Lots To Read

Let me explain. When I started this blog, I decided I was not going to write about theories or ideas. I had read a lot on the subject of Christian business by authors that I am sure were very well educated. The problem I saw was that some had never actually been in business themselves.

While I understood their theories and ideas (even agreed with most of them), I had a problem knowing they had never actually had to face the challenge of implementing those ideas. They had not faced the “whirlwind” of business that keeps many of us from being as effective as we want to be.

Application, Not Theory

As a result, I wanted to write from the perspective of one who was actually IN the business world and trying to implement the ideas I promoted. I wanted to write about application, not theory.

So that is what I did. I committed to only writing about processes we were actually trying in our business. In fact, I found the writing of the blog posts actually served as a form of accountability, keeping me focused on the application of ideas that otherwise may have faded over time.

Lapse In Effectiveness

Fast forward a few years and I have started to look around again. What I have found is not exciting to me. What I have realized is that some of the very processes and ideas that were once carried out regularly are no longer being performed. Either that or they are not as effective as they have been in the past.

If it was only about me, that may not be such a big deal.

People Depending On Application

However, I have come to find that there are many people depending on me to focus on the application of these ideas. Our entire employee base (whether they realize it or not) is relying on me to ensure the application of these processes. Their family members are depending on this. Our customers are also expecting this.

You, as a reader of this blog, trust that we are actually doing what I say we are doing. If I was promoting this blog as one of theory (not application), then you likely would not care as much. However, since I am saying the opposite, you should expect that the application of these ideas is in place.

Dangerous Clouds

So, the danger I described before, is that over time it is easy to get lost in the clouds when writing a blog. It is easy to get caught up in the coolest new idea that comes along rather than ensuring the application of that idea first.

I want to give an example from Scripture that illustrates this. While the analogy is not an exact fit, I think you will get the idea.

After He had said this, He was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took Him out of their sight. While He was going, they were gazing into heaven, and suddenly two men in white clothes stood by them.

They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen Him going into heaven.”
Acts 1:9-11

Disciples In The Clouds

In this passage, Jesus has just given instructions to the disciples and has ascended into the clouds, going to heaven. The disciples have things to do and instructions to follow, but what do they do? They stand there gazing into the empty sky.

What they were thinking about, no one really knows. They were probably reflecting on how cool it was to see Jesus ascend. They likely were thinking about what this ascension meant to their future. It is even possible they were wishing they could follow Him right then and skip all they had in front of them to do.

Thoughts Interrupted

Whatever the case, the two men in white clothes came along and interrupted their thoughts. Effectively, these two men told them to get their heads out of the clouds and get back to the tasks they had at hand!

I laugh every time I read this passage! I can imagine being in the disciples’ shoes and wanting to stand there gazing. I can imagine wishing to be following Jesus right then. In fact, to be honest, there are days I DO feel that way!

We Have Work To Do!

The problem is that we have work to do. Theories are good and we certainly can use new ideas in order to increase our ministry effectiveness. At the same time, the work must continue! We cannot get lost in the theory and forget the application!

It is not enough to say we added a step to our sales process at one time. We must make sure that step remains a part of the sales process for as long as it is effective. Allowing it to fade out while we pursue new ideas…this is a problem!

In the same way, applying something once that we have learned in our study of the Bible is not enough. We must maintain that application over time. It is not enough to say we studied or fasted once. We must keep up these disciplines.

Self-Assessment

I encourage you to do a self-assessment. Where do you rate yourself on a scale of 1-10 when it comes to application? Are you guilty of too much theory and not enough work? Have you allowed your gaze to shift to the clouds?

As I mentioned, I have noticed some cloud-gazing myself lately. As a result, I am committing to an increased focus on application. I hope you will do the same!

Where have you allowed application to lapse?

Are you ready to jump back in and get to work?

Where are you going to start?

Photo by Choreograph / iStock

Let’s make this easy. Below is a list of ways you can misuse prescription drugs. In addition to the explanation for each misuse is a parallel misuse of Scripture. See if any of these abuses hit home with you.

1. You forget to take it.

Prescription Drugs– You have the right prescription and you intend to take it at the right time, but you keep forgetting to take it. The pill bottle just sits there on your bedside table collecting dust. Do you have a realistic hope of getting better with this behavior?

Scripture – You know from experience or even from a recommendation that spending regular time reading Scripture will help you with whatever problem you have. You have a Bible and the freedom to read it when you want to, but you keep forgetting.

Of course, you know that if it was truly important to you, you would not forget. Instead, it appears that you are more comfortable in continuing to struggle. Either that, or you would rather get your “prescription” from a non-licensed physician. Maybe your friends or the latest self-help book really can give better advice than the Creator of the universe.

