The Duty of Christian Businessmen by Rev. Phillip Brooks

Men are talking about the institutions in which you are engaged, my friends, about the business from which you have come here to worship for this little hour. Men are questioning about what they care to do, what they can have to do with Christianity. They are asking everywhere this question: "Is it possible for a man to be engaged in the activities of our modern life and yet to be a Christian? Is it possible for a man to be a broker, a shopkeeper, a lawyer, a mechanic, is it possible for a man to be engaged in a business of to-day, and yet love his God and his fellow-man as himself?" I do not know. I do not know what transformations these dear businesses of yours have got to undergo before they shall be true and ideal homes for the child of God; but I do know that upon Christian merchants and Christian brokers and Christian lawyers and Christian men in business to-day there rests an awful and a beautiful responsibility: to prove, if you can prove it, that these things are capable of being made divine, to prove that a man can do the work that you have been doing this morning and will do this afternoon, and yet shall love his God and his fellow-man as himself. If he cannot, if he cannot, what business have you to be doing them? If he can, what business have you to be doing them so poorly, so carnally, so unspiritually, that men look on them and shake their heads with doubt? It belongs to Christ in men first to prove that man may be a Christian and yet do business; and, in the second place, to show how a man, as he becomes a greater Christian, shall purify and lift the business that he does and make it the worthy occupation of the Son of God.

Year 1895

Taken in part from: The Project Gutenberg EBook of Addresses, by Phillips Brooks

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at http://www.gutenberg.net or http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14497

Rick Warren on "Can a Business be Christian?"

In the March 2013 issue of "Decision" Magazine, Pastor Rick Warren made a very good point on on the matter of , "Can a business be Christian?" In the article, "Rick Warren on the Hobby Lobby Lawsuit.", page 14.  In the article Pastor warren answers the question asked above.  To quote the article, "Some flippantly say 'A business cannot be a Christian,' but the truth is, every business is either business is either moral or immoral, ethical or unethical, depending on the values they base their business on. "
I interrupt this as saying that a business, just as art, music and literature,  reflects the morals and ethics of its creators  We creations should reflect the morals and ethics of our creator  God. This article can be read at:  http://www.becketfund.org/pastor-rick-warrens-on-hobby-lobby-lawsuit/

Christ in My Career Part One (Talents)

What keeps many from thinking about being a witness in their workplace is the belief that the sacred and secular are separate. What happens on Sunday stays on Sunday. Growing up I was under the impression that we could live as we like during the week as long as we gave God Sundays and Wednesday nights. But since I gave my life to the Lord, I have learned better.

Not only does our little 10% belong to the Lord, our whole life does. In this post I would like to share a little of the first chapter of Allen W. Graves’ book, “Christ in My Career”, published in 1958 by Convention Press. He brings out Paul’s writing in 1 Cor. 6:19-20,

“What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price.”

 And Mr. Graves says, “Christians belong to God, A Christian’s life is measured by the way in which it is used for God.” Or may I say, “Used by God?”  Also, Mr. Graves adds, “The freedom of the Christian is disciplined by his loyalty to Christ and a desire to please Him.”

Now you may ask, “Which part is he talking about?” The Word of God is very plain; “all” belongs to God. First, our talents belong to God. The whole reason we are given talents, gifts, and skills is for God’s use and the work of God through His Church. Romans 12:1 read,

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

To use our talents for service is the least we can do, the most reasonable things for us to do in our workplace.  Without this attitude of the ownership of our talents to God, we will never be effective in our Christian lives in reaching the lost.

This is Part one of a series of post I will be sharing on from Mr. Graves’ book.

What Are You Doing with God’s Grace?

