ATLANTA (BP)–The apostle Paul had many great cautions for the Christian’s life. All of them can be lived out in the workplace. One is found in Romans 12:9, “…abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good….”
This sounds strange in today’s world, for this generation does not accept absolutes. This is especially true with determining what is evil and what is good.
Many will argue: “Who determines what is evil? Or, do we even know what is evil? Everyone has to decide for himself what is good for him!” George Barna, in his research and study of today’s body of believers, concludes that even among God’s own people, too many do not believe in the absolutes of right and wrong, good and evil.
But in our lives today, what God calls good, or clean, and holy — we better not call that bad or unclean or unholy. In other words, we better live our lives by what God establishes as right and good. Our life depends on it.
Cheating is always wrong. Lying is always wrong. Stealing, no matter what the world calls it, is always wrong. Knowing to do good and not doing it is always sin (James 4:17).
Paul says we are to always abhor (detest) what is evil. We are not to be careless or casual or indifferent, but to actively abhor evil. It ought to be obvious by our response to evil what we think. Dirty jokes and dirty thinking and coarse talk are always wrong and should not be tolerated.
There are also some things that are always good and right. These Paul says we are to “cling to.” To love others as God loves them is always right and good. To forgive others who sin against us is always right. To love justice and mercy is always right. To be honest, to tell the truth, to be kind are always right. These must always be in our mind and heart as we live out our lives in the workplace, so all can see our solid relationship with God and his Word.
Would you make a clear and decisive decision in your life that you will obey this Scripture? “Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good….” (Romans 12:9). Christ is our standard for living in the workplace.
Our generation, especially since Sept. 11, is trying to live by a “new religious paganism.” That is, they insist that we leave Jesus out of our conversations, our living and our witness. He nevertheless remains as our absolute in all matters of our life. Let Christ live out his life in you, as Paul did in his day (Galatians 2:20).
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Blackaby serves as president of Henry Blackaby Ministries, on the Web at www.henryblackaby.com. His column appears monthly.
