Luke 14: 7-11
I was at a meeting a while back, where a certain group of people who had accomplished something were asked to pose for a picture. Without going into too much detail, I had accomplished something similar, but not in as public a way as the others had. So I held back and chatted with someone while the picture was taken. Later, someone asked, "why weren't you in the picture?" I responded with a paraphrase of the story that is found in Luke 14. Guests at a dinner were arguing over who should get the seats of honor. Jesus suggested that it was wiser to choose a less desirable seat and be asked to move up, rather than choosing a more desirable seat only to be asked to move and let a more honored guest sit there (an embarassment in almost any culture).
For many of us, part of our work is trying to get the "honored" seats. In our minds, we think about which coworkers are more or less deserving than we are. Sometimes, we manuever to ascend that list. There's nothing inherently wrong with that, although you need to show God's love to your coworkers. But be careful about thinking of yourself more highly than you ought. That picture will only be remembered by a few people, none of whom will have any direct effect on me. But in the moment, it sure was nicer to be asked why I wasn't there rather than being told that I didn't belong.
Showing posts with label Promotions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Promotions. Show all posts
Friday, January 7, 2011
Monday, December 13, 2010
Deny Yourself and Follow Me
Matthew 16:24-26; Mark 8:34-38; Luke 9:23-24
This is another one of those passages that really makes a good "theme" verse for what this blog is all about. "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." What does that really mean in the 21st century? What does it mean at work? It's not language we're really used to in every day conversations. Obviously, this verse applies to every part of our lives. But since this blog is about Christianity in the workplace, let me share some of what I think this verse means regarding work.
I think, first and foremost, it means that we need to resist our human nature toward ambition at any cost. I don't think that's a univeral trait because I've seen people who are not overly driven by ambition, but I think it is a common trait. We want to succeed. We want to be the best. And being the best means that others around us are not the best. Sometimes, our winning means they have to lose. But that's ok, because we have to be the best. There is a sense that any sacrifice is ok if it means that we advance, that we are recognized as "the best" or "among the best" at whatever it is that we do. And so relationships, family, integrity, it all may fall prey to the drive to achieve.
As I've posted before, God wants us to be good at what we do, to use our talents to His glory. We need to do quality work. But we're not supposed to be working to achieve our own glory. We're to do quality work because we're working for God's glory, not our own. So that's really the first part of today's passage--deny yourself, which might mean "deny your drive to accomplish your own glory" at work.
Then second, pick up your cross and follow Christ. Being Chrisitan at work makes you different, makes you stand out from the crowd. Your talk is different. You don't lie or gossip. You respect authority, even when the boss is not looking. Those things may make you the subject of ridicule from your coworkers, who laugh at you for being soft and not cut-throat enough. You may miss out on promotions because you turn the other cheek instead of going for the kill. That's why following Christ means picking up a cross.
It's not the easy road. And contrary to some popular wisdom, it won't win you fortunes and fame. So why do it? First, because look at how much you've been loved. That's enough right there. But if you need more motivation, Jesus gives it two verses later: "What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?" Does your success in your job, at the expense of so many other things, get you anything in the long run? I'm talking about the really long run here. At the end of everything, you won't be taking anything that you've earned with you. It won't matter how many deals you've closed, how much overtime you've logged, or how many people you had to climb over to claw your way to the top. It won't matter whether you had the corner office on the top floor or whether you worked as a clerk in the mail room. The only thing that will matter is Jesus.
He calls to you: "Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Me." What do you say to Him?
This is another one of those passages that really makes a good "theme" verse for what this blog is all about. "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." What does that really mean in the 21st century? What does it mean at work? It's not language we're really used to in every day conversations. Obviously, this verse applies to every part of our lives. But since this blog is about Christianity in the workplace, let me share some of what I think this verse means regarding work.
I think, first and foremost, it means that we need to resist our human nature toward ambition at any cost. I don't think that's a univeral trait because I've seen people who are not overly driven by ambition, but I think it is a common trait. We want to succeed. We want to be the best. And being the best means that others around us are not the best. Sometimes, our winning means they have to lose. But that's ok, because we have to be the best. There is a sense that any sacrifice is ok if it means that we advance, that we are recognized as "the best" or "among the best" at whatever it is that we do. And so relationships, family, integrity, it all may fall prey to the drive to achieve.
