Dead or Alive?

Focal Passage:  James 2:14-17 & 26

Biblical Truth:  Faith unaccompanied by action is dead

Business Impact:  Let your faith and action “work” together

James 2 “14What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds?  Can such a faith save him?  15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  16If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead… 26As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”

A few weeks ago, I wrote a devotion entitled “All In” and spoke of how the NY Giants were challenged to go “All In” and have 100% faith in each other, everyone giving 100% and completely sell out to being the best.  Well… looks like it worked as they just won the Super Bowl.  It’s awesome that they believed in each other that much but their faith had to be accompanied by actions at practice and on the field in game time.  Without actions to back up their words, their faith in each other would have been pretty hollow and meaningless.  I think this is an example of what James is trying to teach in the scriptures, a true faith will produce actions or deeds.

Think of all the missionaries all over the world who have completely sold out for the gospel and are putting their faith into action by serving the Lord, or think of the people who choose to pour their faith out by mentoring others or serving the poor or working to build houses through Habitat for Humanity.  The examples could go on and on, there are plenty of opportunities and places and means of putting your faith into action.  What are you doing?  Are you doing anything? Is your faith alive or dead?

Know what I’ve found over the years?  The more I serve, the more I give, the more I put my faith into action, then more opportunities come my way, more customers “suddenly appear” and things tend to work better.

Do you know why the Dead Sea is dead?  Water flows in but none flows out and it just sits there and stagnates.  When your faith flows in but none flows out, guess what… you’re dead.  At CBB we are always saying that we use our businesses as a platform for Christ and the gospel. All of us can say that but do we actually do it?  Bring your business back from the dead or keep your business fresh and alive, serve, volunteer, give and put your faith into action, then watch what happens.

Favoritism

Focal Passage:  James 2:1-4 & 12-13

Biblical Truth: Showing favoritism goes against the very nature of God and Christianity

Business Impact:  Treating all your clients the same may not always be to your immediate advantage

James 2 says, “1My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism.  2Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.  3If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?…12Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.  Mercy triumphs over judgment!”

It probably goes without saying that we should treat everyone the same and not play favorites.  It also goes without saying that it’s easier said than done.  Within the last year, I’ve witnessed a preacher of a small church show favoritism to one member.  The member contributes financially more than all of the other members combined and has been given tons of attention and time by the preacher while some of the  other members have a hard time even getting the preacher to pay any attention whatsoever to them and their needs.  In a subconscious way, he automatically gives more attention to the guy who basically pays his salary, than to the other members.  Just as I was ready to point the finger of blame, I thought about how many times I have catered to wealthier clients at the expense of others.  Not that it’s regular practice, actually it’s something I try very hard to be aware of and not do, but it does happen unintentionally.

Just imagine and be honest with yourself, if you received a phone call from your favorite president saying he was coming to church with you on Sunday, would you be excited?  Would you tell anyone?  Would you dress extra sharp? Would you sit in the back row where nobody could see you?  How would you act?  Now replace the president with a homeless person you picked up off the side of the road.  Would you act differently?

Mr. Dunkum, you have a phone call on line 1 from Donald Trump.  How fast do you think I would get on the phone?  Yet when a rental call comes in, I hate to even answer the phone, I’d rather play dead.  Each of us could play out all these scenarios within each of our professions and the truth is that we are all very capable of showing favoritism. 

The bible says that by showing favoritism we are becoming judges with evil thoughts and that we will be judged.  Judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.  In other words, the way in which you judge others will be used to judge you.  It still comes down to “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  The ground is level at the foot of the cross, rich, powerful, poor, wealthy, meek, mild, timid are all alike in the eyes of God, so therefore we shouldn’t see them differently in our eyes.  It doesn’t come natural, but it’s something we should be aware of and something we should always strive to improve upon. 

Not showing favoritism can cost you money in the short run, by possibly losing a big customer, but in the long run, you’ve kept your witness and the smaller customer may have friends and tell everyone how fairly you treated them, just as if they were worth millions and that referral will pay off dividends for years to come.  Be fair and merciful to all even when it’s not to your advantage to do so, you will reap the rewards in time and your testimony will grow stronger in the process.

All In

Focal Passage:  James 1: 22-25

Biblical Truth:  Work intently at what you do

Business Impact:  Do what you know you should do and do it intently

James 1:22-25 says, “22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says.  23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.  25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it – he will be blessed in what he does.”

