Management 101 - God's Way

I Corinthians 4:2
Now a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful.

Yesterday we looked at the fact that God is in control over all things. Everything is His to do with as He sees fit. Although it is difficult to consistently recognize God’s ownership of everything it is a principle that must be prayerfully evaluated in our lives. If He owns everything and is in control of everything where do we fit in? We looked at Deuteronomy 11 yesterday which told us that if we are faithful in our love and obedience to God then He will bless us. The tough part for me in that last statement is the being faithful as a good steward or manager of what God has provided for me. Let’s look at what Jesus had to say about being a good manager of the things He has given to us.

In Matthew 25 Jesus tells a story of managing well what you have been given. In it a man went on vacation but before he did he entrusted his servants to managing his money while he was gone. Two of the three did the proper thing but one did not. Jesus tells us that the rich man scolded the third servant and said, “To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.”

In Luke 16:9 Jesus says that we are to use our worldly possessions for the good of others. He goes on to say in verse 10 that if we are faithful with the little things than we will be faithful in the larger things as well. I read a quote recently that said, “How do you know if your son will take car of his first car? Look at how he took care of his first bicycle.” When interviewing a person for a leadership position in my kitchen I will first look to see if they were diligent in managing a small staff before I let them take over a large, full-scale operation.

We can see that Jesus expects us to be faithful and generous with what we have, no matter if it is a little or a lot. My life reflects this truth. Ever since becoming a born again Christian I have tried to do what I thought the Lord wanted me to do. I was involved in several ministries and was very active in my church. I did all these things though at the expense of the relationship with my wife. I was loving and caring while at church or involved in ministry work but I was harsh with my wife. I was busy “doing the Lord’s work” seven days a week but I was never home. I always jumped at the opportunity to volunteer when things needed to be done at church but I neglected my duties at home. I led people in Bible studies at church but I failed to be the spiritual leader of my own home. I didn’t manage well what I was given before looking to manage other opportunities.

Each ministry that I was involved in was unsuccessful and I didn’t know why. Didn’t I pray enough (not really.....I was too busy to pray) ? Wasn’t I committed enough? Didn’t I invest enough time and energy into the spiritual endeavors I thought the Lord wanted me to do?

The problem was I was trying to run before I could crawl! I needed to learn how to lead and manage the way God wants me to lead and manage.....starting in my own home. I needed to learn that before I could lead strangers in a study of the Word, I needed to lead my wife. Before I could show love and compassion on strangers I needed to show love and compassion towards my wife. Before I could manage large things I had to start with what I had already been entrusted with.

Well, the Lord finally got my attention but I have had to lose everything in the process. I now realize that I was not faithful in the little things. I wasn’t the husband or father or even the chef that Jesus wanted me to be. I was living a lie. I was on the throne instead of Jesus. I tried to live the Christian life and manage things in my own strength and I failed. Now I am trying to be led by the Holy Spirit to be faithful with what little I have left......and I don’t want this to sound like a pity party - I have been blessed. I have a great family, a wonderful son, an amazing career, and I am surrounded by brothers and sisters in Christ who help me and pray for me along the way. I firmly believe in what God has to say to us in Romans 8:28, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.”

My situation will work out for good. I may not see the results in my time here on earth but I am confident in the Lord and what He is capable of. Remember.....He is in control of all things.

Have a great day and God bless.