John 13:34 “’A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.’”
The closest thing I can find to this command in the Old Testament is a command to “love your neighbor.” Later Jesus expands the definition of “neighbor” to include any and everybody, which makes for a good workplace application.
Principle: Love bosses, co-workers, suppliers, supervisors, clients, and competitors.
Most of us have heard that there are several kinds of love expressed in the Bible. The ‘love’ Jesus uses here is the strongest (agapao) love. This is same kind of love that the Father has for Jesus.
Let’s be consistent with the meaning of this love. Jesus was not including sentiments such as: “Don’t you love the way she handles callers?” or “You’ve got to love somebody who comes to work fifteen minutes early every day.” “I love the way they label these parts” or “I love his determination and persistence.”
These love words mean admiring, commending, praising or idolizing. Jesus’ use of the word meant loving another as a person, regardless of what they do or how they do it.
This kind of love does not have to mean knowing everything possible about the person. This love shows up for newcomers. I have heard of presidents who try to know everybody in the company by first name, which is an unrealistic goal with thousands of employees. A love attitude shows up anyway.
This kind of love does not overlook faults and failures. It does not prevent dismissing an employee when that is the right thing to do, but it does affect how the dismissal is handled.
This kind of love radiates out when co-workers are treated with respect, prayed for, and courteously received. It can be a one-way street. It does not require love in return. That is agapao love!
Jesus empowered us to love in this way. Love your workers. It will make it easier for everyone to love their work.
Discussion:
1. How has God shown you His agapao love?
2. Think of someone in your work who is difficult to agapao love. What one step could you take this week toward loving them better?
