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?

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Building Sand Castles

What usually happens is that the kids get started in the smooth, hard-packed sand when the tide is out. I guess this offers a better foundation and is easier to build upon.

They have their buckets and shovels and make frequent trips back and forth to the water. As they form walls and parapets and moats, they seem like they are in another world. In fact, the kids can stay like this for hours if allowed. Sometimes they will even try to miss a meal to keep going!

The problem comes later when the tide starts coming in. Initially, the water starts attacking the base of the castle, eroding the walls. Eventually, the waves overrun the walls and fill the moats with such force that the whole castle is destroyed. Within hours, there is no sign a castle ever existed there.

Not As Exciting For Parents?

My question – why is this not as exciting for parents as it is for the kids? Sure, there is an element of excitement for a parent as they see their kids having fun. But why don’t parents do this without their kids? Why aren’t the kids begging to go back to the room while the parents continue to work on the sand castle?

I am convinced that parents understand how meaningless it is to work hard to create something that will certainly be destroyed within hours. I believe, whether they consciously consider it or not, they know it is meaningless because they will have nothing to show for their work the next day.

Does this make sense? Do you think this same idea may also apply to our work in the marketplace? Have you ever stopped to think about it?

Work Is Meaningless

The author of Ecclesiastes (likely Solomon) certainly thought about this. In fact, he sought all there was in life – all pleasures, wealth, work, etc., and found that all of it was meaningless.

“Absolute futility,” says the Teacher. “Everything is futile.”
Ecclesiastes 12:8

Many of us have found the same to be true about our work at first. For some, revelation that there was more to it came at an early age. For others, this revelation came later. For many, they cannot see it.

The truth is that (according to Scripture) your work, in and of itself, is meaningless. All that you work for and achieve in this world will burn one day and there will be no reward for it in eternity. Whether you like it or not, this is what the Bible says. Check out 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 to see the basis for this.

There Is Hope!

Fortunately, there is another verse in Ecclesiastes that gives us hope. If this is true, then we can hope to bring more people to the realization that all work is not meaningless.

He has also set eternity in the human heart;
Ecclesiastes 3:11

God put eternity in our hearts. The way I understand this, there is an eternal hole or void in our hearts. We have it from birth and nothing can fill it but Him. No work, wealth, pleasure or achievement can fill that void, no matter how hard we try.

Eternal Perspective

However, once we fill that void through a salvation experience with Jesus, all sorts of opportunities open up to us. Suddenly, our work CAN matter! It is no longer meaningless if we approach it from an eternal perspective!

We first need to realize that our work, to the extent that it points others to God and a relationship with His Son, can have eternal meaning AND create eternal reward! Once we realize this, we can begin working through our jobs and businesses to have impact on people for eternity.

Share With Others!

Then, as we gain more clarity on how this works, we need to begin sharing this realization with others. Can you imagine what it could look like if all the Christians you know in the business world began doing their jobs and running their businesses with an eternal purpose?

I can tell you that this very idea is what drives me to keep writing this blog. It is the hope that others can come to the realization that their work does not have to be meaningless. It can have a dramatic eternal impact if they will simply turn it over to God and follow His lead!

Have you come to this realization regarding meaningless work?

If so, who have you shared it with?

If not, I encourage you to pray about it! Will you?

Photo by Vladimir_Timofeev / iStock

Why Is That?

Why are we like that?

What, you think you are any different? You think you are much more sensitive to your surroundings and if you lived near such beauty, you would always make time to enjoy it? I have to argue against you on that one.

Instead, I bet you are living near something just as beautiful now. You just don’t see it that way. Likely, you noticed it at one time, but it has simply become something you take for granted. It no longer grabs your attention, but it is still beautiful to someone who has never seen it before.

New Gets Old Fast

The problem is that we lose excitement quickly. When opportunities come our way for something new and exciting, we are eager to engage. In some cases, this eagerness lasts for weeks or even months, but at one point or another, it fades. The opportunity becomes mundane and no longer interests us.

Now I come to my main point. Your job or business is likely the same way. At one time, you saw the work you do as a magnificent opportunity to get fulfillment and hopefully, serve God in ministry through that job.

Opportunity Excitement Faded

At one time, you got up in the morning with just as much excitement about the opportunity at work as you have had when heading off on vacation. Ideas were floating through your head about how you could minister here or there and how God could use you for eternal impact.

Then time happened. You weren’t thinking about it, but something changed and you no longer see the magnificent opportunity for Christian ministry through your business. Instead, you are beginning to see your job as a mundane obligation.

What went wrong? What did you do to cause this?

