Devotions/Partners, English – Page 8

Beware of Bullies

January 5, 2023

Devotions/Partners

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2 Thessalonians 3:1-3 (KJV): “Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith. But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.”

COMMENTARY: Study the life of Paul, and you’ll see that he faced many unreasonable, wicked, brutish, faithless people as he sought to serve Christ and obey God’s call in his life.

APPLICATION: Have you ever worked for a bully? Perhaps you are guilty of being a bully yourself. We have all met some intense, aggressive bullies who are determined to get their way and pursue their definition of success at all costs, even if they have to leave a trail of destruction in their wake. They do not listen to reason and are not sensitive to others. They are master manipulators. Bullies can occupy positions anywhere, from the executive suite to the shop floor. They can be new hires or long-time employees, managers or union stewards, poor or rich, uneducated or very educated. Watch for these signals:

1) Bullies tend to have foul speech.

2) Bullies tend to cross the line and break the rules to get what they want.

3) Bullies can be “white collar” crooks.

4) Bullies eventually reap what they sow, and if you are working for them, you can get entangled in their mess, too.

Joyfully yours,

Drew

For Further Exploration

For further exploration about Matthew 6:19-20 (NIV)，read Store Your Treasure in Heaven, Not on Earth (Matthew 6:19-34) from the Theology of Work Bible Commentary.

Be Careful about Wining & Dining

Devotions/Partners

Genesis 19:33 (KJV): “And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.”

COMMENTARY: If you read the context of this passage from verses 30-38, you’ll discover that Lot’s two daughters schemed to get their father drunk so they could get pregnant. Their scheme worked. On two consecutive nights, both daughters became pregnant. They had two sons, Moab and Benammi. Their descendents, the Moabites and Ammonites, turned out to be enemies of Israel for years to come.

APPLICATION: Have you ever been “wined and dined” by suppliers? Be careful. Suppliers usually don’t take clients out just for fun: they have a motive to get and keep your business. If you allow yourself to be wined and dined, do not be surprised if you find yourself taken advantage of. As a Christian, you are to keep yourself free from manipulation, immorality and drunkenness. Getting drunk with suppliers will cause you to lose your perception (as Lot did). You will end up doing and saying things that you will regret, and that will lead to bondage.

Do not be foolish enough to walk into the wining and dining trap. Yes, you can have meals or go to events with suppliers, but keep your discernment and perception sharp. Do not allow yourself to get into situations that you will regret. Like Lot, a few moments of foolishness can bear ungodly consequences for years. Your foolishness can hurt a lot of people. If you are guilty of getting drunk with suppliers, today can be a fresh start. Apologize to God for your naivety or foolishness, ask for God’s forgiveness, ask the Holy Spirit to fill you and give you the wisdom and power to overcome temptation. The truth shall set you FREE!

Joyfully yours,

Drew

For Further Exploration

For further exploration about 2 Thessalonians 3:1-3 (KJV)，read 1 & 2 Thessalonians and Work from the Theology of Work Bible Commentary.

Avoid Organized Crime of Any Kind

Devotions/Partners

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Proverbs 1:10 (KJV): “My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.”

COMMENTARY: People seeking to please God and walk in wisdom must have enough fortitude, conviction, strength of character, confidence and reverence for our Creator NOT to get involved in evil schemes through peer pressure. People who do get involved, through naivete or foolishness, will suffer disastrous consequences.

APPLICATION: Sadly, there are businesspeople who join together to do evil. On television and in the movies, they are called “organized crime” or “mobsters.“ Sadly, there are business people who participate in organized crime and use church attendance as a deceptive disguise or cloak for their evil schemes.

On the one hand, you will not find any company that is 100% clean and pure, even if it is owned and staffed by Christ-followers. If you expect to find the perfect company, you will spend a lifetime in frustration. Even the most mature of Christian businesspeople are still imperfect.

On the other hand, if the Holy Spirit reveals that you are working in an evil business, your righteous soul will be vexed (like Lot) until you say “no” and extricate yourself from this toxic environment. You may suffer short-term inconvenience, ridicule and financial issues, but the alternative is to be caught in the disastrous long-term consequences. Sin always, ultimately, brings forth death.

If you are enticed to do work for customers, suppliers, bosses or co-workers who are involved in evil activities, DON’T DO IT! Walk in wisdom and you will have peaceful sleep and ultimately reap Godly rewards.

Joyfully yours,

Drew

For Further Exploration

For further exploration about Genesis 19:33 (KJV)，read Abraham (Genesis 12:1-25:11) from the Theology of Work Bible Commentary.

Asleep at the Wheel

Devotions/Partners

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Proverbs 22:3 (KJV): “A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.”

COMMENTARY: The word pre-act means to act beforehand in order to prepare for or to precede a stimulus. The word react means to act in response to a stimulus.

While we need not be filled with fear about the future, we ARE to use the sound mind that God has given us through the indwelling Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 1:17) to be aware and take pre-active steps to address the future. A classic Biblical example of PRE-ACTING is Joseph in Genesis 41, when Joseph instructs the Egyptians to pre-act by saving up for a coming famine.

