Learning How to Love Co-workers

In review of 1 Corinthians 16:14 it says, “Do everything with love.”

Bottom Line:

Do everything with love

What this means to me:

Whatever it is I do, I need to do it with love and kindness

What I’m learning is that one of the most important keys to receiving God’s favor on my work is: That I must care about the people I work with. Even when they are irritable, even when they don’t like me, even when they make fun of me, even when they put me down for being a Christian, I must still be a friend to them.

This is so important for overall success. It is an important lesson in life, and likely the number one reason God put me here on this earth. Learning how to love. God is love, and he wants me to be like him.

It’s easy to love the people I like, the people I find it easy to get along with. So if God’s going to really teach me real love, I need to realize that he’s going to put me around unlovely people.

The Bible says, “Do everything with love” (1 Corinthians 16:14 NLT, second edition). “Do everything” that means in the office, in the car, on a sales trip; whatever and whenever. The good news is this really is not hard. It’s easy to underestimate the power of a kind word, a friendly smile, a pat on the back, a genuine compliment, a word of encouragement, and a listening ear.

So many people’s lives can be changed when somebody takes time to pay attention to them. There is not a person on this planet who isn’t starving for attention. But a caring person is hard to find. The Apostle Paul had said, “I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare” (Philippians 2:20).

People need affirmation, attention, and affection. I need to learn to care about the people I work with and show them God’s love.

“Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love” (Ephesians 4:2 TLB).

This morning It really strikes a chord with me as I think how I might be able to change and influence relationships, especially if everything I did was done with love. Simple acts of just paying attention to them, smiling, speaking kind words or just listening. Part of the heart attitudes I had adopted for my life while part of a congregation in Southern California is based on Philippians 2:3-4, which is simply stated as “put the goals and interests of others above my own.” I need to remember to continue practice this at my new work location. Today I will consider who could use my affirmation at work in the coming days.