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Encouraging Men Along Life's Journey January 28, 2013
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God In The Marketplace
GOOD IDEA VS GOD IDEA - Opportunity
A man with no ideas is a man on a dead end path to nowhere. It is imperative that we come up with fresh ideas in order to succeed in todays business world. Change is as much a part of todays business climate as marketing our products or services. Change comes about as a result of someone having a better idea on marketing that product or service.
As Christian business men, our goal is to seek and implement those ideas that are not only good for the company, but are in line with what God has in mind for us. Great ideas are good, but to know that our idea has been originated and ordained by God gives us unparalleled confidence and courage. Think about Steve Jobs and all the new and innovative ideas he originated over his short but successful career. Each one has made a tremendous impact in how we communicate over the entire world. Were they great ideas? No question. Were they God ideas? Good question. The real question,however, is threefold; were the ideas a result of seeking God, was God given the credit for the idea, and even though maybe not a God idea but a great idea, can it be used for God? To not do so is to keep us in the temporal world of the things of man and not the things of God.(2 Corinthians 4: 18) Our goal as Christian business men is to honor God in all we do, and all we do is to have an eternal purpose of helping build the Kingdom of God while improving our world. (Colossians 3: 17) God in His sovereignty, has blessed us with many people whose ideas have made this world a better place to live. What we must remember is that all things are created by Him, even the ipad. Great ideas really move our world forward, but God ideas really move God's world forward.
With every idea comes an opportunity. Let's use our imagination a moment. You are the starting guard for the Charlotte Bobcats. It is the last game of the season and a win would propel the team into the playoffs. There are 2 seconds left on the clock and the Bobcats are one point behind. The coach has called time out to discuss a play that puts the in pass into your hands. With final instructions, the team is sent to the court and the pass is made to you. You look up and the clock has now hit one second. In a flash of a moment you think about what you should do. Do you take the shot? You have been given a great opportunity. What you do with that opportunity will determine the future for the whole team.
In the 25th chapter of Matthew, Jesus tells the parable of the talents. The master is going off on a journey and leaves parts of his property to three servants to manage while he is gone. Each person is given an amount according to his ability. To one is given five talents of money, another two talents, and the third is given one talent. When the master returns, he requires an accounting of what they each did with the opportunity given them. Which of the three had the greatest opportunity? Which of the three had the greatest risk? With each opportunity comes a certain amount of risk. The two go together. But the issue here is not the amount of talent we have, but what we do with the talent we do have. In other words, when the ball is given to us with two seconds left, we shoot. "Be very careful then how you live, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." Ephesians 5: 15,16
When God gives us an idea, our emotions can burst with excitement that we have a God idea, it is from God. But there is also an accountability that comes with the idea. In the parable of the talents, the first two servants did well with what was given them. One had over twice as much to be responsible for as the the second servant, but they each doubled their portion.
When the master returned and heard their report, he declared their efforts to be "well done." He also declared them - "good and faithful servants." We all hope that in the day when we stand before God, he will say the same to us -"well done good and faithful servant." But even more awesome, God will welcome us into His presence of eternal happiness and joy. Each of us has been given certain gifts, some more than others, but we all have the opportunity to use our gifts on ideas that come our way. When we get an idea, we first test the idea against the principles in scripture and with wise counsel. We seek God through the prompting of the Holy Spirit. When we have the confidence that this is something God wants us to do, we not only have the opportunity to make the shot, but we have the awesome privilege of getting applause from God himself and to bask in His locker room full of pure and perfect happiness.
But what if we never take the shot?
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EVENTS
Lead Like Jesus
Dowd YMCA
January 29, 30
ABOUT US
CEO Ministry offers men the opportunity to grow in their relationship with Christ. Each CEO accepts the responsibility to grow personally as a man of God, to lead each member of his family to Christ and to live by the ways of God. The CEO also accepts his role as a leader in the marketplace to practice the principles of God and to lead others to follow. The goal of CEO Ministry is to have men commit to these values, and in so doing, be a man that is living a life of significance.
Sincerely,
Jack Fallaw
CEO Ministry
Encouraging Men in the
Marketplace and Home
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Recommended Resources
CEO Devotional Library
NEW NEW !
**THE TRUE MEASURE
OF A MAN
Richard Simmons 111
** LEAD LIKE JESUS
Ken Blanchard
THE HARBINGER
Jonathan Cahn
NOT A FAN
Kyle Idleman
**LOVE WORKS
Joel Manby
HALFTIME
Bob Buford
A PASSION FOR PRAYER
Tom Elliff
DON'T WASTE YOUR LIFE
John Pipe
Interested in a
Small Group?
CEO Ministry is interested in beginning small groups for businessmen in local areas. These groups meet weekly and
allow participants to discuss and network. Email Jack Fallaw at
jack@ceoministry.com to sign up or
find out more details
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