Micah 6:8;” No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Life is like a cup of coffee. In our walk with God, Scripture says that we should walk rooted in him (Colossians 2:6–7). It says too that we should walk humbly with him (Micah 6:8), which means moving in harmony with God, staying close to him. Amos wrote that the “walking with God” life is a joint effort; Can two walk together, unless they are agreed? (Amos 3:3). I don’t know about you, but for me, as a businessman – come – pastor, it speaks of a ‘pooling of resources’, in other words, it is like (stay with me here) going into business with God – and no, we’re not suddenly going the prosperity-gospel route. What it means is that I take all of my limited resources, and say; God, here is what I have to bring. I give myself and my-all to you. Then God responds saying; “Great. I bring my omniscience, my unlimited power, my unlimited resources, my grace, and my love and mercy to the table. I bring all that I have.” If you were to look for a 21st century comparison, it would probably be like a millionaire going into business with a homeless person. What do I mean? Well, the homeless person will benefit because all the millionaires resources are now at his or her disposal. Now, of course we would dig that, and many of us tend to go to really interesting and goofy places here. But here’s the deal that many of us don’t quite get, because, what it also means, is that all of his or her resources are at the “millionaires” disposal. You see, when we walk with God, it is true that everything God has, he is using to work out his will for our lives. But it is also true that all (absolutely everything) we have is dedicated to him. Here’s something I thought I would share with you in this context. “A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the coffee. When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups have been taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups. And then you began eyeing each others cups. Now consider this: Life is the coffee; the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee. Savour the coffee, not the cups! The happiest people dont have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Live rightly.” So, what about you as a Christian in business? Is it possible to be competitive in business while loving justice and kindness and walking humbly with God, while grounded in love and responsibility? What do you think? For me, love is not about having warm fuzzy sentiments but rather about knowing individuals and seeking their good. “Do for others what you would like them to do for you.” What does that say about your business ethics and morals? Think about this with me; is it possible to be competitive in business while loving justice and kindness, and walking humbly with God, while grounded in love and responsibility? Perhaps today is a great opportunity for you to read this verse over a few times and journal your response in this context. You might also want to discuss this in-depth in your respective cell-groups and “think out of the box” in that ambit.youtube/watch?v=ogweL4E24ok
Posted on: Tue, 23 Sep 2014 04:28:44 +0000
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