Business & Faith

Let Your Work Worship God

Dr. Mike Business & Faith , , ,

“Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe…” Hebrews 12:28 ESV

worship 1

When or where did today’s church make a distorted turn when it comes to worship? The message that we hear so often every week is to assemble for worship. It’s like the reason we assemble is to make it possible for you to worship. The implied message (though not intentionally meant) is that worship is something that is done only in church through music. Again, we are instructed to gather together and praise our Lord. This is a good thing. The problem though is when we limit worship to only a church service and music. When we do, we put God into a tiny box.

The Hebrew word used throughout the Bible for Worship is closely related and sometimes interchangeable with the word Work. If you take the time to study, you will find that the Hebrew Scriptures associate worship and work as bedfellows.

I sometimes think we in the western world conduct ourselves in Church the opposite of God’s original intentions. We generally follow the world’s systems until we discover God’s ways. Take for example the Sabbath. The Hebrews kept the seventh day as a day of rest. They worked six days and rested on the seventh day. A part of their rest was attending a local synagogue. In our post-modern Christian world, we attend a church service where we are bombarded in the opposite way. We are typically encased with a Broadway-type staged music performance that is played so loud that one cannot hear themselves sing out of key. At times it brings back memories of attending a rock concert. It makes one wonder whether or not many of us expose ourselves to strong worship/work during services and then find our peaceful rest during the remaining week. Hopefully I’m the only person who sees it that way and the majority have their act together better than I.

Meanwhile, imagine a life where your work is your worship to God. Where your motive and intentions are to glorify God. What level of quality would you display in your work for God’s glory? How would you relate with your fellow employees if your work was to glorify God? How would you tackle that difficult customer if your work was to glorify God? If you are fortunate (or unfortunate) to own the business, does your brand, service, product, and culture emulate God’s glory? If your work is your worship to God, how does that show up in your business?

Tough questions. Yet when one discovers how Christ makes everyday work and business about Him and his Kingdom, the path opens quickly and the motivation is unceasing. To worship God through all you do is the most rewarding journey this life offers. Seize it. Ride it. Enjoy the life we have in Christ as we worship Him and serve others through the work we do every day.

 

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Executive Chair, Consultant, Encourager
Marketplace Bible Institute
& Resource Center, Inc
Author of e-Books:
* Great Business Emulates a Good God
* Be Radical…Follow Christ!
* Simply The Messenger
* Unequally Married

Learn. Integrate. Grow.

Let Love Lead in the Marketplace

Dr. Mike Business & Faith , , , ,

“For when I am weak, then I am strong.”   2 Corinthians 12:10 ESV

 

love lead

For many years, I thought sin was my problem. Then one day a revelation occurred. Sin is not the problem; a lack of love is.  Yes, I realized that sin needs to be eliminated, but when our focus is on dealing with our weaknesses, our strengths become buried. In Christ, my sins are totally covered in grace. What I lack is the consistent hunger to allow love entrance into my heart and have its way with me toward others. When I am weak (the result of my sins or the sins of others impacting me) is when Christ becomes more alive in me.

When I look around the world and note the conflicts that are happening, where is the love? I see the sin, but where is the love? When I look at businesses and notice the conflict between employee and employer, where is the love from both sides? When marriages of thirty and forty years fall apart, what happen to the love?

It is easier to cover up the sins in one life than always express one’s attitude and action in love.  I think if we as a people invested more time praying and seeking ways to better love our neighbors, family, and associates each day, we would probably spend less time sinning and more time strengthening the important relationships in our life.

Yes that includes the marketplace which cries out each day for love and compassion.  Even though today’s regulations don’t allow hugs and other physical responses that shows others we care and appreciate them, there are many other ways to lead with love.  I’m sure if you set your heart in making it happen, the Holy Spirit will open the doors to make it possible. Also, if you are hungry to share God’s love with others in a business context, you are going to need his help. Strange that no matter how successful we become, we realize how poor of spirit we truly are and how much of God’s love we need simply to survive.

Yes, it may be radical to lead with love, but it is also the Kingdom way. It works.

 

We are rooting for you!

Yours in Christ,

Dr. Mike

Executive Chair, Consultant, Encourager
Marketplace Bible Institute
& Resource Center, Inc
Author of e-Books:
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Learn. Integrate. Grow.

 

Living Dangerously with Integrity

Dr. Mike Business & Faith , , , ,

“Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.” Proverbs 28:6 ESV

 integrity 4

In business, the temptation to earn a buck sometimes blinds us to the godly action required at the moment.

I remember one businessman who admitted to having a poor long-term memory. He had difficulty remembering events and situations after several days. His remedy? He always spoke the truth and dealt honestly with every decision he had to make. His reason? If he needed to recall what he did in any situation, he would only ask himself “what was the right thing to do?” And that would lead him to what he did. He learned to live with integrity in all his business dealings and slept very good at night. And yes, he was very successful in his business.

Another business man who finally reached a point where he could start growing his market share had difficulty in developing an advertising program that would properly brand his operation. Most of the recommendations given to him was based on image and not what his core business was all about. Then one person asked him what was his primary core value that he would emphasize with all his customers and employees. The answer: integrity. Thereafter, the successful idea led him to tripling his business. Wherever you looked, his brand was simply integrity. And he lived up to his word. He guaranteed his service. He would refund money without question. He would keep his word even if it hurts. He walk the talk.

The enemy of integrity is pragmatism. Pragmatism is simply the philosophy that whatever works is good at the end. It is situational ethics without a standard. It is focused on outcome rather than the process. It may produce short-term favorable results, but the long term ramifications are most often very unfavorable.

If you are a person of integrity, let your customers, employees, and vendors know. Not with words, but through actions. In today’s marketplace, integrity is a marketing niche that many people gravitate towards. In fact, people who champion integrity, attract other like-minded people. Those without integrity will try to take advantage of you at first. And it may cost you a few dollars in the process. But after you refrain from doing business with them, they may change their way; for money has a way of changing a person’s behavior. It may not be the Kingdom of God for them yet, but at least they can see it in action.

Meanwhile, imagine what a room full of highly motivated people with integrity could do? Wouldn’t it be fun to operate a business and find out? Some may call that dangerous living. I call it simply being radical in Christ.

We are rooting for you!

Yours in Christ,

Dr. Mike

Executive Chair, Consultant, Encourager
Marketplace Bible Institute
& Resource Center, Inc
Author of e-Books:
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Learn. Integrate. Grow.