Matt. 5:14-16 (NKJV)
¹⁴"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. ¹⁶Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."
(AMP) | (NIV) | (NLT) | (KJV) | (NASB)

Jesus knew some true believers would chose to hide their lights and escape to the safety of anonymity.
His words here are a command: “Let your light shine!”
He doesn’t give believers the option of letting their world remain in undisturbed darkness.

Jesus made it obvious that He wants us to spread His influence to every corner of this word and that includes the jobsite. Not only does He say that we are not to hide our light, but He commands us to put in on a lampstand.

If fear or embarrassment keep us from being visible channels of God’s light, maybe we need to let the words of Paul from Romans 1:16  (NKJV) sink in:

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek."

The message is certainly not the problem. But, well meaning Christians are often offensive in their methods and, in their attempts to be let their light shine, they actually put up barriers to the light. Some examples:

• Writing Bible verses on the bathroom walls.
• Sneak Christian tapes into the Muzak system at work.
• Have pat answers to personal problems that are shared with them.

These get a response all right - a negative one! The core problem with such methods is that they are done more for the benefit of the believer than out of concern for the lost.

How can we effectively share Christ on the jobsite? How can we bring glory to God and touch the lives of people with whom we interact every day in a positive, life-changing way?

I believe that our effectiveness for Christ on the jobsite centers on three issues:

1. How we work
2. Who we are
3. What we say

“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father Who is in heaven.”

I spent enough years in the marketplace before entering the full-time ministry to know that people in the marketplace always say, “Show me,” before they say, “Tell me.” The people who have the greatest positive impact on the jobsite are those who have established the greatest level of credibility on the jobsite.

Most people only listen to the people that they respect.

In light of this, it behooves every Christian to evaluate the level of his or her credibility on the jobsite.
There is no shortcut to attaining this credibility.
We have to earn it.

There are four elements that are basic to the establishment of this God-honoring level of credibility.

1. A proper attitude toward authority.

Col. 3:22-24 (NKJV):  "Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,  knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ."

2. A willingness to show initiative.

Prov. 6:6-8 (NKJV): 
⁶ Go to the ant, you sluggard! 
        Consider her ways and be wise, 
        ⁷Which, having no captain, 
        Overseer or ruler, 
        ⁸Provides her supplies in the summer, 
        And gathers her food in the harvest. 

3. A commitment to excellence

Col. 3:17  (NKJV): "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."

II. WHO WE ARE
”How We Work” is the only the beginning if we are to be a Christian influence on the jobsite. This must be supported by “Who We Are.”

You might think it strange that I put “Who We Are” second to “How We Work.”

But remember that, on the jobsite where the bottom line is output, “How We Work” is the first thing that people will notice about us. Still, for the Christian, it is only the beginning.

Sometimes even Jesus’ disciples became so caught up with their responsibilities that they forgot about people. They were so interested in the doing their job that people became secondary.

Illustration
Jesus and children: 

Matthew 19:14 (NKJV): "Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven." 

My son, Sam, told me about an exam that he had for a “Pastoral Care” class at Southern Wesleyan University (SWU). All the students were ministerial students. The emphasis of the class was ministering to and caring for people personally. The students studied hard for the exam because this teacher had a reputation for being difficult. The day of the exam came and the room was quiet as the students worked through the exam. But, there was a slow murmur that began to be heard as the students reached the final question. It simply asked, “What is the name of the custodian who sweeps the hall in front of this classroom every day when you come to class?” These ministerial students were eager to take a class on how to care for people’s needs; but many of the them looked right past that custodian every day.

Let me add a couple of things here so there’s no misunderstanding:

• You can’t take company time to listen to problems or you will not have credibility on How You Work.
• You should not listen to problems from the opposite sex.
• You should not do spiritual counseling with someone of the opposite sex. (In fact, when praying with people at the altar here at the church it should be men with men and women with women. The devil has used these situations all too often as an open door to temptation.)

Offer help to another worker, whenever possible, enabling them to be more successful. It may cost a promotion; but it will allow you to have something more valuable - a powerful influence for Christ in people’s lives.

”Who We Are” is also reflected by language, attitudes, and reactions.
What kind of jokes are told?
What topics are talked about?

”Who We Are” in our relationships, our language, our jokes, our disposition, our reactions to disappointment, etc. will combine with “How We Work” to establish our credibility in such a way that people will listen to “What We Say.”

III. WHAT WE SAY
Most Christians like to believe that if they act like Christians and work hard, the people around them will automatically respond to their living example and become Christians.

Not true.

The Word of God must be articulated by believers before it can evoke a response in nonbelievers: ”Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” (Rom. 10:17, NKJV)

As we establish credibility by “How We Work” and “Who We Are,” opportunities to share the Gospel will come up.
Sometimes it will be in response to a question from another person.
Sometimes it will be on our initiative as we are led by the Holy Spirit.

When the natural opportunities arise we need to be prepared

1 Peter 3:15 (NKJV):“…and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear…” 

If you’re going to know “What To Say,” you have to intentionally prepare yourself.

1. Prepare your Personal Testimony.
There’s nothing more powerful than telling the difference that Christ has made in your life.
Your life before Christ (brief)
When you placed your trust in Christ
The difference Christ has made in your life

2. Prepare To Share Your Faith

Must be born again - John 3:3  (NKJV): "Jesus answered and said to him, "'Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.'" 

Rom. 3:23  (NKJV): " for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..."

Rom. 6:23a (NKJV): "For the wages of sin is death ..."

Christ Paid the Penalty

Rom. 5:8  (NKJV): "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Rom. 6:23b  (NKJV): " ... but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Salvation Is Not By Works

Eph. 2:8-9  (NKJV): "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."

Titus 3:5  (NKJV): "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit ..."

How to Have Eternal Life

Repent - Turn from your sins.

Acts 3:19 (NKJV): "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord ..."

Believe - Place your trust in Christ alone for salvation.

Romans 10:9-10  (NKJV): "... that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

Receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior by faith.

John 1:12  (NKJV): "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name ..."

Rev. 3:20 (NKJV): "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me."

Assurance of Eternal Life

1 John 5:13  (NKJV): "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God."

Rom. 10:13  (NKJV): "For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved."

To do so involves some basic things that you must do:

1. Do your job with excellence to the glory of God.

If you can’t, get another job.
2. Reflect Christ by your character and conduct on the job.

If you are not consistent, what you are will speak so loudly that people will not hear what you say.
3. Ask God to help you see people and to make them your priority.

The love of Christ in you will enable you to see past rough, even vulgar, exteriors.
4. Share Christ as the opportunity arises. 

Prepare yourself so that you will be ready.