Christian Business Owner/CEO - Fruit, Much Fruit - Buck Jacobs
If God paid the highest price that could be paid to provide for the salvation of His children, how does, or should, that fact interdict the way we view and operate the businesses that we manage for Him? If it’s His property how do we use it in alignment with His ultimate ourpose, recociliation with His children?I see it this way. The business brings us into contact with countless people who will never likely darken the door of a church. (Estimates vary between 70-75% of Americans are unchurched) Every time we have contact with the customer, employee, competitor, or supplier who make up the daily relational interaction of business, we have the opportunity to give them an impression about God. This happens as a result of how we interact with them in the various roles that we play with one another as we “do business.” We have the same opportunity as we relate to them as neighbors, relatives, friends, or others that we rub shoulders with simply by living in the world.
By what we say and what we do (both/and) we give them an impression. If that impression is positive it earns us credibility with them. Over time the relationships that we have with them may earn us the right to discuss our values with them. If we are Christians, our ultimate value is our relationship with God in Christ and we will have the opportunity to express that with them in countless ways.
Last night Bonnie and I had dinner in the home of a friend that is an atheist. I have been playing golf with him and sharing life with him for over 10 years. Last night he invited me to say grace before our meal. That would never have happened 10 years ago. I have had some very direct discussions and even arguements with him over the years. Once we even got so upset with each other that we quit speaking for a couple of months. Then God convicted me of my sin and pride and I called my friend and asked for his forgiveness and told him I valued our friendship and knew that I was wrong to treat it and him as I had. We resumed our friendship and he told me that no one had ever asked his forgivenness for anything in his life. He’s not there yet but the relationship deepens and my love for him grows and I pray that its not too late.
We have the same kind of opportunities in our businesses. People come into our lives for different reasons, not to play golf, but to buy or sell or work with us. Most of them are lost and need to know our Saviour. God brings them across our paths and plants us in their way as His Ambassador. When we understand that as our primary purpose we can respond to the opportunity appropriately and in obedience to His Spirit. When we do God’s purpose is fulfilled and “eternal fruit” is produced. What is “eternal fruit?” Stay tuned, we will talk abot that subject next.
Buck Jacobs is the Chairman of the Board and Founder of the C12 Group, a network of Christian CEO's and Owners Building GREAT Businesses for a greater purpose. As CEO of The C12 Group, Buck has written several books and feature magazine articles, including A Light Shines Bright in Babylon – A Handbook for Christian Business Owners, An Action Plan for Ministry, and Seven Habits of Highly Effective Christians – all available by visiting C12’s online store at http://www.c12group.com/index.php.
Labels: Buck Jacobs, Editorials