Grace is an amazing word to know for living today. Looking into my Nave’s Topical Bible, I found many verses that use the word, but I would like to share a parable that illustrates its meaning. The word has evolved in today’s language to mean forgiveness, blessing, or just to give someone a break. We use the word in our Church name, “Grace Harvest Church” and before this we were called, “Grace Chapel”. So we have always liked the name, mainly because we were in such need of it. When I looked up the verses from my Topical Bible in the Amplified Version, the word was translated as, “state of favor”. So to be in God’s grace or to have grace is to be in a state of favor with God.  This is where I want to be. We men spend a lot of time trying to gain the favor of our Fathers, but in the end we realize that favor from our Heavenly Father is the only favor we need.

Now I would like to share a little story that the lord Jesus used to illustrate forgiveness to Peter and the Disciples. But it also illustrates Grace in a way that amazes me. In Matthew 18:23-35 we read,
 “23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' 27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. 28 But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, and ‘Pay me what you owe!' 29 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' 30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. 32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?' 34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. 35 So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."

Now the first thing I wish to point out is that the servant owed the money to the King. It was not taxes, it was money loaned to him from the King. The servant at one time had received some money from the king with an agreement to pay it back. What did this servant do with this money? The same thing that we may do with the gifts and talents Christ gives us I afraid. Anyway, back to the servant and king. The servant owed the money. The amount could be figured out to today’s value but let’s just say it was an amount that neither the servant nor his family could pay it off in their lifetime (interest on sin is high priced, I guess). The King’s answer is to sell him and his family as slaves to payback the debt. This may shock some but that was what happens in those days. If you could not pay your debts, you and your family where sold as slaves to pay it off. But it was just until you paid it off or until the year of Jubilee when all slaves where set free and all land was returned to the family that had it. So the servant had a way out, but he was going to have to work for it. We find ourselves in this condition, a slave to debt. How many of us work to pay for that new car? Or it seems we work just to pay for those kids we left behind just because we wanted to be free. When they servant saw the reality of his folly and fell to the ground and begged the king to give him time. The servant probably already had a scheme worked out to try and pay the debt, enough to appease the king. But the king surprised him with compassion, mercy and yes, grace. He forgave the servant debt. He placed the servant in a state of favor. Boy how the other servants must have looked on in awe at this servant that the King showed such favor to.
            The servant left the king feeling pretty good and went straight to another servant who owed him a little bit of money which was nowhere near the amount he had owed the king. He grabbed him and tried to get the money out of him. His answer was to sell the man as a slave to cover the debt. Sounds familiar? The king heard of this and brought the servant back and gave him a real talking to. He had lost the favor of the king. Now if only the servant had received the grace of the king and let it change his heart to become a compassionate servant just as the King was compassionate, things would have been different. He stomped on the grace given him by the king. When the king forgave him his debt, someone was going to have to pay the debt, it was owed. Who paid? The King did. The servant’s grace was very expensive but he had made it cheap. This brings up a phrase coined by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, “Cheap Grace”.

This brings us to the Grace or favor that the Lord has bestowed on us. It is free, but it is not cheap. Christ paid a heavy price for the Grace we have. Can you look up at the cross and see the price He paid. So many people come to Him and the Church to get what they need and not appreciate the price He paid. What does this do to Grace? It’s like standing at the cross and stepping on His spilt blood and pushing it into the mud. It’s like standing there and spitting on that blood. I did not share this when I preached this in Church, but it’s like so many are pissing at the foot of the cross and taking His clothes. How are we doing this you may ask? We do it by living our lives without giving Him all of ourselves. How grievous is this sin of cheapening the Grace of God, of stepping out of His free favor to live our lives outside his grace. When I get up in the morning and I can feel His drawing me to commune with Him in prayer and the word, but instead I choose to settle down to a movie and wash the grace He has given me. Let us look up to the Cross and accept this Grace He purchased for us, the favor of a King. As the song goes, “We owed a debt we could not pay, He paid a debt He did not owe, and Christ Jesus paid a debt, a debt we could not pay.” When the loving Lord has given us so much, we indeed deserve Hell if we reject His Grace.

