A Redemptive Walk in a Corporate World

Key Points
• The choices we make in the early years (e.g. 20’s) sets the stage for where we end up in our 40’s-50’s. Take advantage of these years to learn and gain wisdom from suffering
• Be careful/thoughtful about your ambition and career- reorient to pursue God’s purposes
• There is no security in worldly possessions
• Be other-centric instead of self-centered- Lead by example; others are impacted by it
• Understand the whole vista of life and understand why you are engaging in activities
• Realize that God is preparing you for ministry- persevere until the very end
Summary
Choices we make in our early years (e.g. 20’s) directly impact where we end up in our 40’s-50’s.
• Be careful you don’t end up as a “3rd seed Christian” (defined as someone who is unfruitful because of the worries of this world and the deceitfulness of riches).
• Andy had an “Ecclesiastes moment” after he achieved the success he desired. Key verses for him include Ecclesiastes 4:4, 5:10, and 5:19
o 4:4 And I saw that all labor and all achievement spring from man's envy of his neighbor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
o 5:10: Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.
o 5:19: Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work--this is a gift of God.

What does the Bible say about ambition?
• Ambition is not bad in itself. It is how our heart values ambition that is important. How do you view work? Work can be viewed as worldly striving for ourselves/our ego/our pride vs. as a gift to be enjoyed. Ambition comes up 7x in the New Testament in Greek
o 5 of these refer to selfish ambition. Philippians 2:3: Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
o Two references to God’s goal/objective e.g. Romans 5 “Christ died for the ungodly.”
• Most desire for achievement is rooted in the envy of others; striving for my own purposes. Money is not evil but it is the love of money that is a sin and reflective of a deeper heart issue.
• Move away from the language of "career" and trying to "plan your life
out"
• Live life more in the moment than by planning for each moment. Two general frameworks for a career.
Worldview:
Phase 1: growing up and getting an education- usually completed in the 20’s
Phase 2: productive years- ages 25-65
Phase 3: retirement years where most people disappear and play golf- ages 65+
Biblical view:
Phase 1: similar to above
Phase 2: time for ‘wilderness’ experiences where you gain wisdom, are being broken and learning to yield to God. Remember that God uses people who are broken and opposes the proud.
Phase 3: ministry years e.g. Abraham, Moses, Joseph. There are completely different outcomes when we rely on the Holy Spirit and God’s strength instead of our own.


Do you have selfish or kingdom ambition? Why are you doing what you are doing and whose goals/objectives are you trying to achieve?
• Think more in terms of life purpose and plans- God’s and not yours.
2 Thessalonians 1:11: With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.
 Planning your life out didn't work for the rich farmer.
Luke12:13-21: He built bigger barns hoping to "take life easy; eat, drink and be merry", but he was considered a fool in God's eyes.
Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Ephesians 4:1: "As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received."
• Our calling is to be disciples of Jesus Christ - no more, no less. The ‘good life’ is working for others and not for yourself. Refer to Chuck Colson’s book on apologetics called ‘The Good Life.’

As Christians, we need to be involved in redeeming work and redeeming people.
• Redeeming work: an other-centric attitude is key; do work as God wants us to do Colossians 3: ‘For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God’and whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
• Redeeming people: Do not get caught up in selfish, short-term decisions; important to remember that we are stewards and think for the long-term e.g. in Leviticus, things happened in 50 year cycles!

Be all about people- look at others through God’s eyes.
• God is careful about how he builds culture; we should be concerned and deliberate about the types of cultures we develop.
• What difference would it make if you actually believed that perhaps people are doing the best job they can and you show them respect’ Recognize that others have a unique set of skills and talents; imagine how well a company would run if people are doing work that is aligned with their skills, talents are desires. Also, imagine how disastrous the opposite situation would be.

Leadership is about stewardship- think beyond just servant leadership.
• We are the light in the workplace, which is under the influence of fallen man and sin under pressure.
• The workplace is a mission field. Have you asked God, ‘How do you want to use me here today’?
• Let people know you are a Christian and that you care. E.g. When asked, ‘How was your weekend’? You can plant a seed by saying, ‘Oh, I went to church on Sunday’. Your coworker might think you are nuts but if not, you will find that somehow, co-workers start to seek you out to share their problems with you. On numerous occasions, Andy was approached about personal, not work issues, and always prayed with the person. No one ever turned down prayer.
• Lead by example. People are watching and evaluating Christianity based on what you do, not what you say.
E.g. Andy fired a top performing salesman after hearing that this person inflated his expense sheet. He fired this person despite a colleague’s attempt to retain the salesman because of concerns about missing sales targets and a comment to the effect of, ‘I thought you were a Christian’ (assumption: aren’t Christians supposed to give second chances?). However, Andy did help the salesperson find another job as he made a mistake and learned from it. Word spread throughout the corporation to employees Andy did not directly interact with and earned credibility not just as CEO but as a Christian.

Pursue God’s ambition and kingdom.
• Start asking yourself what steps can you take in life to re-orient yourself to His purposes.
• Looking forward to retirement? The Bible doesn’t talk about retirement. Great men and women of faith persevere until the end.
• We are in a time of discipling each other and being disciplined to get us to a place where we are yielded to Him.
o Understand why you are going through trials and difficulties. Instead of running away from them, engage them. Consider them pure joy and realize that they do fall under God’s broader plan that extends beyond your career.
o Think more holistically. Look more deeply into His heart and faithfulness. Take the time to absorb more of who God is and realize that this is the time for getting bruises and for healing.
o God will give us wisdom which we can use in turn to mentor others. Keep both good and bad times in perspective. Do you believe God will use you more powerfully with your experience?