Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you.
1 John 3: 13 NKJV
It has ben said that people will spend 90,000 hours, or about a third of their entire lives at work. Is it any wonder, then, that workplace conflicts rank among some of the most stressful situations many of us face? From power hungry brothers to manipulating coworkers, many of us see enough stress at work to last them a lifetime. On August 20, 1986, a United States Postal Service employee named Patrick "Crazy Pat" Sherill came to work in Edmond, Oklahoma and shot two of his supervisors. Before he had finished his rampage, fourteen more people lost their lives. Soon a new phrase entered our vocabulary. Sherill had "Gone postal." I won't lie, I've had more than my share of personal conflicts at work. In fact, I'm currently battling another work situation which has had me stressed for some time. What is it that drives people to act out against others? Well, there are some who are convinced that this is the best way for them to get ahead. Then, there are those who are just mean people. Does this mean that they are beyond Gods reach? Not at all. However, I believe that it does mean that they simply have no idea who they truly are inside. Believe me, self identity is a major problem in our places of work. What am I talking about? Was Patrick Sherill a killer at heart? I would say no, yet something drove him that day to "go postal." How many Christians consider the apostle Paul to be one of the greatest speakers of the ministry of Christ Jesus we have ever known? You would be correct in saying this. However, when we consider Paul's life before his conversion we get a different view of the man. See, the man Saul was hell bent on persecuting the early followers of Christ, even to the point of death. In fact, as he walked the Damascus road that day, Saul was carrying with him letters from the chief priest that if he found any followers of Jesus that he would bring them bound to Jerusalem {Acts 9:2}. It was Paul who called himself "chief" of all sinners {1 Timothy 1:15}. Eventually the man Saul realized his true identity in Jesus.
"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
Galatians 2: 20 NKJV
It is interesting that this chief of sinners has also presented us with the evidence of our true identity in Christ Jesus. Paul's words in Galatians 2:20 should be a reminder to everyone just who we are in Gods eyes. God did not look upon Saul and see him as chief of all sinners. No, He looked upon him and saw him as he truly was, His beloved child. We cannot stray too far from the truth of our own creation until we come to the truth that it is God who has always been with us. We are created in the Fathers image {Genesis 1:27}. It is also God who breathed into us the breath of life {Genesis 2:7}. Why do I mention this? Because when it comes to workplace conflicts there seems to be a common factor. That being the false belief in who we are inside. If we listen to those who would slander us, we're nothing but dumb, slow and stupid. However, if we trust in the reality of how our heavenly Father sees us, the hurtful words of others will lose their sting. If we trust in the knowing of who we really are, we will soon realize that we are not that person who spews hurtful words to our brethren. There is a saying out there somewhere...garbage in, garbage out. That is, if we believe the hurtful words of others are true, they will soon become part of our mindset. This only leads to depression. However, if we know in our hearts that it is Christ Jesus who lives in us, then we will began to see the hurtful words of others for what they are, the lies of the deceiver.
And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, Knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
Colossians 3: 23 - 24
~Scott~
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