We Stopped Working At It!

Well, if you think about it, this same analogy can apply to our marriages, our friendships, and even our relationship with God!

A sluggard’s appetite is never filled, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.
Proverbs 13:4

We stopped working at it.

We did not stop working at our job, but we stopped working at seeing the opportunity in our job (or marriage, friendship, relationship with God). Rather than regularly praying for God to show us the “new” in our jobs, we focused more on surviving them!

What Is The Solution?

So what is the solution? How do we get back to seeing our jobs as an opportunity to serve God and not an obligation?

There are many ways to do this, but I would suggest a couple of steps that have worked.

Get A New View!

Determine in your heart that tomorrow you are going to walk into your workplace with a new set of eyes. Pray that God would give you a new vision for what you can do and how you can be used at work.

Rather than taking the normal path to your office or workstation, change it up. Come in a little early. Look around as if this is your first time there. Expect to see an opportunity for ministry at every turn. Prepare in advance for what you might see.

Then block out some time and begin to take notes. Act as if it is your first day on the job and you have to decide what needs to be done differently in what areas. Pretend you have just been hired (by God) to come in there and to impact the people around you for eternity.

Look For Impact Opportunity!

Go person by person through your co-workers and see if you can think of ways you can begin to serve them. Think about their struggles and pray for ideas on how you can help.

Begin praying for them individually. Pray for their success and peace in their struggles. Pray for an opportunity to show them God’s love. Pray for God to renew your eyes every day so you can see the needs around you.

Change Will Come!

This may not completely change your vision overnight, but I promise it will change in time. Pretty soon, you will be getting up with energy in the morning.

No longer will you drag yourself out of bed, but will instead get a bounce in your step. You may even be able to give up the coffee…well, maybe that is pushing it!

Have you lost excitement over the opportunity in your job?

When will you commit to changing your view?

Can you enlist someone to keep you accountable to this commitment?

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Ambassador Defined

Just to make sure you remember our working definition of “ambassador,” I want to include it here for reference:

An ambassador is a dignitary whose full-time job is to live for a period (usually years) in a foreign land, intentionally building relationships with the people native to that land and purposefully representing to those people the desires of his king.

So what are the critical points here? What aspects are key to our success as ambassadors for Christ?

Full-Time Job

First, let’s talk about the fact that an ambassadorship is a full-time job. It is not one that is only done on the weekends or in the evenings. Ambassadors are always on call. They must always be ready to meet with anyone, not postponing any opportunity to advance their king’s desires.

If we are to be Christ’s ambassadors, then we must be the same way. Being an ambassador for Christ is also a full-time job. Whether in church on a Sunday or on the job site on Monday, we are to represent the desires of our King to those around us.

Part Time Not Available!

This job cannot be taken on a part-time basis. Sure, many of us have been taught that full-time ministry is the responsibility of our local church’s staff or missionaries in a foreign field. Unfortunately, this lie has been accepted by many – even by some in church leadership themselves!

The truth is that we are ALL full-time ministers. We’re all called to be full-time ambassadors for Christ, fulfilling the responsibilities of this job at all times. We are to be ambassadors at church. We are to be ambassadors at work. We are to be ambassadors in the community.

With Intention And Purpose

The second critical point is that the role of an ambassador is an intentional one. It is a job that is done on purpose – actively, not passively. The ambassador is not one that sits around in her office waiting to be called on. She is actively pursuing relationships and working to advance the cause of her homeland.

Unfortunately, many Christians see their job as ambassadors for Christ to be different from this. Many only mention their King on Sundays or in certain crowds when others initiate the conversation. Too many Christians feel they are to be private about their faith, allowing their King to do His own work…without their help.

Folks, this is crazy! As ambassadors, we are to be actively pursuing relationships in every context of our lives – at work, at home, in the community, etc. – for the purpose of pointing others to our King Jesus. We are to be intentionally representing His desires for them to everyone with whom we interact.

There Is Urgency!

Finally, the third critical point I see in this verse is urgency. Look at Paul’s words again:

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, certain that God is appealing through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.”
2 Corinthians 5:20

Notice a couple of words that convey this urgency to us. “God is appealing through us,” and “We plead on Christ’s behalf. These words, appealing and plead, should make us realize that time is of the essence. We are not guaranteed tomorrow and neither are those who are lost without Jesus.

No Time To Waste!

Since this is true, we do not have time to waste. We need to be acting and we need to be doing it now! There is no more time for us to concern ourselves with building our own fame and renown or pleasure and wealth for the purpose of our enjoyment. Instead, we are to be focused on that which God says is urgent and of primary importance.

