If there was one gift you could choose as a businessman, what would it be? What would be the greatest characteristic you could possess as a Christian in the marketplace? Many things might come to our mind as we ponder these questions. There is the gift of leadership, motivation, the gift of wisdom, compassion, and encouragement just to name a few.
The thirteenth chapter of 1 Corinthians offers us some insight into the characteristics we should desire as businessmen. This, however, is not a chapter in the Bible that we would naturally think of as offering any insight to business. This chapter is about love, and what does love have to do with business? The marketplace is a rough and tough place. It is no place for sissies. We are much to macho to even think of love as a gift for business, or so we think. Sure, we are told to love God and to love one another, but that is for our spiritual life, right?
We are Christians first and business people second. God has placed each one of us in a particular job in the marketplace and He has called us to exemplify His characteristics while building the business and His kingdom. God is all about love, He loves each and every one of us and commands that we love one another(Matthew 22: 34-39). When we think about it, it takes tough men to love. Jesus tells us to love our enemies(Matthew 5; 44), the unlovable(Matthew 5: 46), and to love people enough to die for them(Luke 15: 13). Jesus said this would give evidence to the world that we are indeed His(John 13: 35). He also commanded it as the centerpiece of His teaching(John 13; 34).
Love is also powerful. I grew up in a Christian home. Both my parents were dedicated Christians and did the best they could in living for Jesus. It was later in my teen years that I began to notice something different about my Dad, he didn't seem normal at times. As I grew older, I began to realize that his weird actions were a result of his drinking. It was only after I graduated form college and came to work for him that I realized this had become a real problem. I relay this story with much love for my Dad and I do not want to cast any negative toward him. My hope is that this can be an example of how God can work in a persons life and, hopefully, prevent someone having to live through this situation.
My Dad's drinking problem was bad, really bad. Those of you who have experienced this in a family member know what I mean. There were days when I would need help to carry him home from the office. I would receive telephone calls from restaurants telling me my Dad had passed out and for me to come and get him. On many occasions, my Mom would call me for help. Unfortunately, I was not the best at dealing with him or his problem. When he would drink, I would fight. Mentally I would curse him and verbally I berated him. It was not a pretty scene. There were many days I would leave the office and would plan to never come back.
I was about at my roads end when I sat on a lady's porch and listened to her talk about Christ while I tried to talk her into selling me her land. That conversation eventually led me to a decision to give my life totally over to God.
Because of the love God had for me, I was able to love my Dad for the first time in a long time. When he would drink, I would simply love him. This, to say the least, was as much a shock to him as it was to me. My Dad did not know how to handle my love. A few months later, he surprised everyone by going to church one Sunday morning. At the end of the service, he walks down the isle and rededicates his life to God. With that decision and the power of God's love, he never drank again.
A miracle had taken place, not only in my Dad's life but in mine also. The only way God could change my Dad was to change me, and He did it through love. Love is that powerful, imagine what it could do in the marketplace. But how does it play out in business?
