I have long said I have an uncanny ability to offend people without trying. I have even often thought of that as something of a gift. (Yes, definitely tongue-in-cheek.) I recently had a friend, who I consider to be above average in spiritual insight explain that ability to me. He said, "You have the ability to make people see the shortcomings in themselves." I am mulling that. I have no idea what I do, how I do it, or even if I really do do it. For the time being, I am assuming my friend is correct. If there are any opinions on this out there, I would be grateful to hear them.
That would explain something else too. A few times, fewer than half a dozen I guess, I have been accused of being arrogant. I looked up the word on dictionary.com. So we are on the same page, here is the definition. 1. making claims or pretensions to superior importance or rights; overbearingly assuming; insolently proud: an arrogant public official. I do not think I fit that definition. Am I in denial? Anyone? You know you can make an anonymous comment on the blog? Here is the thing about that definition, I do not see how anyone could possibly say anyone else is any of those things. People who act that way usually do so out of insecurity or feelings of inferiority. Might it be that a person who would call another arrogant may believe himself (or herself) to be inferior to the person he is accusing?
I remember the first person and the first time I was accused of arrogance. I thought at the time one person should never accuse another of arrogance--at least not without a Godly sorrow for the person they are accusing of arrogance. Since that time I have met a man who I consider to be arrogant. He is an unGodly man, a genius, who built a small fortune in business--and seems to feel he is entitled above other people. Is he really arrogant or is that just my perception? Perhaps he is hiding some insecurity behind his intelligence and now his worldly riches. I am mulling that as well.
Just for fun, I also looked up "arrogant" in the Bible. That is what guys like me do. There are two different words translated "arrogance". Both of them are found in the Old Testament. The King James version has it as "arrogancy" if you are interested. The two words mean different things and show two different facets of what it means to be arrogant. The first one actually means to be of worth or value. The second one means to be hard or unyielding. Put them together and we have something that looks kind of like our English definition. It would be an attitude we might describe as, " being great and knowing it."
None of that necessarily negates the idea that someone may think I am arrogant. However, if we return to the assumption that my friend is right, a person who considers me to be arrogant would be in a psychological state identified as projection. He or she would be projecting arrogance upon me which is, in fact, resident in himself. (Ouch!) He would be saying words to the affect of, "You think you are better than me, but you are not. Because I know this, I am better than you." Being as honest as I know how to be though, I think the person is actually saying, "I think you are better than I am so you must think that too." That seems to me like such a sad way to live, thinking others are better than oneself--for whatever reason.
Having said all that, let me hasten to add that I have a unique package of gifts from God. I need that unique package to do what God has called me to do. However, my package of gifts is no more impressive than yours is. You have a unique package of gifts that will allow you to become everything God has in mind for you. Perhaps the only difference right now is that I have finally come to understand what I am supposed to be doing and have started to do it. I am still mulling that as well. I know part of it, but certainly not all of it. The Bible tells us to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling because it is God who works in us to will and to do of His good pleasure (Philippians 2:12-13). Are you doing that? I am, but I know there is still work to be done in that area.
I have probably said enough about that. At the rate I have been writing, this might be the last post for the year. I think there may be one more coming soon. In any event, God bless you as you work out your salvation. If we can help in any way, please let us know.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
A Kingdom Dynamic
The Holy Spirit gave me a picture in the wee hours this morning. It was part catalyst, part confirmation of something I had been working on for at least a few weeks now. Sometimes it takes me awhile. That is why I try to never make snap decisions. I am going to try and describe something to you that works better as a picture, but since I do not know how to do pictures here, you may have to do some work to understand it.
I have been mulling a situation (I wish I could say "meditating" but I have really just been mulling, i.e., soul vs. spirit.) The situation has to do with a Christian relating to his superiors in the workplace. The perspective here is from the employee's side, but if you have employees, please do not stop reading.
Let me describe the picture I saw and hopefully you can see it too. Think of two people side by side (I think in stick figures because that's all I can draw.) one is head and shoulders above the other, but they are about the same height. Each figure is enclosed in an oval so it is like they are floating in the air, next to each other, one higher than the other, showing authority in the workplace. Now if you have the picture in your mind, keep reading.
In the workplace, for whatever time that entails, "the boss", as we will call him or her for convenience sake, floats a little higher. That is the way business works. That is the way it has to work. With greater responsibility comes greater authority. However, we are talking about employment-related, worldly, soulical situations here. ("Soulical" is the word Watchman Nee uses to describe the activites of the soul in distinction from those of the spirit.)
