Can you forgive the other person so that you do not pollute the environment with hostility? If not, your gifting, education, or skill may take you to a higher level and give you opportunities, but your poor character will ultimately destroy everything you work hard to accomplish.
When reconciliation seems difficult, jealousy may be the underlying combustible that fuels some of those fiery relationships. The colleague who starts rumors about you may be envious of your gifts, your education, or your looks. The manager who seeks to undermine you at the board meeting may be jealous of your relationship with the boss.
If you sense jealousy is an issue with someone, make an effort at praising their strengths or commending them for work well done. I’m not advocating flattery or false praise; if your words come across as insincere, that will only escalate the problem. This is a great opportunity to subtly minister to someone by building up his or her self-confidence.
As surprising as it may be, other believers in a hostile work environment can often pose unexpected challenges. Instead of being each other’s prayer partner or ally, you instead become competitive and combative, bringing out the worst in each other. If this occurs, you must stop and realize what the enemy is about.
If the devil can create dissention and division among believers in a given workplace, then he’s killed two birds with one stone. He has not only diluted the potential power that you could all experience as a united energy cell of God’s children, he’s also used you to undermine your witness to nonbelievers.
LEARNING AND GROWING
When we learn to get along with all the various types of people in our workplace, particularly those we find challenging, there is a double benefit. Not only will our work go smoother, but we will also become better, stronger men and women.
Most of us gravitate to people who think like we do, however, I have learned that the best teams are not comprised of people who perform the same functions; great teams require diverse gifting. It is an amazing asset when you can work with various types of people and build teamwork and fraternity eight hours a day.
God uses trials with difficult people to build our character and to increase our own store of maturity and wisdom. By attempting to avoid or ignore those who are so different from ourselves, we are often avoiding the very training that God has provided for us to advance to the next level. Be grateful when difficult personalities create challenges in your workplace and know that God is indeed equipping you for your future.
One problem that believers often grapple with when becoming more accepting and tolerant of diverse people involves the notion of judgment. Since God’s Word is very clear about us not becoming like those of the world in their sinful practices, we often are tempted to think we are better than they are. Or, we fear that if we accept these people, we are endorsing or accepting their sin.
You don’t have to relinquish your beliefs about sin in order to work alongside sinners. You can work with someone who’s having an affair without having one yourself. Avoid self-righteousness and act with humility and grace when you encounter people whose differences make you uncomfortable.
GROW BY GRACE
You may never receive a diploma in diplomacy, but you can learn what God wants to teach you by sticking it out and not giving up when difficult personalities add hostility to your work environment. We mustn’t dismiss or ignore those who seem different from us. We should endeavor to love others within our workplace, trusting that God will shine through us and allow us to interact with those who we find most challenging.
As you look at the assortment of personalities and temperaments in your workplace, I encourage you to thank God for each of them and ask for His guidance. The following prayer might help get you started:
“Almighty God, I am so blessed to be in my present position and I thank You for continuing to use me. I’m grateful for everyone in my office, even those I don’t particularly like or understand. Thank You for Fred in accounting. I don’t like his temper but I pray that I could learn to not fear him and grow in my ability to communicate with him.
“Thanks for Betty in the next cubicle. She talks and socializes all the time, but I know she’s just looking for connection. Give me kindness and Your words when I need to ask her to focus on work.
“I know I’m the person for this job! So I pray that I might learn how to be a better witness not just in the words I say but also the way I do business and the attitude with which I serve others around me. Thank You, Jesus! Amen.”
T.D. Jakes is a pastor and the best-selling author of numerous books.
