Workday Prayers: Conducting Yourself with Justice
Scripture — Psalm 112:5
It is well with those who deal generously and lend,
who conduct their affairs with justice.
Focus
You can honor God and serve people by seeking justice as you do your daily work.
Prelude
Psalm 112 begins with “Praise the Lord” but is not a prayer, strictly speaking. Rather, it is a commendation and celebration of people whose whole lives reflect their relationship with God. This entire psalm is worth careful reflection for workers in that much of what is described here relates to workplace actions.
Generosity is a major theme of Psalm 112 (see verses 4-5, 9). We can be generous in a variety of contexts, of course, including our daily work. Some of us are blessed to be generous with money. But even if we have few financial resources, we can be generous with our words and actions. We can encourage and support others energetically.
Verse 5 begins by mentioning the generosity of the righteous. Then it says that they “conduct their affairs with justice” (112:5). Justice is not just a matter of law and social systems. It is something we can and should practice each day in all that we do, including our daily work.
Pray
Gracious God, I want to be someone whose life illustrates Psalm 112. I want to be happy because I worship you above all else. I want to delight in your Word and all that it teaches. I want to live rightly, honoring you in all I do. I want to be like you: “gracious, merciful, and righteous” (112:4).
Help me, I pray, to deal generously with people, not foolishly, but generously. May this be true in my charitable giving, but also in my relationships at work. Teach me to be generous with praise, generous with support, generous with encouragement, generous with gratitude.
O God, may I conduct all of my affairs with justice. If you have given me authority in my work, whether over people or systems and structures, may I always seek and display your justice. Give me eyes to see those who are not being treated justly and the reasons for this. Give me wisdom to know what needs to be done, and blessing so that what is right might prevail.
All praise to you, God of justice and righteousness, God of generosity and grace. Amen.
Ponder Throughout the Day
What would it mean for you to conduct yourself with justice in all you do at work?
For Further Reflection
Read all of Psalm 112. Consider how this psalm addresses your particular workplace challenges and opportunities.
Read the story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10.
Banner image by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash.
Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project’s online commentary. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: Virtues for Those in Business (Psalm 112).
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Mark D. Roberts
Senior Strategist
Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a Senior Strategist for Fuller’s Max De Pree Center for Leadership, where he focuses on the spiritual development and thriving of leaders. He is the principal writer of the daily devotional, Life for Leaders,...