Proverbs 11:28 (MSG) A life devoted to things is a dead life, a stump; a God-shaped life is a flourishing tree.
The marketplace is filled with people who are building. And building, per se, is good. It’s not the building that’s the problem: it is what one is “devoted to” in that “building” that’s the issue.
Jesus ben Joseph (as, no doubt, he was known in his younger days), this builder, artisan, craftsman from Nazareth, was known for his trade, his work. Among the responsibilities of a Jewish father to his sons were circumcision, and the teaching of a trade – in this case, the potential of a tree (the kind of wood, what could be done with it, what it was best for). Joseph did his job.
More importantly, that teaching included building an understanding of the “Why” of Jewish rites and beliefs. God intended His people to build lives with eternal meaning – not just temporal excellence - and fathers were to pass down to sons that rich heritage of excellence and eternity.
Of course the people with whom he grew up were confused when Jesus the craftsman returned as Jesus the Rabi with a bunch of followers. Where is theological training? He’s an artisan, not a theologian! Jesus, the Christ, came into the world when there existed the same confusion then as today – the scared is over there; the secular is here; and never the twain shall meet. The worship of dead stuff has always been a poor, but widely accepted, substitute for the workshop of the living.
Devoting one’s life to the accumulation of power, prestige, and play–things yield stuff, but not satisfaction: Success, but not significance. Devoting self to the living and eternal should change how we do business: for some of us, power and prestige will follow – not because it’s pursued, but because God wants to show Himself alive in our lives.
The power of our influence will flow out of the prestige of doing business so well that others want to know the how and why.
Upon what are you focused – success (a stump) or significance (a tree)?
Copyright © 2010 by P. Griffith Lindell
Showing posts with label significance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label significance. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Monday, November 09, 2009
Building a Life of Significance
Proverbs 9: 1, 10 (MSG) 1Lady Wisdom has built and furnished her home... 10Skilled living gets its start in the Fear-of-GOD, insight into life from knowing a Holy God.
A special house has been built for Believers and it should be enough - but many times, we spend time looking out the window at other buildings that seem bigger, better, bolder.
The world does this as their practice of living. Never content. Always wanting more.
Building, per se, is not wrong, misguided or to be ignored. Leaders are often called "to build." Building a meaningful, significant life is important. That's building to the model of Wisdom's house. Skilled living - that’s the key.
Christian business leaders have the opportunity to demonstrate what God can do with a business wholly committed to him -- one that thrives, grows and is profitable - an enterprise run for His glory. Dickens would not have had much material to use if Christians, at the time his novels were placed, were committed to running Christ-enabled businesses.
Building a businesses, or simple building a life, God's way should be better - the leader more skilled at living because she/he isn’t trying to build a house on a foundation of the shifting sands of relative values.. We are called to build lives of significance at home, at work, at play - and success in this arena is measured by how well we walk down the path of skilled living.
Are you walking on the path that leads to the house Wisdom has built?
Copyright ©2009 by P. Griffith Lindell
A special house has been built for Believers and it should be enough - but many times, we spend time looking out the window at other buildings that seem bigger, better, bolder.
The world does this as their practice of living. Never content. Always wanting more.
Building, per se, is not wrong, misguided or to be ignored. Leaders are often called "to build." Building a meaningful, significant life is important. That's building to the model of Wisdom's house. Skilled living - that’s the key.
Christian business leaders have the opportunity to demonstrate what God can do with a business wholly committed to him -- one that thrives, grows and is profitable - an enterprise run for His glory. Dickens would not have had much material to use if Christians, at the time his novels were placed, were committed to running Christ-enabled businesses.
Building a businesses, or simple building a life, God's way should be better - the leader more skilled at living because she/he isn’t trying to build a house on a foundation of the shifting sands of relative values.. We are called to build lives of significance at home, at work, at play - and success in this arena is measured by how well we walk down the path of skilled living.
Are you walking on the path that leads to the house Wisdom has built?
Copyright ©2009 by P. Griffith Lindell
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Thursday, April 23, 2009
The Seduction of Success
Proverbs 23:17- 18 (NIV) Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD. There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.
Personal success often gets in the way of real significance.
Hoping for personal success always gets in the way of being significant. We are called to significance – to live lives that are magnets of meaning to those seeking meaning.
Our only chance to build a life of significance is driven by a single-minded focus. Scripture tells us that this zealousness is “for the fear of God.” Our culture has softened this Biblical concept. If we are zealous after God, we will not covet, envy and be driven to be like the “successful” of the world.
This change in our leadership attitude means, that as leaders, we hope only in Him for meaning - for significance of our life itself.
Our leadership success is not measured by power, prestige or wealth. It is measured by our impact for Kingdom growth – and that’s often measured in eternity, not here on earth. The results of our life, lived in our workplace should have Kingdom impact.
Are you working for personal success or Kingdom significance?
Copyright © 2009 by P. Griffith Lindell
Personal success often gets in the way of real significance.
Hoping for personal success always gets in the way of being significant. We are called to significance – to live lives that are magnets of meaning to those seeking meaning.
Our only chance to build a life of significance is driven by a single-minded focus. Scripture tells us that this zealousness is “for the fear of God.” Our culture has softened this Biblical concept. If we are zealous after God, we will not covet, envy and be driven to be like the “successful” of the world.
This change in our leadership attitude means, that as leaders, we hope only in Him for meaning - for significance of our life itself.
Our leadership success is not measured by power, prestige or wealth. It is measured by our impact for Kingdom growth – and that’s often measured in eternity, not here on earth. The results of our life, lived in our workplace should have Kingdom impact.
Are you working for personal success or Kingdom significance?
Copyright © 2009 by P. Griffith Lindell
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