life in christ

Blessed Test or Repeat

Dr. Mike Kingdom Paradigms , , , , ,

How are you when it comes to tests? Does your palms sweat? Does your stomach turn into knots? In those undergraduate days, I hated tests. Since I was blessed with an excellent short term memory, I would cram the day before the exam, take the exam, and score a high grade. But don’t ask me the same questions the following week; I wouldn’t be able to recall. Yes, I basically studied for an exam grade; learning was on the lower rung of the priority ladder. However, in graduate school, the attitude changed. Exams were excited because I loved the majority of my classes and learning was my prime motivation. I didn’t really care about the grade. The result: better grades and mastery of the subject material. Why does this matter?

The Bible states that you will be presented with life tests (Ps.11:5, Pr.17:3, I Thess. 2:4). A time when you will face a moment of truth. A time when the results will reveal the true character of your soul. These tests will not be multiple choice, essay, or mathematical formulas. They will typically confront you with two primary choices. The choice to live within the circle of the Triune God fellowship or outside the circle. In either circle God remains with you. The difference has to do with eternal rewards and possibly a more difficult path to follow while walking through the jungle of life.

For example, Adam and Eve failed their test and was thrown to live outside the Garden of Eden. Abraham chose to obey and was ready to sacrifice his one son; yet God intervened and Abraham was favorably rewarded for passing his test of faithfulness(Gn. 26:5). Jacob wrestled with the Lord (Gen. 32:24-26) and likewise passed God’s test for persistence and endurance. Joseph was tested through slavery and prison, but remained faithful and obedient to God’s integrity. Saul was made the first King of Israel but failed the test and was disowned and replaced by David. Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tempted by Satan. (Temptation is not a sin; temptation draws-out personal desires that could lead to sin). In Jesus’ case, he was tempted with immediate governmental, religious, and economic leadership (Lk.4:1-13). Jesus though trusted that His Father will work out the plan and didn’t take things into his own hands. He was faithful to His Father’s desires and passed the test.

In business, many opportunities will come to make large sums of money. The problem isn’t the money, but the manipulation, deceitfulness, and witchcraft that is played out to attain the “prize.” Is this God testing you or blessing you? Or is this God blessing you and testing you? Like all moments of truth, you will not know until later in life. But for the moment, are you willing to sacrifice one’s character, virtue, and integrity for the “golden fleece?” Your prize comes from being faithful to our provider; to live and conduct business within the Triune God’s fellowship circle. During the test, will you faithfully and honestly stand before God who knows you better than anyone, and hear his voice speak to you? The objective is to be wholeheartedly honest with all parties through the entire process and focus on glorifying God with the end result. When you remove God’s purpose from the picture, than you cloud the process with selfish desire and godless acts that shamefully brings a failing test to the Master’s feet. The outcome is a good reflection and snapshot of where your soul stands before God.

Again, life tests will come in the marketplace. The choice is usually between more Mammon or fulfilling your word with others and God. The answer will reveal whether one’s heart is truly purified to stand within God’s inner circle or just continue to hang on the far edges with more refining to be done. Though God will never leave you nor forsake you, you have a choice in how diligent you cultivate your soul. Or is that just simply too radical for you to believe?

OUR PRAYER

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Our Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus, and Holy Spirit: thank you for loving us so much that you have invested the universe to prepare us for eternity. Thank you for opening our hearts to see, our minds to comprehend, and our hands/feet to serve you. Thank you for taking time to create your masterpiece in us through a new creation in Christ. Help us to yield ourselves to your Word, calling, and purpose. Help us each day to redeem the time. Help us to be prepared for whatever tests come our way that we will be truthful and supportive of your honor. Help us to desist and you to uplift your ways, your love, and your Kingdom through us and in us. Thank you for a new life in 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.

 

Making Decisions

Dr. Mike Business & Faith , , , , , , , , , ,

Our personal decisions have a greater impact into other people’s lives than we may ever realize. When Eve decided to take the forbidden fruit that looked so attractive to her, did she consider the consequences of her decision? In a recent decision that you made last week, did you consider all the people who owned a part of the decision and its ramifications? Probably not. Most of us don’t unless we are reminded.

What the story of Adam and Eve demonstrates is that we all forego a better solution so we may immediately satisfy our personal desires. One effective technique I’ve learned over the years before making any decision is to list at a minimum three other parties that may be impacted by the outcome. From that list, I contact each one for their opinion of the impact of the decision in their world. From their answers, we do our best to develop a solution that will be best for all parties. Some may benefit slightly better than others, but all need to benefit in some way.

Imagine if Eve followed in such a manner. She would have taken the serpents’ statements and asked herself who else would be impacted by the decision. Her list of a minimum of three would include Adam, God, and the serpent. If she had spoken directly with God, He would have gladly given her the consequences of such an action. If she discussed it with Adam, he would have given his view of the situation. Likewise, even though the serpent is a deceiver, one could match his replies with God’s and Adam’s to determine the best course of action. Do you think if she followed such an approach that the world would be in a different place today?

