As a foolish young man, I drove my car into a ditch and had no money for a tow. I called a friend’s grandfather for help. After hearing what happened, he summarized my behavior: “You were proud, drunk, stupid, and you’re broke?” Stung, I answered, “Yes, sir.” He replied, “Now that you understand your foolishness, let’s get you back on ...
An episode of “Touched by an Angel” featured Monica investigating a struggling taffy factory. The equipment and employees had not changed, yet performance declined after the founder died. Monica discovered one difference: the former owner had prayed for the company and every employee. His son discontinued that practice. The story offered me a reminder that prayer in the workplace is ...
As a child, I sometimes crossed my fingers behind my back when agreeing to something I did not want to do. As a teenager, occasionally I promised to join a friend, then abandoned it when a better invitation arrived. Those choices may have seemed small, but broken promises erode trust. In business, where relationships depend on trust, the cost becomes ...
In my twenties, our audit department hired a supervisor I’ll call Mary. She reminded everyone of her college degrees and constantly complained about our boss. Mary promoted her credentials as making her better qualified to lead the department. Eventually, during a staff meeting, she challenged our boss, expecting coworkers to support her. No one did. That was Mary’s final week ...
As a teenager, I spent summers working on my uncle’s farm. We planted soybeans and watched them grow, but summer always ended before harvest. I found it disappointing to invest labor without seeing the final results. My uncle, however, understood that farming requires patience. He trusted that the harvest would come in its season. James 5:7-8 says, “See how the ...
Max DePree, former CEO of Herman Miller, once discovered factory workers discussing his compensation. They believed he deserved more than they earned, but felt the disparity had become excessive. Rather than reacting defensively, DePree listened, researched, and prayed. He eventually established a policy that the CEO’s compensation could not exceed twenty times the average factory worker’s wage. Over time, that ...
When Kathy and I married, we held our reception in a facility owned by a wealthy man. Before the reception, I found a man in overalls setting up the tables and chairs alone. Assuming he was hired help, I asked why no one was assisting him. He barked, “That would cost me money.” He was the owner. Despite his wealth, ...
The Industrial Revolution’s technology, rather than eliminating jobs, created jobs for railroads and related industries that dramatically increased labor demands. This led to abuse and overwork, not leisure, as some expected. In 1894, the Labor Day holiday became a response to that abuse and overwork. The laborers demanded a day to rest and celebrate their hard work. James 5:4 warns ...
In a business that desires to please and glorify God, sin in the camp can be disastrous. Addressing sin in your workplace after the fact can be very painful. A more proactive approach is to hire only those who seem to be in a right relationship with God at the time. Movie producer and actor, Alex Kendrick, once shared with ...
Recently, I’ve been following a messy situation locally that involves an international ministry leader. If the allegations prove true, this leader has been involved sexually with underage young ladies on and off for over forty years. The fact that these multiple offenses are just now surfacing begs the question, “How long can sin hide?” Falling into sin usually leads to ...
Equipping Others to Do Work Differently