2. You apply it incorrectly.

Prescription Drugs– Your elbow is hurting. Rather than going back to the doctor for a new prescription, you decide to pull out the ointment you were given for athlete’s foot last year. You rub this ointment on your elbow for relief. Don’t think this never happens!

Scripture – This one can apply two ways. First, you have good intentions, but you simply do not yet have the skills required to properly apply what you are reading. Likely, you are simply misinterpreting what you are reading. Fortunately, in this case the Holy Spirit will be helpful and guide you in the right application if you will just ask for help.

The other way this can happen is when you have a particular solution in mind before you even search God’s Word. You search and search until you find a verse that could be taken out of context to fit your needs. An extreme example would be to use Genesis 38:15-16 to confirm your weekend plans!

3. You do not fill the prescription.

Prescription Drugs– You took the time to go to the doctor and have him prescribe something to give you relief from your ailment, but you really don’t have time to go to the pharmacy to fill the prescription. Maybe tomorrow. Really?

Scripture – A friend or mentor has told you that reading and meditating on a certain Psalm really helped them get over their similar problem. You have thought about taking the time to read that Psalm, but you have just been so busy. You really have not had time to read it. You will work on that next week.

4. You won’t even go to the doctor.

Prescription Drugs– You hurt and you know there is likely something that could bring you relief, but you don’t want to ask. The doctor may think you are weird or weak. Someone may find out that you are not the specimen of health you pretend to be.

Scripture – You work with someone that often mentions how specific Scriptures have helped her overcome struggles in her life. You have similar struggles, but you cannot bring yourself to ask her where to look in the Bible for help. She may think less of you if she knows you have these struggles. You will just figure it out on your own.

5. You do not ingest it.

Prescription Drugs– You have the right prescription and you remember to take it, but you are somewhat afraid to swallow it completely. Instead, you decide to lick it on a regular schedule. Do you really think this will work?

Scripture – In this case, you do take your Bible out and read it regularly. The reading part is not the problem, but you really are not confident enough to fully digest what you have read and apply it. Instead, you are hopeful that you will gain enough benefit just from coming in contact with God’s Word. You really are hoping that maybe you will get Holy Spirit Brownie Points for the effort!

Do any of these abuses sound familiar? Do you struggle with any of these abuses of Scripture?

I think these abuses may be more common than we think. At the same time, there is one way that abuses of prescription drugs and Scripture are different. In fact, I would venture to say that this specific form of abuse can cause opposite effects.

6. You take too much of the prescription.

Prescription Drugs– Your head really hurts more today than normal. You decide to take triple the recommended dose. Surely that will take the pain away three times as fast, right?

Scripture – You find that properly taken as directed, reading and applying God’s Word really works! In an effort to increase the effects, you decide to spend a lot more time reading and meditating on it. The funny thing is that this actually works even better!

The bottom line is that we need to treat the Scripture as if it has been prescribed to us and we should take it as directed. For some specific advice on this, check out the following Scripture and see if it is clear enough for you.

Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Psalm 119:11

James 1:22-25

Proverbs 3:1-2

2 Timothy 2:15

What is your experience with Scripture?

Are you guilty of abusing it in any of the ways listed?

What can you do to improve your track record?

Photo by svedoliver / iStock

Doubt and Frustration

If you have not read the last two posts, you need to start here with Part 1 and then read Part 2 here. Those posts will catch you up to this one.

At the time described in those posts, I recognized that I was in the wrong. I knew I was depressed and frustrated, but without real justification, during the two days of meetings. However, I did not see the depth of my problem. I was too focused on the circumstances to see the root.

Misdiagnosis

As I explained, I am very competitive! I do not like to lose and I saw the comparisons in that meeting as indications that I was losing. It created a deep frustration and anger at the picture on which I was focused.

Unfortunately, I did not see the root of this problem until reading over my Sunday School lesson the next week. The light slowly came on as I progressed through Sunday School and then listened to the sermon on the same topic.

As I read several examples of envy in the Bible, I began to recognize that it was the real root of my frustration.

Examples of Envy

As early as Genesis 4, envy shows up when Cain and Abel gave offerings to God. Abel’s offering pleased God, but Cain’s did not. This angered Cain and caused him to attack and kill his brother.

In Numbers 12:1, Miriam and Aaron began to criticize Moses for marrying a Cushite woman, but the real issue came out in verse 2. Here, they attacked Moses’ position of leadership, saying they should be sharing in it. Miriam was punished with leprosy for instigating this incident.

Later, you can read about King Saul and his envy of David in 1 Samuel 18. When the people sang about David’s conquests being greater than King Saul’s, this greatly angered King Saul. This envy eventually drove Saul to attempt to kill David on a couple of occasions.

