Are You A Stepping Stone Or Stumbling Block?
There was a business man who had resisted coming to Christ for many years. His reason? The innumerable professionals with whom he had done business who were also leaders in their churches. The inconsistency between their faith, so-called, and their practices in business triggered serious questions in his mind as to the authenticity of anything Christian.
One of the greatest challenges we face in our walk with Christ is how to make our profession of faith and practice in business one and the same. The operative word is "blameless".
"Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman." (Psalm 15:1-3)
"Blameless" means conducting our business in such a manner that no one can point the finger at us and utter the word "hypocrite!"
"Make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way." (Romans 15:13)
To help you determine just how blameless you are in your business practices, consider the following questions:
QUESTION: How do your lost associates view you? A stepping stone? A stumbling block?
Minister Calvin Wyatt /email:cixmo@aol.com /calvincosmo30@gmail.com /calvincosmo@facebook.com.
There was a business man who had resisted coming to Christ for many years. His reason? The innumerable professionals with whom he had done business who were also leaders in their churches. The inconsistency between their faith, so-called, and their practices in business triggered serious questions in his mind as to the authenticity of anything Christian.
One of the greatest challenges we face in our walk with Christ is how to make our profession of faith and practice in business one and the same. The operative word is "blameless".
"Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman." (Psalm 15:1-3)
"Blameless" means conducting our business in such a manner that no one can point the finger at us and utter the word "hypocrite!"
"Make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way." (Romans 15:13)
To help you determine just how blameless you are in your business practices, consider the following questions:
- Is it wrong to create a "need" in order to market a product? (Job 31:5)
- When there is a clash between Biblical principles and expediency, which one usually wins? Why?
- Is the nature of your product in harmony with Biblical values?
- How do you view your employees? As expendable, once their usefulness wanes? Or as people whom you desire to assist in reaching their highest potential? (Job 31:13)
- Are the brand properties you attribute to your product honestly represented? (Deuteronomy 16:19; Proverbs 16:11)
- Is the message you are communicating in your advertising and promotion consistent with Scriptural principles?
- Do you view the competition as a necessary evil? (2 Corinthians 5:16)
- As the enemy whom you must crush? (Job 31:29, 40; Zechariah 7:9; Luke 6:31)
- Or as people for whom Christ died; people to whom you are His Ambassador? (2 Corinthians 5:18-21)
- Is it possible to love and serve people with whom you are in competition? Do such truths as "Love your neighbor as yourself " and "Let all that you do be done in love" find application in your business environment? (Matthew 22:39; 1 Corinthians 16:14)
- When you are in doubt about a marketing strategy or a business decision, do you stop and ask, "What would Jesus do?" Or do you just plow ahead, business as usual? (John 13:16; Ephesians 5:2)
QUESTION: How do your lost associates view you? A stepping stone? A stumbling block?
Minister Calvin Wyatt /email:cixmo@aol.com /calvincosmo30@gmail.com /calvincosmo@facebook.com.
Empowerment:
Conducting A Spiritual Audit
Six questions to keep your personal accounts in order:
1. Am I content with who I am becoming?
I must be sure my profession does not consume my person. It's important that I be more than I do or have. When the time comes for me to leave my title and power, will I have anything to fill the vacuum? As I mature am I moving from power to wisdom; from the offensive to being sought out? "Throw off your old evil nature—the old you that was a partner in your evil ways—rotten through and through, full of lust and sham. Now your attitudes and thoughts must all be constantly changing for the better. Yes, you must be a new and different person, holy and good. Clothe yourself with this new nature." (Ephesians 4:22-24 Living) (See Job 22:23; Ezekiel 18:30-32; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Colossians 2:11; 3:8, 9; Hebrews 12:1; James 1:21)
2. Do I have a quiet center to my life?
For many of us our life motto seems to be, "When in trouble, when in doubt, run in circles, scream, and shout." God's Word, however, encourages us to "Be still and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10) There is an important difference between the fast track and the frantic track. By way of contrast, Jesus quietly "went about doing good." He had a quiet center. A peace which evidenced the presence of God. Do I? (See Psalm 131:2; 23:2; Isaiah 30:15; 32:17)
3. Is my prayer life improving?
Do my decisions have prayer as an integral part, or do I make decisions out of my desires and then immerse them in a sanctimonious sauce I call prayer? "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer… present your requests to God." (Philippians 4:6a,c) (See 1 Kings. 3:5; 2 Chronicles. 7:14; Psalm 37:4; Matthew 6:6-9; 7:7, 8; 21:22; John 14:13, 14; 16:23, 24; James 5:16-18)
