life in christ

Sin: Problem or Symptom?

Dr. Mike Kingdom Paradigms , , , , , , ,

As an independent consultant, I am called upon to help solve problems. Sometimes the problem is easy to identify and a solution quickly implemented. Other times, the problem is cloudy by all the smoke. Most of the time people focus on the symptoms of the problem rather than the actual cause.

For example, if you are having a cash flow problem, is that the actual problem or the symptom of something deeper; like not having a job. Many of us will focus on the symptom – no money, rather than on the actual problem – no job. Isn’t sin like that?
In our early walk with the Lord, we want to eliminate sin from our life. So we adhere to the Ten Commandments, read our Bibles to find out all the do’s and don’ts, and then find ourselves frustrated when the results are negligible. It has taken many of us multiple years to learn that sin is not the problem, but the symptom. The real problem is an absence of an intimate relationship with the Living God. Isn’t sin simply the absence of God’s influence in our life. By influence, we mean a strong desire to walk intimately with Him where His divine character expresses itself in us and through us because He lives in us. We gladly yield our self for Him to express Himself through us.
C.S. Lewis once wrote that we don’t learn to be Christ-followers; we catch it. Like a good virus it impregnates us and grows in us. The more we hang out and come to know God, not know about God, the more we enjoy Him and learn from Him. We surrender ourselves and follow the King of Kings via the Holy Spirit that lives in us. It is not just about removing sin from our life, but more so, it’s about have a strong, intimate relationship with our King. When we live a Christ-centric life, our love, joy, and peace comes from Him. As He blesses us, we simply express the same blessing toward others.
Again, sin is not the problem, but only the symptom. A close, intimate relationship with the Living God where we are daily infatuated and memorized by His love and involvement in our life leads us away from sin’s darkness and into His wonderful light. So next time we find our self on the wrong side of sin’s darkness, ask yourself these questions. “Did I really submit to God’s heart on the matter or just followed my natural desire to please myself?” How deep and strong is my current relationship with the Triune God? Am I walking with God or am I trying to make God walk with me? And lastly, what are you going to do about it?

Our Prayer

prayer 5

Holy Father – Holy Lord – Holy Spirit: Thank you for removing the eternal penalty of sin. And more so thank you for hiding us in Christ were your righteousness covers our humanity. More than anything else, help us to walk with you, to follow your story and narrative, to seek you diligently in every aspect of our life. Help us to love you with our whole heart, mind, body, and soul. Help us make you the center of our lives. Let everything we say, think, or do be done for your glory, your Kingdom, and your name. Remind us daily that you are alive in us; and also remind us to submit to your influence in our life. Help us see you each and every day wherever we go, in whatever we do, and with whomever we meet. We place our trust in you. Glorify your name through us and in us.

Yours In Christ,

Dr. Mike

Consultant, Coach, Encourager
Author of Great Business Emulates A Good God

If You Are Seeking a Devotional Study, Check Out My New Book Be Radical…Follow Christ.

Four Godly Attributes Found in Successful Organizations

Dr. Mike Kingdom Paradigms , , ,

The book “Great Business Emulates a Good God” highlights four key characteristics found in faith-focused, faith-friendly, and faith neutral for-profit business organizations. The main difference between the three categories simply involved the weight and motive behind these values.
The four characteristics were summarized as: faithfulness in relationships, excellence in performance, fruitful in results, and integrity in action. The study demonstrated that each characteristic is an attribute of the Triune God and likewise exemplified in successful business operations. It didn’t matter if the business was Christ-centered or simply neutral in relationship with Jesus. However, what it didn’t take into account was the motive, heart, or allegiance of the organization. It simply focused on these eternal values within a business context.

If we conducted a more in-depth study, it would probably demonstrate that the difference between faith-focused organizations and faith neutral operations was a matter of the heart. The faith-focused organization probably would demonstrate more care for the stakeholder out of sincere love than the faith-neutral operation that would emphasize “it’s good business for the bottom line to care for one’s employees.” The faith-focus would probably place greater emphasis on building the relationship and the faith-neutral would most likely emphasize the profit-side. It would be an interesting study to conduct.