My Issue Was Envy

More and more, I began to see how my attitude in those meetings was more about envy than being competitive. I could call it whatever I wanted to call it, but it looked just like envy when compared to the stories in the Bible.

No, I was not angry enough to want to attack anyone in the meetings! At the same time, I was certainly sideways to the point of not being able to learn and function the way I should have been. I just kept looking at the numbers and obsessing over the gap between ours and theirs. Is this really any different?

Problems With Envy

Just so you know how serious envy can be, I have compiled a short list of five problems you need to consider when faced with envy in your heart. As is normally the case, this is not an exhaustive list, but it is a good start. Maybe you can add to it in the comment section.

1. You are the one hurt the most.

Envy is not healthy and will eat you alive from the inside. In fact, Proverbs 14:30 calls it rottenness in the bones. Those you envy will never know it and will not be hurt by it. Envy as a weapon is best described as a boomerang!

2. You are thinking in scarcity terms.

This problem with envy is that it assumes a win for someone else is a loss for us. Their fortune is our misfortune. This is simply wrong thinking! God can bless us as He chooses. He does not have a limited number of blessings that He can dole out. Psalm 24:1 tells us that the entire earth is God’s – and everything in it! God’s economy is an abundance economy, not one of scarcity.

3. Things will only get worse.

James 3:16 tells us that envy leads to disorder and every kind of evil. You cannot stop the train of your emotions at envy. Once started, that train will plow through relationships, businesses, and any lives that get in its way.

4. You are telling God you do not trust Him.

When we envy others, we tell God that we do not trust His will for us. We scream to Him that we deserve more and that He must not be looking out for our best interests. We are more likely to grab the steering wheel from Him at this point and attempt to head in a different direction than He wills for us.

5. You are telling God that what He has given is not enough.

And saving the best for last, with our envy, we tell God that the blessings He has given us so far are not enough – beginning with our salvation through the cross of His Son Jesus! We are basically saying that we know we are blessed, but we want to be MORE blessed and He needs to get started on that right now!

What would you add to the list?

Have you battled envy?

How do you overcome envy in your life?

Photo by Oliver Hoffmann/iStock

Extraordinary Impact

Before I go any further, let’s first take a look at a scene where Jesus is looking to have extraordinary impact on those around Him. Jesus has come to his hometown to teach and perform miracles. In this case, He is unable – that’s right, UNABLE – to perform the miracles He desired. Let’s look at the following verses to see what was limiting His ability.

Then Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his household.” So He was not able to do any miracles there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He was amazed at their unbelief.
Mark 6:4-6

His Power Limited!

Did you see that? Jesus, the Son of God and all-powerful, “was not able” to perform miracles. Why? Because of the unbelief of the people there in his hometown!

As I read this passage, I notice that it does not say that Jesus chose not to perform. It says He was UNABLE to perform the miracles. That is some serious limiting of power coming from a behavior that many of us take too lightly. We are all guilty of it to one extent or another.

Our Unbelief

For some, this unbelief comes in underestimating God’s power to transform people. For others, we exhibit our unbelief when we begin to doubt our calling or question whether we are “good enough” to carry out what we believe God has led us to do.

Whatever the circumstances when we fall, slide, or dive into this state of unbelief, we are immediately limiting the power of God in our situation. We are creating the very results (little to none!) that we fear!

What Is The Solution?

So, what is the solution? How can we weaken or eliminate the strength and frequency of this behavior of unbelief? How do we move from unbelief to belief, unleashing the full power of God in our businesses as well as our personal lives?

While there may be some deeper issues that you need to address, I will give you four actions that I believe (and have proven) will work to increase your belief. These four actions are very simple in nature, but powerful in practice. If you will create habits within each of the four areas, you will most definitely reduce the power of unbelief in limiting your impact!

#1 – Read The Bible!

I am fairly sure you knew this was going to be one of the actions I would recommend. Well, you were right because it is THE most effective way to increase your belief. You need to read about the various flawed characters in the Bible and how God was faithful to use them for miraculous results, despite their weaknesses.

Unbelief creeps in when we begin to doubt whether God can or will act on our behalf. When we read about how He HAS done this for others that were just as screwed up as we are, we begin to believe He will do it for us as well. Take some time and go see what I am talking about.

#2 – Start A Journal!

Too many people underestimate the power of a personal journal. They feel it is a waste of time and they are already too limited on time. Unfortunately, these people are missing out on an incredible source of reassurance and confidence.

When you journal, you are writing about what is happening in your life from day to day. As God acts on your behalf (you know when it happens!), you document it and share your feelings of excitement and wonder. While it is fresh, you write in your own words how your belief is strengthened right then.

