Month: October 2012

Pursue The Gifts You Have, Not The One’s You Want

/ Phill

Do you remember reading about David and Goliath? Do you remember how Saul tried to make David wear armor that would not fit him? I laugh when I try to picture David as a youth trying to walk around in Saul’s armor, potentially bumping into tent posts and stepping into the campfires scattered around.

Finally, David threw off Saul’s armor and wore his own shepherd’s clothes. He left Saul’s weapons in the tent and chose to use the sling and the stones he already knew how to use. These fit him. While he had never fought in a war with other soldiers, he had certainly seen his battles protecting the flocks from predators. Instead of using someone else’s armor and weaponry in this new battle, he went with what was familiar to him.

What Can We Learn?

Apparently, he made the right choice. So what can we as leaders learn from this episode? How do we apply it to what we do on a daily basis?

The first place I think to look is back in the Bible. Let’s consider Romans 12:6-8. In this passage, Paul is telling the Romans that different people receive different gifts from God.

When we receive specific gifts, we should use those gifts according to our faith. If one is given the gift of teaching, then they are to teach. Another may be given the gift of encouragement; they should encourage. You have probably read this and understand it.

I believe this is directly related to the story about David and the armor. You see, Saul was trying to get David to wear armor that was not his. It was not fit for him. It was not comfortable to him. It simply would have been a burden to David. It would have hampered his effectiveness against Goliath.

Gifts From God

The same is true about gifts from God. If God has given me the gift of encouragement, but not the gift of leadership, should I try to lead? Just because I want to lead does not mean that is what I should do. In fact, if God has not gifted me in that area, I will only cause problems if I try to do it anyway. If I am not gifted to teach, but I insist on doing so, what kind of results will I get? I may like the idea of teaching, but if God has not gifted me for it, that is not where I will be most effective.

Look at 1 Corinthians 12 and see more discussion on this. In this passage, Paul takes it further and uses the human body and its parts to illustrate his point. Each part has its job to do. Each job is just as important to the health of the body as the next. All deserve honor. None of the parts should aspire to be another part. Instead, each part should embrace the role they have been given and do the best they can at being that part.

Lessons For Leaders

As leaders, we must do the same.

1. Discover your gifting

David quickly found that Saul’s armor would not work. You need to determine your gifting. There are tools to accomplish this, but you can also ask those who know you best. Pray for God to reveal it to you.

2. Embrace that gifting

David did not hesitate to reject Saul’s armor and revert back to his own tools. Once you know your gifts, embrace them! Know that the Creator of the universe chose you specially for those gifts! They are worthy of honor!

3. Learn how to best apply that gifting

David spent years learning accuracy with his sling and stones. Do not expect overnight results in your gifts. Developing these gifts take time. Through prayer, application, and learning from defeats (as well as successes), you will grow in these gifts.

4. Go to battle!

David went boldly into battle with his tools. Do not be afraid to fight the battles with your gifts. Do not forget you represent God and He has your back!

Now, go out there and use your own armor!

What are your gifts?

The above post is based on a lesson on using your gifts from Dave Anderson’s book How to Run Your Business by THE BOOK.

About the Guest Writer

/ Phill

http://globalopps.org/tmbriefs/chris.jpg

This month I have adapted two articles from our guest’s blog to highlight truths about Christians in the marketplace that are too often overlooked in the church in the West. While Chris is a Christian businessman in the United States the principles he presents are true throughout the world and merit reflection by all believers, but especially those who would be tentmakers doing Business as Mission.

I welcome your feedback. Email phill@globalopps.org.

The above articles and the testimony of Chris’ journey come from his blog http://christianfaithatwork.com and is used with permission.

Our Guest Writer in His Own Words

My name is Chris Patton.  I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, also known as a Christian.  I am a father of three wonderful kids and husband to a beautiful wife.  I am the steward of a business God has entrusted to me for a time and a purpose.  This business is a 100-employee automobile dealership group in a small town in Georgia that sells, services, and reconditions new and used cars, representing six franchises.  I am the third-generation operator of this family business that was started by my grandfather and I am partners with my father and brother.

Though I was a baptized believer since the age of ten, it was just over 10 years ago, in the fall of 2000, when I came to understand that I was not living the life to which God had called me.  I was a good person, and to the majority of people watching, I was a good Christian father, businessman, church leader, and friend.

“Unfortunately, I was basing my actions and behaviors on the world’s definition of a good Christian.”

