Are you there to make Money or to make a Difference?
(Prov 11:16 NIrV) A woman who has a kind heart gains respect. But men who are not kind gain only wealth.
This morning we continue our series, In this verse Solomon contrasts those that seek to gain respect with those that only seek to gain wealth. I have told you many times before that money makes an excellent servant, but a poor master.
Having money is not the issue. The author of his passage (Solomon) was wealthier than Bill Gates. If you look at the possessions of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, David, and many others, you will see that they were very wealthy.
It issue is not whether or not you have money; it becomes an issue when money has you; when the driving motivation of your life is money. Paul said, “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows” (1st Tim 6:10).
When you love money, when you crave money, when all you can think about is making money, then your focus will be so skewed that you will neglect God and others on your road to wealth. It may seem like you are climbing the corporate ladder, getting fast promotions and greater positions, but at the end of the day, if all you pursued was money, you will be a poor man.
Some of the poorest people on the planet have lots of money. Having money doesn’t do much good if you don’t have strong relationships, a healthy body, a sound mind, and most of all – a strong covenant relationship with God.
Solomon says, “A woman who has a kind heart gains respect.” There is a certain level of respect given to a person because of their rank or position, but that initial respect can only go so far. A good leader knows that leadership is much more about disposition than position. He knows that if he earns the respect of his subordinates that they will go above-and-beyond for not just the mission, but also the leader!
The word “kind” in this text is key to gaining respect. The word “kind” means: being disposed to do good to others; having tenderness or goodness of nature. Jesus was an excellent leader and He was kind. He was disposed to do good to and for others. He was always on the lookout for ways to BE a blessing. His focus was not on His own personal advancement, but on the advancement of others.
“Leadership is a servant relationship, which facilitates human development.” Godly leaders are servant leaders. They know that they are blessed by God to be in a position of leadership, so they seek to use the position to glorify God, by seeking to make a positive impact on all those that they can. They seek to serve their subordinates by developing them, as they have been developed.
So what does this mean? It means that you should check your heart as you begin this day. What is the motivation behind why you do what you do? Are you at work only to make money? Or are you there to make a difference? Thank God for your position, but remember to maintain the proper disposition.
Be disposed to do good unto others, seek to be a blessing, make every effort to develop your subordinates, and guess what? You will be financially rewarded in the process!
Father, I don’t do what I do just to make money; I do what I do to make a difference and money comes as a by-product. I thank You for blessing me to be in a position where I can be a blessing to others. Use me Father, today, for Your glory. Use me to develop those that I oversee. Use me to speak a word of encouragement. Use me to speak a word of correction, if that is what’s need. Use me in whatever capacity You need to use me today, so that the organization I am a part of can progress and You can be glorified! In Jesus’ name. Amen!
(Prov 11:16 NIrV) A woman who has a kind heart gains respect. But men who are not kind gain only wealth.
This morning we continue our series, In this verse Solomon contrasts those that seek to gain respect with those that only seek to gain wealth. I have told you many times before that money makes an excellent servant, but a poor master.
Having money is not the issue. The author of his passage (Solomon) was wealthier than Bill Gates. If you look at the possessions of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, David, and many others, you will see that they were very wealthy.
It issue is not whether or not you have money; it becomes an issue when money has you; when the driving motivation of your life is money. Paul said, “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows” (1st Tim 6:10).
When you love money, when you crave money, when all you can think about is making money, then your focus will be so skewed that you will neglect God and others on your road to wealth. It may seem like you are climbing the corporate ladder, getting fast promotions and greater positions, but at the end of the day, if all you pursued was money, you will be a poor man.
Some of the poorest people on the planet have lots of money. Having money doesn’t do much good if you don’t have strong relationships, a healthy body, a sound mind, and most of all – a strong covenant relationship with God.
Solomon says, “A woman who has a kind heart gains respect.” There is a certain level of respect given to a person because of their rank or position, but that initial respect can only go so far. A good leader knows that leadership is much more about disposition than position. He knows that if he earns the respect of his subordinates that they will go above-and-beyond for not just the mission, but also the leader!
The word “kind” in this text is key to gaining respect. The word “kind” means: being disposed to do good to others; having tenderness or goodness of nature. Jesus was an excellent leader and He was kind. He was disposed to do good to and for others. He was always on the lookout for ways to BE a blessing. His focus was not on His own personal advancement, but on the advancement of others.
“Leadership is a servant relationship, which facilitates human development.” Godly leaders are servant leaders. They know that they are blessed by God to be in a position of leadership, so they seek to use the position to glorify God, by seeking to make a positive impact on all those that they can. They seek to serve their subordinates by developing them, as they have been developed.
So what does this mean? It means that you should check your heart as you begin this day. What is the motivation behind why you do what you do? Are you at work only to make money? Or are you there to make a difference? Thank God for your position, but remember to maintain the proper disposition.
Be disposed to do good unto others, seek to be a blessing, make every effort to develop your subordinates, and guess what? You will be financially rewarded in the process!
Father, I don’t do what I do just to make money; I do what I do to make a difference and money comes as a by-product. I thank You for blessing me to be in a position where I can be a blessing to others. Use me Father, today, for Your glory. Use me to develop those that I oversee. Use me to speak a word of encouragement. Use me to speak a word of correction, if that is what’s need. Use me in whatever capacity You need to use me today, so that the organization I am a part of can progress and You can be glorified! In Jesus’ name. Amen!
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