A classic Biblical example of REACTING is the Centurion in Acts 27. The Holy Spirit gave Paul divine discernment about upcoming weather conditions, but the Centurion in charge chose to believe the so-called expert (the captain of the ship) instead. They proceed against Paul’s advice, and soon their smooth sailing turns into a major storm that leads to shipwreck.

APPLICATION: Sometimes storms hit your business without any advance warning. In these cases, you have no choice but to react, standing firmly on the promises of God and trusting in His providential care. Other times, your company may experience a storm that was largely self-inflicted through foolishness or ignorance. The key is to have your spiritual antenna up so that you’re receptive to wisdom. Is the Lord trying to get your company’s attention today? Are you listening? Will you foresee the evil and hide, or will you continue on your current path and be punished? James 1:5, which says “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

Joyfully yours,

Drew

For Further Exploration

For further exploration about Proverbs 1:10 (KJV)，read Proverbs and Work from the Theology of Work Bible Commentary.

Ask for Help @ Work

January 4, 2023

Devotions/Partners

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Matthew 7:7-8 (KJV): “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.“

COMMENTARY: In the Bible, “ask” appears 235 times and “help” appears 166 times. Yet, asking for help can be difficult in the workplace, especially for perfectionists or timid people who think that asking for help is shameful or embarrassing.

The reality is that we ALL need help. The concept of people helping people goes back to the beginning of the human race in Genesis 2:18, when God created Eve to be Adam’s “help mate.” People have been helping each other ever since.

APPLICATION: Are you facing a particular challenge today at work? You don’t have to handle it alone. Adam was alone, and God knew that he needed someone to assist him. You have supervisors, co-workers, suppliers, peers, friends and family who can help you to deal with challenges. But, you have to be proactive. They’re not mind-readers. They’re busy living their lives. You have to ASK for help. It won’t come automatically. You need to request it. Ask first from God Himself; then, as He works and directs, ask other people.

Joyfully yours,

Drew

For Further Exploration

For further exploration about Proverbs 22:3 (KJV)，read Proverbs and Work from the Theology of Work Bible Commentary.

Are You Planted in Church?

Devotions/Partners

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Psalm 92:12-15 (KJV): “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; To shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.”

COMMENTARY: Throughout the Scriptures and in our own lives, we know of Godly men and women who lived to a ripe old age, and continued to live abundantly fruitful lives until their deaths. We know of others who went off-track and stopped bearing fruit, limping their way into eternity. What’s the difference between those whose lifetimes are a crescendo of faith and fruitfulness, and others whose lifetimes are a decrescendo of doubt and dryness? The answer is found in this passage: being planted in the house of the LORD.

APPLICATION: When you’re old, do you want to be a flourishing palm tree? If so, stay planted in the house of the LORD. Be consistent and faithful, week after week, month after month, year after year.

To the degree that it is in your control, avoid weekend business travel, and go to your local church with your family. If you must be out of town on business, make a commitment to participate in worship services wherever you are. There are plenty of printed and online resources to help you to find a church to go to.

I realize that there are many obstacles, including bosses who don’t appreciate your interest in church, trade show planners who consider Sunday just another work day, and airlines that establish pricing policies that penalize church-goers, but HOLD YOUR GROUND! Show God that He is your God by making Him your #1 priority this weekend, no matter where you are. You’ll be blessed and you’ll be a good example to others.

Joyfully yours,

Drew

For Further Exploration

For further exploration about Matthew 7:7-8 (KJV)， read Moral Guidance (Matthew 7) from the Theology of Work Bible Commentary.

Are You Better @ Work?

Devotions/Partners

Ecclesiastes 7:1 (KJV): “A good name is better than precious ointment…”

COMMENTARY: For decades, I’ve been active in the Better Business Bureau. The word “better” appears 127 times in the Bible, so I asked myself, “Which of these passages seem to be particularly relevant to the workplace?” The answer is many.

APPLICATION: In studying these passages, we can glean that from a Judeo-Christian perspective, a truly “better” employer or employee exhibits these characteristics:

1) Values obedience to the Word and the Spirit.

2) Pursues and cherishes integrity.

3) Trusts in God through thick and thin.

4) Seeks to receive and apply wisdom.

5) Is content with little instead of coveting wealth.

6) Is loving and avoids hatred.

7) Is humble and avoids pride.

8) Is slow to anger and avoids tantrums.

9) Enjoys his or her work.

10) Works in quietness and tranquility of soul.

11) Handles correction well and learns from it.

12) Has a servant spirit and avoids selfishness.

13) Is willing to suffer for doing what’s right.

Do you see these “better business” attributes in yourself at work? Can you see how much better the business world would be if more employers and employees had these attributes? Let it begin with us!

Joyfully yours,

Drew

For Further Exploration

For further exploration about Psalm 92:12-15 (KJV)， read Book 4 (Psalms 90–106) from the Theology of Work Bible Commentary.

Are You a Monster @ Work?

Devotions/Partners

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Matthew 23:25, 28 (KJV): “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.”

