... a weekly letter of encouragement.
11 February, 1998 Singapore
Good Morning!
BUSY AT CHURCH -- STERILE IN THE WORK PLACE
THE TRUE TEST OF YOUR WALK WITH GOD IS NOT NECESSARILY DETERMINED
BY HOW INVOLVED OR DEDICATED YOU ARE WITHIN THE CONFINES OF YOUR
LOCAL CHURCH, noble as your service there may be.
Rather, the test may center in the rough and tumble climate
of the "marketplace" where greed,
seduction, power games, and Machiavellian pragmatism commonly
prevail. It is into this environment that the Master Strategist
has undoubtedly placed you to affect lives for His glory.
"My prayer is not that you take them out of the world
but that you protect them from the evil one....I...pray for those
who will believe in Me through their word."
(John 17:15,20)
If you happen to be a hands on achiever
who is bent on getting "results"
(profit, efficiency, visibility, image, timing, etc..) you daily
face the temptation of using people as pawns and bending ethical
and moral absolutes.
In this high voltage setting of the marketplace,
Jesus can easily be pushed into a servile role at the fringes
of your operation, only to be called upon in moments of crisis.
If, in this environment you still entertain
aspirations of fruitfulness among your colleagues, there needs
to be a funeral.
Yours:
"...Unless a kernel of wheat falls
to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if
it dies, it produces many seeds."
(John 12:24)
Only then will you be able to allow the very
life of Christ to help you achieve your professional goals in
a manner that is compatible with Biblical values.
One way many business and professional men
and women rationalize their ineffectiveness at ministering
in the marketplace is by busying themselves in service behind
the less threatening walls of the church.
Ironically, the folks at work may see scant
evidence in them of the life of Jesus, while the brethren at church
may view them as dedicated saints!
QUESTION:
How do you think your marketplace
colleagues view you?
My prayer is that you are having a great week!
1 Coleman Street #02-34, The Adelphi - Singapore 0617
Phone: 337 6498; Fax: 336 9913
© Copyright 1996 Dwight Hill. Unlimited permission to copy or
use is hereby granted subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.
