Meyu Changkiri
Recently, I had the privilege of addressing a group of young professionals from Nagaland who gathered in Shillong for a weekend retreat. They came from varied workplaces - IT companies, schools, hospitals, offices, and businesses. Among them was a magistrate known for his integrity, an entrepreneur admired for his dedication and genuine concern for his employees, and a consultant for the state government recognised for his honesty. Their stories encouraged me deeply.
In a time when our headlines are filled with reports of corruption, misgovernance, scams, and questionable appointments, these testimonies reminded me that not all is bleak. There are still men and women striving to live with integrity, even in places where compromise often seems easier or more profitable. Their lives were a powerful reminder that faith at work still matters.
The Challenge of Compromise
At the same time, I cannot ignore the disturbing examples of dishonesty I have also encountered in unexpected places. Some individuals have falsified their date of birth - even within spiritual institutions that ought to be beacons of truth. Others, in pursuit of jobs, have submitted certificates that looked convincing on paper, but upon appointment were revealed to be unskilled and incapable. Such practices corrode trust and weaken the very institutions that are meant to cultivate character and integrity.
Another reality that pains many of us is the frequent transfer of upright officers to difficult postings, often as a form of punishment for standing by fairness. When those who do their work with honesty are sidelined while manipulators advance, a dangerous message is sent to society: dishonesty pays.
Added to this is the tribal and community bias we see too often. Allegations of wrongdoing are overlooked simply because the accused belongs to one’s own village or tribe. Loyalty to community becomes more important than loyalty to truth, and integrity is sacrificed on the altar of convenience. This weakens justice and erodes the moral fabric of our society.
These discouraging realities make the testimonies of young professionals all the more striking. Their example of honesty, integrity, and perseverance shines brighter against a background of compromise. And their stories echo a question that many people silently carry into their workplaces every day: How can my faith shape the way I work?
Why Faith Belongs in Workplaces
This question is not limited to a retreat in Shillong. It is one that a teacher in a village school in Mokokchung, a doctor in a Kohima hospital, an engineer in a Bengaluru IT firm, or a business owner in Guwahati quietly asks as well.
Work is demanding. It is often stressful, unpredictable, and marked by competition. Many Christians wonder whether their faith makes any practical difference in that environment. The Holy Bible makes it abundantly clear that it does. God does not divide life into “sacred” and “secular.” Our jobs are not outside His purposes. Scripture actually presents the workplace as one of the most practical spaces to live out our faith.
Through the pages of the Holy Bible, we find three profound ways to understand work in the light of God’s Word: as worship, as witness, and as service.
Work as Worship
The Apostle Paul urged the church in Colossae: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men” (Colossians 3:23). This truth lifts the act of working to a spiritual level. Work is not merely about a boss, an organisation, or a paycheck - it is ultimately an offering to God Himself.
This perspective reshapes how we view our responsibilities. Work that seems routine or unnoticed becomes meaningful when offered with the right heart. A teacher preparing lessons late into the night, a nurse checking on patients during weary shifts, an IT worker racing to meet deadlines, or a shopkeeper faithfully opening his small store at dawn - all can become acts of worship when carried out with the prayer, “Lord, this is for You.”
This truth is liberating. It frees us from the exhausting chase for recognition and applause. In workplaces where contributions are often overlooked, remembering that God sees our work brings comfort and strength. Filing reports, sweeping the floor, or balancing accounts are no longer “just jobs.” They are sacred offerings when dedicated to God.
When work becomes worship, the ordinary is transformed into extraordinary. Promotions and praise may or may not come, but our labour glorifies the God who gave us the ability to work in the first place.
Work as Witness
If worship changes our motivation, then witness changes how others perceive us. Jesus told His disciples: “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). God also assured Joshua, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).
Together, these verses remind us that work is more than tasks and deadlines - it is also about testimony. Witness at work is not primarily about preaching sermons in the office. It is often revealed in how we handle stress, failure, success, or criticism.
