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To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his. Job 12:13

Recently I’ve attended a business breakfast, a sponsor lunch and participated in a forum at TV show website, all of which have been discussing the topic of Ethics in Business. And then just this week a presentation at the OIVAC about Business Ethics.

The fact that this topic is being discussed in many places recently indicates to me it is something that is at the top of people’s minds of late. It is probably always there but so many things have been raising their heads globally that it’s got people thinking. Not just in business but in politics, in churches, in social networks, on websites. There seems to be so many ’shades of grey’ today that people are lulled into thinking that whatever it is they are doing, or thinking, is ok - because ‘times have changed’ and so many others are doing it. Are ethics really to be considered as ‘old fashioned’? I hope not!

When does it get down to what is right within? Do people truly not have a conscience anymore? Is it more a collective conscience that rules rather than an individual one?

As business operators there are two things we need to have in mind - what is right for our clients and what is right for us as individuals. Sometimes those two things appear to clash. What we do in business reflects on us as a person and that might mean we have to say ‘no’ to a client sometimes, even at the risk of losing their business. I’ve been in that position and I know that others have too and it can go both ways. I heard this morning at a presentation about business ethics of someone, a client, who did the wrong thing by the person providing them a service and moved to a competitor who poached them when actually acting on behalf of the service provider. The competitor also did the wrong thing but the client showed their lack of loyalty and their desire for opportunism. To me it showed they really both deserved each other and the other service provider was better off without this client, but it still leaves bad feeling all round.

There are some decisions that are tough calls and if you cannot make a decision that sits right within then perhaps you need to seek someone to whom you look up to for advice. This could be someone who’s been in business longer, or perhaps a colleague, a mentor, a teacher, a parent, someone in your church, or perhaps even the person who leads the business network of which you are a member. Don’t let it get to the point where it stresses you severely and you get sick as a result. You then stand to lose your health, lose business and not be there for your family as they have need. Your health is important, and dare I say as well, the ‘health of your ethics’. But more importantly you should be looking to God’s Word and find out what He says in the Bible. Because, as it says in Job as listed at the top of this post, ‘To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his’. Holding fast to your ethics and not letting a client waiver them, even if it means you might lose business, in the end is what will help you stay in business and maintain integrity. People do notice, even when you think they are not watching. KMT

business ethics, ethics in business, guidance, seeking counsel, integrity

‘God saw all that he had made, and it was very good…. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done’. Gen 1:31-Gen 2:2

I saw a post today on a blog, referencing another blog and book that made comment on the need for people to rest, quoting the following:

“We all must have restful periods of incubation and calm. You’re meant to enjoy this time to relax and quietly grow, or simply catch your breath a while. Inactivity helps you gather energy so that you can take yourself to a whole new level in life. You’ll need these stores of energy so that, in the right time and place, you’ll be able to take off and fly high.”
~ Christen Murphy Resmo

On reading this it immediately made me think of the bible verse I quoted at the start of this post. Have people really lost sight of the need for rest? Are we so wrapped up in life and everything that has to be done that we no longer have an understanding of why we had a rest day on a weekly basis? For those of us who have a faith and belief, that day has been put aside for us to worship our Lord. For others it means ‘family time’, a day with the family. But so much has encroached on the traditional ‘day of rest’ with sporting activities, club activities, shops and other businesses now trading 7 days a week and so on. I’ve seen parents frazzled on Sundays having to get their kids from this competition to another, or having to leave real early in the morning because of a game that is taking place a distance away.

Even for those of us who work at home, the temptation to work 7 days a week is constant, because we’re driven to deliver on time, to do a good work.

One of my clients is a business coach and she quotes a story about an axeman who works longer hours and harder and harder but cuts less trees as the days pass by and when he’s asked why doesn’t he take time out to sharpen his saw, he answers ‘I can’t, I don’t have time’. I daresay that is how most people feel today - not enough time.

Even business coaches are now urging people to take time out for themselves, to get rest, to get some exercise, to go outdoors and enjoy the fresh air and what is available to them there, without having the need to deliver or perform. It is well known that those who are fresh, rested, happy in life are more likely to deliver what’s needed and perform much better. So if we know this in our heads, why don’t we take the advice and get the much needed rest? I feel it’s because of pressure and we get caught up in the whirlwind that has captured everyone else around us.

Why not take time out today to stop and think, to plan your week, and make sure you set aside time for yourself. If Sunday can’t be your rest day because you are working on that day, then make sure you select another day to be your rest day on a weekly basis. Book it into your diary if you have to so the constant reminder is there. We all need rest. KMT

My previous post ‘Cursed is the One…’ was about how we often depend on our own strength, instead of that which is always readily available to us.

