think like an owner or an employee

Ephesians 6:7 (NLT)

Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

I’ve been thinking about this one for a while and asking this question hasn’t been as easy as I thought it would be.  There is a huge difference between the way an owner or employer and the way an employee thinks.

Often an owner or employer is the one who is able to increase profits and make their business more effective.  They are thinking about how to do things better and how to be stronger.  An employee often thinks about how to get their job done and get home.

This post is not an indictment or me saying that one is right and the other is wrong.  What I would like to accomplish is to ask each of us to examine how we think.  What are our motives?  Why do we act or work the way we do?

I love what I get to do, but working for a church is not always that easy.  You have lots of people who believe they are your boss, and the tendency is to try to please a lot of people.  That’s not right.  It is our job to please God and help others meet Him.  My employer is God, and I am grateful for The Community Fellowship to help me do this full time.

Are we thinking with a minimal mindset?  Is our attitude and desire just to do enough to “get by”, or are we seeking to do our best and increase our impact?  The best employees are those who make their employers better and successful.  The best employers are those who see their employers as co-workers working as a team to be successful. 

Each person ought to be thinking how can I do my best to make all of us stronger?  How can I encourage the people around me?  How can I help other people see how good and great my God is?  Great questions.

Maybe God is calling you to make your business stronger.  Maybe He is leading you to start your own business and be your own boss.  Or maybe God is calling you to be the best employee you can be.  It is all, life is all about God anyway. 

I’ll close this post and thought with my commitment or at least try to explain my thought.  Some people say that I am a workaholic.  But I am passionate about helping people.  My desire is that our church impact more people for Jesus and to make our community a better place.  That means I am going to dream, plan, work, pray and do all I can to make us successful in that way.  That is not so our church gets bigger or so I will make more money.  The reason why I’ll push harder and think like an owner is so we can do more to make Jesus famous and help people meet Him.

1 Corinthians 15:58 (NLT)

So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.