Broken

"A man's ways seem right to him, but the Lord evaluates his motives." Proverbs 16: 2

At this point in my journey, I have discovered that my true treasures lie within my heart. Out of my heart comes the real picture of what I love and the priority I have placed on each of them. I have now been told to build up treasures in Heaven rather than here on earth. Frankly, I found that hard to do. Most treasures in Heaven can't be seen, touched, spent, or used. They don't build my possessions, pleasure, or my pride like worldly treasures do. But then, an amazing thought hit me. Treasures on earth can only be looked at in terms of present value - they will not last. While treasures in Heaven can be looked at in the present and future value.  

My other discovery was a heart wrenching look at what my goals were in business. I think that I am like most other men in that I am a goal oriented businessman. And like most men, my goal is to be successful. That success has been primarily determined by the amount of money I made. That has led me to seek money over anything else. However sincere and dedicated I might have been to serve God, if I looked deep within my heart, money maintained first place.

As I first discovered this, my method to resolve the situation was to continue seeking success along with adding Christian ethics. This was without considering what might be God's goals for me in my business. That, too, was a hard discovery. Easy to answer, but hard to accept and apply. For God's goal for everyone in all situations is the salvation of all people. My calling is to serve God. My vocation is my business. Each calling must have a platform upon which to serve, therefore, my business must be my platform whereby I can achieve my goals and God's goals. My method then became to achieve success in my business, add God's ethics, and now add God's goals. The ultimate purpose of my business must become to fulfill my calling to serve God by achieving God's goals of bringing people into His Kingdom. I could not do it any other way and have God the true first place in my life.

I have a great friend in Tampa, Florida who has been an example to me in this endeavor. He has a utility construction business and God has blessed him with much success. At the end of each year, he shares the financial results of the previous year with the management staff. Along with this report, is not only the financial results, but listed also is the number of people who came to Christ through the ministry of the company. He lives with the conviction that this is why God gave him the company - to bear fruit, and fruit that remains. The money earnings are only a means to produce that fruit. 

I found something else on my journey to Matthew 6: 33. That discovery was, and is today, the hardest part of the journey. I was pretty sure I understood what Jesus was saying. But then God showed me that if I really understood, I would live it. There are only two ways to live - the world's way and God's way. The world's way seems so easy and pleasurable. Like a jolt in the middle of the stomach, one that knocks your breath away, I was hit with the reality of what was required to live for Jesus in my business life. It meant I had to be broken. I could act out these principles, but what needed to happen was a complete brokenness before God. No longer would it be my goals, no longer would pride, possessions, and pleasure rule my heart. Broken.