Today I want to talk about the dangers of thinking we’re the only one. The only one experiencing a situation, the only one who can do the job, the only one who can carry out a ministry for God, the only one…. How often do we think like that? Sometimes we wear it, like it’s an achievement or mantle that’s been given to us, and only us.

The reality is that if we’re going through a problem, a challenge, a difficulty, there is always someone else who has experienced it before us. Seek God for help and He’ll either answer you directly or bring someone else into your life who can assist.

If we have been given a ministry we need to act accordingly and not sit on it, but act on faith as God would have us do. There have been many stories told about God placing someone else into a ministry when the person appointed does not carry out their duty.

It is important we do not make the mistake of assuming that we’re the only one that God can use in a situation. He is not a respecter of persons and can call on any number of people and usually does. How often do we hear of ‘waves’ or ‘fads’ hitting places around the world because many people have been called to do the same thing?

You may have heard that ‘you might be the nearest person to Jesus’ that someone will ever know. That is very true - for this very moment but if you don’t follow through then someone else will follow who can take your place. However, consider this for a moment. Suppose you missed your ‘calling’ to witness to someone in the workplace - you know you should but you’ve just not summoned up the courage. And then something happens to that person as a result of a decision or action they take because they do not know Christ. And someone else steps forward and witnesses to them and brings them to Christ. How would you feel? Could you have prevented the trouble they’ve experienced through introducing them to Christ earlier? You’ll never know whilst you’re on this earth but don’t let your indecision affect someone else’s life.

For my part, a couple of years ago I had a client I knew I should be witnessing to. I tried, but shied away often whenever we got near the subject. One evening whilst at his office assisting with an important job, he seemed troubled and shaky. I asked him if he was ok and he said yes, just had to sort some things out. The prompting of the Spirit was intense for me to speak openly with Jim and I struggled with it - it was late, I wanted to get home, I could talk to him another time perhaps. The time was actually perfect but I never acted on it. Two days later I got a phone call from his wife. Jim had a heart attack that night and died the following day. I never got to tell him what I wanted to tell him and the sorrow I experienced at that was immense. I could only pray and hope that someone else got to speak to him before he passed away but I’ll never know until the time I’m called to be with the Lord. Will I see Jim there too? KMT

In my working life part of my role is moderating a couple of industry based chat forums - in most cases that’s ok. It keeps the spammers out and helps keep the forums on track. But periodically we’ll have people post comments that upset others on the forums and whilst those posting might not be deliberately malicious, their posts can be perceived in that way. Some people reading can be very fragile and take every post as directed at them, others are more resilient and only take on board what they want to.

Over the past few weeks I’ve been trying hard to keep things running as smoothly as possible at one of those forums but it’s not been easy. The person posting feels their feelings have been hurt and many others feel they’ve been hurt by that person’s posts. I’ve tried to close the topic and get people to move on but they keep revisiting the topic. Consequently I get people emailing me privately or phoning me to tell me ‘their side’ and how they perceive things.

The saga was continuing yesterday and I prayed a silent prayer to our God asking Him what I should do. A short time later, an email came - one that I receive daily, although they don’t always come at the same time of day. It’s a daily bible reading.

I read that and thanked God for hearing me and realised that sometimes there isn’t a straight answer, but that I must just keep on doing what I’ve been doing - a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, and not take anyone’s side but just be there for them. Because that is my ministry - to be there for those people.

Thanks for the reminder Rebekka (the lady who sends the readings out daily). KMT

“Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us.” Isaiah 26:12 NIV

I receive a daily bible reading from a friend overseas and the message from yesterday is above. It struck a chord with me as I’ve been very conscious lately of God’s input into my life, and in particular to my business. Readers will know of my passion for ministry in business and the workplace and the above passage serves as a reminder that nothing we do, we do on our own. All that we accomplish is because of God’s input into our lives.

I feel very blessed that He entrusted to me the business I’ve been managing for the past 13 years. I know that I’ve not always managed it well and have not been the perfect steward, but I am learning on an almost daily basis now, of the input I need to seek from God and his direction in relation to my goal setting and planning.

This is why it is so important for us to continue sharing fellowship with like-minded people in business or at work. So that they can encourage us and help steer us in the right direction. So that God can use others as messengers when it is needed. But more importantly, we must daily have a dose of God’s Word added to the things we do and read. If you struggle to read the Bible every day, why not subscribe to daily readings and devotionals, there are many available online and because they arrive in your inbox regularly, it means you have easy access and it only takes a short time to read them and absorb them.

In my blogroll to the right you’ll find resources you can access. And I’ve added a subscribe feed to this blog so you can have input, as I post new messages. I invite you to subscribe. I also encourage you to place comment, or email me if there is a topic you’d like covered or discussed. Bless you and have a great day! KMT

workplace ministry, business ministry, Isaiah 26, daily readings