Faith

Theological thoughts on the workplace

“Remember the sabbath day by keeping it holy.” Exodus 8:20

I’ve led a couples community group for ten years and the most push-back I have ever received was over challenging the group to observe the Sabbath.

I’ve led a sales team the last five years and some of the strongest push-back I have ever received was over suggesting that they turn email off on vacation.

Welcome to the twenty-first century.

And I’m not throwing stones. I struggle with this immensely. In fact, I failed to take one week off exercising the entire 2018.

Ask my wife how that worked out. I am sure she has grown tired about me whining about my shoulder injury (since August), and now a leg injury.

Remember the Sabbath?

Leaders need to know when to stop.

In reading the Gospel, I always find it fascinating that Jesus withdrew from crowds to rest. For example, he fed the 5,000, and then “he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone” (Matthew 14:23).

If that was written about me, it would go something like this: “He got up at 5 a.m. to workout, worked all day, answered a bunch of emails, digested a bunch of leadership information – all to make him feel ‘good enough’ and ‘competent.’ Then, he went home where he was distracted, and still thinking about the day. He didn’t make time to feed the starving or rest.”

Resisting the urge to move forward, I am going to revisit this topic next week. In part 2, I want to consider the benefits of obeying this command – taking a Sabbath – and examine the benefits of rest to organizational leadership.

Before leaving, however, I do have a challenge.

Rest this week.

I haven’t lifted a single weight the last seven days.

2019 has already been an improvement.

Earlier today I met my accountability partner at Starbucks, like we do every two weeks. As followers of Jesus, we aim to live according to Scripture. We both believe that Scripture is pretty clear that we are NOT saved by works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Still, out of love for Jesus, we want to live according to his word. Further, we know that our faith is dead without works (James 2:14).

So, what do we do in our accountability meeting?

For starters, we talk about our lives. We confess any problem areas. As men, we always talk about our sexual purity. This might sound surprising, but look at last year’s news. Leaders (both Christians and non-Christians) fall because of sexual impurity. So, we have given each other 100% permission to be all-up-in-each-other’s business. No question is off limits. And as Christians, any temptation to “fake it” is thrown out the window.

Call us crazy, but we believe God hears every word and sees every deed.

Of course, we also talk about our pride, our unhealthy desire for success, our idolatry of our kids’ health, our love of money (that we are often in denial over), and COUNTLESS other topics…

In short, we just get real with one another.

Why would anyone sign up for this?

Because the other person is sitting there not in judgment, but in love.

Mutually, we encourage each other. Pray for each other. Ask God’s forgiveness for what we have screwed up. We text each other during the week for encouragement. We check in on each other. We make sure that the other is cared for.

Look. Setting goals is great—but who’s asking if you’ve accomplished them? Recognizing your own areas for character development is helpful—but who’s able to tell you whether or not they actually see a change?

We all need help.

We all need community.

I challenge you to find an accountability partner in 2019.

I am a better leader, and man, because I have one.

“Hopes placed in mortals die with them; all the promise of their power comes to nothing.”  Proverbs 11:7

While watching George W. Bush’s touching eulogy of his father last week, I was struck by the visual of all the former U.S. Presidents sitting in the front row.  At the risk of sounding trite, these “former” leaders look aged, tired, and a shadow of their former selves.  While they all worked tirelessly during their time to lead the country towards a better future, that time simply came and went.  And like the man they were there to pay respect to, their final hour is approaching. 

So is ours. 

Merry Christmas?

Merry Christmas!

Since the dawn of time, mankind has been putting its hope in man to usher in the change our hearts long for.  Deep down, we know something is not right. 

Peace on earth?  Not when women are losing their lives attempting to get water from crocodile-infested lakes, and children are dying horrific deaths from bacteria in those lakes.

Peace on earth?  Not when someone cowardly goes into a public place and guns down innocent bystanders, an occurrence that repeats itself too frequently anymore.

Peace on earth?  Sex abuse. Poverty. Anti-Semitism. People being divided into sub-groups: pro this, anti that. The list goes on at nauseum.

Divided we stand.

“Hopes placed in mortals die with them.”

Two thousand years ago a little baby boy was born in a manger.  Three decades later, he would die a violent, brutal, and unfair death.

But the grave could not contain him.  And the God made man changed everything. 

Deep within us all, a flame of hope still burns.

Because of Jesus, the only real hope, we know that one day things will be made right.

And peace on earth will become reality.

Forever.

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it” (Malachi 3:10).

For the Christ-follower, I do not believe the tithe is optional. Jesus said, “for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).

And to be clear, a tithe is 10%.

Of gross income.

To your local Church.

There are no short cuts to generosity. Statistics vary, but many researchers claim that the average Christian gives around 3%.  One report from 2015 states that only 3-5% of American Church-attendees actually tithe.

Do I tithe?

This year, Sarah and I are giving 12.5% of every pay check to our local church. I am adding .5% every year as our goal is to give to the point that it changes the way we live.  We also give to organizations on top of this, but I don’t want to talk about that here.  My goal isn’t to make us look good.  This, after all, isn’t about being good or bad.

It is about obedience.

Given that “obedience” has a negative connotation these days, I will repeat again:

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Where is your heart?

Optional Postscript: A few last words

For the non-believer reading this post: There is lots more to say about tithing, which is admittedly a strange topic for someone outside of Judaeo-Christianity.  One thought to consider, why should someone be generous in the first place?

