Tag Archives: Christian business

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Comfort or Conform – Which Is God’s Focus?

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Even though I have been a Christian since I was 10 years old, I am still learning some lessons that amaze me. You would think that after more than 30 years of learning about God and His purposes for us, I would have a better grasp on this Christian life. Unfortunately, that is not how it works. As a result, I am still learning how God is more interested in conforming me than He is in my comfort!

conform

C.S. Lewis’ Thoughts

While I enjoy writing and think I have improved at it over the past couple of years, I know a really good writer when I read one. Rather than trying to communicate on my own my thoughts on comfort vs. conform, I figured I would let you read from a fantastic writer. Here are some thoughts from C.S. Lewis in his book Mere Christianity:

…we must not be surprised if we are in for a rough time. When a man turns to Christ and seems to be getting on pretty well (in the sense that some of his bad habits are now corrected) he often feels that it would now be natural if things went fairly smoothly. When troubles come along–illnesses, money troubles, new kinds of temptation–he is disappointed. These things, he feels, might have been necessary to rouse him and make him repent in his bad old days; but why now?

Because God is forcing him on, or up, to a higher level: putting him into situations where he will have to be very much braver, or more patient, or more loving, than he ever dreamed of being before. It seems to us all unnecessary: but that is because we have not yet had the slightest notion of the tremendous thing He means to make of us.

I don’t know about you, but I think C.S. Lewis really nails the issues in this “comfort vs. conform” question. If you need to, read his words again and let them sink in.

Christianity = Smooth Life?

First, Lewis addresses the root problem in his opening lines above. He describes how we, as Christians, have this misconception that being a Christian is all about reaching a sort of “smooth” picture. In this picture, we seem to think that with a couple of tweaks or corrections, our lives can reach a balance or norm.

In this picture, we imagine our business running on a sort of auto-pilot, or at least in the right direction for a considerable period of time. The only issues we imagine in this picture may be helping others with their issues or overcoming some minor hiccups in the economy.

Maybe we even toss in an extended recession, but of course, we imagine that we are able to manage this interruption without too much damage. Maybe the interruption is a minor health issue or a couple of years of dealing with challenging teenagers. Who knows what little ripples you have included in your picture – that’s not the point.

God Did Not Call Us To Comfort

The point is that God did not call us to follow the example of His Son so that we could achieve a position of comfort here on earth. He is not interested in having us fall in love with our current home (earth). He IS interested in using us to achieve His glory and preparing us for an eternal life with Him.

So what does this mean? It means that Jesus was not kidding when he said we would have trouble in this world. It means that while Romans 8:28 is a great verse, we cannot forget verse 29. In Romans 8:28, we are told that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

Sure, this sounds good. Many Christians quote it often. However, they fail to keep going and quote verse 29. In Romans 8:29, we are told that He is working to conform us to the likeness of His Son. Maybe this is not a scary thought, but it certainly adds a twist to the picture.

Answer To “Comfort Or Conform?”

You may see this differently than I do, but I see this to be a definitive answer to the “comfort vs. conform” debate. To me, this says that God will certainly work all things together for my good. At the same time, what God considers to be the best for me is not my comfort.

Instead, He sees the best for me to be His conforming me to the likeness of Jesus. The more I look like Jesus the better, as far as God is concerned. Unfortunately, I do not become more like Jesus in the absence of struggle or challenge.

Challenges Required

No, I become more like Jesus when I am challenged. When I face struggle that is bigger than me, I begin to look more like Jesus because I then submit to God and His will. I begin to seek Him and His wisdom for every step of the path through the struggle. I quit trying to do it on my own and rely completely on Him.

Folks, God is not interested in simply putting you on the right path in business and then letting you coast. You might think that would be great, but He is more interested in molding you into the man or woman He created you to be. Like C.S. Lewis says above, there is a “tremendous thing He means to make of us!”

Have you been guilty of expecting God to make you comfortable?

Can you see how this “conform” perspective can help with trials?

What is God trying to do in your life right now?

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Are You Afraid Of Loss?

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Recently I wrote a post in which (tongue in cheek) I called myself a practical atheist and challenged readers to ask themselves some tough questions. Good or bad, that post generated more controversial comments and discussion than any other I have published. In an effort to clarify my intent, and hopefully clear my name, I thought it would be good to do a follow up post on the intended subject of true faith and how fear of loss can affect it.

loss

Walk vs. Talk

Let’s start by reading from James 2. To get the full effect, you should read James 2:14-26, but in the interest of space, here is the core of what I want to discuss:

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?…faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
James 2:14,16

In reading this entire passage, some people think that James is contradicting Paul’s words in Ephesians 2:8-9 when he says we are saved by grace through faith and not by works. Actually, James’ message does not contradict Paul’s, but complements it. James is simply adding that it takes deeds or actions to validate faith. In other words, like I said in my prior post, we can talk all we want to about faith, but the true test is in our actions.

