Christian Questions Bible Podcast

Episode: How Is My Faith Revealed When I Am at Work?

Hosts: Rick, Jonathan, Julie
Date: March 23, 2026

Overview

This episode explores the practical question: How is a Christian’s faith revealed in the workplace? Rick, Jonathan, and Julie dive into Scripture and real-world application, examining how our faith should shape our daily work—not just through words, but primarily through character, action, and example. Using the acronym IDEAL—Integrity, Diligence, Excellence, Attitude, and Leadership—they outline a biblical framework for living out faith authentically, whether we are employees, employers, or engaged in any responsibility.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Biblical Foundation of Work

• Work is God’s design—not a punishment, but a dignified calling from creation (Genesis 2:15–17).

  • “The curse affected the difficulty of work, not the dignity. Work was part of God’s original design for humans.” (A, 03:00)

• We work as an act of responsibility and care:

  • “Taking care of ourselves and those in our care is a fundamental responsibility.” (A, 01:40)
  • Referenced Proverbs 6—learning diligence from the ant.

• Our work is both a physical and spiritual obligation:

  • God cares for us as we do our part (Matthew 7:9–12).
  • “We have to do our part and God takes care of us. Remember that, because we’re going to come back to that theme again and again.” (B, 05:22)

Faith in Action: The IDEAL Acronym

I – Integrity (07:13)

• Definition: “A firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values… doing the right thing, acting the same way, whether anyone is looking or not.” (A, 07:13)
• Biblical basis: God protects those with integrity (Proverbs 2:6–7).
• Wholeness: “Being the same person in every situation. The opposite of being divided or double minded… Convenience doesn’t shift your values.” (C, 07:30)
• Example stories:
  • Julie’s dad covering co-worker’s shift with no recognition (C, 08:48)
  • Rick’s workplace audit—choosing transparency (B, 10:56)
• Memorable Quote:
  • “Integrity is not an idea. Integrity is a decision.” (B, 07:01)
  • “Do I pray that the Lord will judge me according to my integrity? That’s an important question.” (B, 12:30)

D – Diligence (15:23)

• Definition: Not a feeling, but a repeated action and intentional focus.
  • “Diligence is swimming with the current, not just floating along.” (B, 15:39)
  • “Diligence means to give something your full intentional focus. This is urgent devotion.” (A, 16:12)
• Biblical centerpiece: 2 Timothy 2:15—handle Scripture and life with precision (“cutting straight”).
• Practical wisdom:
  • Work is an ongoing, daily discipline (Psalm 119:9–11).
  • “God provides when you show Him that you are willing to honor Him in your efforts... Let’s not get lazy and say, well, God will provide. And I can sit back and watch. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Not even a little bit.” (B, 19:33)
• Warning: Lack of diligence leads to ruin (Proverbs 24:30–34).
• Joy and worship: “Diligence rooted in gratitude becomes worship. Work with joy, because every day under the sun is a gift from God.” (C, 22:40)
• Character development: 2 Peter 1:5–7—diligence is the foundation for all other Christian virtues.

E – Excellence (29:41)

• Definition: Doing ordinary things well, recognizing God's surpassing power in us.
  • “Excellence isn’t about being impressive. It’s about being transparent enough for God’s power to show.” (A, 30:48)
• Biblical model: 2 Corinthians 4:6–7—our “treasure in earthen vessels” allows God’s greatness, not our own, to shine.
• Historical context: Paul’s advice to slaves/servants—do all work for Christ, not just to impress the boss (Ephesians 6:5–8; Colossians 4:1–2).
  • “Don’t just do what you have to do to get by, but work heartily as Christ’s servants, doing what God wants you to do.” (C, 34:50)
• Example: Julie’s father’s attention to detail transformed his workplace beyond his role.
• Caution: Excellence isn’t unbounded overwork—don’t burn out or overreach what’s required. “Excellence is only achieved through intentional and controlled action.” (B, 38:17)
• Memorable Story: “He emptied nearly 100 trash cans every night… He went beyond what the cleaning contract required because excellence was simply who he was. And the place he worked at was so impressed that they made his organizational system the standard for all their properties.” (C, 31:58)