The power in this habit is best shown when you later hit a period of unbelief. Immediately, you grab your journal and begin reading about past experiences when God was faithful…in your own words! You cannot argue with your own experience and so your belief is strengthened again.

#3 – Join With Other Believers

Whether you join a small group of believers for the purpose of accountability, Bible study, discipleship, or other support needs, you will find a gold mine of opportunity to strengthen your belief. As you spend time with other believers in a small group, you will hear multiple stories about how God is moving in the lives of the group members.

So even when you are feeling like God has left you all alone and your unbelief begins to creep in, there will be another member in that group that can share a similar experience where God showed up and showed off. Most likely, you will even remember when it happened and how excited they were at the time. Watching God act in the lives of those close to us is a great builder of belief.

#4 – Ask For Help!

In Mark 9, Jesus is approached by a man requesting that He heal his son. Jesus says anything is possible for the one who believes. The man answered, “I do believe! Help my unbelief.” At first glance, this response is confusing, but I think I understand.

The father believed Jesus was special. Like us, he knew Jesus had the power to perform whatever miracle He wanted. However, also like us, he seemed to have some doubt about whether Jesus would perform a miracle for him. So rather than trying to act like he had full belief, the man admitted his weakness and asked Jesus for help. We must do the same!

Unbelief is something you will most likely deal with at one time or another. It creeps up on all of us. If you will take action in each of the four areas above, I believe you will find you are able to overcome the unbelief. In doing so, you will find God is able to increase your impact.

How much is unbelief limiting your impact?

Do you believe that God’s impact through you could increase?

Which of these 4 actions will you implement for greater impact?

Photo by g-stockstudio/iStock

Rich Young Ruler

Before I explain the application I see in this story, let’s revisit the passage about this rich young ruler. This wealthy young man has asked Jesus what he must do to have eternal life. Jesus first responds with a list of commandments he should follow. Then the young man responds:

He said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these from my youth.”

Then, looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, “You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”

But he was stunned at this demand, and he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.
Mark 10:20-22

Possessions = Obstacles

When most people read this story, they assume it is about money or possessions. In fact, that is not the point of the story at all. The key take-away is that Jesus knew what was standing in between the rich young ruler and a life of fully committed discipleship.

For this young man, it was not a matter of obvious sin from breaking the commandments Jesus listed at first. No, for this young man, it was his possessions that owned him. They were destroying his chance at a meaningful relationship with Jesus. Jesus recognized this and required that he let go of that wealth first, before he could follow Him.

“Possessions” Before God

The lesson we must learn from this story is that each of us may have different “possessions” that we are placing before God in priority. As Christian business owners and leaders, there seem to be a number of these “possessions” that we have in common. If we are to live lives of fully committed discipleship, then we must be willing to let go of them.

Of course, I cannot possibly list all possible “possessions” that might be keeping you from a life of committed discipleship. Instead, I have chose what I believe are 5 of the most common for people in our positions. Take a look at pray about which of these resonate with you.

#1 – Pride In Success

It is one of the easiest traps to fall into when you are in business. We are typically wired to achieve and accomplish feats that others avoid. As a result, it is sometimes easy to begin feeling a pride in what we have accomplished.

Even worse, we begin to seek that feeling just as if we are addicted to a drug. This desire for pride in our success begins to bleed into our decisions and subconscious thoughts. If we are not willing to let go of this pursuit, we will head in a different direction from Jesus and His desire for our lives.

#2 – Desire For Luxury

When business is good, the financial results can be plentiful. Despite our best efforts to remain untouched by the desire for more, better, bigger, and nicer things, it is not uncommon for us to succumb to the draw of luxury. This is especially true when our peers (the Jones’) are living it up!

Jesus does not call wealth a sin. The sin appears when it becomes our god. This was the problem for the rich young ruler and it is a problem for many business leaders. We must be intentional about avoiding this yearning at every turn if we want our hearts to remain in Him.

#3 – Fear Of Loss

Depending on when you were born, this “possession” may be more of a problem for you than most others. Those that are Baby Boomers or older will be most susceptible to this issue. Having lived through the Great Depression or having been raised by someone that has can create a serious fear of loss. Recognizing that wealth is fleeting can drive a person to hold onto it with an even stronger grip.

This drive is different than the drive for luxury or the desire for success. It causes one’s every thought to revolve around holding onto worldly wealth. It makes it difficult to take risks for God out of fear of the consequences. If we are to live the life of a fully committed disciple, then we must get rid of this “possession” and be willing to risk it all for Him!

#4 – Hedging Your Bets

It is not unusual for business owners to see risk in various segments of their industry. In order to reduce the risk of excessive loss, they decide to diversify. They spread their investments across several different segments in an effort to hedge their bets.