Do They Match?

Do our actions bear out the faith we claim? If we profess to BELIEVE in an all-powerful God, then why do so many of our actions only reflect the confidence we have in ourselves or our team?

Why are we not taking bolder steps in our faith? Why do we not pray throughout the day and trust God’s wisdom to answer the challenges we encounter? Why do we pray quickly in the morning and then go out the door to face the day alone, hoping we have what it takes to overcome and emerge in victory?

Why is it so difficult for us to have those tough conversations with friends, family, or co-workers that we believe are living without a relationship with God? If we BELIEVE God is real and Jesus is truly the only path to Him, then why don’t our daily actions reflect this belief?

Why The Gap?

The more I think about this, the more I believe it comes down to one word: LOSS.

We fear loss.

Maybe it is loss of esteem among our friends, family, or co-workers. It could be loss of wealth or other gain due to being alienated for our beliefs. It might even be that we fear loss of our lives in certain circumstances.

As Christian business owners, we might fear loss of customers, revenue, or even the business itself. Regardless, I believe it is the fear of loss that drives most, if not all, of our actions.

What Does Scripture Say?

The problem with this is that this thinking is in direct opposition to what the Bible teaches us as Christians. We are told, very clearly, that God already owns it ALL (Psalm 50:10-12). We own nothing.

Did you get that? We own nothing therefore there is nothing for us to lose.

We do not even own our very lives…we are not our own; we are bought at a price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

Why Fear Loss?

If all of this is true (and we SAY we BELIEVE it), then why the fear of loss? Why do we act like “practical” atheists while professing a belief in an amazing God? What will it take to shake us out of this pattern of behavior?

Maybe my last post did not hit the mark that I intended. I take responsibility for that. However, I encourage you on your own to read the Scripture listed below. There will not be much confusion in it! Then take a long look in the mirror and ask yourself two questions:

1.) Do I TRULY BELIEVE what I am reading?
2.) Is there clear, consistent evidence of this belief in my actions?

For the Son of Man is going to come with His angels in the glory of His Father, and then He will reward each according to what he has done.
Matthew 16:27

And everyone who has left houses, brothers or sisters, father or mother,[l] children, or fields because of My name will receive 100 times more and will inherit eternal life.
Matthew 19:29

Whoever exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Matthew 23:12

Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:58

You are being protected by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
1 Peter 1:5

And everyone who has left houses, brothers or sisters, father or mother, children, or fields because of My name will receive 100 times more and will inherit eternal life.
Matthew 19:29

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Confessions Of A Practical Atheist

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If you have been reading this blog for any length of time, then you probably have the impression that I am a Christian, a disciple of Jesus. You probably think that I believe in Jesus as the Son of God and that I see Him as all powerful, able to work miracles in any situation. Unfortunately, that is not completely true. In fact, I am a practical atheist.

atheist

Atheist Defined

For the sake of today’s discussion, I want us to define the word “atheist” as anyone who does not believe God exists. Based on this definition, I have determined that I am in fact a practical atheist. See if you can follow my logic here.

First of all, let’s look at this from the opposite perspective, that of a believer. If I was truly a believer, it would stand to reason that I would act differently than those around me. While my morality as a believer should be a main driver of my behavior, that is not what I am talking about today.

Faith Drives Behavior

What I want to focus on is true faith. If I was truly a believer and not an atheist, then I would truly believe in the power of God to overcome anything I could throw at Him. I would see Him as bigger than my problems and I would completely trust His promises to be the truth. My behavior, regardless of whether in the workplace, home, or in the community, would reflect this belief.

My faith in an all-powerful God would cause me to act in faith, taking risks where I felt He was leading me. I would not “play it safe”, but would be bold in my actions, especially those relating to what I knew to be His will.

Not only would I act in faith, but I would also pray in faith. A true believer in Jesus would surely pray to Him and call Him on His promise to give wisdom when asked. Regardless of the challenges faced in the workplace, home, or in social situations, a true believer would certainly trust the guidance of an all-powerful God rather than “going it alone,” right?

What About You?

You know we could go on, but let’s just pause right here. Are you getting the picture? Are you seeing some of your behaviors in this description? Do they fit with those of a believer or are they closer to what you might think would be those of an atheist?

Now that we have described the actions of a true believer, let’s contrast them with those of a practical atheist. To be clear, I am not really trying to characterize a full-blown atheist here. Instead, I am saying “practical atheist” because I want to focus on our behaviors that reflect a lack of faith in practical matters.