Think of the banker pressured to manipulate figures for a client. Refusing to compromise, even at personal risk, becomes a loud witness to integrity. But witness is not only about major moral choices. It is equally seen in quieter acts: the employee who remains calm in a heated meeting, the colleague who chooses to encourage rather than complain, the manager who treats subordinates with dignity instead of arrogance.
These behaviours often speak louder than words. Many colleagues may never enter a church service, but they encounter Christians daily. For them, a believer’s patience, integrity, and kindness are the clearest picture of faith they may ever see.
I heard testimonies of how colleagues were drawn to ask about faith simply because of how Christians responded to stress or treated others kindly in difficult circumstances. Their stories were a powerful reminder that shining as a witness does not always require dramatic actions. It is often the quiet consistency of faith in everyday situations that points people toward God.
Work as Service
The third way to view work is through the lens of service. In today’s culture, success is often measured by titles, promotions, and recognition. But Jesus redefined greatness: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).
True greatness, according to Jesus, lies in serving others. This radically changes how we approach our work. Serving at work might mean helping a colleague struggling with a deadline, mentoring a junior staff member, or encouraging a teammate who feels overlooked. Sometimes it means taking up tasks that nobody else notices but which benefit the whole team.
Such acts of service rarely make headlines. They are often invisible, but they reflect the humility of Christ, who washed His disciples’ feet. Service transforms workplace culture. It replaces competition with collaboration and self-promotion with community.
Jesus valued service over status. Greatness is not defined by position but by the willingness to serve others.
Living It Out
Of course, applying faith at work is not easy. Workplaces are filled with stress, deadlines, and politics. For some, the hardest struggle is staying honest in environments where corruption is normalised. For others, it is enduring criticism or managing office politics without bitterness. And for many, it is the battle of long hours, leaving little time for faith and family.
Yet faith equips us for these very struggles. Work as worship reminds us that God values even the smallest effort. Work as witness reassures us that integrity, calmness, and kindness can touch lives more powerfully than we realise. Work as service challenges us to rise above selfish ambition and follow Christ’s humility.
Practical steps matter. Beginning the day with the prayer, “Lord, this is for You,” gives fresh purpose. Pausing for a brief prayer in the middle of a deadline helps us stay calm while others panic. A word of encouragement to a colleague may open doors to deeper trust and friendship. These small steps bring faith into daily practice.
A Broader Relevance
Though this reflection grew out of a retreat with young professionals from Nagaland, its message extends across cultures and workplaces. The IT engineer in Bengaluru, the nurse in Dimapur, the schoolteacher in Shillong, the entrepreneur in Guwahati, and the government officer in Delhi all face the same fundamental question: How do I live out my faith in my work?
The principles of worship, witness, and service are not bound by geography or profession. They are timeless truths that can shape boardrooms, classrooms, hospitals, and markets alike.
Imagine workplaces where honesty is upheld despite temptations, schools where lessons are taught with devotion and care, hospitals where patients are treated with compassion, and businesses where fairness is valued above profit. These changes may seem ambitious, but they begin with individuals who choose to see work through the lens of faith.
Conclusion
The Shillong retreat reminded me of something vital: faith is not meant to stay locked inside church walls. It is not limited to Sunday sermons or special gatherings. Faith must walk with us into classrooms, hospitals, offices, and shops - the very places where we spend most of our waking hours.
When we approach work as worship, ordinary tasks become sacred offerings to God. When we live our work as witness, our integrity and kindness shine as light in dark places. And when we see work as service, we reflect the humility of Christ, who redefined greatness by His example of sacrifice.
Our jobs may differ, but the call is the same. Work is not just about salaries, promotions, or survival. It is about glorifying God, blessing others, and finding meaning in our daily responsibilities. Whether teaching in a rural school, coding in a software firm, treating patients in a hospital, or running a shop in the marketplace, faith has a place there.
In a world that highlights corruption, greed, and dishonesty, the testimonies of young professionals who live with faith and integrity give us hope. They remind us that a new generation is rising - one that can transform workplaces with values that honour God and uplift people.
Faith at work still matters. And it will always matter, because through it, God’s light shines into the very heart of our everyday lives.