Recently the underperforming but very capable NFL team, the New York Giants, received a pep talk.  A hired motivational speaker told them that they needed to go “all in.”  What he meant was that they were capable of winning, they just had to put in 100% effort, believe in themselves and each other, completely sell out to the idea of winning.  They knew what to do and how to do it, they just hadn’t been performing.  They were very much like the man in the mirror who forgot his own face because he wasn’t looking intently. 

The scriptures here are talking about listening to the word and then doing it.  Like Nike says, “just do it.”  Hearing and doing are two very different things.  I can go to church every Sunday and read the bible every day, soaking in loads of information, but it’s only part of the equation.  The learning must be followed by action, reaching out to others, serving, sharing the gospel in addition to things I shouldn’t do.  I shouldn’t swear, steal, commit adultery etc…   If I drink like a fish, swear, gamble, commit adultery, steal, cheat, gossip, then I’m clearly not all in on living for God.

Some people say you are what you eat, I say you are what you do.  Potential isn’t good enough, knowledge is good but only so far as how it’s put into practice.  The Giants knew all the plays, all the counts and all the formations, yet still they weren’t doing it.  Since that speech, they have won several games in a row, including playoff games and now find themselves 1 win away from a super bowl.  Doing and doing intently works

I wonder what would happen to all of our businesses if for the next 4 weeks, we all went “all in” at work.  We did everything we know to do, everything we should do, everything we’ve learned and did it intently.  In less than 4 weeks we would all see measurable improvement in our work.  If we did the same in our spiritual lives, undoubtedly the result would be the same.  We all know what to do and how to do it, the question is, are you all in?

We will be beginning a series on James this year.  As I was preparing the devotion on James 1, I ran across this devotion below.  I don’t know that I can add much to it, so I wanted to just share it as it is.  The last few years we have been faced with many trials in business and have been forced to learn to persevere.  I also thought a lot about Tim Tebow during this devotion.  It’s action packed, enjoy the read and discussion sure to follow.

Eric

Devotional: James 1:2-4

Posted by Dave Ketter on September 15, 2002

“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

James states that perseverance is the product of faith being tested with many trials. While nobody likes being challenged on their faith, James says to “Consider it pure joy”. He says this because perseverance makes a soul “mature and complete”.

This is the necessary food that will help you grow spiritually. It can change you from a spiritual baby to a spiritual soldier, that does “not lack anything”. But in order for it to this, you must face trials and when you do, you must have faith in God, for only faith can produce perseverance. What is faith then? Faith is trusting in God without doubt and believing that whatever trials you face, God will always be there to bring you through. This does not mean that you can sit down and float through the trial however. In order to overcome a trial, one must act in the defense of one’s faith. And in order to defend your faith, one must be armed with the Armor of God that is listed in Ephesians 6:10-18. Whenever you face a trial, use Ephesians 6:10-18 as a checklist to make sure you have all of your gear (truth, faith, salvation, the Word of God, and righteousness). When you are armed, go out there and face your trial. When you have overcome every obstacle, you have persevered. This is one more step to becoming “mature and complete, not lacking anything”. REJOICE when you persevere. Don’t take trials as the world does. Be joyful at the chance to prove that God is the Almighty, the All-Knowing, and the Faithful. I challenge you to apply perseverance to your life and grow spiritually as you do. Be saturated in the Word of God. “Pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17, 18). If you want to apply perseverance to your life, pray and ask God to help you. God is good, and will “meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus”. (Philippians 4:19).

New Years’ Resolution

Focal Passage:  Proverbs 3: 13-18

Biblical Truth:  Wisdom brings a bounty of good things

Business Impact:  We all want good things this year

Proverbs 3: 13-18 says, “13Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, 14for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.  15She is more precious than rubies, nothing you desire can compare with her.  16Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.  17Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.  18She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed.”

Everyone seems to love making new years’ resolutions and loves breaking them even more.  Mine lasted about one day and they were already broken.  Usually resolutions revolve around bettering yourself or your business, ways to improve and or become more profitable.  I have discovered a 100% fool proof way to ensure you will better yourself and your business.  It’s recession proof, time tested and proven over and over. 

