Leaders Understand “Experiences”

Proverbs 29:13 (MSG) The poor man and the oppressor have this in common: The LORD gives light to the eyes of both.

These two have little in common, at first glance, except their business dealings; but, with all life experiences, there is more here than meets the eye.

Experiences shape us, not by what happens, but by what we do about what happens. Enlightenment is offered to both the oppressor and the oppressed. Both can experience the hope for something more than this life offers: the poor for wealth that comes without anxiety and the oppressor for wealth not built on abusive behavior, but on right living.

It always come down to what we do with the light the LORD has given. Do we turn away, seek the shade; or do we reach out, no matter the pain, and ask our Creator to teach us something more?

Are you learning or leaving?

Copyright © 2007 by P. Griffith Lindell

Leaders March to the Beat of God’s Drum

Proverbs 26:12 (MSG) See that man who thinks he's so smart? You can expect far more from a fool than from him.

Conceit has captivated humans from the very beginning.

It manifests itself in what otherwise may be thought of as “good” people who may be very successful, and might even do good things for mankind - taking care of the windows, orphans and the generally less fortunate.

However, conceited people, but well-meaning people, who have become their own gods and lives as if God is irrelevant, lives life to the beat of his or her own death-march drum.

Professing Christians, who try to work-in or run a business without God, are operating as practicing atheists, even though they profess a personal relationship. Acknowledging a need for God and working in a way that acknowledges that He is the boss, is not an option.

Who's beating-out the cadence of your life?

Copyright ©2007 by P. Griffith Lindell

Clear Water Leadership

Proverbs 25:26 (AMP) Like a muddied fountain and a polluted spring is a righteous man who yields, falls down, and compromises his integrity before the wicked.

The “secular-progressive” movement is dominating American thought in movies, television, so-called news coverage and business. The educated opinion makers are increasingly marginalizing a Christian worldview. What’s a Christian leader to do – especially in the workplace?

Lead. Lead like Moses, Joshua, Joseph. Lead like Jesus. Keep on continually standing firm in the battle for the American mind. You can because the battle has been won. We know the victor. We know the outcome.

As a “Christian Business Leader” your faith has a place in the workplace. If you abdicate it, the “secular faith” will swiftly fill the void.

The question is: are you a muddied fountain, a polluted spring or are you clear, life-giving water? The world is thirsty: are you a place to quench their thirst?

Copyright © by P. Griffith Lindell

Leaders Work With God In Mind

Proverbs 23:4 –5 (MSG) Don't wear yourself out trying to get rich; restrain yourself! Riches disappear in the blink of an eye; wealth sprouts wings and flies off into the wild blue yonder.

Being known as a “hard worker” is good: working for the right reasons; now that is important.

We are called in our work life, to use a heavenly screen, as it were, to filter out everything that is about us. Doing it for me is dangerous: God warned us that. "...when your herds and flocks grow large and your sliver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery."

It is all about attitude - about what is in our hearts. New cars. New houses. Hobbies. Vacation homes. Traveling. Season tickets to the Symphony, Opera, to sporting events. All of these are subject to our attitude. God has given us a certain level and ability to accumulate resources. What we do with those resources, what we think about this resources, what we say about them reflect our heart.

The question is do these things possess us or are we stewards of God's bounty to us?

Leaders Want To Be Known For The “Right Stuff”

Proverbs 22:1 (NIV) A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.

Two attributes are more desirable than all the wealth we can accumulate: to be well spoken of and to be held in high esteem by others.

Both point to personal purpose: knowing who you are and what your purpose is. I hope you have a handle on that.

A.W. Tozer offered seven “tests” for us to use when we want to understand better how we are “known” and what really drives us:

1. What we want most
2. What we think about most
3. How we use our money
4. What we do with our leisure time
5. The company we enjoy
6. Who and what we admire
7. What we laugh at

And remember, as my Mom used to say: “What you do speaks so loudly, I can’t hear what you say.” How are you “doing?”

Copyright ©2007 by P. Griffith Lindell

Leaders Learn to Be First

Proverbs 17:16 (NLT) It is senseless to pay tuition to educate a fool who has no heart for wisdom.

Just as money cannot buy happiness, it cannot buy wisdom.

The purchase of wisdom is a heart thing. The heart must first be changed since God's ways are not the ways of the world.

What are leaders at work to do? Stop funding all educational incentives? Disparage the educational system? NO! That MBA will help do stuff: a heart for God will help you be.

Believers are called to a different world: to a different way of living: we are called to learn God’s ways and apply them. It matters little whether we are a butcher, baker or candlestick maker: we are each models of applied wisdom.

What are you working on: being or doing?

Copyright © 2007 by P. Griffith Lindell

Leaders Are Ambassadors

Proverbs 11: 2 (NIV) When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
James 3:13 …Let him show it [being wise] by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom….

James observes that there is a humility that comes from wisdom. Humbling yourself releases you from what would hold you back from acquiring God’s wisdom.

Our deepest desire must not be for the things of God, or for the blessing of God, but for God himself. Harboring selfish ambition of any kind – especially in your business lives – is all about you, not about Him.

Apostle Paul reminds us that a life lived in humility and wisdom make us “ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us…” The ambassador gives glory to the person or country represented. Not her/himself.

For whom are you an Ambassador?


Copyright © 2007 by P. Griffith Lindell

Rich Leadership. Truly rich.

Proverbs 10:22 (AMP) The blessing of the Lord--it makes [truly] rich, and He adds no sorrow with it [neither does toiling increase it].

Quite a promise when you think about it: riches with no sorrow; wealth without anxiety. No worrying about who might take it away; or how you might loose it; or the tax burden because of it; or the misunderstandings about you because you have it.

Blessings from the Lord do not come with continuing lust or passion or focus on “toiling” for more riches. Blessings from the Lord are freeing, not enslaving.

So, just whom does the Lord bless? Those who are diligent to know: Diligent to be like Him; to bless others as He did; and, to obey Him. Without a scent of self-centeredness; without a hint of disputing His law; obeying wholeheartedly.

I’m challenged. Are you?

Copyright ©2007 by P. Griffith Lindell

Leaders Walk the Right Path

Proverbs 9:6 (NIV) Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.

Whether it's Business School or the school of life, any learning that leaves out God, is foolish. A Christian Worldview should be totally integrated – it defines walking in the way of understanding.

Many of the business decisions are not clearly legal or illegal; rather, it is which ethically right path should be followed - and that takes Wisdom. Sometimes we cannot clearly see down the path: following God's lead is a walk of Faith and not sight.

This faith walk begins with "knowing God" and that results from feasting at the table of His Word, praying, and having a transparent relationship with Godly people. You got “walk?”

Copyright © 2007 by P. Griffith Lindell