As I've posted before, God wants us to be good at what we do, to use our talents to His glory. We need to do quality work. But we're not supposed to be working to achieve our own glory. We're to do quality work because we're working for God's glory, not our own. So that's really the first part of today's passage--deny yourself, which might mean "deny your drive to accomplish your own glory" at work.
Then second, pick up your cross and follow Christ. Being Chrisitan at work makes you different, makes you stand out from the crowd. Your talk is different. You don't lie or gossip. You respect authority, even when the boss is not looking. Those things may make you the subject of ridicule from your coworkers, who laugh at you for being soft and not cut-throat enough. You may miss out on promotions because you turn the other cheek instead of going for the kill. That's why following Christ means picking up a cross.
It's not the easy road. And contrary to some popular wisdom, it won't win you fortunes and fame. So why do it? First, because look at how much you've been loved. That's enough right there. But if you need more motivation, Jesus gives it two verses later: "What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?" Does your success in your job, at the expense of so many other things, get you anything in the long run? I'm talking about the really long run here. At the end of everything, you won't be taking anything that you've earned with you. It won't matter how many deals you've closed, how much overtime you've logged, or how many people you had to climb over to claw your way to the top. It won't matter whether you had the corner office on the top floor or whether you worked as a clerk in the mail room. The only thing that will matter is Jesus.
He calls to you: "Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Me." What do you say to Him?
Friday, July 2, 2010
How to Get Promoted at Work
Genesis 39
In many ways, Joseph provides a great example of a model employee. In his youth, he may have had some trouble with humility (Gen. 37:8, his brothers interpreted his dream descriptions as bragging). But after being sold into slavery, he worked his way up in Potiphar's house, so that 39:4 says, "Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned." We don't know the hierarchy of Potiphar's slaves, but it's safe to say that this responsibility was quite a promotion.
After being falsely accused and convicted, Joseph is thrown in jail. Yet again, 39:22 says, "the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there." Again, a lot of responsibility for a slave-turned-inmate.
How did Joseph attain these promotions? Two things stand out. First, the chapter says several times "God was with Joseph." These promotions and responsibilities came from God. Second, Joseph was obedient and honest, even when that honesty was not convenient. As we think about promotions and accomplishments in our own jobs, there are several lessons for us. First, remember that achievements come from God, not on our own. Potiphar, the warden, and later Pharaoh trusted Joseph because they saw that God was with him.
Second, just because God was with him didn't mean that everything was smooth sailing. Remember his Egyptian employment started because his own brothers sold him into slavery. Remember that his reward for ethical behavior in Potiphar's house was prison. Remember that he helped out the cup bearer but was forgotten. Contrary to a prosperity gospel, just because you are a Christian and do the right things doesn't mean that everything works out perfectly every time. At least once for Joseph, doing the right thing hurt him.
Joseph trusted God. God gave him accomplishments and recognitions but allowed hardships at other times. But Joseph still trusted God.
In many ways, Joseph provides a great example of a model employee. In his youth, he may have had some trouble with humility (Gen. 37:8, his brothers interpreted his dream descriptions as bragging). But after being sold into slavery, he worked his way up in Potiphar's house, so that 39:4 says, "Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned." We don't know the hierarchy of Potiphar's slaves, but it's safe to say that this responsibility was quite a promotion.
After being falsely accused and convicted, Joseph is thrown in jail. Yet again, 39:22 says, "the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there." Again, a lot of responsibility for a slave-turned-inmate.
How did Joseph attain these promotions? Two things stand out. First, the chapter says several times "God was with Joseph." These promotions and responsibilities came from God. Second, Joseph was obedient and honest, even when that honesty was not convenient. As we think about promotions and accomplishments in our own jobs, there are several lessons for us. First, remember that achievements come from God, not on our own. Potiphar, the warden, and later Pharaoh trusted Joseph because they saw that God was with him.
Second, just because God was with him didn't mean that everything was smooth sailing. Remember his Egyptian employment started because his own brothers sold him into slavery. Remember that his reward for ethical behavior in Potiphar's house was prison. Remember that he helped out the cup bearer but was forgotten. Contrary to a prosperity gospel, just because you are a Christian and do the right things doesn't mean that everything works out perfectly every time. At least once for Joseph, doing the right thing hurt him.
Joseph trusted God. God gave him accomplishments and recognitions but allowed hardships at other times. But Joseph still trusted God.
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