The Person You Tend to Ignore at Work
Devotional week 41
"When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, 'Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today'."
— Luke 19:5 (NIV)
In The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee set off on the grueling quest to destroy the One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom—the only way to defeat Sauron and save Middle-earth. Yet, amidst this perilous journey, a crucial moment arises: upon encountering Gollum, a wretched creature consumed by greed, Frodo chooses to give him a chance, discerning a glimmer of redemption in the former Sméagol whom everyone else deemed lost. Whilst Sam saw only a sneaky, dangerous creature incapable of change, Frodo looked beyond his ruined exterior. This inclination to see dignity where the world sees only rejection directly mirrors how Jesus saw Zacchaeus in Jericho, challenging us to adopt that very same perspective in our daily working lives.
Reading Luke 19:1–10, it is easy to connect Christ’s attitude of honouring those pushed to the margins with Frodo’s grace towards Gollum. But there is another character in that story: Samwise.
Reflecting on our day-to-day work environment and personal relationships, which of us has not played the part of Samwise at some point? I readily confess that I have. Within reason, I have adopted defensive, hardened attitudes towards colleagues who disliked me or who had let me down in the workplace. It is, after all, a natural human self-defence mechanism. Yet when we look to Jesus, our entire perspective shifts. Christ’s decision to walk up to Zacchaeus's tree and call him by name sparked a transformation so profound that a repentant Zacchaeus pledged to repay fourfold anything he had wrongfully taken. Grace offered space for true change, whereas mere accusation would only have built higher walls.
As Christians in the workplace, we are called to embody Christ in the marketplace. This means looking beyond targets, deadlines, and key deliverables—using our vocation to notice, value, and uplift those whom most people prefer to ignore, label, or write off.
Challenge
Identify one person in your workplace who is often ignored, avoided, or difficult to deal with, whether a colleague, a supplier, or a member of the support staff. Reach out, greet them by name, and offer a simple gesture of warmth like sharing a coffee or asking how they are doing. Let your conversation be a bridge of grace rather than a wall.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You that You did not look at me with judgment, but called me by name and transformed my story. Forgive me for the times I have reacted defensively at work, ignoring or labelling those around me. Grant me Your eyes to see those who feel invisible or who are considered difficult in my workplace. May my career be more than just a job; let it be a channel of Your grace, dignity, and redemption. In Jesus's name, Amen.
A Tent International Devotional