The Christian Worker By Udeme Anosike

"The one who stays on the job has food on the table; the witless chase whims and fancies....."(1)
"A lazy life is an empty life, but "early to rise" gets the job done...."(2)
"God hates cheating in the marketplace; He loves it when business is aboveboard....."(3)
These are some of the many tidbits of wisdom provided in the Scriptures for the Christian worker or business person. Our God knows that we live in the world and need to earn a living to survive; consequently, He provides abundant counsel in His Word to help us succeed and excel at our work.
Today, many Christians lack wisdom on how to apply the values of their faith to their work or businesses. Some believe that life at work is separate from life in church and therefore put on one "cloak" when engaging in spiritual activities and a completely different one when engaging in business or work-related activities. By so doing, they not only dishonor God, but miss out on an important and fundamental aspect of our Christian faith, namely, we are called to be salt, light, and a blessing to our world.(4)
SALT
As "salt", our Christ-centered lives should add flavor to our workplaces. What a pleasure it is to walk into an office or a shop and be welcomed by a friendly, polite, and knowledgeable employee. What glory it brings to God when that person is one of His children, a Christian who allows the fruit of the Spirit to flow through him or her in the marketplace.
Organizations such as offices, charities, schools, and stores are never without problems and faults, obviously because they are run by imperfect human beings. Even among the best, there are usually ample reasons to complain or become negative after we have been around them for a period of time. But, how pleasant and refreshing it is to find a handful of people who, in the face of those problems and faults, choose to exercise patience and give the other party some benefit of the doubt. What honor it brings to God when such positive attitudes emanate from the Christians who work there or are being served by those organizations!
LIGHT
As "light" we have the task of bringing solid Christian values into the darkness and corruption that pervades our world today. As we demonstrate integrity, transparency, kindness, and justice in our jobs and business dealings, we shine the light of Christ within our circles of interaction. For example, it is not uncommon to find business owners who slash prices to secure projects or make sales, only to add them back later as "unexpected expenses." While such unethical business practices may be considered insignificant in the secular world, they are unacceptable in the kingdom of God. What a joy it is, therefore, to find Christian business people who actively uphold the values of integrity and truth as they offer services to the public.
BLESSINGS
As "blessings", we have been given the grace to bring relief to difficulties in the world around us. Through our obedient and established relationships with God, we can seek and receive wisdom and spiritual breakthrough to help our businesses and workplaces survive today's harsh economic conditions. What a pleasure it is to have a team leader who not only works diligently to ensure completion of tasks, but also lays her entire project and team members in the hands of the Almighty, seeking His favor and blessing and invoking promises such as, "If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all His commands ... the Lord will ...bless the work of your hands."(5)
We often under-estimate the value that a genuine Christian can bring to a workplace or business environment. In reality, the virtues needed to build successful businesses (excellence, integrity, respect, customer friendliness, accountability, and more) are similar to the character traits that the Holy Spirit develops in Christians as we mature in our relationships with God. When we follow wholeheartedly, He builds in us qualities that make us valuable assets, not only to the body of Christ, but also to our work places, businesses, and the world at large. Like He did for Joseph, David, and Daniel, He transforms us into people who bring honor and glory to God both in spiritual pursuits and in work and business-related endeavors.
" let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven"Matthew 5:16.
1. Proverbs 12:11 The Message
2. Proverbs 12:27 The Message
3. Proverbs 11:1  The Message
4. Matthew 5:13-16
5. Deuteronomy 28:1,12
Udeme Anosike has journeyed with the Lord for over twenty years. She is an author and teacher of God's Word. Her heart's desire is to help Christians serve God faithfully and live victoriously.
Website: www.refreshingwearysouls.com
Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com CHRISTIAN">http://www.faithwriters.com">CHRISTIAN WRITER

