‘Christian’ and Businessman: An Oxymoron?

Seems hard to believe, but more than 34 years ago I moved to Chattanooga to join the staff of an organization then known as Christian Business Men’s Committee (CBMC). I’d been in the newspaper business as an editor and publisher for about 10 years, but the next decades taught me more about the business and professional world than if I’d earned three MBAs.

An expanded edition of Business
At Its Best has been released.

The curious thing was that for many people, faith and work seemed diametrically opposed – oxymorons, like “jumbo shrimp,” “seriously funny” or “hurry slowly.” I even heard someone say, “Christian businessman? Make up your mind – which one? You can’t be both.” And yet, my encounters with thousands of people having strong faith who also were very successful in the marketplace proved to me that matters of faith could – and should – intersect with everyday workplace issues and practices.

Through the years I realized some basic truths. Such as, from God’s perspective, there’s no distinction between “sacred” and “secular.” Everything matters to Him. And there aren’t multiple tiers, first and second classes of people when it comes to following Jesus Christ. In fact, Colossians 3:23-24 tells us, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive the reward of the inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

One day I was having lunch with a financial planner, a friend from church, and he blurted out, “I’d give anything to work full-time for God.” Without hesitating, I replied, “What makes you think you haven’t already done that?” He’d been seduced by the clergy/missionary vs. “layman” misconception, that to be in “Christian service” for God you must have some kind of formal religious affiliation. Again, the Bible doesn’t make such a distinction. If we’re followers of Christ, we’re all called to serve Him and others in His name, and true faith isn’t a part-time pursuit.

When the apostle Paul wrote, “Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ…. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord…” (Ephesians 6:5-8), he could just as easily have been addressing employees or workers. And in the next verses Paul challenges “masters” to treat those under them with equal respect and understanding. He could have been writing these words to bosses or CEOs.

This isn’t a message, however, we often hear from the sanctuary. Because many pastors have proceeded directly from college to seminary to the sanctuary, having never experienced the rigors of the contemporary workplace with its stresses, challenges and temptations. You can’t teach above where you’re living.

Thankfully, since the 1980s there’s been a virtual explosion of books on how the spiritual and the pragmatic can effectively merge. I’ve been involved in writing more than a dozen of them myself. And respected periodicals like the Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, MIT Sloan Management Report and Business Week from time to time acknowledge there’s a place for spirituality in the 21^st century workplace.

For this reason, I’ve just re-published a book I wrote about 10 years ago, Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today’s Workplace. It’s my contention that the wisdom from the Bible, not only Proverbs but also many other passages in the Scriptures, applies directly to the ever-changing, high-pressure, hyper-competitive marketplace of the 21^st century.

At the urging of a good friend, I revised the original text and added 13 new chapters, expanding it to a total of 53 quick reading chapters on topics such as integrity, competition, finances, anger, guidance, communications, leadership, patience, persistence, humility, generosity and teamwork. Even gossip. At the end of each chapter I’ve included several open-ended questions called “Putting It Into Practice,” designed for both introspection and small-group discussions.

I recall one CEO stating that for years he had immersed himself in how-to books and motivational messages, seeking to learn how to become more successful. Then he encountered the Bible and before long realized more wisdom could be gleaned from its pages than all of the other books and tapes he’d spent countless hours listening to and reading. And I wholeheartedly agree.

So, at the risk of seeming a shameless self-promoter, I’d like you to check out Business At Its Best on Amazon.com and hopefully, purchase a copy. As a wise author advised me years ago, “If you’re not willing to promote your own book, then why did you write it?” If you like it, recommend it to family and friends. You might even want to give it to someone as a gift with Christmas approaching.

My favorite verse from Proverbs – my “life verse” – says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6). That assurance has certainly proved true in my work and career, as well as in our family. The reason is simple: Eternal truth has no expiration date.

Fruits of Their Labors

  

Monday most of us will observe Labor Day, taking off from work to celebrate the virtues of work!

Labor Day dates to the late 1800’s, celebrating economic and social contributions of workers. It also serves as a time for many to enjoy the fruits of their labors. Except “their” is sometimes interpreted to mean “other people’s.” In other words, the fruits of other people’s labors.

Imagine this scenario. At Prestige University, one of the elite schools in the land, there's a stellar student appropriately named Stella. She’s earned all A’s and expects to become class valedictorian, graduating maximum cum laude (or something like that). Hard work, determination and sacrifice make her an example of what personal initiative can achieve.

But during her senior year, the student advisor informs her, “Stella, you’ve really applied yourself and done incredible work. I commend you. Unfortunately, Wilbur hasn’t applied himself and his classroom work has been mediocre at best. You see, he’s been preoccupied with other things. You know how distracting college life can be.

“Wilbur really feels badly about it – and we don’t want him feeling bad, do we? So we’re taking 15 points from each of your final grades and giving them to Wilbur. But even by removing those points, they’re still high enough for honor roll status…. Hope you won’t mind.”

Ridiculous, right? Yet that’s a line of reasoning these days. Business owners invest countless hours, sweat equity and sacrifice – sometimes teetering on the brink of bankruptcy (or beyond) – in pursuit of their dreams. They spend sleepless nights fretting over payroll, bills, capital expenditures, and growth plans. Now that they're reaping fruits of their labors, some in our society think those proceeds should be distributed to others that have contributed nothing.

I applaud efforts for giving people opportunities to get ahead, to ascend the ladder of success. But that doesn’t mean providing helicopters to carry them directly to the top.

Not everyone is born into the same environment; some people have more advantages than others to get started along life’s journey. Those that lack the necessary education, training and skills to find jobs they love should have access to those resources. But just as fictional Wilbur shouldn’t be entitled to share the academic rewards of Stella’s diligent studies, our Constitution doesn’t guarantee – or warrant – people getting something they’re not willing to earn.

In 2 Thessalonians 3:10, the apostle Paul gave this admonition: “For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: ‘If a man will not work, he shall not eat.’" Interestingly, even the Communist Manifesto included similar language, underscoring the importance of everyone working to make meaningful contributions to society.

Labor Day commemorates work and its intrinsic value. Work provides a basic livelihood as well as life purpose, a sense of achievement, and the dignity of being of worth, able to contribute significantly to others.

Years ago I authored a book called Business at Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today’s Workplace, exploring perspectives on work from Proverbs. Here are samples:

“The laborer’s appetite works for him; his hunger drives him on” (Proverbs 16:26).

“Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men” (Proverbs 22:29).

“He who tends a fig tree with eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored” (Proverbs 27:18).

“Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labor” (Proverbs 12:24).

Work is hard – but it’s also good. So let’s celebrate it and do what we can to help others become noble participants in it. Anyone that’s willing is entitled to enjoy the fruits of their own labors.