November 2005, Volume 1: As we seek to capture the world of business for Christ, we have taken Nehemiah as our model. "But now I said to them, 'See what trouble we are in because Jerusalem is in ruins and its gates destroyed! Let's rebuild the city walls and put an end to our disgrace.' ... They responded, 'Let's start rebuilding!'" (Neh. 2:17-19 English Standard Version)
GOD WAS THE FIRST "WORKER"
Genesis 1:1-"In the beginning when God created the Heavens and the earth..."
God is portrayed as one who "works" (He created the Heavens and earth) right in the very first verse of the Bible. Some people have suggested that, for God, creation was not work but the Bible doesn't agree. Chapter 2:2 says, "And on the seventh day God finished the work that He had done, and He rested..." If one has not worked...rest is not required. And, in John 5:17b Jesus says, "My Father is still working, and I also am working." And, completing Genesis 2:2 "...he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done."
Man Would Like to Escape Work
Man has spent a lot of Historical time trying to be part of the leisure class. From the beginning, some men have sought to enslave others to do the "work" while they enjoyed the "finer" things in life.
In the long run this tactic has not worked. It has led to the downfall of the nobles in England, the defeat of the privileged during the French Revolution, the ruling Czars in Russia and the revolt against the Czars brought in communism's reign of terror and a new ruling class through which the winds of freedom are now blowing. Clearly the "working" man has, since the beginning of time, sought to escape enslavement by those who sought a life of leisure.
As recently as today you and I have complained about "work." There's part of us that resents it. Even those who have their own businesses and love what they do...wish they could reduce the effort involved. However, God set the pattern. Work is good. Work is honorable. We are made us in His image, and since He opens the Bible as a worker, who are we to dissent?
Confusion entered the picture in Genesis 3:17 after man ate the apple and God said, "Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life...In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread...etc." So, work becomes harder but God had already mandated work when He said, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." By the way, God told Adam not to eat of the tree of good and evil in Genesis 2:16-Eve wasn't created until Genesis 2:22. Looks like a typical business communication problem...Adam failed to properly communicate the gravity of the situation (sorry guys!)
What Kind of Work Did God Do During the Creation?
No doubt you've already considered the idea that everything simply appeared with the snap of God's fingers. Or with the simple words of "Let there be..." But, let's look beyond that for a moment.
Here's a quote from Thomas Nelson's The Word in Life Study Bible, "Consider the kinds of work that God did in forming the world: Artist, designer, strategic planner, organizer, project developer, assessor, zoologist, biologist, chemist, linguist, programmer, materials specialist, engineer, waste management technician, to name but a few."We Are Made in the Image of God
So, when Genesis 1:26 says, "Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness..." you understand that all of the trades listed along with thousands more, can all to be found within us because they are within the triune God in whose image we are made.
It is important for us to understand that the only reason we are creative is because God is creative. We work because God works. All of our abilities are Godly abilities, and we are not "the master of our fate" as a famous poem declares. God has planted our abilities within us.
What Has All of This to Do with Business?
We must remember we are God's handiwork because nothing is more enticing to us than to believe we are "self-made people." We would like to believe that we have pulled ourselves up by our bootstraps and that we succeeded because we "did it our way."
We business people often have trouble assigning this initial credit to God...we would like to forget that we are made in the image of God. That's why we can do marvelous and wondrous things. Jesus was very clear on this point. Even though He was the God/man He assured us that he could do nothing by Himself. He was only able to do that He saw the Father do. You and I are certainly not able to exceed the works of Jesus.
Until we understand that nothing we do could be done if we were not made in the "image of God," we will misunderstand who's responsible for what. We must come to terms with the fact that everything we do and everything we accomplish is because we are made in God's likeness. That's our starting point. Start anywhere else and we set ourselves up for failure.
Note: Future issues deal with Sales, Management, Accountability and Division of Labor...all before Genesis Chapter 3. When I began this project I thought there would be a few things in Genesis that applied to business-but now, I find, Genesis is loaded with good advice. I was shocked and pleased. I hope you will also be pleased with the wealth of business information.
Advisory: Brian Kilcup (Businessman) - Editor: Jurgen Haver (Marketing/Management Consultant)
The Journal of Christian Business Practice is published 10 times yearly (combined July/August and November/December issues). Mailed at Moriarty, NM via first class mail. Subscriptions $18 per year. Material copyrighted by Jurgen Haver. Correspondence and subscriptions P.O. Box 70, Moriarty, NM 87035. Phone: 505-239-7321. Bible quotes, unless noted, from the New Revised Standard Version This first issue of the Journal of Christian Business Practice is FREE. Go to the Daily Christian Order Form to receive the next 10 issues (e-mail or hard copy by first class mail for $18)