Gain Wisdom

Ok, I didn’t actually discover it, but I wish I had.  If my new years’ resolution is to be understanding, be profitable, have better returns than silver or gold, have more than I could desire, gain riches and honor, long life be pleasant and peaceful, and be blessed, people would call me crazy. It’s unattainable they would say.  I tell you that all of it is attainable by gaining wisdom

One thing I can’t do though is to buy wisdom at the store or stumble across it accidentally.  Wisdom is attained through study, experience, through God’s word and by God’s grace.  God’s word is full of wisdom, his word is wise.  We simply must take the time to read it, study it, apply it and pray for his wisdom.  If you want 2012 to be prosperous and your resolution is to improve in any way, then begin with seeking wisdom.  Seek God’s will, read his word, pray for wisdom. 

Wisdom is a foundational building block, without it your other efforts will not stand.  Let’s all resolve to seek the wisdom of God to guide us in all we say or do and in all the decisions we make.  Resolve to be wiser this year and focus on making wise decisions and watch what happens.  Instead of breaking your resolution, you will strengthen and encourage it, gaining success along the way. 

Stay In Debt

Focal Passage:  Romans 13: 8-10

Biblical Truth:  The Bible calls us to stay in debt

Business Impact:  Your business should always remain in debt

Romans 13 says, “8Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.  9The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  10Love does no harm to its neighbor.  Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”

Dave Ramsey would be very upset if he read this devotion.  Very accurately and appropriately Dave harps on being debt free because it hinders and enslaves you.  Proverbs 22:7 says “The rich rule over the poor and the borrower is the servant to the lender.”  Dave Ramsey is a very wise man and I listen to his advice, however, there is one debt we should never be free from.  That’s our debt to love one another.  Paul is not just referring to Christians here, because in the same sentence he says “fellow man.”  It’s a clear mandate to love everyone.

Being in financial debt means you have bills to pay every month, it’s continuous whether you want to or not, no matter how you feel or any of your circumstances.  The debt must be paid no matter what, it’s mandatory.  Our love for others needs to be handled the same way.  As Christians we must always show love for our fellow man.  We don’t have to like everyone, but we do have to love them.  If you love everyone the way you want to be loved, you will not be doing any harm to your fellow man.

How does this help or affect your business?

Your love debt will keep you from cutting corners when you’re tired, from cheating a little when nobody’s looking, from fudging the numbers when you can get away with it.  If you truly love others as yourself, you’ll do the right thing when no one is looking.  Would you cheat or steal from yourself? Knowingly give yourself bad advice to make a commission? Sell yourself a product you don’t need? Overcharge yourself?  Of course not, it’s silly to even ask.  If we love others as ourselves then we wouldn’t do it to them either.  Our love debt will enslave us to do what is right.

True love is honest and sincere and unwavering.  It’s a debt that you can never repay, but one that we should be glad to be enslaved to because it will always spur us on to sharing the love of Christ and following his example of love.

The Tax Man Cometh

Romans 13: 5-7

Biblical Truth:  Pay your taxes

Business Impact:  Not paying your taxes could harm your testimony

Romans 13 says “5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.  6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.  7Give to everyone what you owe him:  If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect then respect; if honor, then honor.”

Here we are once again, the end of the year approaching and soon everyone will be trying to figure out how much they owe or will be getting back in a refund from this year’s taxes.  Just last week, a friend of mine was figuring up how much he owed and after he nearly passed out, his mind immediately began working on how not to pay.  We all do it, don’t we?  We walk that line and take all the deductions we can possibly take and stretch it a little bit further still. Be honest.  Don’t we count that lunch as a business expense?  Who’s going to know if we talked business at lunch?  There’s no proof, we’ll call it a business luncheon, nobody will know.

Everyone cheats on their taxes, right?  What if you feel like the government wastes your money or you disagree with where it’s spent?  According to the Bible, we still must pay what we owe in taxes.  The way to fix how the money is spent is to vote, not refuse to pay.  It’s our duty to pay what we owe and submit to authorities.  Not paying or cheating will reflect poorly on you testimony.  How could we give ethical, moral or biblical advice to someone while at the same time they see us cheating on our taxes and more or less stealing?  It’s hard to use your business as a platform for reaching the lost for Christ when the platform is dishonest.  As the old saying goes, “that dog won’t hunt.” 