It is a simple approach that has served well over the years for many leaders. The challenge is to always implement the same process each time. Otherwise, the time one fails to follow through is the one event causing one’s world to fall apart. Again just another simple approach to manage the multiple decisions that every leader needs to make. Or is that simply too radical for you?

OUR PRAYER

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Our heavenly Father, Lord, and Spirit: thank you for sharing your heart with us. Thank you for caring enough for us to help learn your values, truths, and purposes. Help us to seek counsel from others who may be impacted by the decisions we make. Help us to seek the answer not only from you, but all others who may be impacted by our decisions. Help us to be honest and caring for all the people and lives our decision impacts. Help us walk with you in the entire decision making process and open our eyes to see and ears to hear the truth and best solutions for all parties involved. Thank you Lord.

 

Yours in Christ,

Dr. Mike

Executive Chair, Consultant, and Encourager
Marketplace Bible Institute & Resource Center, Inc
Author of Great Business Emulates a Good God &
Be Radical…Follow Christ!

Learn. Integrate. Grow.

 

The Joy of Business

Dr. Mike Business & Faith , , , , , , ,

Every person and every organization operates from a built-in structure of values. These values are typically built around an internal belief system. Studies have shown that many of the values we carry throughout life have been shaped within us and already formed by the time we reach the age of 8-9 years. Many of these same values and beliefs remain with us until an event or circumstance changes our perspective of life. Only then, we may consciously or unconsciously make a change.

In business, the founder typically sets the values and belief system of the organization. She or he sets the standards that others quickly learn to comply with if they want to be accepted within the business circle. As an organization grows, other leaders step up to influence their values into the operation. Eventually, team leaders learn to work with one another even though they may disagree with the other team member’s belief system and priority of values.

As a Believer in the marketplace, God has allowed us to partner with Him as He works out His plan of redemption while being the means to economically serve others as His hands and feet. As a servant in God’s government, we have new standards that we are learning. Yet we also have older values that need unlearning. God is creating a masterpiece via His Universal Church within the marketplace and is allowing us to participate with Him if we choose.

Why is this critical to understand? Because many of us enter the marketplace with a focus strictly on monetary reward. We strongly and incorrectly believe that the main purpose of business is to make money. So when we make business decisions, we measure the process with the end result solely for a financial remuneration; a return of investment; a monetary payback for our time and effort. Yet is that how God views business?
Without getting heavy into theology, didn’t God give mankind instructions to have dominion over the earth? To manage it and to sustain it? Where in the creation account did God say our economic primary purpose is to make a profit? Yet didn’t Jesus himself quote scripture that man needs bread and the Word of God to sustain himself? So what is the purpose of business?

Isn’t business a ministry that God ordained to provide for our fellow man? Like every ministry, isn’t the purpose to Glorify God and serve others with the talents and skills we have been blessed with? Is it not a joy to conduct business where God is glorified; all stakeholders benefit, and we receive an economic return so we can do it all over again?

As a young, shy man starting out in the business world, I went into the accounting field because I was good with numbers, logic, and able to bring order out of chaos; I didn’t really want to work directly with people. Likewise, I chose the real estate industry because one could work with buildings and tangible property rather than directly with people. A funny thing happened along the way. I discovered that accounting, real estate, and business is all about people. That if one wants to succeed in life, one needs to learn how to communicate, relate, influence, encourage, and lead people. I eventually learned that successful business is about developing long-term relationships with others for their highest benefit. When we were successful in providing for our customers, operated efficiently, the profit we earned was simply the cost for doing business. Our profit margins was the result of the emphasis of the value and service we provided.

Imagine if every business selected a product or service that would glorify God, honestly serve people, and made enough money to stay in business; and continue to do it over and over again; what a wonderful world it would be! When one reaches this point, than one can truly see the fruit of one’s service and product through the eyes of God. Most people would think that this is impossible in today’s world. Yet, is anything impossible with God? The problem is most people run business their way rather than yield and trust a living God who wants you to partner with Him in His mission for the marketplace. Didn’t Jesus say if we seek His Kingdom first, that all these other things will be added to us? Doesn’t that also include our business ventures? Yes there is joy in business when one learns to truly trust and rest in the living God. Or is that too radical for you?

OUR PRAYER

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Our Economic Father, Son, and Spirit: thank you for creating a world that requires mankind’s participation to learn how to relate, cooperate, and serve one another. Thank you for teaching us that the greatest among us is the one who serves the most. Thank you for showing us that business is simply building relationships with others and helping others to attain their dreams to glorify you and serve their fellow man. Help us to yield our business ventures under your authority. Help us to learn to trust you in our business dealings. Help us to be successful in our business careers so we can be your hands and feet in serving others for your glory. Help us be true to you and others in all our business dealings. Help us work with you to redeem the marketplace for your glory and purpose.

Yours in Christ,

Dr. Mike

Executive Chair, Consultant, and Encourager
Marketplace Bible Institute & Resource Center, Inc
Author of Great Business Emulates a Good God &
Be Radical…Follow Christ!

Learn. Integrate. Grow.