Saturday, June 21, 2003
The working Christian
In my 6 months of internship, I discovered some issues working adults face! Why are adults sometimes lukewarm Christians, less willing to participate actively, go for church seminars and bible studies? This is just a short take of what I observe and have personally experienced.
1) Working hours are long and prevents christians from having time to digest. think or even pray. You wake up at 645 am in the morning, drown your bread down with milo, spend 5 min deciding what to wear, throw your clothes on, greet your mum and dad, and rush out of the house to catch the bus. You officially end work at 530pm, but there are always things undone, you do overtime, and by the time you reach home, it is at least 7plus pm (from the observation of my supervisor, he must at least reach home at 8plus 9pm, have another friend who works till 10 plus pm)
You bathe, eat dinner, watch a bit of TV, talk a bit on the phone, and its 10 plus pm, and its time to sleep again!
I think that it is totally possible to have strength to go for bible studies after work, or meet up with pple to talk. I have done it before from Tues to fri nite. But what really saw me thru was strength from the Lord, and He says that those who wait upon Him shall renew their strength!
Some think that in order to catch up on my sleep, I will pray less and wake up physically better the next day. Partially true! I think that a man's physical health is important, and our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit. But I think being happy also makes you healthy. From my own experience, nothing beats a good night's prayer and seeking of the Lord, and the next day you are revitalised! We need to make a decision to put aside time to pray! We all face the danger of groping thru a day's routine of life without thinking of praying and b4 u noe it, your life's gone!
(PS, I think Mr Lee Kuan Yew sleeps 4 hours a day, and what say us who have God!)
2) Adults in the working environment usually already have a fixed mindset and philosophy toward life. Esp if you are younger, u may find it intimidating to reach out to them.
BUT, I also noticed that after work, some of them go for dinners or movies or karaokes or pubs (those single ones, the married ones go home)
This issue could be seen in two ways, the first being that your colleagues will ask you why you are always going to church, and you might feel awkward. Yup, but we must NOT compromise or deny our faith, or be ashamed of admitting our committment to God! The bible says we are in the world but not of the world. Honestly, there were moments when I felt a little "out", cos they go out and you don't get to. Well, there must always be a balance in life, and do spend time with ya colleagues, but never do it at the expense of what the Lord has asked you to do!
Secondly, the part about them going to karaokes and pubs? Its a signal that they need to destress! Well they need God! Let's really pray that they will know God, and let's act out in faith when opportunity arises! =)
=) Just some thots on my part. I've not entered the work force, but I do believe these are some of the issues faced that students may have to anticipate, and those of you who are already working, press on!! For those who have been working for long, It may seem like a naive piece of crap that I have written. Yes it is crap and I acknowledge that it is impossible, unless the LORD is our strength! Yup, lets do encourage each other, and really know that the Lord is our strength!
In my 6 months of internship, I discovered some issues working adults face! Why are adults sometimes lukewarm Christians, less willing to participate actively, go for church seminars and bible studies? This is just a short take of what I observe and have personally experienced.
1) Working hours are long and prevents christians from having time to digest. think or even pray. You wake up at 645 am in the morning, drown your bread down with milo, spend 5 min deciding what to wear, throw your clothes on, greet your mum and dad, and rush out of the house to catch the bus. You officially end work at 530pm, but there are always things undone, you do overtime, and by the time you reach home, it is at least 7plus pm (from the observation of my supervisor, he must at least reach home at 8plus 9pm, have another friend who works till 10 plus pm)
You bathe, eat dinner, watch a bit of TV, talk a bit on the phone, and its 10 plus pm, and its time to sleep again!
I think that it is totally possible to have strength to go for bible studies after work, or meet up with pple to talk. I have done it before from Tues to fri nite. But what really saw me thru was strength from the Lord, and He says that those who wait upon Him shall renew their strength!
Some think that in order to catch up on my sleep, I will pray less and wake up physically better the next day. Partially true! I think that a man's physical health is important, and our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit. But I think being happy also makes you healthy. From my own experience, nothing beats a good night's prayer and seeking of the Lord, and the next day you are revitalised! We need to make a decision to put aside time to pray! We all face the danger of groping thru a day's routine of life without thinking of praying and b4 u noe it, your life's gone!
(PS, I think Mr Lee Kuan Yew sleeps 4 hours a day, and what say us who have God!)
2) Adults in the working environment usually already have a fixed mindset and philosophy toward life. Esp if you are younger, u may find it intimidating to reach out to them.
BUT, I also noticed that after work, some of them go for dinners or movies or karaokes or pubs (those single ones, the married ones go home)
This issue could be seen in two ways, the first being that your colleagues will ask you why you are always going to church, and you might feel awkward. Yup, but we must NOT compromise or deny our faith, or be ashamed of admitting our committment to God! The bible says we are in the world but not of the world. Honestly, there were moments when I felt a little "out", cos they go out and you don't get to. Well, there must always be a balance in life, and do spend time with ya colleagues, but never do it at the expense of what the Lord has asked you to do!
Secondly, the part about them going to karaokes and pubs? Its a signal that they need to destress! Well they need God! Let's really pray that they will know God, and let's act out in faith when opportunity arises! =)
=) Just some thots on my part. I've not entered the work force, but I do believe these are some of the issues faced that students may have to anticipate, and those of you who are already working, press on!! For those who have been working for long, It may seem like a naive piece of crap that I have written. Yes it is crap and I acknowledge that it is impossible, unless the LORD is our strength! Yup, lets do encourage each other, and really know that the Lord is our strength!
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