Practical Atheist

A practical atheist might be someone like you or me that professes our faith and talks about how much God has done for us. At the same time, if we look closely enough, it is unlikely we will see any history of taking huge risks for the kingdom.

A practical atheist talks about faith, but never really exercises it. Instead of huge risks or taking on extreme challenges that would only succeed with intervention from God, they are more likely to shy away from anything they cannot imagine achieving on their own. If they think they can do it, they will. If they think it would require a miracle, they pass.

Is This Familiar?

Is this you? Are you able to look back in your walk and see times when you took on a challenge or risk that could only be accomplished with help from God? If you can, then good for you! If not,…why not? Isn’t your God all-powerful and able to accomplish anything? Why aren’t you living like this is the truth?

Enough about risks and challenges. What about prayer? A practical atheist may believe there is a God, but there is little to no evidence of it in their prayer life. Sure, they may tell people they will pray for them. They may even do it, but you won’t find much faith in that prayer.

No Expectation Or Hope

Moving into the workplace, a practical atheist makes decisions on their own. Because they do not have true faith that God is there and will absolutely answer their prayers, they really don’t put much faith in them. Maybe they pray daily, but it is not done with expectation and hope in an answer.

At home, they wish things were different, but they only focus on what they themselves can change (or not) rather than going to God in earnest prayer for revelation and change. Instead of placing their burdens before an all-knowing God, they carry them around in worry. They hope for a day when they are big enough to overcome the challenges, but they ignore the promises of a God that already is.

I Am A Practical Atheist

A practical atheist lives and acts as if there is no God when it comes to the practical situations in life. In the interest of transparency, I believe I am one of these people. Sure, I believe in Jesus and have a relationship with Him. However, when I examine my life, I find very little evidence of a REAL faith in Who He is and what He can do.

I encourage you to look in the mirror and ask yourself some tough questions. Are you a practical atheist or are you acting with a faith that can move mountains? I am asking myself these very questions.

Are you guilty of atheist behavior?

Where do you need to exercise more faith?

How could your life look with behavior based on total faith?

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Parenthood Or Christian Faith Exercise?

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Each year, students all over the world are taught about the responsibilities of parenthood using a simple exercise with eggs. By having the students care for the “egg babies” over the period of a week, they come to realize important truths about being a parent. I think there are parallels between these truths and those relating to our Christian faith.

Christian faith

Egg Baby Assignment

The idea is simple, but brilliant. Each student is assigned an “egg baby” (an actual egg) for a whole week. They are told that they are to keep their egg baby with them at ALL times, wherever they go – regardless of their circumstances – for the entire week. Being caught without their egg baby at any point could equate to a failing grade!

They are not to leave the egg baby in a locker or in their car. They cannot forget it and leave it at home or at the soccer field. They must protect the babies from damage of any sort. No nicks, cracks, or gouges are allowed! They are graded on their ability to present a whole, undamaged “egg baby” at the end of the week!

Parenthood Principles

Even if you have never heard of this exercise, I think you understand the principles that are being taught. Parenthood, when viewed from the perspective of a young student, often looks easier than it really is.

Students cannot grasp the sheer responsibility of it and assume parents only have to “act” like parents at certain times during the day or week. Children likely think that parents play during the day and then become “parent-like” at home at night.

Children cannot possibly understand how becoming a parent changes your identity and forever changes your focus. No longer can you afford to only think about yourself and your own desires. Instead, being a parent means you always have the welfare of your children in mind.

You worry about their health, their friends, their whereabouts, etc. Being a parent is NOT a role you can turn on and off like a light switch. In fact, once it is “ON,” you can never turn it off! This is only something you can fully grasp when you become one.

So what is my point?

Similar Principles For Christian Faith!

My point is that this exercise is the perfect example of our Christian faith! Think about this and see if what I am saying makes sense.

If we would do as we are commanded in several passages of Scripture, then our Christian faith would be a light that would never turn off once turned on at salvation. Let’s first take a look at these passages:

Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, all of your soul, with all of your mind, and with all of your strength.
Mark 12:30

You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16

Then He said to them all, “If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
Luke 9:23

But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father in heaven.
Matthew 10:33

Christian Faith Is Full Time!

Are you getting the idea here?

Just like the “egg babies,” our Christian faith should be with us at all times. It is not something that we can leave at home on Monday mornings or in the car when we go into the office.

We are not called to exhibit our Christian faith on Sundays and leave it at the church during the week. It should be a part of us at work on Monday and when we go out with friends on Friday night. If we are at the soccer field with the kids or at lunch with a client, our light should shine.

Like parenthood, when we accept Christ we become new people. The old is gone and that is true for every day of the week. We can no longer focus on ourselves and our own desires, but on the desires God has for us. This thinking is not part-time thinking, but should consume our every waking moment.

Extremely Difficult!

