BECOMING A BRIDGE FOR GOD
Some years ago, God called me to work for a company that is the industry leader in East Asia. During this time, He has been showing me through 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 how to use my position to be a bridge and share His love with all sorts of people in my daily work and business travels around the world.
For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew in order to win Jews… To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
To the Jews I Became as a Jew
When I moved to East Asia, I did not speak the local language. There was no expectation for expats like me to learn it. But to share God’s love, I needed to become more like the local people in order to be a bridge to connect them to God.
I am now fluent enough to make friends and converse with locals solely in their language. I embrace their customs and practices, which were strange and uncomfortable to me at first.
My local colleagues are curious why I left the US, and why I have invested so much to be with them and to identify with them. This has allowed me to share my God-story. And here’s how some have responded:
“Can you please talk about your faith with my son? Even though I am a buddhist, I want my son to be like you and have what you have.”
“You are like Sir Robert Hart. Do you know the guy? He was born in Britain but came over to help us”
“Would you like to have lunch on Thursday? I’m reading the Bible you gave me and have some questions.”
Many of us in the US have colleagues with different backgrounds, beliefs, and cultures. When we show interest and make efforts to enter their worlds, doors open for them to meet God. This goes beyond awareness of others or inclusion, important as they are. Paul did not say “I appreciated and included the Jews or those under the law or those outside the law.” No, he became “all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.”
I Have Made Myself a Servant to All
In Europe, people and governments are focused on “digital sovereignty” or “digital autonomy” because technology is vital to life and the economy. But most of their key technologies are foreign.
Much of my work focuses on how to contribute to and support Europeans in their goals around digital autonomy. Ultimately, it is not technology that provides sovereignty or autonomy. Only God’s kingdom provides true hope, peace, and joy.
On my recent trips to Europe, I had opportunities to share with colleagues, customers, and partners.
Over dinner with a couple of work partners and a European colleague, I talked about my new project to support European digital autonomy. They asked how I came to do this work. So I shared how God led me to this company to do the work I’m doing. They were amazed.
I invited a European colleague who works for me to a meal. When he asked about my career path, I shared how God has guided me from my college days till now. He was moved and asked to go to church with me.
At an internal company dinner, an expat from East Asia asked me in his own language why I was at the company and in this role. As I shared my story, the Europeans around the table stopped talking to listen. “This is too incredible! You have to repeat it again in English for us,” one of them exclaimed. So, I got to tell my story twice. Next day, a colleague came up to me and said, “I heard you’re doing your work because of God!”
At another meal, a US partner asked me about my career path and why I was working on these projects in Europe. After I explained to her, she said, “Now I understand why the work we’re doing together is meaningful and how your faith is so important for it.”
God is my boss. I work for Him. I follow His example and look for ways to use my work to serve the needs of others around me. This looks so different to my colleagues that I’m constantly asked why I am working the way I do. PTL! He allows me to “do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.”
Part 2 coming soon!
The author and his wife are tentmakers in Asia.