His in the Marketplace 001

His in the Marketplace  001

It's nothing new that confessing believers find it difficult to "live out" their faith in the workplace.  Even in the book of Acts we can find instances where the "market place" was not a very accpeting venue for being part of the Church.  So what can we do to stay engaged in our faith as we work in the world?

The first thing I would suggest is a ramping up of our private (as the Puritans called them) duties.  Yes, I'm talking prayer and study (not just reading).  If we are not engaged in "practice" we will not do well in the "game."  It is in those one on God exesizes that we hone our knowledge, understanding and skill.  Not to mention realizing more and more fully our dependence upon His mercy and grace.

Being a believer is a work of grace.  Growing as a believer is a work - well, of work.  You will never grow in faith by accident or ozmosis.  You grow on purpose - depending upon Him.  

I'm a fan of Vince Lombardy and find his quotes encouraging.  Of course I've read that his faith was a daily thing - he went to Mass daily.  So I don't find it hard to use his insights as I learn to live out my faith.

Vince once was quotes as saying:
"Football is a great deal like life in that it teaches that work, sacrifice, perseverance, competitive drive, selflessness and respect for authority is the price that each and every one of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile.”

Now if this is true of football, how much more true is it of our calling?  We did not have to pay a price to become God's children but we do have to pay a price to grow as His children.  

Vince also said:
"Winning is a habit. Watch your thoughts, they become your beliefs. Watch your beliefs, they become your words. Watch your words, they become your actions. Watch your actions, they become your habits. Watch your habits, they become your character.”
And
"The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender.”

All this he said about football - but underneath it all and where I believe He primarily applied these ideas waas in his exercise of his faith.

“I believe in God.”
“I derived my strength from daily mass and communion.” 

Now Vince and I might never have agreed in the areas of theology and doctrine but I do believe we would have met well when it came to what is required to be ever growing in faithfulness to our beliefs.  We would also have agreed that, though livng our faith is not a "game," we do have an opposing team on the field and they want to beat us.  So we must become proficient in what it takes to face them.

Interstingly the analogy breaks down in that our victory is assured.  So why worry?  Well, it's about the honor and glory of God isn't it?  We have "won" the game - so what's the point?  In our case, it's how we "play" it.  And -- if we are not good at the basics we will really stink at cruch time.

I guess you can tell I'm not much of a football fan - but I do respect Lombardi's perspective on success/winning.  But I also know that for us success is not about beating or defeating anything or anyone - Christ has done that.  It is about FAITHFULNESS!  That is the measuer of success for you and I.  

Christ will not say, "Well done my successful, winning, victorious, affluent, prosperous, powerful - or whatever - servant."  He will say, "Well done my good and faithful servant."  He makes us "good" - the faithfuness thing has a lot to do with us.  Over and over and over we are called, enjoined even commanded to be faithful.  It is something we can (duhhh-of course by His power) do.  But we have to choose to do it.

We have to begin learning faithfulness in the small things - the intimate things - the alone/just me things.  Prayer and study - study and prayer are like blocking, tackling, passing, catching, etc. in football.  They are the main and plain basics.

I'll be bold enough to suggest that if you're not practicing the basics you're not very good in the "game."  If you want to "act" like a believer in the workplace and you don't "practice" the duties of the faith when it's just you then you are yearning to be a hypocrite.  If your main focus isn't on you and Him then you'll have to fake it when it comes to you and them.

So in this first of the series I challenge you to begin practicing your faith when it's just you and Him.  Prayer and study - study and prayer - you never get enough and there's no such thing as too much - that's the "practice" that leads to excellence.

There are a lot of great books that can help you grow - most of them were published several centuries ago but are still available.  If you want a list, let me know.  for brevity's sake I'll not list them here.  But I will suggest, Keeping the Heart by John Flavel as a good place to start.

Comments and questions are welcome.

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