First of all, let me say that I am truly enjoying my new position at work. The stress level is very manageable and I really feel as though I am in my element. The shift begins extremely early, but I feel like I've found a sleeping schedule that will work. Aside from that, let me take a moment to share what is on my heart this morning.
Yesterday morning I had just arrived at my post. The warehouse was vacant (as it usually is at 2:30 am) except for one man, the 2nd Shift Operations Manager (aka chief manager of that shift). He was just on his way out. He had just finished a phone conversation with another associate - not another manager or supervisor, but an hourly associate. After the conversation, this particular Ops (as we call them) slammed down the phone and said, "What an idiot! _____ is such an idiot!" I blanked out the name because I know the associate fairly well.
My heart hit the floor. I lost my respect for that Ops yesterday and I think you can see why. One of the most fundamental principles of leadership is that you never ever degrade another associate, especially not in front of other associates.
I've heard of people tripping over rocks, or a step they didn't see, but have you ever heard of anyone tripping over their own tongue? Okay, well, maybe we don't fall to the ground because of this powerful little piece of flesh, but it does get in the way all too often. In my eyes, that Ops hit the ground yesterday morning, and lost all credibility.
Ashley was sharing with me how she heard of a man who consciously chose to never say a single negative thing about anyone. How difficult would that really be for us? How easy it is to allow ourselves to say negative things especially when a particular person is the subject and brunt of the statement! The New Testament book of James says a lot about this...here are a couple of passages that should challenge us a bit.
James 3:7-10 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
What vivid imagery used here! Restless evil. Full of deadly poison. I mean, that's a serious picture!
James 4:11-12 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?
So why is this one of the biggest struggles within the walls of churches today? I mean, there are people in every single church who are known for this type of ridiculous behavior. And this is not only a problem within the walls of the church, but it is one that people who are not Christians have a really hard time with. How many times of people who are not followers of Christ been the target of judgmental glances and remarks. Instead, how are we supposed to behave around people who do not follow Christ? Well, Jesus hung out with them and built relationships with them. He healed them of their ailments and showed them His power to save and gave them a place in his kingdom.
In his song "Surely God is With Us," Rich Mullins sings this about Jesus, "The whores all seem to love him and the drunks propose a toast!" That's about right! But this is not the case for us Christians. We stand outside the world and judge as though we were God himself. Well, let me tell you that while God may not approve of their behavior, he still died in their place so they could be with him, too.
Let me wrap this up by asking you (and I'm speaking to Christians here), why would you speak negatively or criticize someone else? Who are we to judge? Did Christ send us into the world to judge the world? Even he did not come for that reason...
John 3:16-17 For this is how God loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
There will be a day where God will judge the world, but that is not our job. IT IS OUR JOB, however, to get the world ready FOR that judgment! Let us seek to tell the world of the imminence of that judgment. It may be nearer than we think. SHAME on us for not letting the world know what is about to come. Instead we sit outside and look in and sneer at the world. The world will waste away and we will wonder why those people didn't know the judgment was going to come. It is because disobedient and prideful Christians can't see past themselves and their own mouths to enter into the world of darkness and let those who are perishing know how they can be a part of eternal life beyond the judgment!
So good luck taming your tongue! And I'm speaking to myself. But I have a good suspicion that if we begin by taming our hearts and tuning them with God's own heart, then our tongues will probably follow right along.
Luke 6:45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
No comments:
Post a Comment