Sure, this does not sound easy. It doesn’t even sound natural. Good news – its not! Your “natural” self will not gravitate toward this way of living. It is a decision you will likely have to make and remake on a daily basis, just like Jesus said in Luke 9:23 above.

That’s okay! You are not a defective Christian if you have a hard time with this! The only problem is when you have a hard time with it and do nothing to change.

Start Now

I encourage you to begin changing your mindset. Focus on God’s word on a regular basis and ask Him to show you where you need to allow Him to have full authority in your life. Tell Him about your struggle (He knows) and how you want to improve (He will help!).

Keep the image of the “egg baby” in mind as you enter a new week. Remember this representation of your Christian faith and keep it with you at all times. It will not be so easy at first, but you will get better. Add accountability through like-minded believers and you will be well on your way!

Do you see the parallels with the exercise and our Christian faith?

Is this new to you or is it something you are already working on?

What is your biggest challenge?

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How To Read And Apply Scripture

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We all know we need to read and seek to apply Scripture in our lives. This is no revelation. The problem is that sometimes we really don’t know HOW to do this, right? Sometimes, we read a passage and cannot understand what exactly it should be saying to us. While it sounds simple, sometimes it is not.

apply Scripture

My Effort To Apply Scripture

For today, I want to try something different from my norm. I am taking a short passage (Psalm 119:73-80) and I am attempting to put it into my own words. I have tried to imagine how each verse should apply to my life in particular and then worded it as a prayer back to God.

Keep in mind, this is clearly not Scripture itself. I am not attempting to rewrite it, only to apply Scripture to my life in my words and according to my understanding. These verses may say something else to you. The Holy Spirit is not limited in how He can speak to us!

Take a look at the following verses and see if they resonate with you. Each verse is listed in italics and then my words follow. I would love to hear your thoughts in the comment area at the end of the post.

Verse 73 – Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding so that I can learn your commands.

    Father, Your hands made every part of me and formed each of my strengths, weaknesses, talents, gifts, and desires into the man that I am. There is nothing about me that You cannot use to impact others. I don’t just want to know Your commands or even to be familiar with them, but to fully understand them. Please give me this understanding so I can apply them in every role I play, in every part of my life.

Verse 74 – May those who fear You rejoice when they see me for I have put my hope in your word.

    I pray that all those who fear You and know You in a real way would be glad to see me and do business with me because they see You in our business. This is not for the sake of the business itself, but for the relationships between us and so that both of us are impacted in a way that draws us closer to You.

Verse 75 – I know, Lord, that your judgments are just and that you have afflicted me fairly.

    Lord, Your rules and judgments are perfect and true, even when they do not make it easy for me. I realize You have a much bigger perspective than I do and therefore I will not always understand Your ways. At least I know they are perfect as You are and that your application of them in my life is fair. I thank You for Your promises here.

Verse 76 – Let your steadfast love comfort me according to your promise to your servant.

    Father, I know my choice to be in business means I will face challenges and struggles on a regular basis. As a result, there will be times of loneliness and frustration. I accept that. I ask that You comfort me during these times with Your endless love. You have already promised this in Your word – I just claim it now!

Verse 77 – Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live, for thy law is my delight.

    In addition to the times of frustration, there will also be times when I personally fall short of Your expectations and guidelines for my life. Though I do not intend to do so because I love Your laws, I know that I am flesh and will disappoint You. I pray now that Your mercy will come to me in those times. I pray not only that You will show me mercy, but that I will recognize it. I also pray I will show that same mercy to others.

Verse 78 – May the arrogant be put to shame for wronging me without cause; but I will meditate on your precepts.

    Often because of the business I am in, there are those who disparage me with lies. Though they do not know the truth, they arrogantly assume they do and speak as such. I pray that at some point You will shame them for these lies. To make sure I avoid this same behavior myself, I will continue to meditate on Your word. Help me with this!

Verse 79 – Let those who fear You, those who know Your decrees, turn to me.

    Lord, I interact with many people on a daily basis. While I know I am to be an ambassador to those who do not know You, I pray that you will surround me with others who do know You. I need the companionship, mentoring, and accountability from those who have walked with You and know You and Your ways.

Verse 80 – May my heart be blameless in your statutes, that I may not be put to shame.

    Father, I read Your word regularly and try my best to follow what it tells me. However, you know I am sinful and tend to wander from Your path. Please strengthen my faith to stick to Your path and give me a clean heart so that I am not ashamed of my behavior, thoughts, and deeds. I want to reflect You to those around me.

What does it look like when you apply Scripture to your life?

Have you done it like this before?

What methods would you recommend to apply Scripture to your life?

