In Nehemiah 4, the Israelites rallied together to fight off their enemies while rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls. But by Chapter 5, the strain of the work, plus the impact of famine, caused the people to begin complaining about the oppression they experienced by their own leaders. Due to oppressive debt, these leaders had put their own people into slavery and bondage, ...
Our work generates value in many ways, but we need to guard how we let it define us. In a recent Substack post, pastor and author Scott Sauls cautioned against measuring our value by our work. We become anxious, he wrote, when “we believe our worth depends on what we produce, how visible we are, or whether we stay ahead ...
It’s not uncommon for workers to see their work as the source of earthly rewards like income, insurance, or even a sense of purpose. But our jobs also can provide eternal benefits when we use our work circumstances to serve others. From customers, to coworkers, to supply chain partners, work puts us in contact with people who need to hear ...
In a Wall Street Journal article titled, “It’s Time to Start Tooting Your Own Horn at Work,” the author recommends developing a “brag book.” The author claims that it helps to keep track of our successes and testimonials for superiors or prospective employers. Many employers may remember yesterday’s success but forget the five wins you experienced last month. The problem ...
One of my favorite Bible trivia questions is, “Who was the first person mentioned in scripture who was filled with the Holy Spirit?” Most people assume that it’s Abraham or Moses. Instead, in Exodus 35:30, we learn, “See, the Lord has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and He has filled him ...
Erika was widely respected as a manager because she had a track record of excellent work and commitment to results. Employees were eager to be on her team because she also had a sincere and compassionate heart for others. She valued both purpose and people. In his letter to the Romans, Paul reinforced that love is an essential element for ...
A recent post by religious statistician Ryan Burge analyzed Christians’ fear of death. Across denominations, it appears people are less fearful of dying as they get older. Perhaps these older adults can look back with satisfaction on their lives, or perhaps they have grown more confident in God’s promises as they have aged. Regardless, understanding the limits of our ...
There was a season when I was managing two loan officers who were very competitive with each other. There were times when I felt like a referee, often being asked to make decisions and choose between these two lenders. It was tempting to side with the one producing the most loan volume to keep her happy, even when it ...
It’s hard to know whether the plans I develop for the New Year are from me or from God. I’m a very optimistic person so my plans can lean towards being unrealistic. Yet, a common question is, “If I’m carrying out God’s purpose, wouldn’t He provide all that’s required?” Although I don’t have all the answers, what has helped has ...
In a recent Harvard Business Review article, Scott Cook, cofounder of Intuit, and Professor Nitin Noharia discussed how to enhance customer value. The article highlighted CEO of RELX, Erik Engstrom. Engstrom has been asking his team customer-obsessed questions for twenty years. Some of Engstrom’s profound questions include: “How does the customer measure value? How do we know? How do we ...
Equipping Others to Do Work Differently