In the Kingdom of God, no one "floats" higher than anyone else. Do not confuse the Kingdom of God with The Church here. We usually use the term, "The Church" in these pages to indicate all believers, but in this instance we are making a further distinction and calling The Church the groups of people gathering together. The Church on earth has to operate like a business in this one respect--someone has to be responsible and that person has to be in charge. That person has been, hopefully, placed in that position of authority by God. But listen. That person still "floats" at the same level in the Kingdom of God as everyone else. This is the point Jesus was making when He said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet is shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to be great among you, let him be your servant" (Matthew 20:25-26)
If you work for someone else, meaning you have a superior at your place of employment, you have only one responsibility. You are responsible to do what that person requires of you, to the best of your ability. It does not matter what it is you are asked to do. If it is legal and ethical, it is your duty to do it--to the best of your ability. Remember, we are not discussing the other person's responsibility here. That is between them and God. You are obliged to do your job as well as you can.
The point of what I am trying to describe here is outside, but corollary to, our employment relationships. It is greater because it is spiritual. None of us have had perfect bosses. There are none. Each of them can use some growth in one or more areas. That does not mean you are called to be the fertilizer. It does mean they are people we are inclined to spend quite a bit of time and energy with during the course of any given week. We must see that as a God-ordained situation. While we are obligated to take orders from them, we also have something to add to their lives. The words of Jesus come to mind here that we should be, "...wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." (Matthew 10:16) Most people do not particularly enjoy being challenged with regard to their weaknesses. You boss is certainly not an exception.
There are two circumstances in which you may find limited duration to your employment when you challenge your boss to be better. First, your boss may not recognize your spiritual authority to do so. He or she may not realize that you have, "...come to the kingdom for such a time as this." (Esther 4:14) If you do not challenge him or her in a manner in which he or she can accept it as a challenge rather than as a bad attitude, you have lost before you started. Secondly, some people sincerely do not think they have anything that needs to be changed. In the recovery industry we call that "denial." Pray for them. And pray for me. I think I have probably gotten myself into enough trouble for one post. God bless.
I have been mulling a situation (I wish I could say "meditating" but I have really just been mulling, i.e., soul vs. spirit.) The situation has to do with a Christian relating to his superiors in the workplace. The perspective here is from the employee's side, but if you have employees, please do not stop reading.
Let me describe the picture I saw and hopefully you can see it too. Think of two people side by side (I think in stick figures because that's all I can draw.) one is head and shoulders above the other, but they are about the same height. Each figure is enclosed in an oval so it is like they are floating in the air, next to each other, one higher than the other, showing authority in the workplace. Now if you have the picture in your mind, keep reading.
In the workplace, for whatever time that entails, "the boss", as we will call him or her for convenience sake, floats a little higher. That is the way business works. That is the way it has to work. With greater responsibility comes greater authority. However, we are talking about employment-related, worldly, soulical situations here. ("Soulical" is the word Watchman Nee uses to describe the activites of the soul in distinction from those of the spirit.)
In the Kingdom of God, no one "floats" higher than anyone else. Do not confuse the Kingdom of God with The Church here. We usually use the term, "The Church" in these pages to indicate all believers, but in this instance we are making a further distinction and calling The Church the groups of people gathering together. The Church on earth has to operate like a business in this one respect--someone has to be responsible and that person has to be in charge. That person has been, hopefully, placed in that position of authority by God. But listen. That person still "floats" at the same level in the Kingdom of God as everyone else. This is the point Jesus was making when He said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet is shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to be great among you, let him be your servant" (Matthew 20:25-26)
If you work for someone else, meaning you have a superior at your place of employment, you have only one responsibility. You are responsible to do what that person requires of you, to the best of your ability. It does not matter what it is you are asked to do. If it is legal and ethical, it is your duty to do it--to the best of your ability. Remember, we are not discussing the other person's responsibility here. That is between them and God. You are obliged to do your job as well as you can.
The point of what I am trying to describe here is outside, but corollary to, our employment relationships. It is greater because it is spiritual. None of us have had perfect bosses. There are none. Each of them can use some growth in one or more areas. That does not mean you are called to be the fertilizer. It does mean they are people we are inclined to spend quite a bit of time and energy with during the course of any given week. We must see that as a God-ordained situation. While we are obligated to take orders from them, we also have something to add to their lives. The words of Jesus come to mind here that we should be, "...wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." (Matthew 10:16) Most people do not particularly enjoy being challenged with regard to their weaknesses. You boss is certainly not an exception.
There are two circumstances in which you may find limited duration to your employment when you challenge your boss to be better. First, your boss may not recognize your spiritual authority to do so. He or she may not realize that you have, "...come to the kingdom for such a time as this." (Esther 4:14) If you do not challenge him or her in a manner in which he or she can accept it as a challenge rather than as a bad attitude, you have lost before you started. Secondly, some people sincerely do not think they have anything that needs to be changed. In the recovery industry we call that "denial." Pray for them. And pray for me. I think I have probably gotten myself into enough trouble for one post. God bless.
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