This same strategy can bleed over into our personal lives. If we have doubts about God or have not yet cully committed our lives to Him, then we might choose to “hedge our bets” by splitting our commitment between the promises of this world and the things of God. This lack of full commitment is exactly what Jesus addressed in Revelation 3:16. We must quit dividing our commitments and go all in, one way or the other!

#5 – Favor Of Men

If there was one group of people Jesus challenged more than any other, it was the religious leaders. Their problem was that they were more concerned with gaining the favor of men than that of God (John 12:42-43). Their actions reflected their desire to gain the respect and favor of the people. As business leaders, we are often guilty of the same mindset.

When we make decisions based on how it will affect our popularity or reputations rather than our understanding of God’s leading, then we are putting this “possession” ahead of Him. We must let go of this desire and focus instead on what we believe God would have us do, regardless of the impact on our popularity!

What “possessions” are you holding onto?

Are any of these “possessions” causing you trouble?

What should be your next actions?

Photo by LeszekCzerwonka/iStock

Jesus On Hypocrisy

Some of Jesus’ favorite targets on the topic of hypocrisy were the religious leaders at that time. Some of His strongest language came when He was addressing them. It clearly made Jesus angry to see how they were leading His children astray. Unfortunately, I believe the same would be true if Jesus were to speak to us today.

But before you start looking at our current religious leaders and imagining what Jesus would say to them, let’s make sure we include ourselves in this group. If you claim to be a Christian and you hold a leadership position of any sort, He would also be talking to you!

As I said earlier, it is fortunate that we can take Jesus’ words to the religious leaders at that time and apply them today. In fact, in one passage we will review today, there are 4 practices we can avoid that will significantly reduce our hypocrisy as Christian leaders. You can read the full passage here: Matthew 23:1-10.

Practice #1 – Word And Actions Don’t Match

The first practice Jesus mentions is in verse 3. Here He says that the religious leaders do not practice what they preach. Have you heard that before? Maybe you have even told someone, “Do as I say, not as I do.” While there may be situations where that line is appropriate, the truth is that this mindset looks like hypocrisy to everyone else.

As Christians in business, we cannot afford to say one thing and do another. Not only does it erode our credibility with our team, but it also pushes non-believers away from Jesus. When we claim a relationship with Jesus without corresponding actions that confirm that relationship, then we are guilty of the hypocrisy that made Jesus so angry.

Action Step #1 – Make sure your words and actions match – walk your talk!

Practice #2 – Not Willing To Do Or Help

The next practice of hypocrisy that Jesus addresses is in verse 4. He accuses the religious leaders of giving “heavy, cumbersome” work to the people while refusing to join in and help. Have you ever worked for someone like that? Did you see that as hypocrisy?

I am not suggesting that you begin doing the entry level work in your organization. In fact, I have written before how that can be counter-productive. What I am saying is that we should be willing to do it on occasion AND we should make sure our team has whatever resources they need in order to do their work.

I also believe Jesus is directing us to do our share of the work in the business. Sure, our work will be different than that of others, but it is work just the same. We cannot afford to push all the heavy loads to someone else and then kick back and relax, unwilling to “lift a finger” to help.

Action Step #2 – Do your part; make sure they have help with their part.

Practice #3 – Everything Done Is For Show

The next practice of hypocrisy that we need to avoid is in verse 6. Here, Jesus calls out the religious leaders for doing everything they do to be seen by the people. He points out that their actions have no substance, but are only intended to draw attention to themselves. Can you see this kind of behavior in the business world?

If we are to be disciples of Jesus in the marketplace, then we must avoid this behavior at all costs. We must make sure our work, our efforts, have substance. We need to stop worrying about drawing attention and begin working as if Jesus were our only boss (Colossians 3:23). If we will focus our efforts there, then we will avoid this practice of hypocrisy.

Action Step #3 – Work as if working directly for Jesus, not for show.

Practice #4 – Desire Is For Titles, Admiration

The final verses we will look at are verses 6-7. Jesus scolds the religious leaders for their love of titles and admiration. Rather than seeking to honor God, these leaders did everything in their power to gain the honor for themselves. I know you have seen this same type of behavior in the workplace.

Have you behaved this way? It is an easy trap to fall into, but it is one we must work hard to avoid. God is the one that is to get the credit for all we do. Our work should be done in such a way as to point others to Him, not to ourselves. He alone deserves it!

Action Step #4 – Work to point others to Jesus.

Pray For Direction

While there are certainly more ways to lead with hypocrisy in the business world, I believe avoiding these four practices will give you a great start. Take the time to pray through each and ask God to prick your heart where there needs to be change. You may even be bold enough to ask for accountability from your peers in these areas!

Looking in the mirror, which of these behaviors do you see?

Knowing how destructive they can be, are you prepared to change them?