I say that because it was certainly not based on the definition of a disciple in the Bible.  I had not spent any time reading the Bible for the purpose of aligning my life with it before.  Once I started doing that, everything changed.  I went from being a good man, leading a good American Christian life, to being a true disciple – someone who studies the life of Jesus and tries to apply what is learned to his everyday life.  Like I said earlier, this changed everything!

Change of Focus

Over the next couple of years, my focus slowly changed.  My priorities flip-flopped.  I even attempted to leave my position as President of the family business in an attempt to find another job that would allow me to serve God with more of my time.  I really did not know what God wanted me to do, but I knew it had to be in line with Scripture.  As a result, I knew it would not be continuing on the path I had been on up to that point.

Through a series of events that occurred roughly three years after my awakening, I had my marching orders.  In the fall of 2003, God showed me clearly that I am to do all I had imagined I would do when I attempted to leave the business, but I am to do it through the business.  He showed me that He had put me in my position in our family business for a time and a purpose.  Though profit is certainly necessary and a business cannot survive long without it, profit is not to be my main purpose.  My purpose is to run this business as a Christian business, one that operates for the purpose of honoring Him and advancing His kingdom.

Long Road Ahead

Eight years later, I am still running this business as God’s steward.  I have seen some successes and some failures since starting on the path I have taken.  I still have a long way to go on this path.

5 Facts God Wants All Marketplace Workers to Know

/ Phill

http://globalopps.org/tmbriefs/book-the-other-six-days.jpg

Christian Business Impact

It is my firm belief that God has much greater plans for impacting the world through Christian business owners and leaders than most people realize or acknowledge. In the right hands (and heart!), a business running according to Scripture can have immeasurable influence for eternity. Unfortunately, because there are not enough pastors talking about this to their congregations, it is up to the rest of us to get the conversation started!

5 Facts You May Not Have Heard

Here is a brief list of things I believe need more attention among Christian business owners and leaders today:

1. God cares about your work and business.

Too many people think God is only concerned with what we do on Sunday or after hours at the church. They mistakenly segment their lives into compartments and think God only cares about the “spiritual” things.

The truth is that we were created with work in mind. God told Adam and Eve to subdue the earth. Later, Paul reminds us to do our work as service to the Lord. Add that to the fact that He cares enough to number the hairs on our head. I am convinced He cares about our work. (Ephesians 6:6-7; Colossians 3:23-24)

2. You are a full-time minister.

Though it sure would be easier for all of us if we could just leave ministry up to our church’s paid staff, that is not how it works. We are all given different talents and gifts and we are each parts of the body of Christ – each with a different function.

We are also called ambassadors for Christ. As ambassadors, we are to live in a foreign land (the world) and represent our King (Jesus) to the people (non-believers) of that land. This is a full-time job, not something reserved for one day a week! (1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 2 Corinthians 5:20-21)

3. Your business is a gift and a responsibility.

God has given you the gift of owning or leading in business. This gift can produce rewards, financial and otherwise, that the vast majority will never experience. This is a tremendous gift. You should be thankful for it.

The gift comes with added responsibility. Just like in the parable of the talents, more is expected of you because more has been given to you. This responsibility takes many forms. You are to use your God-given resources to build what will survive into eternity. Simply using your business to provide a better lifestyle for your brief stay on earth is not Biblical. (1 Timothy 6:17-19; 1 Corinthians 3:9-15)

4. Your words can carry more weight than his.

Though you may not have thought of this before, it is a simple truth. If a pastor says something about living his life according to the pattern that Jesus gave us, no one will think anything of it. That is his job. He is paid to say and do things like that.

However, if you say the same thing in a group, people will take notice. They take you more seriously because they know you are not paid to say that. It will get their attention. It will be even more powerful when they see you living it out.

5. You can have a greater impact than he can.

Your pastor will most likely only have significant influence with those who attend his church. While there are exceptions, few pastors have much impact among those who do not attend church.

Your situation is likely different. As a Christian business owner or leader, you have the opportunity to influence your employees, customers, and the community where you work and live. You will regularly come into contact with people who may never darken the door of a church. The impact you can have among these people dwarfs that of your pastor.

So What?

If this is all true, what does that really mean for you? Well, I believe it means you need to get on your knees and seek God’s guidance as to how you should be running your business. Is your perspective eternal or temporal? What do you think He wants from you?

Get in a deep conversation with God and start pressing into Him for answers. At the same time, get more familiar with what His Word has to say about your purpose. The answers will come.

  • Do you agree with the items on the list? What would you add?
  • Are you already impacting eternity with your Christian business? How?
  • How could you increase your influence beginning today?