0400713 Business thinking.

For some strange reason (maybe sin?) we seem to make a distinction between our "religious" life and our "business" life.  Well, that's a serious error.  In fact, the Puritans considered one who made such a distinction and potentially unsaved and fooling themselves.

Levi the tax collector in Matthew 2 and Zaccheus in Luke 19 make that point very clearly. Not only that but even a cursory reading of Isaiah and the other Prophets make is clear that God judges not only our "religious" attitudes and actions but our commercial ones as well - and His wrath is kindled against them.

It's a matter of humility.  Humility?

Yes.

Biblical humility is fighting the hard and grueling battle to be and stay submitted to the call of God upon our lives.  It's the acceptance that no where except at the foot of His throne, beseeching His provision will we ever have a hope of bringing glory to His name in anything we attempt.  It is truly and viscerally a dieing to "self."   A mortification of the flesh.  A life lived in full awareness of the the cost of even the smallsts of our sins (if any can be called small).

To put is in plain and main talk:


He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God? (Mic 6:8)

Justice, kindness (mercy) and humility before God.  do you really know what these call for?  Or are they just really need words that simple "inspire" and then "expire?"

Here are three "key core values" worth digging into  - worth any and all the time and effort it takes you to live for His names sake.  These are three lenses through which the light of the truth - the light of the world - shines through us to His honor and glory.

Oh - don't fool yourselves.  These are NOT just religious values.  If they don't or can't apply to your business then your business is in real trouble - eve if it's Christian business (whatever that is).

Think about this.  There is no such thing as a "christian" company,business, endeavor, organization, cause, even, etc.  There may be Christians involved and indeed it may be done for the glory of Christ but ONLY redeemed human beings can claim the denomination "Christian."  Adding "christian" as an adjective is meaningless - maybe as an adverb it has some meaning but ONLY PEOPLE - REDEEMED PEOPLE are Christian.

Your business, church, organization, etc can never be any more Christian than the newest, even weakest believer who is a part of it.

We do business to "gain" something - provision.  We live for Christ and in Christ because of what we have already gained - which only He provides.  Can you see the difference?

Just some food for thought --- I pray it provokes you to turn to His Word and humbly in prayer cry out:


Examine me, O LORD, and try me; Test my mind and my heart.   (Psa 26:2)

Wait for the answer and follow!

What are we working for? Beginning

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.   (Mat 6:33)

We all know this verse and we have heard countless sermons about it.  For Leadersheep this is the place to start, the first step.

It's not a hard thing to grasp, we, as His people, need to seek after Him and His will first and foremost.  

The word "kingdom" in the passage can be legitimately translated as "kingshipb" without doing violence to the text.  And doing so can be a very great help to us in keeping Him in focus.  

What is a hard thing to do is to faithfully submit to that Kingship.  It is especially hard when we are surrounded (in business or leisure) by so many to whom this idea is alien and/or offensive.  "Bending," the rules, even breaking then has become common, the key being to not get caught.

Being in such an environment is a great trial and challenge to our faith and faithfulness.  But if we consider that there is no sin so small that Christ did not have to die for it - perhaps we can be better motivated to submit to His will in all our undertakings.

It begins when He calls us to Himself and makes us His.  The Spirit is given as His seal and His helper and we begin to follow Him.  Old thoughts, views and habits are challenged and perhaps it is at this point we really begin to see the depth and breadth of our need for His grace.

But we, with His provision, must commit to submit to His Kingship - which is more than just an acknowledgement of it - it is a daily living of it.

So, let me ask you, how well do you know Him - not how much do you know about Him but how well you know Him?  In our earthly relationships we have all ha those  moments when we have commented concerning someone we thought we knew well, "I never would have thought they'd......"  

If, in our earthly relationships we assume much and we assume wrongly can we not do the same in our relationship with Him?  Of course we can - and have - and do.

I am not encouraging you to some massive change in your life.  I don't think we normally need an epiphany or revelation.  I do think we need to make a choice, a plan and then follow through.

Simple beginnings are usually best so let me encourage you to consider:
1.  At least two times of prayer a day.  Praise Him, seek His provision and lift up those you know are in need.  If prayer seems difficult them select a Psalm and simply read it as your prayer - that's not cheating and you'll be amazed at how it builds your appreciation and focus in prayer.
2.  Get into the Word and the Word into you - daily.  Maybe you'll just start reading a Gospel or Proverbs.  Maybe you'll take advantage of websites like Truth For Life or Sermon Audio.  But as God builds us He uses the "mud" we bring and the straw of the Word to build the bricks we need.  This isn't magic - you've done a very similar thing as you prepared for your career and as you advanced in it.  
3.  Be as gracious to yourself in your beginning as He is always.  Richard Baxter, a wonderful 17th century preacher wrote concerning our growth in our Christian "duties,"
"Doing it as you can is the way to be able to do it better."

Recommended memory verse:

Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.   (Psa 119:49-50)

Recommended Bible reading:
Luke and then on to Acts

Recommended audio:
Truth for Life; Alistair Begg (Also found on Sermon Audio site)

Recommended extra-biblical reading:
A Christian's Directory by Christopher Love

Please do not hesitate to contact me with questions, insights, - what ever - I hope to serve you well but you'll have to help me do that.