How do you ensure you never fall into the habit of these behaviors?

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If you have been following this series on the command to Christian business leaders to be teachers, then you have probably been waiting to hear exactly HOW we are to do this. While I cannot adequately cover ALL of the HOW of teaching in one post, I believe I can get you started on the right path. You can figure out the rest with God’s leading!

[This is the fifth and final post in a series about how Christian leaders are commanded to be teachers. In the first post, we looked at the actual command to be teachers. In the next post, we discussed what it means to be a skilled worker, correctly handling God’s Word. After that, we looked at being a godly example. In the most recent post, we determined our GOAL for teaching. Today, we will learn from Paul’s instruction on HOW we are to teach.].

Before we get into today’s post, I encourage you to read the last post if you have not already. The reason this is so important is that much of the issues we address today are caused by having the wrong understanding of our ultimate goal as teachers. The last post addresses this issue and should put you in the right mindset to be able to avoid the temptations we will discuss today.

Scripture Foundation

Let’s start by going back to the Scripture we have been using in this series. We are looking at 2 Timothy 2:14-26, breaking it apart into various pieces. Today, we will focus on the following verses:

But reject foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they breed quarrels. The Lord’s slave must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient, instructing his opponents with gentleness.
2 Timothy 2:23-25

Let’s dive in to the three keys to teaching!

Key #1 – Be Humble

Not necessarily going in the order that it appears in the verses, I want to start with our first point by looking at the beginning of verse 24 when we are referred to as the Lord’s slave. This is a key reference that we need recognize.

Sometimes we read right past critical parts of Scripture and miss key ideas. We cannot miss this one! In this case, Paul refers to us as slaves. This is very important because it is addressing a potential root problem with teachers. If we miss this, we could easily fall into a trap and undermine our own teaching.

Paul is making sure we know that we are to be humble and resist the temptation to think more highly of ourselves than we ought. When we begin teaching, it is easy to begin thinking we are smarter, more aware, or have greater insight than those we are teaching. We have to fight this tendency, remembering that we are indeed slaves.

Key #2 – Be Gentle And Patient

Paul tells us to be patient. He tells us twice that we are to be gentle. Why would he do this? Is it in our nature to be otherwise? Is it possible that he felt the urge to be less than gentle in his teaching moments? Take a look at the following example from Paul himself as he is writing to the members of the church at Corinth:

Brothers, I was not able to speak to you as spiritual people but as people of the flesh, as babies in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food, because you were not yet ready for it. In fact, you are still not ready, because you are still fleshly. For since there is envy and strife among you, are you not fleshly and living like unbelievers?
1 Corinthians 3:1-3

I think it is clear Paul was experiencing a desire to be less than gentle and patient. Can you sense that? Have you ever felt that way? Why is this true? For the answer, take a look at this verse from another teacher in Ecclesiastes:

For with great wisdom comes great frustration; whoever increases his knowledge merely increases his heartache.
Ecclesiastes 1:18

As you start to become more skilled with God’s word, your wisdom will grow. As this happens, not only will you be tempted to be proud in your wisdom (see Point #1 above), but you will also become frustrated with those you are attempting to teach. Paul knew this and made sure to warn us of this tendency!

Key #3 – Focus On The Truth

The final point from this passage is for us to focus on the truth and not get caught up in false arguments – or “foolish and ignorant disputes” as Paul calls them. Why does he instruct us to do this?

It is too easy to get drawn into arguments about insignificant issues and then lose track of the original intent of the discussion. As I was told growing up, we get too busy fighting alligators and forget we came to drain the swamp!

When we allow ourselves to be drawn into these side arguments, we lose our focus on the truth we are to be teaching. Church members are probably the best at this, but business people can hold their own in this category! We may not argue about the color of the carpet or the kind of music that is best, but we can still find petty issues to draw our attention away.

Instead of allowing this to happen, we are to “reject” these arguments altogether. Do not even enter into them. Instead, we are to maintain a focus on the truth we are to be teaching. Don’t give yourself permission to even entertain these irrelevant disputes.

Summary

Hopefully, you have learned more about your responsibility as a teacher of the Word of God through reading this series. I also hope you are encouraged by the material we have covered. I urge you to seek God’s leading on where you can ramp up your teaching. He is faithful to answer this request!

Is teaching something you enjoy or will you have to work at it?

With which of these three keys do you struggle?

Are you more open to teaching now?

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Skilled Worker Required

It has been several years now since we moved into our new Honda building. It was a huge renovation project that took nine months and almost 150 different skilled workers to accomplish. While many would see this as a fairly simple project, I can tell you that it was much more complex than it looked. Without the efforts of those involved, it would never have happened.