COMMENTARY: In this passage, Jesus rebuked these religious leaders for their double standard, their dual “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” personalities. On the outside, they were Dr. Jekylls—upright citizens. On the inside, they were Mr. Hydes—spiritual monsters!

APPLICATION: Some people praise the Lord during weekend worship services, look and act so holy, but if you saw them in their workplaces you’d see a different person. The first step in overcoming hypocrisy is acknowledging that you are guilty of it. If the Holy Spirit is convicting you that you’re a Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde, don’t beat yourself up. If the truth were known, all Christians are hypocrites in one way or another. The only true hypocrisy-free person to walk on earth was Jesus Christ.

Humble yourself before your God, pray and ask Him to forgive you and supernaturally set you free of hypocrisy from this day forward: “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:5b-9)

As you grow in the Lord, obey the Word and walk in the Holy Spirit, your hypocrisy will diminish.

Joyfully yours,

Drew

For Further Exploration

For further exploration about Ecclesiastes 7:1 (KJV), read There Is No Way to Find Out What Is Good to Do (Eccl 6:10-8:17) from the Theology of Work Bible Commentary.

Affluence of Influence

Devotions/Partners

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John 4:39 (KJV): “And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.”

COMMENTARY: One of my favorite passages of Scripture is John 4:1-42. A woman comes to Jacob’s well to get physical water, but instead she receives the living water of the Holy Spirit. After her encounter with Jesus, she leaves her water container at the well and races back to her nearby city of Sychar to tell her neighbors about Jesus. Her enthusiasm, sincerity, and credibility stir many to stop what they’re doing and go to Jacob’s well. Once they meet and hear Jesus, they persuade Him to stay and teach for two days. Many believed on Him because of the Samaritan woman’s testimony, and many more believed because of Jesus’ own words. The city of Sychar experienced an incredible spiritual revival.

APPLICATION: Never underestimate the “affluence of influence” the Lord has given you right where you are. Like the Samaritan woman, you may feel like you’re nameless. Like nobody cares whether you live or die, stay or leave. Like an insignificant person going about your mundane, routine daily chores, living and working in a relatively obscure town or city far away from where the action is. Perhaps you don’t feel that you have the credentials to share the Gospel with your boss, co-workers, customers and suppliers. Remember: God’s Will is for every believer to be a minister of reconciliation, not just pastors and missionaries. He gave you the gift of eternal life, the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, and the gift of the Word of God. That’s all you need to have a Godly impact.

As you faithfully and enthusiastically share your personal testimony, as you point others to Christ, and as they hear His Word preached and taught, incredible spiritual revival can break out right where you live and work. It happened in Sychar, and it can happen where you are, too.

Remember: Jesus wasn’t born in Jerusalem, but in the small town of Bethlehem. Stay rooted in Christ and bloom where you’re planted! The Lord has a wonderful way of turning humble beginnings into huge blessings.

Joyfully yours,

Drew

For Further Exploration

For further exploration about Matthew 23:25, 28 (KJV), read Living in the New Kingdom (Matthew 18-25) from the Theology of Work Bible Commentary.

Staying on God’s Plan @ Work

Devotions/Partners

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Psalm 119:105 (KJV): “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

COMMENTARY: One of the unique and fascinating aspects of hiking during the winter is seeing all of the animal and human tracks in the snow. On the positive side, it’s often common and helpful to follow in other people’s footsteps. On the negative side, sometimes the compressed snow from previous hiker footprints turns into ice. As a result, the trail becomes very slippery. You have to avoid their steps, and hike along the fringe of the trail where the traction is better. Other times, previous hikers can lose the trail altogether. If you naively follow in their footsteps, you can unknowingly go off the trail and stumble into unexpected trouble. When hiking in the snow, the most important thing is to follow the tried-and-true blazes on the trees.

APPLICATION: In the working world, there are moments when following in the footsteps of management, co-workers, customers or suppliers can become very slippery. Sometimes you definitely do NOT want to follow in their footsteps, because they’ve taken steps that are unethical, deceptive, manipulative, illegal and ultimately harmful to themselves, you and others.

No matter how cold and icy the working world becomes, obey the trail blazes of God’s Word. Walk in the footsteps of Jesus and not of businesspeople who deliberately mislead, misrepresent and manipulate. Doing what’s right will keep your conscience and your testimony clean. In God’s way and time, He will bless you for your integrity.

Joyfully yours,

Drew

For Further Exploration

For further exploration about John 4:39 (KJV), read Jesus and the Samaritan Woman at the Well (John 4) from the Theology of Work Bible Commentary.

Called To Work

Category: Devotions/Partners, English

Beware of Bullies

For Further Exploration

Be Careful about Wining & Dining

For Further Exploration

Avoid Organized Crime of Any Kind

For Further Exploration

Asleep at the Wheel

For Further Exploration

Ask for Help @ Work

For Further Exploration

Are You Planted in Church?

For Further Exploration

Are You Better @ Work?

For Further Exploration

Are You a Monster @ Work?

For Further Exploration

Affluence of Influence

For Further Exploration

Staying on God’s Plan @ Work

For Further Exploration

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