When You Are The Oldest Person In The Room
Our Mission
To present Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord to business and professional men and to develop Christian business and professional men to carry out the Great Commission.
John 4.34 says the Man, who is God, Jesus, said to them, My food is to do the will of the one who sent Me and to complete His work. It is a difficult assignment but it is the one we have been given nevertheless; that we live life like God lived life when He lived life among us as one of us. How did the Man, Who is God live life?
He started His life like all of us, in infancy. God choose humble beginnings for moving physically into our world. He came unrecognized save for a very few insignificant folks and a few foreign rich guys. He took over His earthly father’s business, God lived under cover for most of His time with us, endearing Himself to His community through quality products and service. How do I know this? When He left the business world to enter ministry those He asked to join Him immediately left everything to accept His invitation.
Jesus identified His life mission, His purpose as doing the will of His heavenly Father. That will was for Him to become the Savior of the world and the Lord over all. The doing of His Father’s will was His food. It was what He needed to live, what He engaged daily and what fueled every activity.
Jesus in turn left specific commands for His adherents to accomplish, chiefly the making of disciples in all nations through the process of loving people as we love ourselves. This is the mission of every Christian. Our accomplishment of our work has been less than perfect. Our work has suffered more or less during various periods of history. Might it be that when we are less prone toward obedience it is because our food is something other than doing God’s will?
Can we say that loving people until they follow Jesus is our life, our daily habit and our purposed objective of every relationship? God has chosen His people to be His means for accomplishing His work in the world. This work is the turning of all people from all nations from ignorance of the One True God to a full knowledge culminating in an intimate relationship with the God Who is, Who was and Who is to come.
God’s will is that all people look to Jesus as their God and Savior Who loves them by dying for them and promising to them a blessed eternity: life without end in a true paradise where humanity lives with God forever in peace, joy and love. The bridge between humanity and Jesus are the current followers of Jesus who make doing the will of God their food for living.
The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Take hold of the bread, drink from the cup, and pour out your lives so that others may live.
His Opportunities
- Tuesday, March 21st at the City Rescue Mission from noon until 1pm is your next CBMC Rescue Luncheon. This is your opportunity to serve lunch to the men and women who depend upon the Mission for their meal. Commit Here
- CEO’s, are you looking for a private group of fellow business owners for encouragement, support, and advice? CBMC offers such a group. Contact Mike at mwinter@cbmc.com for more information.
- Next Special Luncheon is June 8th. Save the date. Details to follow!
MONDAY MANNA
A service to the business community
A Publication of CBMC International
March 20, 2017
When You Are The Oldest Person In The Room
by Rick Boxx
Not long ago a business leader, Kevin, mentioned he has found himself adjusting to the fact that he is often the oldest man in the room. Just as he used to look up to his elders, Kevin said he has now become one of those “elders,” and others are looking up to him for guidance. This reality, he admitted, can be both flattering and daunting.
It is like an athlete joining a professional sports team as a rookie, competing year after year, and one day becoming aware that he or she has become the seasoned pro, the person younger players look up to for leadership and experience. There is the sense of accomplishment that comes with longevity, but also the humbling sense of being the “wise old veteran” expected to set the pace and show the way.
For those of us who have been in the workplace for many years, insecurities can cause us to doubt we have much to offer, despite achievements and accumulated experience. Younger people typically display much enthusiasm and energy, along with fresh, innovative ideas. However, as we mature both personally and professionally, God may want us to embrace these times when our voices and perspectives, offered with humility, become useful for guiding the younger leaders in our organizations.
Some societies seem to defer to young, emerging leaders, recognizing they represent the future. And yet, we all would be in error if we failed to utilize the collective wisdom and expertise of older leaders who can draw from proven track records of performance and success. The Bible addresses this in many ways:
Setting positive examples. Younger people need strong, consistent models of proper behavior, principles and values to use in the workplace. What they observe and learn will help in shaping how they approach their own careers. “Encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned” (Titus 2:6-8).
Passing on what we have learned and experienced. Life and work provide us with a rich storehouse of knowledge and experiences. We should consider ourselves stewards of these, being eager to share and pass them along to younger team members. “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put into practice. And the God of peace will be with you” (Phil 4:9).
Establishing an enduring legacy. Part of our legacy, both professionally and personally, is established through the training, equipping and preparing of those that one day will succeed us in our jobs and other meaningful pursuits. “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of man witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Timothy 2:2).
With age and maturity – in the workplace, our homes and communities – comes added responsibility. Before “turning over the keys” to newer colleagues and associates, we should plan to serve as examples and encouragers, guiding them in sound business practices and pointing them toward their own success.
Copyright 2017, Integrity Resource Center, Inc. Adapted with permission from “Integrity Moments with Rick Boxx,” a commentary on issues of integrity in the workplace from a Christian perspective. To learn more about Integrity Resource Center , visit www.integrityresource.org (http://www.integrityresource.org/) . His new book, Unconventional Business, provides “Five Keys to Growing a Business God’s Way.”
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