Why do I say skilled workers? Sure, there were some intricate jobs like laying the ceramic tile or doing the metal work on certain pieces of custom fixtures. Either of these jobs should qualify as requiring a skilled worker, right? But what about the guys that were sweeping the floors every day. What about the one’s demolishing the walls and old fixtures at the beginning? Are these really “skilled workers”?

Skilled Worker?

In my opinion, they are. If the superintendent had handed me a broom and asked me to be one of the sweepers, I would have required much more information. I would need to know when I was to sweep. Sweeping at the inappropriate time could be dangerous to my health if that was the same time a wall was being torn down.

I would also need to know where to sweep from and where to sweep to. I would need to know what to sweep up and what to leave behind. If sweeping a large area, I would want to know the most efficient way to do it as well, right? All of this information is already known by a skilled worker. He would require no instruction and would correctly handle the job.

Teacher Of God’s Word

The same is true of a teacher of God’s Word. Before we dig into this, let’s look at the Scripture I am drawing from:

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15

We Are To Be Skilled!

We discovered in my last post that we are all commanded (in the Great Commission) to be teachers. While there will be different settings for each of us, HOW we teach should be the same. I don’t mean our methods, but instead I am saying that we are all to be skilled workers when it comes to teaching others about God and His Word.

The first step in becoming a teacher is to get to know the subject matter. If we are going to attempt to pour into others, we must have something to pour, right? This “something” is a working knowledge of God’s Word. In fact, we should have such a strong knowledge that we are “not ashamed” of that knowledge (or the lack of it)!

Easy 3-Step Process?

How do we do this? Is there a silver bullet? Maybe there is an easy 3-step process or a quick six-week program I can zip through? Maybe I can get an app on my phone that will basically do it for me?

NO! NO! NO!

Be Diligent!

I am truly sorry to burst your bubble, but this knowledge is only going to come through consistent reading, studying, and meditating upon God’s Word. In fact, Paul tells Timothy at the beginning of verse 15 above, “Be diligent”. The path to correctly handling and teaching the Word of truth is not an easy one.

It requires a strong commitment of daily immersion in the Word. It comes through applying what you have learned and seeing the challenges that come as a result. It comes through trials and tests in which you have relied upon the Word to survive. It only happens if you are familiar with the Word because it is central to how you live your life.

Yes, you can teach without knowing all of this about the Word. But can you be a skilled worker? Can you present yourself to God in this way without being ashamed? I don’t think so. In fact, I would not want to try!

Ramp It Up!

I encourage you to ramp up your study of the Bible. If you are already doing it on a daily basis and you are applying what you learn as you walk through life, then congratulations. You are likely already teaching it as well.

If you are not already doing this, then I urge you to start (or restart). Dig back into His Word and begin to learn what He has to say to you. Do it in such a way as to be a skilled worker when the opportunity comes to teach someone else! You will not be ashamed then!

Do you already consider yourself a skilled worker with the Bible?

If not, what is your plan to change that?

Who are you going to ask to hold you accountable?

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Hard Work

A number of years ago, with our children entering middle school, she went back to school to get her Master’s degree in education. She had not studied education as a undergraduate, so she had to take extra courses in order to earn her teaching certificate along with the Master’s degree. This was incredibly hard work and she met the challenge head on (with excellent grades, I might add)!

Immediately after graduation, she started as a 2nd grade teacher at a local elementary school. She was not sure (at the time!) if 2nd grade would be the best age for her, but she was excited to get to work and teach! I knew she would be good at it, but I truly had no idea exactly how good.

An Incredible Teacher!

I honestly wish I could I could describe the pride in my heart and the emotion in my throat as I think about exactly HOW great she is at being a teacher. It is not possible for me to communicate the depth of her commitment to these kids and to their education. It is truly an emotional experience for me to watch.

I know I am biased, but there is simply no way I am overstating the impact she is having as a teacher. I promise that her students will look back as adults in a couple of decades and credit her for whatever changed in them while they were in her class. I am confident of this!

What Is The Application?

Now, you are probably asking what this could possibly have to do with business and Christian faith. That is a good question! Let me explain.

There is no doubt that my wife is gifted by God to be a teacher. It comes naturally to her. She LOVES what she does and cannot imagine doing anything else. The work she puts in after hours and on weekends does not seem like work to her.

Not A Teacher?

Many Christian business leaders might look at someone like my wife and point to her gifting. Doing so, they might claim that they have no such gifting. For them, being a teacher is not exciting. Depending on their perception of the job requirements or the size of the crowd, it may even scare them!

Some may not fear teaching, but simply think they do not have the time. Others may feel they are not enough of an expert to be a teacher. There are many excuses we come up with to explain why we don’t play the part of a teacher.

Commanded To Teach!

