Popular TV series story lines these days enjoy the intrigue of wondering who certain characters are really working for. In fiction and in life, we all have a sense that there are low level guys, middle managers, top guys and well, the secret guys at the very top that want to remain powerful and anonymous. It is strange (and yet, not) how those top guys in these scenarios always seem to be evil. Nobody who is good seems to want to hide in the shadows.
It would be wonderful if everyone wearing the "boss" hat was a leader and had earned the title. But the world is truly upside down from the way Christ operates. Christlike leadership at all levels lifts up and forms a platform for those below to be stronger and realize their potential. Non-Christlike leadership uses those below as the platform to step on. It would be wonderful if Christians in leadership understood this, but all too often, they follow the world's model.
If you are under a "boss" and not a leader, you know all too well what being stepped on feels like. (Clearly, if your boss knew who you were REALLY working for, he wouldn't treat you the way he is treating you, right?) Maybe it's time to stop being self-employed.
No, that wasn't a typo. Why is it that as sons and daughters of the Most High we segregate our lives so that He isn't really our leader in the work place? Is it because we don't like our espionage assignment: to take His authority and Spirit wherever we go? What is God asking you to do today for His kingdom? If you are not sure, you can certainly count on one basic principle: to operate in love.
A friend shared with me recently of her struggles in a difficult workplace. Her boss does not understand inspirational leadership; her boss believes that asserting pressure downward in ever increasing strength will produce improved results. (No one has apparently been able to help her understand the principle that people produce their worst work when they believe they are in trouble). My friend, afraid of losing her job in this economy, was allowing herself to be the receiver of abuse at this verbally ham-fisted supervisor. (Allowing fear to dominate our thinking is a whole other subject, but let's just say she forgot who she really worked for).
My friend works in a hospital, where many of the patients are elderly and they can react abusively because they are confused and in pain. My friend has no problem seeing beyond their behavior because she understands some of the potential causes. She is able to minister to them and provide outstanding care. What she was failing to see is, her boss is a patient too. Her boss is stressed, hurting and in pain, but she isn't checked into a bed and she is no doubt just as afraid of losing her job... a job she depends on others to help be successful. A job where her own bosses are standing on her head and pressing down a little bit harder.
There is no substitute for the Holy Spirit in strength and power. When we operate from His strength and leadership, we can be the servants we need to be and shine for Him. You may not love your bosses, or even like them. But if you can ask the Lord to help you see them as He sees them, you can serve them from a position of His power, not your own.
It can seem overwhelming to try and serve others when we feel wounded by the very ones we serve. That's when we must remember WHO we really work for, because He will never give us more than we can handle. You can handle this.
It would be wonderful if everyone wearing the "boss" hat was a leader and had earned the title. But the world is truly upside down from the way Christ operates. Christlike leadership at all levels lifts up and forms a platform for those below to be stronger and realize their potential. Non-Christlike leadership uses those below as the platform to step on. It would be wonderful if Christians in leadership understood this, but all too often, they follow the world's model.
If you are under a "boss" and not a leader, you know all too well what being stepped on feels like. (Clearly, if your boss knew who you were REALLY working for, he wouldn't treat you the way he is treating you, right?) Maybe it's time to stop being self-employed.
No, that wasn't a typo. Why is it that as sons and daughters of the Most High we segregate our lives so that He isn't really our leader in the work place? Is it because we don't like our espionage assignment: to take His authority and Spirit wherever we go? What is God asking you to do today for His kingdom? If you are not sure, you can certainly count on one basic principle: to operate in love.
A friend shared with me recently of her struggles in a difficult workplace. Her boss does not understand inspirational leadership; her boss believes that asserting pressure downward in ever increasing strength will produce improved results. (No one has apparently been able to help her understand the principle that people produce their worst work when they believe they are in trouble). My friend, afraid of losing her job in this economy, was allowing herself to be the receiver of abuse at this verbally ham-fisted supervisor. (Allowing fear to dominate our thinking is a whole other subject, but let's just say she forgot who she really worked for).
My friend works in a hospital, where many of the patients are elderly and they can react abusively because they are confused and in pain. My friend has no problem seeing beyond their behavior because she understands some of the potential causes. She is able to minister to them and provide outstanding care. What she was failing to see is, her boss is a patient too. Her boss is stressed, hurting and in pain, but she isn't checked into a bed and she is no doubt just as afraid of losing her job... a job she depends on others to help be successful. A job where her own bosses are standing on her head and pressing down a little bit harder.
There is no substitute for the Holy Spirit in strength and power. When we operate from His strength and leadership, we can be the servants we need to be and shine for Him. You may not love your bosses, or even like them. But if you can ask the Lord to help you see them as He sees them, you can serve them from a position of His power, not your own.
It can seem overwhelming to try and serve others when we feel wounded by the very ones we serve. That's when we must remember WHO we really work for, because He will never give us more than we can handle. You can handle this.
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