This is not about leading a poor lifestyle, but about putting our first priority on fulfilling our jobs as ambassadors and leaving the rest to God. He promises to take care of the rest of it (Matthew 6:33)!

How often do you find yourself being passive in this job?

Based on these critical points, what action step do you need to take first?

Who can you encourage to take the same challenge?

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Most of us are not celebrities beyond our own families or small circle of influence.  When we see the news, we do not worry that our daily actions will warrant an exposé or headline.  At the same time, we really should pay attention.  Regardless of the size of our circle of influence, we are all in danger of “falling from grace.”

Too often, we underestimate the impact of our daily actions.  We assume no one notices the inconsistencies between our words and our actions.  Sometimes, we are not even aware of them.  Unfortunately, it is these very inconsistencies that can cause big problems when it comes to the flock God has put under our care.

Take a look at this Scripture:

Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them-not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

1 Peter 5:2-3

We have a responsibility to our “flock” to live as examples.  This means that there cannot be inconsistencies between our words and our actions.  We do not have the luxury as leaders to allow hypocrisy to run rampant through our lives.  We are held to higher expectations and standards.  We must live like it.

In my last post, I promised 5 tips to follow as you try to live out your witness without the hypocrisy that is too common in the world today:

Tip #1 – Pray.

In case you haven’t noticed, almost all of my lists of tips or steps begin with “Pray.”  There is no substitute for seeking God and His wisdom when it comes to our walk in this life.  There are plenty of sources of advice and information we can seek, but He is the first place we should always start!

Pray that God will give you a sensitivity to any hypocrisy in your life.  Pray that He will make you aware of the inconsistencies in your life that may cause others to stumble (Luke 17:1-2).  Do not rush this part of the process.  Let God reveal things to you that might run pretty deep.  Take your time here – regardless of how painful it might be!

Tip #2 – Take inventory.

Keep a journal handy as you begin looking at your life from this perspective.  Write down what you see and what God reveals to you.  Write about any hypocrisy you find and why you think it is a part of your life.  Dig into your own heart and uncover the reasons for the inconsistencies.  

Make a list of those areas where you know God wants you to begin making changes.  Include any details He brings to mind and your thoughts surrounding them.  Your goal here is to get all you can out of your mind and down on paper.

Tip #3 – Solicit feedback.

As you pray, ask God to reveal to you names of people that can give you honest and constructive feedback.  Go to these people and ask for their help.  This can be a difficult step, but can also be a very productive one.

Ask these people to share with you any examples of inconsistency between what they have heard you say about your Christian faith and what they see you do.  Ask for candor and take what they share with you as constructive.  Pray that God will strengthen you to handle whatever arises.

Tip #4 – Get humble.

I believe there are two parts to this idea.  First, you must be humble to engage in this process.  You must be willing to hear and discover things about yourself that are not comfortable or easy to receive.  Without humility, there is little hope for you to eliminate hypocrisy.

The second part of getting humble is to manage expectations better.  If you are a leader who “preaches” about your Christian faith and does so from a position of pride, then it is much more likely that those you work with will see your inconsistencies as pure hypocrisy.

On the other hand, it is better to “share” your faith from a position of humility, clarifying that you also struggle to live out what you believe.  Doing this will set more reasonable expectations and most likely cause your co-workers or employees to see you as real.  They will be more forgiving in their assessment of your words and actions.

Tip #5 – Get to work.

None of the above is easy to do.  Taking a hard look in the mirror can be a very painful undertaking, but it is necessary if you want to be a leader God can use.  The short-term experience may not be fun, but the long-term benefits are priceless.

Once you have followed each of the above tips, it is time to get to work.  From here, you must begin chipping away at your inventory of inconsistencies.  Pray for strength, set up reminders, and enlist the help of others for accountability.  God will take you through the work of eliminating any hypocrisy if you show you are ready and willing.  I promise, He is faithful!

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Gap vs. Gain

For the past two years, I was fortunate enough to be a member in a mastermind group led by Michael Hyatt. During that time, I learned some incredible concepts, ideas, and perspectives that I can guarantee will impact the rest of my life. One of these concepts is called the Gap vs. Gain perspective. As simple as it is, the idea can be life changing if you will implement it.

For the sake of illustration, let’s say I started 2016 with an email subscriber base of 500 people that receive weekly updates to this blog and I had a goal of increasing that number to 2,500 by the end of this year. Over the period of the year, I had some successes and some failed efforts and I ended with close to 1,700 subscribers. In this illustration, I missed my goal by a significant amount, right?