Because of these thought processes, many Christians ignore the fact that we are in fact commanded by Jesus himself to be teachers! Instead of accepting this command, we may tend to rely on others to be the teachers. We claim all sorts of other activities to show that we are making a difference. We think this earns us a bye when it comes to teaching.

The bottom line is that we are all to be teachers.

Gifting Not Required

Now, some of you will argue with me about this. You may say that Paul says not all of us are given the gift of teaching. In this case, we are on the same page. I agree that not all are given the gift of teaching. Yet, I think we are all commanded to do it anyway.

Stick with me and let me explain my position before you close out this post and move on. If you finish this series and still feel the same way, then we will simply agree to disagree. No harm, no foul!

Commanded?

Most likely we are all familiar with the Great Commission. Jesus was speaking to the disciples (and, I believe, to all of us as believers) when he said the following (emphasis added by me):

Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and TEACHING them to obey all I have commanded you.
Matthew 28:19-20

If you believe the Bible to be the inerrant Word of God and that this verse is directed to all believers, then you accept that you are to be a teacher. I do not see any way around this. It is right there in black and white.

Perception Of Being A Teacher

Now, the problem most people have is with their perception of the word teacher. When I say all of us are to be teachers, many assume that means they are to be in a typical classroom (at school, church, etc.) and are to teach a room full of students (youth, adults, etc.).

This is not so. When I sit down with a salesperson and give them advice on how they can improve their performance, I am a teacher. When I spend ten minutes giving a simple devotion to a small group of employees at work, I am a teacher. The size of the audience and the setting are both irrelevant. There are endless combinations of situations where I can show I am a teacher.

More To It!

Of course, to fulfill the Great Commission, there is more to it than the above examples. Hopefully, you are interested in digging further into this idea. If so, you will be glad to know that I will spend the next several posts doing just that.

My hope is that you are excited to see your role as a teacher once we have completed this series. If nothing else, I pray you have begun to seek God about this, asking Him to reveal to you how He wants you to be a teacher.

Stay tuned!

Gifted or not, do you see yourself as a teacher?

Who do you see as your student(s)?

Who has been a teacher to you?

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God’s Plans Vs. Ours

In my last two posts, I have been describing how sometimes God’s plans for us do not turn out like we had imagined. Sometimes we picture ourselves doing something amazing for God, only to see those plans come to nothing. It is easy for us to allow this to create problem-thinking in our minds and react in a way that can take us out of the game for a period.

By looking at an example from Scripture (2 Samuel 7:1-29), we have been trying to dig in and learn a few lessons. In this example, King David’s plans to build a great temple for the Lord are rejected in favor of his son. Instead of building the temple, David is only involved in gathering the materials needed.

God Chooses Our Use!

We discussed in the first post in this series that this is part of submitting to the sovereignty of God. He has wisdom that we will never understand. He has plans for us that may include sowing seeds when we wanted to be the one reaping the harvest. Maybe He wants us to water the seeds when we would rather sow them.

Whatever the case, we must recognize His authority and the fact that He knows best. David did this. He accepted that God was to use his son Solomon to build the temple. He submitted to God’s plan and went on to provide the materials for the temple.

Motives To Be Pure!

In the next post, we discussed how we often want to do for God, but we have impure motives. We say we want to serve Him, but sometimes we really want the respect and renown that comes with serving Him.

David was different. A man after God’s own heart, he had no signs of impure motives for building the temple. Instead, he thanked God for what He had done and promised to do. We need to follow David’s example in this.

David’s Reaction To Rejection

Today, I want to look at what David went on to do after the rejection. Unlike the toddler in the grocery store, David handled the rejection from God as very few can. Rather than complain and question God, David took it in stride. He did not react with a tantrum, only submission.

David did not step off to the side and sulk. He did not question his purpose or get distracted from his mission. In fact, in the following passage, he went on to gather the materials needed for the temple:

With all my resources I have provided for the temple of my God—gold for the gold work, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron and wood for the wood, as well as onyx for the settings, turquoise, stones of various colors, and all kinds of fine stone and marble—all of these in large quantities.

Besides, in my devotion to the temple of my God I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the temple of my God, over and above everything I have provided for this holy temple…
1 Chronicles 29:2-3

God Uses David After “No”

Not only that, but you need to read 2 Samuel 8 as well. It is a laundry list of David’s victories and conquests after the rejection. God was not through with David when he rejected his plan for the temple. He just had other ways he wanted to use David.

Again, we need to follow David’s example in how he reacted to the rejection. If we can take “No” in stride and keep serving as David did, I believe God can use us in ways we cannot even imagine right now. We simply have to trust Him!

How have you reacted to God’s “No”?

Looking back, how would you change your reaction?

What have been the results?

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