The best answer is "both." Ministry without a foundation in responsible, honest, upright character will be weak and ultimately ineffective. Jesus builds our characters so that ministry done in His Name will be real, transformative and effective.
God's Word makes clear that He expects us to let Him build and shape our characters. The apostle Peter explains why. Peter says that Jesus has granted His followers everything they need to live a godly life. But granting something to someone doesn't mean that the person actually takes hold of what is granted to them. (An example would be the billions of inherited dollars that are unclaimed by the heirs of deceased estates - the money is legally theirs, but they don't take hold of it).
And so Peter provides a list of virtues and excellent qualities that underlie sound personal character (2 Peter 1:3-7). He explains why they are so important:
"For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 1: 8)
Your work ministry has two dimensions. Doing quality work is one. Bearing a believable, effective witness to co-workers is the other. Godly personal character is necessary to make both of them really possible. Solid character shaped by Jesus Christ is a kind of empowerment, or a kind of backbone - energy and a worthwhile approach to work and life flow from it.
Godly character is one of the greatest assets and qualities we can ever accumulate.
A WORK PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ, I don't really know what kind of shaping and developing You still want to do in my life. But I desire a character makeover. I know it will need time, but please work with me to develop mature Christian character so that You are served and others are given a good example. Amen.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS (for small groups and individuals)
1. In what ways would trying to do ministry in your everday work be ineffective without solid character shaped by Jesus Christ?
2. In what ways does that character manifest itself at work?
HELP SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT WORKLIFE MINISTRY
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WORK and LIFE RESOURCES
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This WorkLife Lesson was written by Dr. Richard Bouch, His Church at Work's Content Development Director. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Content edited and distributed by HisChurchatWork.org for non-profit educational purposes.
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