Which Perspective Is Best?

Looking at this hypothetical situation, it would be easy for me to be very disappointed, even frustrated with my year. This negative attitude could even have an adverse affect on my planning for the upcoming year. Of course some people might be energized by the “miss” and double down, but others might let the failure derail their mindset.

The Gap vs. Gain concept says that we should not focus our attention on the “Gap” between our original goal and our final result. In this case, my focus should not be on the “Gap” of 800 subscribers that I failed to enlist. Instead, I need to celebrate the “Gain” of 1,200 subscribers and refocus on repeating, even multiplying, the successes that resulted in that “Gain”.

Focus On The Gain!

This concept works during the year as well. Say I review my goals in May and realize I am behind on the pace I need in order to hit my year end goal. Rather than beating myself up over the huge “Gap” I see in my results to date, I need to focus on the “Gain” so far. In doing this, my attitude is lifted and I am better positioned to increase my pace over the remainder of the year.

On multiple occasions over the past several years, I have received an email or comment from a fellow Christian business owner or leader regarding the perceived lack of ministry they are achieving through their business. Invariably, I get the sense that they are reading my posts about some of the ministry going on in our business or that of someone else I have described.

The clear message I get from many of these communications is that these leaders are frustrated with how little they think they are doing compared to what they perceive our business is doing. As I read these emails and comments, I always think the same thing – “I wish you would focus on the Gain rather than the Gap!”

Year End Perspective

Another example of this could be the questions from my last post. I listed seven tough questions for Christian business owners and leaders to ask themselves as they review their performance over the prior year. Every year, as I read these very questions, I often get frustrated at my poor performance in certain areas. I sometimes interpret these questions to be setting near-impossible standards for me!

However, as I apply the Gap vs. Gain concept, I begin to relax a little. I begin to see my progress in each of those areas, knowing that this Christian life is a journey toward these standards. I then acknowledge that I will never be able to answer all of these questions with 100% success. I allow myself to fail, but never to stop progressing. I simply want to continue creating “Gains” as I move forward. I do not worry about the “Gap”.

Change Your Perspective

I encourage you to stop and take some time to apply this Gap vs. Gain concept to your own situation. Begin celebrating, individually and with your team, the gains you are making toward your goals. Stop getting overwhelmed and frustrated with the gaps. The key is to keep moving forward, always making progress!

Do you practice the perspective of focusing on gains, not gaps?

If so, what benefits have you experienced?

If not, what steps do you need to take to change?

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Owners Manual For Life

I have written before about our various ministry action processes. Our business is a group of three automobile dealerships. We see several thousand new and used vehicles a year come through our inventory.

In an effort to spread God’s word wherever we can, we place a copy of the New Testament in the glove box of every vehicle that comes through our inventory. The cover of the book reads, “Owners Manual For Life”. We also place a sticker on the inside cover of the book stating that we believe it is the most important book you will ever read. We then give our email addresses in case the reader has any questions or comments.

Stunning Testimony!

Over the years, we have received various letters and phone calls of appreciation from customers and even from other dealership employees that find the book in the glovebox. Recently, we received an email from a customer that has had a very hard time as of late. He wrote us to tell how God used that simple book in his glovebox to turn his life around.

Here is his actual email:

Chris and Brian,

I just wanted to say “Thank you” and send you a testimony:

So this year has been rough to say the least. The truck I bought from you in 2015, I lost to repossession in October. In February of 2016, I lost my job and struggled for months to find a new one. I got behind on everything.

I had seen the book in my glovebox many times and thought it was another “self help” book my mom had sent me and never paid it much attention. Well, in October after my truck was repossessed and the contents were cleaned out, I came across the book again and began to read it. I have checked off every box in the list, rededicated my life to Jesus, been baptized again, and joined a church in my community.

Now all this time I had been thinking I needed to thank my Mom for leaving that book in my truck only to open the front cover today and read the sticker you placed in the book.

Next week my wife and I plan on ordering some and every deal I close selling Kubota Tractors will have “The Owners Manual for Life” in their dealer packet. My wife will also give them to her customers when she closes deals with AFLAC.

So in closing, thank you once again for placing that great piece of literature in my glove box and keep up God’s Work!

God’s Servant and your friend for life,
Jason

Life Change, Multiplied!

I don’t know about you, but that email gives me energy! Knowing that God used a very simple and inexpensive process to change the direction of someone’s life fires me up and makes we want to do even more!

However, that is not the main point of this post. I am excited about life change, but that is not the most exciting part of this email testimony. What do you think excites me even more?

