Taking It to Work:
Forgiveness at work? We talk about forgiveness at church, but for most, the term “forgiveness” really does not seem to have application at work, except maybe when it comes to loan-forgiveness, where a financial institution may waive a debt. But that’s pretty rare too!
On the other hand, twenty years ago, Patrick Lencioni wrote a best selling book called, “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team,” selling a whopping three million copies worldwide. In that book he pointed out that the number one dysfunction of any team is an “absence of trust”. Now think of the relationship between forgiveness, which our Lord says is critical, and the ability to trust those you work with, that Mr. Lencioni’s research proved so critical.
All it takes is one selfish boss, one undermining coworker, or one dishonest employee that manipulates, lies, or steals from you. The scars from those ordeals can turn you, unknowingly, into that untrusting team member, team leader, or employer, that keeps your distance, holds back information, and avoids letting anyone close, because you just don’t want that situation happening again.
What’s the first step in restoration to make you that trusting person again? You know it. You know it from church, and you know it from scripture. Forgiveness. As applicable as it is in restoring personal relationships, it is just as effective in restoring you back into that trusting employee, team member or leader you’re called to be.
Most of the best work in the marketplace is done in teams. If trust is to be leveraged in making them great teams, then there really is no place for unforgiveness at work, any more than it has a place in your home or family.
There are many in the workplace who have been “burned”. If that is you, the Lord calls you to forgive those who have wronged you, and work hard to learn to trust again. The strongest teams and the strongest relationships are those that are built on trust. Make the decision to forgive, and your whole team, even your team at home, will benefit, as His Word works in you, today.
Eph 4:31-32 (ESV) – Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Matthew 18:21-22 (ESV) – Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.
Col 3:13 (ESV) – Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
Listening to the Holy Spirit:
The trust you give is of the trust you have received. Pain of loss due to another’s wrong is festered without forgiveness. Your hand will not extend, until the wound is released, and trust again offered. Search your heart; sins of your own will paralyze in kind. Your misuse of others’ trust will hinder your own. Give as you would receive. Give honor by allowing trust. As it is with faith in the Father, and in the Son, so it too gives honor to those who receive your blessing of trust in them. He that does not trust his father, harms his father. He who extends not trust to his brother, creates a brother that will not trust. You give faith to Me, and the reward of that faith lived is everlasting. Forgiveness allows again the possibility of trust. Trust in Me as you forgive and trust in them. There is honor in both, and all receive the better portion.
