Modeling Christ to Your Employer

Can you lead from the middle of the pack? This was the question a former Air Force enlisted aircrew manager use to ask the middle managers, those in the ranks of E-4 through E-6, during our annual leadership conference. Some thought it impossible to have an impact unless you were the leader, others were not sure and a few would answer yes. The correct answer is yes. As a minimum you can lead through your attitude and actions.

In our business, we experience long hard hours often couple with some miserable conditions. We rarely experience ‘chamber of commerce weather’ during our events where the temperatures are in the mid 70’s with low humidity and a lite wind from the south west. It’s more like 90’s with corresponding humidity and no wind. It can be miserable. When life hands us those types of conditions, we have to decide if we want to have a glass half empty or half full perspective.

It’s easy to grumble and complain about our circumstances. However, we decide how we will react, no one controls our attitude. As Christ followers when life hands us lemons, we can make lemonade or lemon drops or lemon cake or…you get the idea. Paul understood this concept. In Philippians 4:10-13 he said this, “I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

We do not have to look far in our business to see that attitude modeled. On the back of Erica Enders-Stevens car is the scripture Phil 4:13. Erica is enjoying her most successful year yet in the Pro Stock category. Has she always enjoyed that success in racing, no. Yet her attitude has always been a positive one striving for excellence in all she does and giving all the glory to God.

Decide today how you want to look at life. I can guarantee you this, if you adopting Paul’s perspective it will benefit you, and those around you, more than you can begin to imagine.

Blessings

Modeling Christ to Your Employer
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2 by Os Hillman

“Urge slaves to obey their masters and to try their best to satisfy them. They must not talk back, nor steal, but must show themselves to be entirely trustworthy. In this way they will make people want to believe in our Savior and God” (Titus 2:9-10 TLB).

Sometimes I hear people say they don’t see how they can have any significant impact on their workplace because they are pretty low on the totem pole, with little authority to make change. “I’m just a worker,” they say. They fail to realize that the authority to impact any workplace comes from having authority with God, not man. And each person can have great authority in God.

The apostle Paul was instructing Titus on how common workers on the island of Create could have an impact on their employers. These workers were often no more than slaves, working in deplorable conditions for masters who were likely involved in lawlessness, drunkenness and idolatry. Not the nicest of working conditions.

Paul felt the way to win over your employer was to follow several key principles: 1) don’t talk back, 2) don’t steal, and 3) be trustworthy.

There is a great example of a young girl who worked for the wife of an army commander named Naaman. He had leprosy. The godly servant girl from Israel told her employer how he could get healed. What faith and boldness on the part of the servant girl!

“Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy. Now bands from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. She said to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy” (2 Kings 5:1-3).

Naaman followed the advice of the lowly servant girl. God healed him through Elisha. I can only imagine the conversations between the servant girl and her employers after this healing occurred.

How might God want to use you in your employer’s life?