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Unity In Diversity

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In a recent post, we looked at how diversity of skills, perspectives, gifts, etc. is necessary for an organization to achieve it purposes. If you have not read it yet, I would recommend doing that now. Today, I want to look at how diversity may not be enough. We also need unity.

unity

All-Stars Without Diversity

In the other post, I described a hypothetical situation where the Atlanta Falcons signed five new all-star players for their roster. All five were quarterbacks. The leadership of the team knew they did not need five quarterbacks, but instead planned to play these all-stars in the offensive line positions.

I talked about how ridiculous this would be (if it were true) and how ineffective it would be to put quarterbacks on the offensive line. I don’t think anyone argued about this opinion.

Same True For Business

We then looked at the parallels between a football team and our businesses. Regardless the organization, we agreed that we needed among our members a diversity of skills, perspectives, gifts, etc. if we want the team to be effective.

While this is true, there is more to the picture.

What About Unity Of Purpose?

Think about this. Assume for a moment the Falcons did not sign five quarterbacks, but instead had all of the best skilled players in the league for each position and had them playing in the right positions. Sounds much better, right?

Well, now assume the quarterback had decided he was going to set a new record for the most rushing yards for a quarterback. The running back set his goal as the most receiving touchdowns in a season. The linemen determined they would seek the record for the fewest injuries in a season for an offensive line. The coach is convinced he can orchestrate the most come-from-behind wins in one season.

Do you get the idea? If each player has a different goal – even if it is a valid, challenging goal – then the team will self-destruct! Can you imagine what a game would look like for this team?

Unity In Business

The same principles apply in our businesses. If we hire the best people and put them in the right positions according to their skills or gifts, we are starting off on the right foot.

However, if we do not work just as hard to make sure they all have the exact same overall goals in mind, we are simply setting ourselves up for failure. There is no way for an organization to be successful in achieving the purposes for which it was created if the members of that organization have varied goals.

Take a look at your own organization. Does everyone have the same goals as you do? Are these goals communicated clearly and consistently? Do you make corrections to the goals of those on your team as it becomes evident they are different from those of the team?

What Does Scripture Say?

In case you are wondering what the Bible says about this principle of unity, I suggest we go there to find out. In fact, we can use part of the same passage of Scripture to illustrate this point on unity as we did for the point about diversity. Take a look:

But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
1 Corinthians 12:24-26

Note the following phrases:

    God has put the body together…
    there should be no division in the body…
    its parts should have equal concern for each other…
    if one part suffers, every part suffers…

I think it becomes clear that diversity is important, but it must be combined with unity if we are going to be effective. The right skills in the right positions, all with a common goal, can achieve amazing results!

Which is more of a problem for your team: unity or diversity?

What action step do you need to take to begin correcting this?

Is your team aware of the need for change?

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Giving: Are You The Eye Dropper Or The Jug?

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Recently, a good friend of mine was teaching on the topic of giving and he asked an interesting question. He told us to imagine we were desperately thirsty and someone offered us water to drink. His question was this, “Would you prefer they give you drink out of an eye dropper or a gallon jug?”

giving

Give Me The Jug!

I am pretty sure your answer to that question is the same as mine – I want the gallon jug! I am not sure anyone would prefer quenching their thirst out of an eye dropper over a gallon jug. No real brain teaser there.

It was his follow up question that got my attention.

When giving, are you more like the eye dropper or the jug?

Great Giving Analogy

Since I am one that likes analogies, this was perfect for me. I instantly understood the question and began thinking of the appropriate parallels. While virtually analogy has its limitations, I think there are several lessons we can get from this picture.

First, think about how much and how often you give. I am not really talking about your tithe at this point, but all that you give over and above the tithe. [This post is not about whether the tithe is a New or Old Testament requirement or expectation. Set this issue to the side for now.]

Questions To Ponder

How often do you find yourself giving to those around you? How much do you give?

Does your giving hurt? Is your giving sacrificial or out of abundance?

When you think about this, are you separating your business and personal lives?

Do you hesitate or are you quick to give?

Do you think your giving represents the eye dropper or the jug?

Another Giving Perspective

Let’s think about another perspective for a moment. Let’s say you are the holder of the water and you want to give it to someone to quench their thirst. If you want to make sure their thirst is fully quenched, which would you prefer to use – the eye dropper or the jug? Why?

Certainly, you can give more and give it faster if you use the jug, right?

So how do you think God looks at us when He wants to give? Does HE see you as the eye dropper or the jug? Why should that matter?

God’s Giving

Well, if He wants to give through you and you act more like the eye dropper, then He will not be able to give you as much or as quickly as He may want. If He wants to give THROUGH you to those around you, but you are slow and tight like the eye dropper, what do you think He will do?

On the other hand, what if you give like the jug? Do you think God will give you more resources to give to others because He can give more quantity and more quickly through you? Have you considered this before?

