When work is a spiritual profession, the people we encounter are seen not as pests or preys nor predators but as persons that deserves courtesy and respect.
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Gen 1:26
God created man in His image and likeness. He gave man the privilege and responsibility to have dominion over His creation. Thus, we work. Work is from God. This makes work divine and not just an economic means to “earn a living”.
If the profession that heals is called a doctor, and the profession that upholds justice is called a lawyer, the profession that manages all other professions and is at the forefront of ensuring dignity of work and humanity in general would be someone from Human Resources.
READ: Life Purpose Makes Work Life Integration or Work Life Balance Work
This said, it is but proper to expect an HR practitioner to not just be professionally competent but more importantly become more spiritually grounded.
What does this mean and when does work become a spiritual profession?
In Colossians 3:23, we are reminded, “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men”.
Offering our daily grind to God makes work spiritual. If we work for God, tedious becomes tender, those we disregard becomes deliberate, the seemingly mundane becomes much much more meaningful.
When work is a spiritual profession, people we encounter are seen not as pests or preys nor predators but as persons, a brother or a sister in Christ. Just like in Matthew 25:40, “truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.” As HR practitioners, do we look at job titles, position levels or pay grades as gauges by which we render our support and service?
As we explore this topic, if spirituality can be at anytime to anyone, is spirituality of work defined by the workplace? Is there such a thing as godless place or is godliness a state, we strive to be in?
God is omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent. He is all-knowing, all-powerful, and is not confined by space and/or time. If we acknowledge this, we acknowledge God’s sovereign power in our life. This means God’s presence will be there regardless of where we work. Some people work in offices, others in the field, others in factories while others work online or even over the phone. If work can be done anywhere and anytime, can you just imagine just how immeasurable and immensely God’s power and reach is? Where do you work? What do you do? Can you feel God’s presence?
How then can we practice spirituality as HR practitioners?
Allow me to quote Ephesians 4:28, “he who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.”
Sadly, lots of stealing happen now. We know that products or items gets stolen. HR folks know how important integrity is. Those integrity issues in the workplace typically merit termination from employment.
In the practice of our profession though, we see realities that run counter to what we espouse. People are poached. Time is erroneously declared. Ideas and concepts are copied. People steal credits. People gossip and strip off the respect and reputation others so carefully built. These are prevalent. These need to stop.
In 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12, we are commanded, “make it your ambition to lead a quiet life. You should mind your own business and work with your hands,just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.”
As HR, more than any other profession, we are called to be selfless. Let us do our work quietly and respect will follow. Let us remember that part of the Ten Commandments is “thou shall not covet”. What are we coveting? Who are we jealous of? May the Lord cleanse our heart of these ungodly desires.
After all, it is always wise to be humble, as mentioned in Matthew 23:12, “whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.”
Lord thank You for humbling us. Teach us Your ways. Strengthen us to do what is right by Your standards. Thank You for the HR profession. May we do all our best so wde could serve humanity and further Your glory.
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