Being Frank

In the building where I used to work, there was an elevator operator called Frank. He stood in the main entrance and ensured there was an even balance of elevators going up and elevators coming down. For many people, this might be a menial, repetitive task with little opportunity to shine. But day in, day out, Frank would have a smile for everyone as they came in to work. Frank would greet us by name. He seemed to know all our names, and he would tell us to have love in our hearts.

Frank was an elevator operator, but people didn’t see menial drudgery in his job. They saw in it an opportunity to transmit love and joy, to make people look forward to their day and help them overcome the frustrations of their journey to work. One person even walked around the block to come in at Frank’s entrance so she could start her day with a warm welcome from Frank. I don’t know whether Frank was a Christian, but people saw his job in the light of his cheerful, giving spirit. When he retired, my company gave him a significant chunk of our shares. He didn’t even work for us—he worked for the owner of our office building. He made a difference.

So it is with our work. In Matthew 5:16, Jesus says: “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

Now it does not say: “Let your good deeds shine before men, that they may see your light and give glory to your Father in heaven.”

The emphasis is not on the deeds but on the light. This is a vital distinction.

Ideally, we want people to see in our work the light Jesus has brought into our lives. What we do and the way we relate to people should point others to God. Excellence does not in itself do that. Excellence is not necessarily the exclusive province of God’s children—nor is good character, nor is honesty. Somehow, by grace, by the power of the Spirit to transform us, to work in us, there must be something about our light that points to God.

Joseph is a good example. His discernment so shone before Pharaoh that Pharaoh gave him the name “Zaphenath-Paneah,” which means “God is Living.” Indeed, it is precisely because Pharaoh recognized God’s revelation in Joseph’s wisdom that he put Joseph in charge of Egypt:

Pharaoh asked [his officials], "Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?"