There is meaning in dress. For those important, there exists one attire, for rest, another, for the workplace, yet another. For in outward appearance a message is conveyed – some to impress, others to express. The same is of the heart, for the mouth is the expression of the heart within. Words are the dress of the true man and expression of his soul. As you dress the body, so too, be mindful of your speech. As you work, you express. The scowl is poor dress for a child of the Most High. Harsh words, slander, and the profane soil the robe given to carry My blessing to those around you. Speak the dress appropriate for those I love and call to My cross of grace. They will know Me through you. Dress your speech honorably, as for those who one day may become My children as well. You are placed in your place at work; dress for the eternal work in which you are called.
Luke 6:45 (ESV) – The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
Bottom Line:
I had a coworker in my earlier days that wore the same exact outfit every day. Ray was an older gentlemen that was an ex-military, no nonsense, get-er-done kind of person. He hated inefficiency and waste, and many years prior had decided that deciding what to wear everyday was part of that waste. So, everyday he’d show up for work in a light blue short sleeve oxford, and a pair of business casual khakis.
We would tease him about it. Actually, one day the entire team, about 50 of us, all decided we were going to have a Ray-day, and without him knowing we planned it, we all showed up that Monday in blue oxfords and Khaki Dockers. The whole morning went, passing him in the hall, trying to hold back our smirks, but would you believe, he didn’t even notice. He just went about his work, as serious as a heart-attack. It wasn’t until later that afternoon in a big meeting where he was presenting that he finally clued in from everyone chuckling uncontrollably.
He didn’t think it was very funny. “Something wrong with you people.” He said, with a hint of a smile, then he just went back to his presentation. Later that week his wife sent us a picture of his closet, with about ten pair of khakis with matching blue shirts, all ironed and ready to go.
What’s the point of sharing that story? Well, Ray made a real impression on me. There was an aspect of his consistency that appealed to me, spiritually.
I know as a Christian in the workplace, or anyplace for that matter, God calls me to be steadfast in who I am. My speech, my demeanor, my attitude, how I treat people, how I react to challenges and trials. Through it all, rain or shine, every day of the week, I’m to consistently “put on” Christ in every circumstance.
That means my mood, my mindset, my character does not fluctuate with good and bad situations. My choice of vocabulary doesn’t degrade with stress or growing pressure. My steady patience with people and problems is unwavering, not because I’m that good, but because of Christ in me.
What Ray represented to me was someone, regardless of what others thought, that stayed true to who he was.