A – Attitude (40:02)

• Definition: More than emotion, it is a driving force rooted in humility and purpose.
• Christ’s example: Philippians 2:5–8—humbling himself for God’s will.
  • “Our attitude towards our employer has to be respectful in light of what does God require of us?” (B, 41:00)
• Personal story: Julie took the stairs to manage frustration and maintain perspective under job stress (C, 41:44).
• Scriptural Case Study: Daniel’s “extraordinary spirit” made him a model employee, even among enemies and political intrigue (Daniel 6:1–5).
• Attitude in hardship: Even when oppressed or in undesirable jobs, our attitude reveals Christ (1 Corinthians 7:21–24).
  • “Sometimes our freedom will be only in Christ… are we working to maintain a reverent godly attitude?” (B, 46:20)

L – Leadership (by Example) (49:15)

• Anyone can lead: “Often the most influential kinds of leadership can come from those who are not in leadership roles. Leading by example is a freely given blessing.” (B, 48:42)
• Skill and trust: “People who consistently do excellent work eventually become trusted and respected and sought out.” (C, 49:53)
• Biblical model: Jesus as the suffering, humble example—follow Him, then others who imitate Him (1 Peter 2:21–23; 1 Corinthians 11:1).
• Everyday leadership: Even in small actions (like paying rent early), we communicate values (B, 51:36).
• Guidance for the young/inexperienced: Paul’s charge to Timothy to lead by character, not authority or age (1 Timothy 4:10–12).
• Witness by example: “We witness through the power of our example that is modeled through Jesus as we serve God.” (A, 59:04)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “Integrity is the baseline for us to be able to be Christians at work.” (B, 07:59)
• “Do I have that integrity… where I am ready for God to make a surprise inspection of my heart?” (A, 12:46)
• “We witness to others through the power of our integrity towards God.” (A, 14:31)
• “Diligence means to give something your full intentional focus. This is urgent devotion.” (A, 16:12)
• “Diligence rooted in gratitude becomes worship. Work with joy.” (C, 22:40)
• “Excellence isn’t about being impressive. It’s about being transparent enough for God’s power to show.” (A, 30:48)
• “Attitude is not just how you feel. Attitude is what drives you to actually act.” (B, 40:15)
• “People who consistently do excellent work eventually become trusted and respected and sought out.” (C, 49:53)
• “We are called to be different. We are called to a higher level. Let’s put this to work every day of our lives.” (B, 59:27)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:20 – Introduction and framing the question
• 01:40 – The biblical purpose of work and responsibility
• 07:13 – I: Integrity – Definition, stories, scripture
• 15:23 – D: Diligence – What it is, how to practice it, biblical foundation
• 22:40 – Diligence, worship, and the joy in work
• 29:41 – E: Excellence – Doing ordinary things well, scriptural context, relevance today
• 34:50 – Application to difficult circumstances and workplace relationships
• 40:02 – A: Attitude – Jesus’ example, attitude under pressure, Daniel’s story
• 49:15 – L: Leadership – Leading by example, the power of influence from any role
• 55:17 – Humble work as service to Christ, reframing difficult jobs
• 57:57 – Letting our light shine—primary witness is our conduct
• 59:27 – Summing up: the IDEAL Christian worker

Flow & Takeaways

• Witnessing at work is less about what you say and far more about who you are.
  • “You notice that we’re not focusing on the words we speak to show people about Jesus. We’re focusing on the people we become to speak about Jesus.” (B, 55:48)
• The IDEAL framework roots Christian witness in character and daily example:
  Integrity, Diligence, Excellence, Attitude, Leadership.
• Every role—from menial to managerial—is an opportunity to serve God and reflect Christ.
• Faith at work isn’t “another persona,” but should be whole, visible, and consistent.
• Leadership is most powerful when subtle, accessible, and imitable.

Final Encouragement

“We are called to be different. We are called to a higher level. Let’s put this to work every day of our lives, in every experience of our lives, to the glory and honor of our Lord God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (B, 59:27)

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