Once again, I am giving you my thoughts based on what I believe to be true. So that you can see I am not making this up, I want to check the Scripture to make sure it backs up what I am saying.

God’s Giving Purpose

Check out the following verses from Genesis. This is God speaking to Abram (later Abraham) and giving him the original covenant between them. Notice the dual ideas of being blessed and then being a blessing:

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.

“I will make you into a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.

I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.”

Genesis 12:1-3

Blessed To Be A Blessing

Can you see that God promised to bless Abram and his people (Israel), but that they also were to be a blessing to all peoples on earth? This is HUGE and so often we neglect this very idea. We want to be blessed, but we are often hesitant to bless others with this blessing we have been given.

God did not say He would bless Abram so he could kick back and enjoy it. His intention is that the blessing He gives is to be used to bless others – all over the world!

How Achieved

Now that we see the purpose we have, let’s look at HOW we achieve it:

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Luke 6:38

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
2 Corinthians 9:6-8

Be The Jug!

Hopefully, you can see that we are all to be more like the jug in our giving. As we give, we are given more. This is the principle of the sower. As we are given more, we continue to give even more. This goes on an on.

This is not a prosperity gospel. This is about God giving more through us because we have giving hearts. This is about our hearts seeing His purposes and responding with our own giving.

I pray you will take these words and ponder them. Pray that God will show you where you are today and where he wants you to be. I promise He is faithful to do it.

Because I want to give you every opportunity to take action, I am going to tell you about an opportunity for you to give right now. My friend, Pastor Rajeev, does incredible work in Northern India where the Christian population is less than 2%. He is trying right now to raise the money he needs for his annual budget.

I encourage you to stop what you are doing right now and pray what God would have you to do for Pastor Rajeev. If you want to learn more about what God is doing through Rajeev, check out the links below. At the same time, don’t let your research distract you from the immediate need! Check them out:

Partners In Action Donation Page

True Life Mission Website

Gospel For India Blog

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Dream Team For Falcons?

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I want you to imagine for a moment that you are a fan of the Atlanta Falcons professional football team. You believe there is great hope in the upcoming season. You are intently following their offseason moves so you get a better idea of exactly HOW good the upcoming season will be. Then you see the following in the newspaper:

Falcons

5 New Star Falcons!

Your first thoughts are full of excitement and you can’t wait to see the names of these new stars on the team. As you read through the article, your mood changes. In fact, it gets downright maddening as you see the details of the new players that have been signed.

Why are you frustrated? As it turns out, your favorite team has signed five of the best players in the league. While that SHOULD be a good thing, the truth is it is not. Unfortunately for you, all five of the “all-star” players that were signed are quarterbacks!

What Are They Thinking?

Granted, with a possible exception here or there, these are arguably the best five quarterbacks in the league right now. There is no question they are the best. The problem is that no team needs five quarterbacks! Of course, the Falcons’ ownership realizes this…

Which is why they are planning to play these new stars on the offensive line.

Seriously? You can’t believe your eyes! What are they thinking?

Diversity Is Necessary!

Obviously, this is fiction – don’t get too worked up! But clearly, there is a huge point here relating to business, churches, and any other organization. The point here is that diversity is a major benefit to an organization and the lack of it can be just as deadly.

Think about it. Too many people with the same skills and talents, the same perspectives and opinions, etc. can be a good thing if your only goal is harmony. You won’t likely have many arguments or confrontations this way, but do you really think you will be more effective this way?

The problem with this picture is that most organizations have a variety of jobs that need to be done. Each of these jobs require differing skill sets and talents. Just like a football team has different positions that require different body types, sizes, flexibility, and speed, your organization cannot be effective if everyone is just alike.

Good At One, Good At Another?

While the five quarterbacks mentioned above are likely among the best at the quarterback position, they are not nearly big enough or strong enough to play on the offensive line. Even if they are better at their position than the current offensive line is at theirs, that does not mean it is a good idea to put them in this position.

Yet, often we do this very thing in our businesses. We see someone that is good at sales and just assume she is also good at managing other people. So we promote her without considering that these two jobs require very different skills and abilities.

I am sure you can think of similar examples of this kind of behavior in your organization. I can promise you we have made this mistake more than once. In fact, I have been guilty of this myself – with my own job.

My Own Job!

For years, I have tried to do certain parts of my job even though I am not very skilled at these parts of the job. I did them because I knew they had to be done and felt I was the only one who could do them.

Fortunately, during a one-on-one coaching session, my C12 chairman told me that I was not at all good at these parts of my job! He did not mince words, but told me exactly what I needed to hear. I am so thankful for this kind of wisdom and accountability!

