At 3 am at the office, a few colleagues and I huddled together in a conference room. We were listening to a client rant endlessly about how a new project was falling apart. That night I remember feeling the pain of work, office politics, and all the drama of it. I remember thinking, “Why in the world are we losing sleep over someone’s immaturity and lack of humanity?”
What was one night for me is a frequent experience for many followers of Jesus in the corporate world in India. They are passionate about making an impact through their work. But they get caught in the crossfire of office politics, lethargy, and the relentless scheming of their colleagues.
How do we grapple with such things? How do we deal with the burden of infighting, jealousy, and humanity’s sinfulness—in our neatly pressed office wear? How do we trust God’s Word to navigate our way through office politics in the modern workplace?
There are no straightforward answers to these questions.
However, we are not alone in facing the thorns and thistles of the workplace. In the 5th century BC, Nehemiah faced difficult and life-threatening “office politics” in his work. He set out to obey God and advance his goodness, but the challenges just kept rolling in.
Ancient Worker, Timeless Wisdom
Nehemiah was the cupbearer to the King of Persia, Artaxerxes (Neh. 2:1). In the capital city of Susa, with the best workers from across the Persian empire, he was an exile who made it big.
After Nehemiah sees the state of Jerusalem and his fellow citizens, it breaks his heart (Neh. 1:4). The king notices his sadness and sends him to return to Jerusalem as governor of Judah.
Along with the title also comes quite a bit of funding, letters of introduction, and a private army. Quite a promotion, to say the least. But it is not an easy run.
Nehemiah’s successful career stint in Jerusalem offers many life-lessons for struggling-yet-hopeful workers in India’s corporate world, especially as regards office politics.
Remember God in Prayer
Despite all the power Nehemiah wields, he is constantly seeking God. On hearing about the dilapidated state of Jerusalem, he begins with confessing the wickedness of his people and in his own heart (Neh. 1:5-11).
Prayer is a part of Nehemiah’s everyday professional life. He prays when his adversaries—Sanballat and Tobiah—despise and threaten the rebuilding efforts (Neh. 4:4-5). Then, he prays for strength to continue to work when there are accusations of treason levelled against him (Neh. 6:9). He also prays when he sees injustice in his team, when the nobles oppress the people (Neh. 5:7, 19).
Despite all the power Nehemiah wields, he is constantly seeking God.
Often, we sense God’s providence when we begin a new project or move to a new workplace. There is a sense of excitement as we imagine new possibilities. But once the problems begin, we may wonder whether he is still around or if we are failing him in some way. If we followed his plan, everything would be neat and tidy, wouldn’t it?
Like Nehemiah, let us not forsake our trust in God when things are difficult. But let us bring everything to him in prayer—budgets, bullies, and battles.
Confront the Obstacles
Nehemiah starts with prayer but does not stop there. He is a wise planner and takes deliberate, decisive action.
As threats against the building project intensify, Nehemiah’s response is twofold: prayer and equipping every worker with a weapon (Neh. 4:13). He calls on the Jews across Judah to send workers to the wall and not abandon the project.
Nehemiah cares about the project, but he also cares about people.
When there is infighting and corruption in the team, he is quick to call it out and resolve it. What good are sturdy walls for Jerusalem if the people within it are suffering? He calls out the nobility for oppressing the poor (Neh. 5:9-13).
Often, there is a high price to pay for speaking up for a colleague in the right, calling out the manipulative boss, flagging fraudulent accounting practices, and addressing caste discrimination. Like Nehemiah, let us aspire to act prayerfully, boldly, and wisely—trusting the outcome into God’s hands.
Share the Burden
Nehemiah methodically and intentionally develops teams. He empowers a diverse group of people involved in rebuilding of the wall: goldsmiths, perfumers, diggers, priests, and women. Later, we see more people putting their gifts to work: temple servants, gatekeepers, treasurers, priest, governors and even a choir! (Neh. 7; 12:31)
Nehemiah cares about the project but he also cares about people.
He delegates and empowers faithful men to govern Jerusalem (Neh. 7:2). When there is a public gathering, he does not hog the limelight but humbly shares the spotlight with Ezra (Neh. 8).
When things are tough at our workplace, we do well to share the burden. Healthy professional habits are not individualistic. They are rooted in community.
Who can bear the load with you in prayer or lend a listening ear to the struggles that dominate your thoughts? Far from a sign of weakness, it could bring a deeper sense of God’s presence and purpose in your workplace.
Remain Zealous for God’s Glory
Nehemiah makes dealing with work and workplace tyrants seem easy. Despite forceful opposition, the people rebuilt Jerusalem’s walls in 52 days, and a powerful revival followed the rebuilding of the wall (Neh. 3, 4:6, 6:15, 8-10).
After all the success, several thorny issues arise when Nehemiah is away for a work trip: intermarriage with foreigners (and their gods) is back in vogue; the temple is desecrated by Tobiah; the people grievously violate the Sabbath; and people stop giving their tithes. All Nehemiah’s reforms appear to have been temporary. It is frustrating and exhausting.
When things are tough at our workplace, we do well to share the burden.
His particular response to intermarriage leaves modern readers perplexed. He confronts, curses, beats, pulls out their hair, and makes them take an oath to remain faithful to the Lord (Neh. 13:25).
Has he gone too far? Is his display of humanity understandable? How would we respond to people who break the promises they made soon after they made them?
Ultimately, Nehemiah’s actions reveal his zeal and reverence for the glory of God. As we pursue change in our workplace, even good workers like Nehemiah can find the chaos of sin frustrating. But in the face of persistent sin, Nehemiah’s zeal for God’s glory did not weaken.
Look to Ultimate Rest
Nehemiah’s deep longing for God’s glory is fully answered in Christ, who promises us a true and lasting rest in the new heavens and the new earth (Rev. 21:1-5).
No doubt, in the final chapter of redemption, he will vanquish the enemy whom he defeated on the Cross (1 John 3:8).
Until that day, we enjoy the benefits of his sacrifice on the cross as the Spirit of God renews our hearts and empowers us with healthy professional habits in the workplace (Ps. 51:10, 90:17; Eph. 3:16).
Though we may falter, he never will (Jude 24-25).
