How does the incarnation impact us as businessmen?
"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us." -- John 1:14
In one week we will be celebrating this glorious event of the Word becoming flesh. The scandalous incarnation of YHWH, God himself, into the person of Jesus. The question I want to ask this week is this: What implications does the incarnation have on the way we do business?
The incarnation challenges us to rethink who God is and what he is like. Does God sit far away on his throne, indifferent to the cries of the poor and oppressed? Jesus tells us no. In fact, in Jesus we see that God identifies himself with the poor and oppressed in a way the religious people of his day found hard to deal with. I suspect we find it hard to deal with as well.
A verse we discussed last week (Jeremiah 22:13-17) indicated that judging the cause of the poor and needy was to know God.
Paul tells of Jesus' choice to step off the throne of God and into darkness in Philippians 2: "So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men."
How much does Jesus' example conflict with our pursuits in business! We are taught (and we may even teach others) to achieve, to work hard, to do well, to "succeed." And we may even quote Scripture along the way to justify our ambitions. But Jesus was different: sitting at God's right hand, he did not aspire for a promotion; he put on skin to hang out with sinners and morons like you and me.
If we do nothing else this week, let's reflect on that amazing Truth.
But we can (and should) also ask how Jesus' sacrificial humility translates to business. If you read the story in Luke 3 where John the Baptist is proclaiming the good news of Jesus' coming, you see his shocking words to the people who came to be baptized:
"You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire."
"What should we do then?" the crowd asked.
John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same."
Tax collectors also came to be baptized. "Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?"
"Don't collect any more than you are required to," he told them.
Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?"
He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely—be content with your pay." (Luke 3: 7-14)
Share your abundance with the needy, don't extort money, be content with your pay.
This was said by the one who was preparing the way for the Lord and it seems consistent with Jesus' heart as he prepared to come to earth as a baby. He was content with his current position and sought not advancement but service. He cared so much about the poor and helpless that he did one of the craziest, most selfless things imaginable. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.
When Jesus was asked the same question posed to John, Jesus' reply is much harsher than John's: "Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." (Luke 18:22)
It's clear that our reward is in heaven, but do we live that way? Jesus did. Jesus moves beyond morality to a new ethic: total and complete surrender of the self for the glory of God. Or, as the pastor of a church in Houston would call it: waving the white flag of victory.
During Christmas, how might we prepare the way for the Lord? What are the ambitions of your heart you need to put aside to make way for a King that demands sacrificial service? What are the things or circumstances with which you should be content? What are the ways you can sacrifice your own desires, pride, and ambition for someone else?
Jesus' incarnation should affect every aspect of our lives. What does it demand from you?
Note: there will not be a post next week. Have an awe-filled, thought-provoking, and merry Christmas.
In one week we will be celebrating this glorious event of the Word becoming flesh. The scandalous incarnation of YHWH, God himself, into the person of Jesus. The question I want to ask this week is this: What implications does the incarnation have on the way we do business?
The incarnation challenges us to rethink who God is and what he is like. Does God sit far away on his throne, indifferent to the cries of the poor and oppressed? Jesus tells us no. In fact, in Jesus we see that God identifies himself with the poor and oppressed in a way the religious people of his day found hard to deal with. I suspect we find it hard to deal with as well.
A verse we discussed last week (Jeremiah 22:13-17) indicated that judging the cause of the poor and needy was to know God.
Paul tells of Jesus' choice to step off the throne of God and into darkness in Philippians 2: "So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men."
How much does Jesus' example conflict with our pursuits in business! We are taught (and we may even teach others) to achieve, to work hard, to do well, to "succeed." And we may even quote Scripture along the way to justify our ambitions. But Jesus was different: sitting at God's right hand, he did not aspire for a promotion; he put on skin to hang out with sinners and morons like you and me.
If we do nothing else this week, let's reflect on that amazing Truth.
But we can (and should) also ask how Jesus' sacrificial humility translates to business. If you read the story in Luke 3 where John the Baptist is proclaiming the good news of Jesus' coming, you see his shocking words to the people who came to be baptized:
"You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire."
"What should we do then?" the crowd asked.
John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same."
Tax collectors also came to be baptized. "Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?"
"Don't collect any more than you are required to," he told them.
Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?"
He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely—be content with your pay." (Luke 3: 7-14)
Share your abundance with the needy, don't extort money, be content with your pay.
This was said by the one who was preparing the way for the Lord and it seems consistent with Jesus' heart as he prepared to come to earth as a baby. He was content with his current position and sought not advancement but service. He cared so much about the poor and helpless that he did one of the craziest, most selfless things imaginable. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.
When Jesus was asked the same question posed to John, Jesus' reply is much harsher than John's: "Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." (Luke 18:22)
It's clear that our reward is in heaven, but do we live that way? Jesus did. Jesus moves beyond morality to a new ethic: total and complete surrender of the self for the glory of God. Or, as the pastor of a church in Houston would call it: waving the white flag of victory.
During Christmas, how might we prepare the way for the Lord? What are the ambitions of your heart you need to put aside to make way for a King that demands sacrificial service? What are the things or circumstances with which you should be content? What are the ways you can sacrifice your own desires, pride, and ambition for someone else?
Jesus' incarnation should affect every aspect of our lives. What does it demand from you?
Note: there will not be a post next week. Have an awe-filled, thought-provoking, and merry Christmas.
posted by The Dude at 10:10 AM
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