I Followed The Advice

As a result, I have been on a search for someone that IS skilled at these tasks. I am determined I am not going to continue making the same mistake because I know how much it is limiting the success of our company.

Sure, it is certainly humbling to realize that I am not able to do everything our organization needs out of my position. I would love nothing more than to be able to fill this role in a way that takes the company to new heights. At the same time, I realize that God did not wire me that way.

My gifts and talents are absolutely useful in our company, just not in the roles I have been playing. I am okay with that.

Example From Scripture

Just so we are sure these principles are true and not just my opinion, let’s take a look at Scripture that backs this up.

If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
1 Corinthians 12:17-20

Can you see how this works in a business? This same principle that Paul describes as the body of Christ works for a business, non-profit organization, or any other group of people with a common purpose.

I would encourage you to look around your business (and in the mirror!) to see if you have the diversity of skills, perspectives, gifts, etc. that you need. If not, make a conscious effort to begin the process of correcting this problem. In my next post, we will look at how diversity may not be enough.

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How Productive Are You?

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I recently attended a meeting with other car dealers and one of the common topics of conversation was employee productivity. We discussed it from several angles and tried to quantify how much more value there is in a productive employee versus one that is not. When you look at the numbers, it is amazing the difference.

productive

Am I Productive?

As I thought about this idea, I wondered how productive I am on a consistent basis. I thought about the various distractions I have during a normal day and how those distractions often destroy my efforts to be productive! Have you ever experienced these distractions?

The more I thought about it, the more I felt guilty! The thought that struck me the most was the following question:

Would I be more productive if I knew I was being videotaped for all other employees to watch?

As I thought about this question, I realized that I would probably be embarrassed if everyone at our company knew how many times I allowed myself to be distracted in a given day. If they knew how often I was not very productive, they would probably hang me!

What about you? Would you be more productive if you were being watched? Can you think of areas where you allow distractions to keep you from being productive? Have you thought about this before?

How To Be More Productive

Immediately, my mind began working on this new problem. How can I begin eliminating the distractions that I encounter every day? How can I ensure more work is done per hour while I am at work? What precautions should I take to avoid distractions in the first place? How productive could I be if I faced 75% fewer distractions?

Maybe your mind does not work like this, but mine went into overdrive! Keep in mind that all I am describing happened in seconds in my head. I went from zero to sixty miles an hour in a few seconds!

My next step was to start listing my distractions. As I did this in my head, I came to a startling realization…

These distractions had names.

Specific Distractions!

When I say they had names, I do not mean names like “coffee break” or “Facebook” or anything like that. I mean they had actual names like “John” and “Barbara” and “Charlie” (actual names changed to protect the innocent!).

I realized that the majority of my “distractions” – the causes of those times when I was less productive – were actually people. These people, in most cases, are people I am impacting for eternity in one way or another. These people, if I am truly honest and focused on what’s most important, are not distractions at all!

Now What?

At this point I stopped. I quickly went from sixty miles an hour back down to zero. I just sat there, thinking. I imagine you might be doing the very same right now.

I will tell you right now that I do not have the answer to this problem. I cannot give you a simple, fact-based prescription to the problem of balancing relationships on the job with the off-setting reduction in productive time. If you know it and can present it concisely, please feel free to do so in the comment section below. We would all appreciate it!

What I can tell you is that the issue of begin productive is not as simple as it looked at the beginning of this post. Clearly, there is more to this than can be quantified with a ratio or metric from a financial statement.

Start At The Beginning

In an effort to sort through this, let’s review what we do know.

First, this world is temporary. That means that everything in this world is also temporary – including our jobs and businesses.

Second, people (our souls, not our physical bodies) are eternal. Even after this world is gone, we will continue to exist. Where, and with Whom, we exist depends upon where we place our trust during this life.

When we truly understand these two issues, it becomes more clear whether it is more important to be productive on our jobs or to impact others for eternity. There really is no arguing as to whether it is more important to produce an extra two widgets per hour or to point someone toward the God who loves them. Do we agree on that?

There’s More To It…

If it were only that simple then we would not even need to discuss this.

It is not that simple. Just consider the following Scripture:

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.
Ephesians 6:5-8

Working For Christ

In this passage, we are told to work as if we are working for Christ Himself. We are not necessarily excused from allowing distractions to keep us from being productive for our supervisors or the company owners – even if the distraction is an eternal one!

No, we cannot simply blow off our work because we see our “distractions” as eternal souls and want to point them to God. At the same time, we cannot ruthlessly eliminate all of our “distractions” for the purpose of being productive in a temporary pursuit. This has to be a Both/And effort rather than an Either/Or one.

Both/And Opportunity

We do not have to choose EITHER having an eternal impact on those around us OR being productive for our employers. While it will take creativity to make it work, it can happen that BOTH are achieved.