I think what the scriptures are saying here is that even when we don’t like it, to pay and do our best to get along with everyone.  It gives you a clear conscience and doesn’t hinder you from focusing on showing the love of Christ to others.  The money is temporary anyway, don’t let it become a stumbling block for you causing you to lose focus, damage your testimony and stand in the way between you and what should be your main focus of sharing Christ’s love.

Is it real or is it Memorex?

Focal Passage:  Romans 12: 9-16

Biblical Truth: Love must be real, not fake

Business Impact:  Be real with your clients, they can see through fakers in time.

Romans 12 “9Love must be sincere.  Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.  Honor one another above yourselves.  11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  13 Share with God’s people who are in need.  Practice hospitality.  14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.   16 Live in harmony with one another.  Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.  Do not be conceited.”

Is it real or is it Memorex?  Remember that famous line?  Ok let’s see who remembers that advertisement and what they were talking about……That’s right it was cassette tapes, they supposedly were so realistic that you couldn’t tell the difference in a tape recording and a real person.  Gone back and listened to any tapes lately?  They aren’t as good as they were advertised, especially now that we have cd’s to compare them to.

If your love for others is fake and not sincere, your testimony and reputation will go the way of the cassette tapes.  Notice how cars don’t come with cassette tape decks anymore?  So we need to ask ourselves 1) How do you know if love is sincere and 2) Why is this important to the business world?

First things first, to know if love is sincere, simply look at verses 9-16 and see where you or others stack up.  If you are impatient, uncaring, selfish, curse others and are conceited, yet smile and say you love and care for others, will anyone believe that? 

Secondly, this will have a huge impact on your business good or bad based on how sincere your love is for others. I’ve heard it said “there are 2 types of people, givers and takers.”  I’ve never seen a giver who is insincere, selfish or inhospitable, while takers are all of those things and greedy.  Nobody enjoys doing business with takers or greedy people because they always seek to benefit themselves and often at the expense of others.  A taker’s love is not for the person, but only what the person can do for them.  Opposite that is the giver, who genuinely puts others first and loves others.  People are drawn to them and enjoy doing business with givers, knowing that by their very nature, they will do business honestly and will use their blessings to bless others.  Be real, be sincere, genuinely care for others and focus on others, the rewards will come.  Takers will have their day, but it will only be a day, givers will last.  Do you want your business to last?  Be real, be a giver.

No meetings the week of Thanksgiving.  Everyone have a happy Thanksgiving and enjoy time with your families.

What’s Your Membership Status?

Focal Passage:  Romans 12: 1-8

Biblical Truth:  We are one body with many members

Business Impact:  We belong to one another

Romans 12: 1-8 says, “1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God- this is your spiritual act of worship.  2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world. But be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.  3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you:  Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.  4Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.  6We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.  If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.  7If it is serving, let him serve;  if it is teaching, let him teach;  8if it is encouraging, let him encourage;  if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously;  if it is leadership, let him govern diligently;  if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.”

Hands work and perform tasks to produce, growing things and feeding the body, while the stomach only receives food.  Which is more important?  We all know the answer, both are equally important.  Without the stomach, there is no nourishment supplied to the hands to continue to do their work.  Some CBB members give many, many referrals while some aren’t able to give as many but are prayer warriors and encouragers.  That is sometimes the only contribution they can make.  All have a role and all are important but it’s crucial that all contribute. 

The same concept applies for you with your home church, CONTRIBUTE.  Christians are a member of one body, but how can a body’s members support and contribute with half of the members missing or cut off?  It’s important to be a member and support one another; staying home and watching a preacher on TV doesn’t give you support or encouragement or care for you, not can you give any through a TV screen.  Having your name on a role or list somewhere doesn’t count, it takes contribution by all the members to make the body work.  We are called to be a body, not a bunch of individuals. 

That’s the beauty of CBB, it’s WE, working together and supporting one another, not individuals out there on our own with no support.  When we support one another, when the body is whole and together and working for a purpose with all the members contributing and everyone doing their part, we are successful.  Without all those things, with haphazard attendance, without supporting each other, without prayer, without everyone contributing, we are no different that the world.  The hand shouldn’t complain about poor nourishment if he doesn’t feed the stomach.

So I ask you, what is your membership status?  Are you contributing, giving, referring, supporting, encouraging, attending, praying?  Self evaluation time.  Let’s all take stock of our roles in the Church, our homes, in CBB, in our marriages, families, our work places and look at the gifts God has given us.  Are we contributing them and using them accordingly?