For now, if your business only measures profit metrics maybe it’s time to change. How about measuring the relationships, quality of work, fulfillment of mission objectives, and conduct that demonstrates high integrity? You may be pleasantly surprised by the results. One recent Harvard study showed that about 47% of an organizations bottom-line is the result of its culture. If something that impacts almost 50% of the bottom-line is culture, how come we don’t measure its performance? Then again, when the Spirit of Christ is alive in the hearts of the employees, maybe measuring isn’t as important as just simply living the gospel in the marketplace. What do you think?

OUR PRAYER

prayer 5

Father, Lord, Holy Spirit – Thank you for expressing your life in creation. We see you in us. We see you in the order of the universe. We see you in organizations that flourish. Help us to learn from you. Help us to instill in our workplaces your characteristic values. Help us to employ your economic values in relationships, work, and decisions. Whatever we do help us to live your gospel of the Kingdom, grace, and fruitfulness in the marketplace. Let our lives express you and glorify you in everything we say, think, and do.

Yours In Christ,

Dr. Mike

Consultant, Coach, Encourager
Author of Great Business Emulates A Good God

If You Are Seeking a Devotional Study, Check Out My New Book Be Radical…Follow Christ.

Bless My Business

Dr. Mike Kingdom Paradigms , , , , , , ,

How many business operations do you know that actually glorify God in their service to others? How many of those are operated/owned by believers? How many are operated/owned by non-believers, but their work exemplifies quality of godliness? These questions challenged me when I completed my dissertation. The final results ended up in a book entitled “Great Business Emulates a Good God.”

One of the items that surprised me the most was how many non-Christian business operations practiced godly principles and exercised eternal values that magnified the qualities of the Triune God. Yet the main difference between the two pertained to motive. Christian-focused business’ operated to glorify God. Faith-neutral operations focused on glorifying their brand. Yet both sides operated businesses that the world would say were successful. At least from the outside looking in.

Why bring up these facts? Simply because we know people, if not ourselves at times, that want and desire God’s blessings on our business, but still operate with self-centered motives. We want God’s favor, but refrain from being honest with Him in our dealings with others. We typically haven’t come to a place yet where we have surrendered the business under the domain of King Jesus.

How do we know if we have surrendered the business to God’s domain? Do we actually operate under Kingdom economic principles or follow the ways of the world? Do we practice decision-making that benefits ALL stakeholders of the enterprise; that means partners, employees, vendors, government agencies, and investors. Do we actually seek God’s will before making decisions that impact the business’ mission? Is the business’ mission and aim to glorify God, serve the common good of others, and promote the well-being of all parties, or simply too benefit a few insiders?

These may be tough questions, but how can one expect to be blessed if one is conducting business outside of God’s character, nature, or will? The transition doesn’t happen overnight. But God is merciful and if our heart is open he will lead us to the economic promise land. For most of us, it is a process of repentance, change, and redirecting our hearts to see the world as He does. And even though we may fall far short from perfection, God rewards and blesses those that fulfill His purpose in life. Yes, catch His vision for your life and business and even your business will learn to rest in the favor of God and His graceful blessings.

OUR PRAYER

PRAY 8

Holy Father-Holy Lord-Holy Spirit: Thank you for giving us the opportunity to pursue a business that will create opportunities that will glorify you, serve the common good of others, and reward us for the risks that are taken. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from all ungodly decisions. Help us to inspire those around us to follow your lead. Help us to walk with you through each business process, strategy, and client to glorify you. Help us to be true to you, our self, and others in building eternal relationships that buildup your Kingdom now. Help us to surrender our business for your glory. Bless us so we may be a blessing for others

Yours In Christ,

Dr. Mike

Consultant, Coach, Encourager
Author of Great Business Emulates A Good God