Are You Praying for People at Work? How About Your Competition?
Christians know about charity - or should. We also know that we're called to pray for each other, even those we don't like, even those who are our enemies. And we don't need a Biblical scholar or a theologian to interpret Scripture for us. Our Blessed Lord Himself couldn't have been clearer when He said:
Do you pray for your co-workers? If not, consider that they are "your neighbor" and do so. I have a small business and pray for my clients, professional colleagues with whom I work, even vendors who service our business. (It took me years to figure out praying for co-workers; and more years after I started my business to figure out that clients, professionals and co-workers are my neighbors too. But, then again, I'm a slow learner.) Oh, and this includes people who get on our nerves, or who aren't particularly cooperative in team situations, obnoxious bosses, and all others great and small who aren't particularly our cup of tea.
Now you may not have actual "enemies" at work. I've had some people who were antagonistic to the point of almost being enemies, but never quite crossed the line. But I've known people who've had mortal enemies, meaning co-workers who would go out of their way to not only make their lives miserable, but, if given the chance, cause the person to lose their job. Really. So if you've got someone like that (and I hope you don't), you need to pray for them too.
Now, if we think about all this, it's obvious, that we should pray for our competition, isn't it? I realize it's practically un-American, given our national "competitive" nature and all that, but, really, despite your struggle to outwit, out-market, out-sell, out-perform, out-whatever your competition, can you think of a single reason that an occasional prayer for he, she, or them does not make sense? If you're not sure, read the rest of Our Lord's words in Matthew 5. He explains why you should when He shows us the world from the perspective of it's Creator, His (and Our) Father:
Okay, we all know it's easier to pray for those we love, for good guys and people who treat us fairly. So does Our Lord. And so he goes one more step to help us out, if we need some motivation to the right thing:
The two examples Our Lord uses - tax collectors and Gentiles - would have had a powerful impact on his Jewish audience. For good reason, Jews despised tax collectors; as for Gentiles, they were unclean, not a part of the Old Covenant.
So really, praying for the competition isn't that strange or that unimaginable, is it? And just imagine if your competition gets this and prays for you: a world of work teeming with grace!
You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy." But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven...(Mat 5:43-45)
Do you pray for your co-workers? If not, consider that they are "your neighbor" and do so. I have a small business and pray for my clients, professional colleagues with whom I work, even vendors who service our business. (It took me years to figure out praying for co-workers; and more years after I started my business to figure out that clients, professionals and co-workers are my neighbors too. But, then again, I'm a slow learner.) Oh, and this includes people who get on our nerves, or who aren't particularly cooperative in team situations, obnoxious bosses, and all others great and small who aren't particularly our cup of tea.
Now you may not have actual "enemies" at work. I've had some people who were antagonistic to the point of almost being enemies, but never quite crossed the line. But I've known people who've had mortal enemies, meaning co-workers who would go out of their way to not only make their lives miserable, but, if given the chance, cause the person to lose their job. Really. So if you've got someone like that (and I hope you don't), you need to pray for them too.
Now, if we think about all this, it's obvious, that we should pray for our competition, isn't it? I realize it's practically un-American, given our national "competitive" nature and all that, but, really, despite your struggle to outwit, out-market, out-sell, out-perform, out-whatever your competition, can you think of a single reason that an occasional prayer for he, she, or them does not make sense? If you're not sure, read the rest of Our Lord's words in Matthew 5. He explains why you should when He shows us the world from the perspective of it's Creator, His (and Our) Father:
...for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
Okay, we all know it's easier to pray for those we love, for good guys and people who treat us fairly. So does Our Lord. And so he goes one more step to help us out, if we need some motivation to the right thing:
"For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?..."
The two examples Our Lord uses - tax collectors and Gentiles - would have had a powerful impact on his Jewish audience. For good reason, Jews despised tax collectors; as for Gentiles, they were unclean, not a part of the Old Covenant.
So really, praying for the competition isn't that strange or that unimaginable, is it? And just imagine if your competition gets this and prays for you: a world of work teeming with grace!
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