We need to do the best we can to BOTH eliminate all non-eternal distractions to increase our productivity AND respond to those around us in a way that points them to God. Take some time today and brainstorm this. Think about ways to increase your productive time AND to increase your influence on those around you.

I look forward to hearing about the results!

Are you as productive as you should be?

Do you have similar “distractions”?

What ideas have you come up with to balance productivity and eternal influence?

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Are You Guilty Of Irresponsibility?

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If you look around you today, you will see the effects of irresponsibility everywhere. Your context really doesn’t matter. Whether at home, in a business, in your community, or even in the nation, the effects of irresponsibility are evident. Likely, if you are not aware of this it is only because you have become numb to it over time.

irresponsibility

Irresponsibility Examples

Andy Stanley recently completed a series on this topic. In a very simple way, he defined irresponsibility as not taking responsibility for the those things you are responsible for! That’s easy enough to understand, right? While he didn’t really focus on how irresponsibility affects businesses, I think we can make the connection fairly easily.

Let’s first look at a couple of examples. In a home with teenagers, you will likely find dirty clothes, dirty dishes, empty pizza boxes, and other items scattered around the house. I am not sure how, but this can actually happen in a matter of seconds if you are not paying close attention!

In a business, you might see similar stuff if you look in the right places! More likely, you might notice someone working a shift for someone else who did not show up or maybe apologizing to a customer for a coworker’s lapse.

Look around your community. Is there litter? Maybe you see banners advertising a food drive that ended three months ago. It could even be something as simple as a lack of windshield wash and a bone-dry squeegee next to the gas pump at your gas station! That’s frustrating when you are traveling at night!

I don’t even have to go into detail about how irresponsibility shows up in a nation – you likely already know. And regardless of your political position, you are likely sick of it. At least you are sick of it if you are one of the more responsible ones who end up paying the bill for it.

Not A Neutral Problem

See, this is the whole problem with irresponsibility. Like Andy Stanley says, it is not a “neutral” problem. If one person shows irresponsibility, then another person has to shoulder the burden. Irresponsibility on the part of one person or group creates additional burden for another person or group.

If you read that last part too quickly, then you need to go back and read it again.

Irresponsibility is not neutral. It impacts everyone.

If a towel or dirty clothes are left on the floor, someone has to pick them up. If the restrooms are left uncleaned by those responsible for doing so, the rest of the employees will suffer from it through customers complaining or just leaving and not coming back.

I think you get the idea here. Irresponsibility creates burdens for others. It creates a void that has an effect on everyone involved. Sometimes this burden or void is obvious and other times it remains hidden. Either way, it is there.

What About Us?

Let’s turn this discussion to you and me. As business leaders or owners, we have responsibility for those that report to us. We are responsible to our supervisors or owners of the company.

Our responsibilities may include training and development of our team. Maybe we are responsible for the financial health of our department or company. Our responsibility may simply be to create reporting on the activities of the business and submit it to those responsible for the activities themselves.

Whatever our responsibility, what happens when we fail to do it? What is the impact on our team, department, or company when we are guilty of irresponsibility? Who pays the price?

Only Hurts Me?

As a business owner, I could argue that when I am irresponsible, I simply do not enjoy as much profit as I would if I were fully responsible. While that is certainly the truth, it is not at all the whole truth.

When I fail to do all that I am responsible for doing in my role, others suffer. If I fail in my responsibility to provide the tools and training that the sales department requires for success, then our sales numbers suffer. As this happens, the individual sales people on the team also suffer due to a reduced income.

Their families suffer because they were depending on that income to meet their own responsibilities. Maybe this causes them to save less for their child’s college. Maybe it is worse and they cannot afford to heat their home or put enough food on the table.

I could go on and on, but there is no need. You get it.

Christian Responsibility

Just to make sure you don’t relax, let’s up the ante a bit. Like I said, as a business owner or leader, you are responsible to others. But it gets even tougher because, as a Christian, you are ultimately responsible to God. And His standards are higher!

Not only are you responsible to those around you for the business roles you play, you are also responsible to God for the influence you have with them from an eternal perspective. In addition to your business responsibilities, you are also to live in such a way that points them to God.

Just as I did in my examples above, I encourage you to take 5-10 minutes and think about the consequences of your irresponsibility in the various areas that first come to mind. Think about the responsibilities you have as a parent, business leader, spouse, etc. and then think all the way through what would happen if you are guilty of irresponsibility in any of these areas.

As you think through these consequences, pray that God would open your eyes to see them at the critical moments just before irresponsibility rears its head. Pray for the foresight to see these critical moments as well as the courage and will to step up to your responsibility.

Where do you see your first signs of irresponsibility?

Who can you enlist to hold you accountable in this area?

When are you going to start stepping up?