Will You be Ashamed or Have Boldness?

I was 13 years old, working for my father in the Parts Department of our family automobile business. Surrounded by grown men, mostly auto technicians, I was eager to fit in. I desperately wanted to shed the image of the typical “boss’s kid.” Unfortunately, at an inopportune moment, I did not expect my father to appear. My reaction was predictable!

I had recently been initiated into an ongoing game between the technicians and the parts employees. The technicians took their grease rags, balled them up, and wrapped them in tape. Anytime a parts employee left the window open between the two departments, the technicians would bomb the opening with rag balls.

As the parts employee assigned to that window, I learned quickly how to play the game. I began hoarding rag balls, preparing to mount my offensive at the right time. I could not wait to see how they would react when I threw open the door to their department and began flinging rag balls at them!

When that time finally arrived, I did exactly as I had planned. I had untucked my shirt in the front and used it as a basket to carry 10-15 rag balls for my assault. I threw open the door and came out slinging rag balls. As I scanned the shop from one technician to the next, looking for targets, my eyes locked on an unexpected target.

My father had chosen that moment to step into the shop to check on the work being done. I could not believe my eyes. I was completely frozen in shock. Of course, he had a pretty unusual look on his face as well. After what seemed like 5 minutes, he pointed at me and told me to meet him in his office.

I won’t take any more time describing how I felt or the way I walked as I headed to his office (after dumping the rag balls in the trash can!). I think you can imagine how the rest of the scene looked. It was not pretty, though the technicians did get the last laugh!

Have Boldness when Jesus Appears

Why in the world would I tell this story?  

What could this disaster possibly have in common with Christian faith and work?

Glad you asked!  

In 1 John 2:28, we find a very similar description of what it could look like for us at Jesus’ appearing. It appears there are two possibilities for our reaction on that day:

So now, little children, remain in Him, so that when He appears we may have boldness and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.

1 John 2:28

I don’t know about you, but I have had one too many times when I was ashamed at my father’s appearing. I will never forget that moment or the surprise, embarrassment, and shame that I felt. John mentions this same shame as a possible reaction to the time when Jesus appears. He also mentions another option!

John says we can “have boldness” when Jesus appears!  

Does that excite you? Does it cause you to ask HOW that can happen?  

It certainly gets my attention!

How to be Bold

Let’s take a look at another passage that I believe gives us insight into HOW we can have boldness when Jesus appears. In fact, this same passage is found twice, in Matthew 24:44-51 as well as Luke 12:40-48. Here is the critical part for this discussion:

Who then is a faithful and sensible slave, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give them food at the proper time? That slave whose master finds him working when he comes will be rewarded.

Matthew 24:45-46

If we want to have boldness when Jesus appears, then we must be doing the work that He gave us to do. As Christian business leaders, our work looks a little different from that of others. In order for us to do the work He gave us to do (and have the boldness we seek), we must follow these three steps:

Step #1 – Determine Your “Household”

I believe you and I have been given a specific “household” and we are put in charge of it. This household is larger than just our immediately family. For Christian business leaders, this household includes those that make up our business – the employees, their families, and even those in our community.  

If we are to do the work He gave us to do, we must know who it is that is in our household. The number of people will be different for you than it is for me, but it is not the number that matters. Just look at the Parable of the Talents to see this truth. What matters is that we know our household and are faithful to it.

Step #2 – Give Them Their “Food”

Assuming you have defined your household, then the next step is to give them their “food.” While I believe this food also refers to meeting physical needs, I believe the more important responsibility we have is to tell them about the Bread of Life (John 6:35).  

We are not in business for the sole purpose of providing for our family’s well-being and comfort. We have been given a household to watch over and to feed. If you want to have the boldness (and not the shame) that John describes when Jesus appears, then you need to make sure you are doing this work.

Step #3 – Remain Diligent

I will not attempt to break down and interpret the part of the passage that follows in Matthew 24:48-51. Whatever you find that to mean in this context, it is not pretty. It is clear that we are not to grow tired of our work and turn to the wickedness described. If you read about the third servant in the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:24-30), it also clear that doing nothing at all is just as bad.

The only option that leads to having boldness when Jesus appears is to remain diligent in our work. There will be times when running a business as a platform for Christian ministry will be frustrating, tiring, and downright scary. In these times, we are to turn to the One who gave us this work and draw the necessary strength from Him.

Follow these three steps in your business and you too can have boldness when Jesus appears! That is a feeling I look forward to experiencing!

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