Workplace Holiness

In chapter 3 of Holiness, Ryle paints a vivid picture of true practical holiness, which extends far beyond mere outward appearances or isolated expressions of godliness. He explains that holiness should be holistic:

“A holy man will follow after faithfulness in all the duties and relations in life” (Ryle 52).

Holiness is not a matter of putting on a façade on Sundays or during Bible studies with other Christians; rather, it involves a faithfulness that characterizes every aspect of one’s life. Genuine holiness should be distinguished by a constant, unchanging godliness that reflects the same steadfast character of our Father in heaven, whether one is at church, home, work, on the road, or any place else.

Personal Reflection

On a personal note, Ryle’s point prompted me to reflect on my own employment and the extent of my faithfulness at work, particularly in light of my entirely remote and asynchronous work setup. While the flexibility of remote work has its advantages, it comes with the challenge of reduced accountability.

Having been in this arrangement for a year, I’ve wondered whether my work reflects this “holy faithfulness.” Have I maintained integrity in my work hours? Have I diligently pursued excellence in my projects? Have I exhibited respect toward my co-workers by being attentive to their comments and presentations? To be honest, I have fallen short in many ways. I have occasionally found myself succumbing to the temptation of procrastination, deferring work to the evening and not giving a full and focused effort. Other times, I have virtually joined meetings only to quickly find myself mentally disengaged and inattentive.

It turns out, this temptation is not unique to me; research has shown that fully remote work may reduce average productivity and employee engagement by approximately 10% to 20%, prompting many companies to insist on in-person or hybrid work arrangements (Barrero, Bloom, and Davis 10). I have even heard of various methods that have been deployed to address this challenge, including systems where remote employees are required to virtually clock in, have cameras and mics on, or maintain online status indicators at all times.

Wisdom from Colossians

However, I am convinced the timeless wisdom for tackling this modern challenge can be drawn from an ancient book:

“Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:23-24).

In my context, where my livelihood also depends on my job, I can relate to the bondservant receiving Paul’s exhortation. And so, I realized that this is part of what it means to be holy in the contemporary workplace: work with unwavering diligence, integrity, and honor, recognizing that I am a direct report to God. While others may seek to do the minimum or exaggerate their work hours or feign attentiveness during meetings, I am called to be set apart.

A Testament to Faith

Ultimately, my managers do not and cannot see my moments of unfaithfulness because they are not always with me. But what sort of testament to my faith would I give to them if they were to catch a glimpse of those moments? As Ryle puts it:

“Our lives will always be doing either good or harm to those who see them. They are a silent sermon which all can read” (Ryle 58).

So, I remind myself that there is One who is omniscient: the Lord of lords, the King of kings, and the Boss of bosses. He is fully aware of every moment of my life but not like a pesky micromanager; his oversight is driven by a deep and abiding love for my good and my Christian witness to the world. Praise God for such a conviction of unfaithfulness in my work life. I pray that I may be a more wholly holy Christian by striving for faithfulness at work for God’s glory and my good. Amen.

Works Cited

  • Barrero, Jose Maria, Nicholas Bloom, and Steven J. Davis. The Evolution of Working from Home. Stanford University Institute for Economic Policy Research, July 2023.

  • Ryle, J.C. Holiness. Banner of Truth, 2014.