A matter of the heart

Working for a Christian denomination is a great blessing. We have the privilege of coming to work every day knowing we are directly part of God's mission on this earth. Moreover, we are usually in a softer, kinder environment, surrounded by more pleasant people than we might otherwise be working with outside the church.

Nevertheless, the blessings of a Christian environment and Christian colleagues can themselves present a particular dilemma not faced in the more secular arena. Christians tend, for example, to be more intimate with those with whom they work. They are more likely to see their fellow workers as friends, knowing that all are part of God's family. At the same time, however, pastors, directors, and other managers are challenged to supervise professionally while at the same time taking care to communicate warmth and kindness. Christian leaders may tend to act with greater leniency than others might and may sometimes find themselves in the dilemma of struggling to keep the balance between what is right professionally and what is Christlike.

Some months ago I found myself in just such a situation. I knew I had to be objective, kind, aware, and completely honest. My nature is to want to run ahead on my own, but I knew that I needed to rely on God to show me what to do. So I asked God for wisdom and for discernment. I also asked God for love, for kindness, and for grace. I have to admit I even asked Him to take the problem away.

As is usually the case, God did not take the situation away. So while I waited for answers, I searched my soul and my mind. I considered my reasoning and my responsibility. As I thought about this situation, I decided my guide would be the golden rule. I would not always be able to follow it perfectly, but it would be my guide.

God never did give me direct answers when I prayed for discernment, and when I asked Him to help me to be patient and nonjudgmental, He helped me to have respect for my opinions. In handling this problem, I made mistakes, but God was with me and gave me courage that I did not know I had. I learned to depend more on His leadership than my own, and thus I found a quality of soul-peace that could only come from God.

During this stretching, growing time, I had to sort out many feelings. I thought about ego. I thought about ethics. When accusations were wrongly made, I felt the resulting human emotions. I felt anger. I had disappointments and hurts. I thought about the other person, my friend. Certainly these feelings are important, for without them we become mechanical. Yet in the midst of all this, I realized that integrity was the answer and that integrity is a matter of the will interacting healthfully with our feelings.

I searched for books on integrity. I wanted reinforcements for my actions. I already knew that if we are to do God's work God's way, we must start with character, so I searched my character.

Fred Smith, in his book Leading With Integrity, says that the church must be involved in character building. He says, "Leaders are responsible for modeling and encouraging character and integrity. Integrity starts with motive.... I can," he continues, "avoid being dishonest. Dishonesty is a decision." ¹

Reflecting on the culmination of everything I had learned, I realized that self-respect is an important key to integrity. Without self-respect a person cannot rely on personal character and thus lead others with integrity. Smith says that integrity is based on character. He insists that character is absolutely essential. He talks about the wisdom of one of America's wealthiest investors at Harvard University who says that the three qualities he looks for in those with whom he will invest his money are intelligence, energy, and character.

Fortunately for us, God is the great strengthener of character. I do not believe that trials at work or elsewhere are gifts from God, but He can help us use these conflicts to strengthen our own character if we do not give up or give in to inappropriate compromise. We may hide under a facade of righteousness, but the God who sees every secret thing will one day hold us accountable for the way we deal with our responsibilities today.

As we thank God for letting us be a part of His work, as we thank Him for our comfortable environments and our Christian associates, let us not overlook the fact that what really matters is our hearts, our integrity. We may have to make hard decisions that hurt us, but will it not be great when one day Christ says, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant" (Matt. 25:21)?