4. Is my humility genuine?
There is nothing so arrogant as false humility. Humility is not denying the power that I have, but admitting that the power comes through me, not from me. "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves." (Philippians 2:3) (See Psalm 37:11; 131:1; Proverbs 11:2; 27:2; Isaiah 57:15; 66:2b; Jeremiah 45:5; Micah 6:8; Luke 18:14; 1 Peter 5:5)
5. Is obedience in small matters built into my reflexes?
Do I try to bargain with God or rationalize with him? Obedience largely determines my relation with Christ. Good intentions count for little. "Obedience is the test of whether we really live 'in God' or not. The life of a man who professes to be living in God must bear the stamp of Christ." (1 John 2:5, 6 – Phillips Translation) (See Proverbs 19:16; 19:17; 1 John 5:3; Luke 6:46)
6. Do I have joy?
Joy is perfected in the full belief in the total sovereignty of God. Doubt dilutes joy. Does my joy extend into my suffering; understanding that my suffering is my maturation. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1:2-4) (See Nehemiah 8:10; Isaiah 12:1-3; 61:10; Romans 15:13; 2 Corinthians 6:10)
Conducting A Spiritual Audit
Six questions to keep your personal accounts in order:
1. Am I content with who I am becoming?
I must be sure my profession does not consume my person. It's important that I be more than I do or have. When the time comes for me to leave my title and power, will I have anything to fill the vacuum? As I mature am I moving from power to wisdom; from the offensive to being sought out? "Throw off your old evil nature—the old you that was a partner in your evil ways—rotten through and through, full of lust and sham. Now your attitudes and thoughts must all be constantly changing for the better. Yes, you must be a new and different person, holy and good. Clothe yourself with this new nature." (Ephesians 4:22-24 Living) (See Job 22:23; Ezekiel 18:30-32; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Colossians 2:11; 3:8, 9; Hebrews 12:1; James 1:21)
2. Do I have a quiet center to my life?
For many of us our life motto seems to be, "When in trouble, when in doubt, run in circles, scream, and shout." God's Word, however, encourages us to "Be still and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10) There is an important difference between the fast track and the frantic track. By way of contrast, Jesus quietly "went about doing good." He had a quiet center. A peace which evidenced the presence of God. Do I? (See Psalm 131:2; 23:2; Isaiah 30:15; 32:17)
3. Is my prayer life improving?
Do my decisions have prayer as an integral part, or do I make decisions out of my desires and then immerse them in a sanctimonious sauce I call prayer? "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer… present your requests to God." (Philippians 4:6a,c) (See 1 Kings. 3:5; 2 Chronicles. 7:14; Psalm 37:4; Matthew 6:6-9; 7:7, 8; 21:22; John 14:13, 14; 16:23, 24; James 5:16-18)
4. Is my humility genuine?
There is nothing so arrogant as false humility. Humility is not denying the power that I have, but admitting that the power comes through me, not from me. "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves." (Philippians 2:3) (See Psalm 37:11; 131:1; Proverbs 11:2; 27:2; Isaiah 57:15; 66:2b; Jeremiah 45:5; Micah 6:8; Luke 18:14; 1 Peter 5:5)
5. Is obedience in small matters built into my reflexes?
Do I try to bargain with God or rationalize with him? Obedience largely determines my relation with Christ. Good intentions count for little. "Obedience is the test of whether we really live 'in God' or not. The life of a man who professes to be living in God must bear the stamp of Christ." (1 John 2:5, 6 – Phillips Translation) (See Proverbs 19:16; 19:17; 1 John 5:3; Luke 6:46)
6. Do I have joy?
Joy is perfected in the full belief in the total sovereignty of God. Doubt dilutes joy. Does my joy extend into my suffering; understanding that my suffering is my maturation. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1:2-4) (See Nehemiah 8:10; Isaiah 12:1-3; 61:10; Romans 15:13; 2 Corinthians 6:10)
A Clarion Call:
If you have not yet received the Lord Jesus into your life, or you once received Him but backslid, make yourself available of this opportunity and pray this prayer: There is no degree of sin the Lord cannot blot out. Do not postpone, for tomorrow may be too late.
Father I come before you as a sinner (Romans 3:23)
I sincerely repent of my sins (Acts 3:19)
I believe that Jesus died and was resurrected to grant me salvation
(John 3:16)
Today, as I receive Him into my heart by faith, grant me grace,
not to go back to my old sinful ways (Proverbs 28:13)
Thank you Lord for saving me.