Read the second-to-last paragraph again (beginning with, “Next week…”). Not only did this book inspire Jason to rededicate his own life to Jesus, it also fired him (and his wife!) up to want to do the same for others! THAT’S what excites me the most – life change, multiplied!

Go And Do Likewise!

If you draw any energy at all from reading this life change testimony, then I BEG you to use that energy to go out and do likewise! Stop right now and take some time to determine how you can spread God’s word through your own business. Pray that God would show you various methods you could implement today…before your energy fades.

I promise you that He is faithful to show you what you can do. It is up to you to ask, and then to act. Don’t let your energy fade before you move on this. You will not regret it!

How can God do something similar through your business?

Are you willing to step out and be used?

If not, what is holding you back?

Photo by marekuliasz/iStock

Christian Ministry Opportunities

As Christian business leaders, we should always be on the lookout for opportunities to share the hope we have. For me, one of these opportunities is our company Christmas party, As I have described before, I do not want to force my beliefs on anyone in our company. At the same time, I do want to make sure I do not miss an opportunity to share the faith I have. My hope is that they see my heart and know I am not preaching at them, but only humbly sharing something I believe will change them forever!

New Approach To The Company Christmas Party

In light of that, I think the company Christmas party is a perfect opportunity to do this very thing. I have not always felt this way. In fact, it was not until 13 Christmases ago that I began approaching our company party in this way. It was the same year I described in a separate post about painting the windows and I had just recently turned the business over to God.

As Christmas approached that year, I began to think about how to step out in faith and share my faith with the employees. To this point, I had been a silent witness. That year, I was determined to change that.

As we began to lay out the “agenda” for the party, I simply asked for 20 minutes at the end of the party for my remarks. This request did not raise any eyebrows. I also asked for video equipment to be available because I wanted to show a video. Again, no one questioned me.

I Was Nervous!

As the company Christmas party drew closer, I began to get anxious. I questioned whether I really needed to move forward with my plans or not. When the night of the party came, I was as nervous as I believe I have ever been. I was, quite frankly, scared to death! I was sweating and my legs felt like jell-o. I thought several times about just backing out of the whole thing!

As the night drew to a close, I knew I could not back out. So I did what I had committed to do. I stood up and went to the microphone and addressed the 100+ people there (employees, spouses, significant others). I began by describing the background to the video I was planning to show. [CLICK HERE for the text of that background]

Rick & Dick Hoyt Video

Next, I moved on to the video itself. Very few videos have moved me the way this one has. I had first seen it at the Promise Keepers conference that summer and knew then that I had to share it.

It was a five minute summary of the story of Dick and Rick Hoyt, father and son, and their experiences competing in triathlons together (see Team Hoyt). The catch is that Rick, the son, was 37 yrs old at the time and had suffered from cerebral palsy his entire life. Dick, the father, was 59 yrs old and carried (or pushed) his son the entire time!

After the video, there was not a dry eye in the house. The silence was deafening. I felt God fill me with strength and I stood there in front of them, full of emotion, but also full of strength!

The Message Of Christ

I immediately went into the reasons I had shown the video. I drew parallels between the love of father for son in the video and the love God has for us. I talked about how Dick Hoyt would do anything for his son to feel “free” from his handicaps just like God would do anything for us to feel “free” as well.

Then I told how God sent his only Son to die for that very purpose – that we would be free! I described the Gospel story in simple terms and explained that I wanted everyone there to experience it for themselves.

I encouraged them to give thanks if they had already experienced it. I encouraged them to think about it if they had not. I told them I was available at any point if they needed someone with whom they could talk. I then closed with prayer.

The Results

I cannot tell you all of the comments I received in appreciation for sharing. I cannot measure the impact that 20 minutes had because I am only aware of some of it. I can tell you that even today, as I type this, God fills my heart as I think back on that time. I would not trade it for anything.

I grew that night. I grew because I pressed through my fears and anxiety about sharing my faith. I grew because I saw the impact it could have on those around me in strengthening their faith. I grew because God used me despite my total physical breakdown!

Additionally, I started a pattern of focusing on Christ during our company Christmas party that I have continued each year since. While none have been as powerful (to me) since that first one, I know it is because it was a breakthrough for me. God is still using them!

What About You?

I want to encourage you to take a look at your own Christmas party. If you have never been intentional about putting Christ at the center of your party, I urge you to change that this year. I am giving you plenty of time to make sure it can happen. It is up to you to take the lead and make sure! I can’t wait to hear about your results!

Is Christ a part of your company Christmas party?

If not, is there something you can do to start this year?

If so, tell me about what you do and any results you have seen.

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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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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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