What Does Love Have To Do With Business - Love's Heart
"Give me an undivided heart, that I may fear you. Psalm 86: 11
In this Psalm, David is asking God for a heart that is single minded toward Him. That is the beginning for any commitment we make to pattern our lives on the characteristics of Christ. Single-mindedness toward God gives us the freedom to not only be devoted to Him, but also to His character.
Now we see where love does not envy. To envy is to seek something God did not intend for us to have. God wants us to be content with who we are and what we have. That can be a tough assignment in today's business world. Envy leads us to look at the fruit of another life rather than the heart of our own life. David pleads with God to give him the right kind of heart because he knows that is where all things begin. "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." Proverbs 4;23
Don was an up and coming young business man. He had all the right tools to be successful. He was bright and full of energy and self confidence. His desire was to be in big time commercial real estate development. We both had a mutual friend who was very successful in developing large office projects across the country. Don idealized this friend to the point of studying everything he did. He set his life goal to be just like our successful friend. But Don's goal turned into envy, and when he was not able to reach the same pinnacle, his heart became very despondent. "A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones." Proverbs 14:30. Envy only paralyzes us into accomplishing nothing because our concentration is to do and be what others are.
Love does not boast, is not proud. "Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise." 1 Chronicles 16: 25. God is the giver of all things God may give to some abundantly, and to others He gives their portion. But in whatever one has or accomplishes, it is a gift from God. For us to boast is to take credit for something when it is of God. "Therefore as it is written, let him that boast, boast in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 1:30. One of the greatest witness for the Lord in the marketplace is to acknowledge publicly that God is the source of all that the business possess. Our heart then has the freedom to exercise the love of God to those around us.
Scripture reminds us that boasting leads to a sense of pride and pride leads to a fall.Proverbs 16:18) To be proud is to take advantage of someone else for our own gain or recognition. Pride leads us to try and look better than we are and to bring the attention to ourselves. We need to understand that in whatever position we hold in the business where we work, there is someone else that has played a great part in getting us to where we are. Love manifest itself in giving attention and recognition to those who have been a part of our journey. Love demonstrates itself in our being willing to help others achieve success, even if it places them above ourselves.
Frank Harrison,111 is the CEO of Coca-Cola here in Charlotte. In a recent presentation on how business people can bring the Kingdom of God into the marketplace, Mr Harrison stated that he was not there as CEO of Coca-Cola for his employees to serve him, but for him to serve his employees. One of the ministries of Coca - Cola grew out of a deep love and concern he developed for single moms. Numerous other ministries have become a big part of the Coke purpose out of that same willingness to exemplify the love of Christ in the marketplace.
Love is demonstrated in the marketplace by an undivided heart. A heart that is full of envy, boasting and pride, is a heart full of itself. A heart that loves others is willing to demonstrate that love because it recognizes we are nothing were it not for God and His mercy and grace. Godly love seeks not it's own interest, but the interest of others.
