How can you personally apply Matthew 5:15 in your workplace? Setting the Verse Before Us “Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a lampstand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.” (Matthew 5:15) Seeing the Picture Clearly • Jesus assumes a lamp is meant to shine. • The “basket” is anything that hides or dims the witness of a believer. • The “house” becomes every sphere we enter—yes, including the office, jobsite, classroom, or boardroom. Where a Basket Might Slip Over Your Lamp at Work • Staying silent when gossip or unethical talk flows. • Cutting corners because “everyone else does.” • Separating “church life” from “work life” as though Jesus isn’t Lord of both. • Downplaying your faith to fit in or get ahead. • Joining toxic humor or venting sessions that tear others down. Setting Your Lamp on the Stand: Practical Steps • Let integrity be your default setting—submit reports honestly, log hours accurately, and keep promises, even when unnoticed. • Speak words that build. Compliment effort, encourage discouraged coworkers, and refuse sarcasm that wounds. • Display visible reminders—an unobtrusive verse on a screensaver, a Bible in your drawer, a tasteful cross pin—small signals that point upward. • Offer to pray for a coworker in crisis: “Would you mind if I pray for you about that diagnosis?” Many will welcome it. • Model servant leadership: volunteer for the hidden tasks, share credit freely, and own mistakes quickly. • Guard conversations: redirect gossip, refuse crude humor, and answer critics “with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15). • Use breaks wisely—read Scripture, send an encouraging text, or jot a note of gratitude. • Shine through excellence: deliver quality work “as to the Lord and not to men” (Colossians 3:23). Your diligence points to a higher Master. • When asked about your hope, give a clear, humble answer, steering praise toward Christ (Philippians 2:15–16). Fueling the Flame Daily • Start each workday in prayer and the Word—fresh oil for the lamp. • Memorize passages like Ephesians 5:8: “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light”. • Confess quickly when sin snuffs the flame; receive forgiveness and relight the lamp. • Meet regularly with other believers for accountability and encouragement (Hebrews 10:24–25). The Ripple Effect When one lamp is lifted, cubicles, break rooms, and conference halls begin to glow. People notice peace under pressure, joy in routine, and unwavering honesty. Some will ask why; others will simply be warmed. Either way, the light does what light always does—pushes back darkness and points eyes toward its Source. |
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