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The Little Penny

Walking across the parking lot tonight I saw a spot on the dark asphalt. It looked like a coin so I bent down and picked it up. My first thought was that it might be rare and important. But it turned out to just be a common copper penny, tarnished and damaged from being run-over too much. You could barely see Lincolns face imprinted on the one side. It was useless.  I quickly saw how it reflected my life in such a way. I felt tarnish, ran-over and useless. Cast away onto the dark asphalt of life.  
I will keep this coin that is useless to the world and keep it in my pocket to remind me how the Lord had picked me up from my uselessness and saved me and making me precious to Himself.  As I carried the little coin and stuck my hand in my pocket and felt its rough edges, I would rub it and thank the Lord for what He had done in my life. Then I noticed something strange. The little coin’s rough edges were becoming smooth from my rubbing.
I saw quickly how the hard times I was going through was the Lord rubbing me to a copper shine. The way the coin was made. The way I was made. All this time I thought the Lord’s hand was rubbing me too hard and hurting me, but He was rubbing me lovingly to make me valuable to Himself. He is making me new again.

Bell Ringing Lesson

While ringing bells for the Salvation Army, I had been asking the children whose birthday we were celebrating this month. I had one little girl pipe up and say, "mine". We all laughed at her innocence, but I got to thinking about this. I thought that although we celebrate Christ's birthday in December, not knowing the exact day, it would be good for us to remember why He came. That is to give us a new birthday. All those who have been born again as taught in John Chapter 3, should take some time this season to celebrate our spiritual birthday. If we will lift up to Him the thankfulness He deserves, we offer Him the greatest of gifts that we can give Him.

The Late Zig Ziglar

Late Zig Ziglar Hailed as a 'Giant of the Faith' - US - CBN News - Christian News 24-7 - CBN.com

Ring Those Bells

Picture from 2007

This year I decided to go back to ringing bells for the Salvation Army because of being unemployed and still trying to finish college. I did this awhile back about (around 2007 when I wrote this post) three years in a row.

It is amazing the things you learn. Here are the things I always see:

1. A small child asking her parent if she can put money into the pot and the parent tells her she can put her own money in if she wants. The child comes up with a beautiful smile on her face and opens her purse and pulls out all the bills she had in her purse and puts them in. Then she dumps her change purse. Then she digs to the bottom of the purse and puts in all the extra change found there. Then quickly smiles and runs off before I can offer her candy from the SA apron I'm wearing. In the Spiritual Life of a Christian I see in this child a trust that we need to learn. Her supply does not depend on her but her Father (or Mother). She can give all because her Father will replace it. She trusts Him. Like-wise we should be able to give of ourselves freely because we trust in God the Father to supply our needs. And do it with a smile.
2. I have to laugh at the one's who come by and put a nickel, dime or some pennies, then comment,"I might better give because I might need them one day". This is ridiculous at the least. The Lord does not bless because of a gift but by His mercies. There is a law for giving that says we will get back what we give with interest (so-to-speak). So I hope they get their dimes worth. Give from the heart, that's were the Lord looks. The Bible is full of the right way to give. Giving to get isn't it.
3. Also I see many people who just walk by and ignore you. These people are probably tired of hearing the bells and feeling guilty because they don't think they can afford to give. Unknowing all the Army wishes to get is pocket change. They would like more but they know if everyone gave there pocket change, it would add up and supply the need. One thing I believe is that we should "glean" from our shopping. When the time comes to pay, don't pay the correct change down to the cent. Use larger bills so that you would have change left on purpose to give. This is a biblical concept called gleaning. Were the workers in the fields would not harvest the grain that they drop so the poor could pick it up for themselves. This is a good way to do it and do it as an act of worship.
4. People in general may seem rude and lack manners. This is a result of the dehumanizing of people in our schools and teaching that we are only animals without a need for morals.
5. There was some very bright spots to speak of. One person came up and stated that She had needed the Army to help with giving gifts to her children for the past two years but today she didn't and wanted to help.

All-in-all it was a good experience and I recomend it to all.