive (it will appear alongside your name in the post when you share it)? Does it make fun of someone? If you answer yes to ANY of the above, don’t share it.

    Okay, maybe you’re not sharing something, maybe you are only ‘liking’ or ‘reacting’ (positively) to something someone else has shared – ask yourself the same questions, if you answer yes to any of them, please don’t like it or react positively to it. You may also want to stop and ask yourself why you find it funny or why you like it… Does it represent a follower of God? Does it reflect well on you as a Christian, or on the church?

    Many will write this off as frivolous or meaningless, but if we wear the name Christian, we represent God to everyone around us offline AND online! Are we damaging God’s reputation because we are careless about our online behaviour?

    Let’s take the time to consider that even though you may be in the privacy of your own home (or place of business, or wherever), you are likely FB friends with other members of your congregation. Is the post you share or the post you like/react to going to encourage them and/or reinforce their confidence in your holiness? Or will they become disheartened and wonder who exactly they’ve been worshiping with all these years? And what benefit are you to others who need to find God, if you look just like the rest of the world – please stop putting your light under a basket – shine appropriately for God! Make good use of the time you have and make careful decisions while using social media platforms (Ephesians 5:15-17)!

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, 

that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,

acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

And do not be conformed to this world,

but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,

that you may prove what is that good and acceptable

and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:1-2 NKJV)

 

"Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved,

what manner of persons ought you to be 

in holy conduct and godliness..." 

(2 Peter 3:11 NKJV) 

 

 

 

Be Holy in All Your Conduct (Part Two)

Parenting

    So far we have learned that holy and holiness mean set apart, sacred, physically pure, and morally blameless. We have also learned that if we are not holy we will not see God (Ephesians 5:5, Hebrews 12:14, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11). It is a vital attribute that we must be diligently achieving and maintaining.

    As we dig into what it means to be holy in all our conduct (1 Peter 1:15), let’s consider our conduct in home life/parenting.

    Be an example of physical purity. Dress and behave with modesty. Don’t flirt with other men. Don’t lust after celebrities you see on screen. Don’t allow TV shows movies/videos containing immodesty (lack of clothing, fornication/adultery, lust, etc.) into your home (Ephesians 5:1-7, Colossians 3:1-5). How about soap operas? They are all kinds of sin wrapped and twisted around a completely unbelievable yet somehow compelling story line; looking forward to them is the same as looking forward to a fresh bit of gossip (consider Psalm 119:37). Exhibit self-control by avoiding harmful things like alcohol, tobacco, drugs, or excessive eating (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

    Be morally blameless. Paul wrote to Titus and gave him this instruction: “in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.” (Titus 2:6-8). Paul gave this instruction to a preacher but what if we, as Christian parents, lived to the same standard? You can and should – it is what God asks of us when He commands, “Be holy for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16).

    Being morally blameless does not mean you are consistently perfect, it means that you live in such a way that one cannot find fault in your words or your conduct. You are not hypocritical, you live with honesty and integrity, honouring God’s word by humbly making every effort to obey it.

    It means:

• You put God first and foremost in your life  (1 Peter 4:1-2)

• You read and obey God’s word, because you find council, instruction, and hope there (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

• When you make a mistake/sin, you apologize and ask for forgiveness (1 John 1:9).

• You quickly make the necessary changes so you do not repeat the mistake/sin (Psalm 119:59-60).

• When you are concerned, you pray (Philippians 4:6-7, give your worries to God so you can share your courage with others).

• When you are wronged, you forgive and show mercy (Matthew 5:38-45).

• When someone is hurt, you are compassionate (Luke 10:25-37).

• When you are happy, you praise! (Psalms – all of them! Also consider Mary in Luke 1:45ff and Zacharias in Luke 1:68ff) 

     I just recently began reading this book and I feel this excerpt is appropriate for today's study. Please, in light of what we have studied, consider these thoughts from Harriet Martineau's book, Household Education (published 1849):

    "It is a common saying that every child thinks his father the wisest man in the world. This is very natural; as parents are the children's fountains of knowledge. To them their children come for anything they want to know: and by them they are generally satisfied. But every wise parent has occasion to say, now and then-- "I do not know, my dear." The surprise of the child on first hearing that there is anything that his parents do not know fixes the fact in his mind. When he has once discovered that his parents have something more to learn, he becomes aware--and this also ought to be fixed in his mind--that their education is not finished; and that it is their business, as it is his, to learn something more every day, as long as they live. So much for knowledge. The case ought to be as clear to him in regard to goodness. It is not enough that in church he hears that all men and women are sinners; and that in prayers at home he hears his parents pray that they may become more worthy of the goodness of God, and more like the Christ who is set before them. These things may set him thinking; but there will be, or ought to be, more light every day to clear up his ideas. The same parents who honestly own to their child that they are ignorant of things about which he questions them will own to him that they are not nearly so good as they wish to be. Thus the truth opened to the feeblest and smallest mind that education has still to go on, even when people are so inconceivably old as children are apt to think their parents.

    To us, grown up to this mighty age, there can be no doubt on such a point. We know very well that we are all, through the whole range of society, like a set of ignorant and wayward children, compared with what we are made capable of being."   

    Exhibit God’s qualities to your children! Let your children see you serve God each and every day, through trials and triumphs, through mistakes and growth; let them see God’s love, and your love for God! Let your children see and learn from you what it means to be "holy in all your conduct!"

 

"He has shown you, O man, what is good;

and what does the LORD require of you

but to do justly, to love mercy,

and to walk humbly with your God...."

(Micah 6:8 NKJV)  

 

You can do it! So can I!!