For the business person reading this post: Why would you want your CEO tithing?  Besides the promise in Malachi 3:10 above, wouldn’t you want a leader who is faithful, and generous, with what has been entrusted to them?

For the Christian not giving the 10% reading this post: Do not be discouraged.  Jesus died for us all, including you (See Ephesians 2:8-9).  What’s one thing you can do to increase your level of giving?  Or, would it be possible to give the full 10% for 30 or 60 days?  Going back to the promise in Malachi 3:10, God says to “test him.” I have seen people do this.  I have done this.  And God is faithful!

Finally, here is a good article about tithing.

I recently studied Paul’s letter to the church in Galatia and came to Galatians 5:19-21 where he lists “the works of the flesh.” I’ve probably read the list 50 or more times in my life. So, I was stunned to find these two words staring me down:

Selfish Ambition.

Our society teaches us that we should pursue personal gain and self-improvement. Corporately, leaders are supposed to “climb the ladder.” Even those of us who call ourselves Christians are supposed to climb, albeit in a “God honoring manner.” Thus, ambition is typically viewed positively, and rarely is it viewed selfishly.

But it is selfish.

In the verses that follow, Paul cites the fruit of the spirit (Gal 5:22-26). Notice how different, how other’s centered, the spirit-enabling fruits are. This leads us to the final words in verse 26: “Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”

Aren’t these the outcomes of selfish ambition? Aren’t these what wreak havoc in our organizations when others are pursuing personal gain at all cost?

Notice, Paul isn’t saying that we aren’t supposed to work hard. In a separate letter to the church in Thessalonica, he not only warned of idleness, but encouraged hard work so that the believers there would not be a burden (2 Thes. 3:6-10). Similarly, here he is warning against the destruction selfish ambition brings on. It is serious because it disconnects us from the spirit, realigning our focus to self and not others. It is probably not coincidence that “jealousy” and “fits of rage” are included in the same list (Gal 5:20).

I challenge you to consider selfish ambition.

Is it creating conflict? Is it tempting you to pursue certain outcomes at the expense of other, more important, responsibilities?

Is it wreaking havoc in your life?

My application in reading this text was to change my approach to succession planning with my sisters. Working towards a “title” is foolish. Rather, the aim should be, and is, determining how the three of us can peacefully work together as equals.

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Welcome to another semi-regular reoccurring post entitled, #TheoThursday. These posts will examine the intersection of faith and career. The goal is for the reader to come away with new appreciation for how relevant the Bible is to their life.

Disclaimer: The Bible is misinterpreted all the time.  Not only does misinterpretation cause harm, it also sways people’s opinion about God, and all things spiritual.  Sadly, the worst offenders are often those claiming to be knowledgeable.  Therefore, I make no such claims.  Back up anything I say in these posts with the Bible, and commentaries from trained theologians (don’t worry, we aren’t going that deep!). Further, I highly encourage anyone interested in learning more about the Bible to checkout these resources:

NIV Study Bible

The Bible Project

Bible Savvy

Bible Savvy Journal and Reading Schedule

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Ecclesiastes

The Bible Savvy Journal and Reading Schedule turned to the book of Ecclesiastes this week.  Therefore, I spent about 45 minutes on Saturday morning studying the context of the book (reading the Introduction in my NIV Study Bible, and watching the Bible Project intro video).  What struck me was the Hebrew word “Hevel.” This word has many meanings in the English language (vapor, futile, meaningless, etc.), but it seems to be most often translated to “meaningless” in Ecclesiastes. 

For example, arguably the most famous passage in Ecclesiastes, “I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind” (Ecclesiastes 1:14).

I have thought about this reality a lot lately.

The teacher is not saying that everything is meaningless.

Our jobs, for instance, have meaning. Even the plastic parts we produce have meaning.

But, like a cloud, their meaning is momentary.  Here today, and gone tomorrow.

Darker is the reality that none of our accomplishments will last forever.  In the book, the teacher reminds us that we will eventually die and leave everything behind for others. “Hevel,” he cries!  This is humbling when you spend your day working at the business your now departed grandfather created…

My time will eventually come too, I just hope the Bears win the Super Bowl again before that time (keep your comments to yourself Mark).

As the Cubs taught me in 2016, even that is Hevel.

Two weeks ago, our pastor, Jim, pointed out that pursuing wisdom, pleasure, or work for their own ends leads to Hevel. Like sand, we cannot grasp these things for long. They quickly sink through our fingertips.

So, where does that leave us?

Pastor Jim closed with this point over the weekend, “fear God and enjoy the ride.” His can’t miss talk discussed the reality of this broken world, and how often it feels like “God is not in control.”  Yet, we are told to trust him anyway.

Ups and downs will come in our personal life, and in our business life.  That’s just the reality in a broken world.

But, there is hope.

I don’t have the answers to the tougher questions of life.  I can attest, however, to the reality that my life is better when I fear God (another way of saying obey, have reverence for, am in awe of, and submit to).  It is in these times that I am not chasing after the mist – Hevel – because I no longer have to.

I am content.

Therefore, fear God and enjoy the ride.

Prayer Request – Please join me in praying for all those impacted by the tragedy at the Pittsburgh Synagogue last Saturday morning.  Pray that God provides peace that surpasses all human understanding.  I stand with my Jewish brothers and sisters.