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.      

Acts 21.12-13 describes, when we heard that, we and everyone there that day begged Paul not to be stubborn and persist in going to Jerusalem. But Paul wouldn’t budge: Why all this hysteria? Why do you insist on making a scene and making it even harder for me? You’re looking at this backward. The issue in Jerusalem is not what they do to me, whether arrest or murder, but what the Master Jesus does through my obedience. Can’t you see that? MSG

Paul is totally sold out to the Lord. His attitude in serving God is not to worry about what men do to him but what God does through him. That should be our commitment as well. We need to worry less about men’s opinion of us and more about God’s opinion of us. Certainly as we work with men, and for the salvation of men, we want men to think well of us but when obedience to Jesus and man’s opinion clash, then our focus should be on what pleases the Lord.

Paul also appears to violate some common principles for making decisions. The Scriptures record, in the counsel of many is wisdom (Proverbs 11.14). None of Paul’s confidants encouraged him to go to Jerusalem. Likewise, a prophet told him bad things would happen if he did go to Jerusalem. Certainly, the Lord Jesus told Paul he would suffer for sharing the gospel but was Paul to be complicit in making that happen? The Scripture does not record God telling Paul directly, at this time, to go to Jerusalem. It appears he could have made a different decision.

Would he still have suffered for the gospel? Would he have been able to share the gospel with so many in the highest places of authority in Jerusalem and Judea? It appeared Paul ignored all the human indicators that his decision was a poor one. Yet the Scripture records this decision to be a profitable one. Was it truly God’s will?

Regardless, God used Paul’s decision or choice, for His glory which should be the goal of our lives: without concern for what men do to us but what God does through us as we obey Him. 

Our Opportunities

1. CBMC is looking for Men of Action. The following characteristics describe such a man:

1. He reads his Bible as much as possible
2. He prays for unchurched men as often as possible
3. He is on a team of men who are also Men of Action for encouraging and growing in his faith
4. He engages those he prays for so that he can increase his influence in their life
5. He shares the gospel with these men and disciples those who commit to Christ
6. He gives to CBMC to keep opportunities, encouragement and training to win men to Christ and disciple them in the faith 

Can we count on you to be a Man of Action? 

1. A mission opportunity is available to you every third Wednesday of the month at the Rescue Mission Drop-in center. We are looking for one or two men a month to share their story of God’s work in their lives for about 20 minutes from 10-10.20ish. Practice sharing your faith by sharing what God has done in your life. Next opening, February 17th. Email Mike to sign up

CBMC Central Michigan 4407 W. St. Joe Hwy. Lansing 48917  / 517 481 5996 www.lansing.cbmc.com

MONDAY MANNA

A service to the business community

A Publication of CBMC International

January 25, 2021 

What Is Your Perception of Work?

by Robert J. Tamasy 

As we continue to deal with the repercussions of the global COVID-19 pandemic, our work – and how we perceive it – has been dramatically affected. Many of us, if we had not already been doing so, have learned the joys and challenges of working from home. Some have seen their job descriptions modified dramatically, while others have lost jobs or have been laid off temporarily due to economic slowdowns. 

All of these factors have prompted many of us to re-evaluate our attitudes and perceptions of work: what it means, why we do it, and what we expect from it. Is work, as some would describe it, merely “a necessary evil” that they would like to avoid if it were possible? Is it just “earning a living” – generating income to pay bills, meet needs and support a desired lifestyle? Or is there more to it than that – does work have intrinsic value that can help us to find meaning, worth and purpose? 

One clever person gave this assessment: “I love work. I can sit and watch people doing it all day.” Is this statement mirror you feel, that work is good – as long as someone else is expending the effort? 

David McKay, president and CEO of RBC, Canada’s largest bank, has offered a much more affirming perspective on work: “Let us recognize that the privilege to work is a gift, that the power to work is a blessing, and that love of work is success.” In this brief statement he connects work with a number of intriguing concepts: that it is a privilege, a gift, a blessing, and success – if you love doing it. Each is deserving of consideration and elaboration. 

Believe it or not, there was a time when work was not drudgery, when it was not fraught with frustration. According to the Bible’s Old Testament book of Genesis, when God created the first people – Adam and Eve – their “workplace,” Eden, was a wonderful, idyllic setting. “God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every living creature that moves on the ground…. I will give you ever seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food….’” (Genesis 1:28-29). 

It was a perfect arrangement, but then Adam and Eve messed it up. They defied God’s command to not eat the fruit of “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Genesis 3:17). The consequences of their act of rebellion is still being felt today: “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life…. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food” (Genesis 3:17-19). 

So when we go to work, whether in a traditional office setting, traveling through airports, or reporting to a work station in our homes, and things are not going well, we can all thank Adam and Eve. They started it! But does this mean we should begin each workday kicking and screaming, grumbling because work is hard? We can take that approach. Or as McKay said, we can choose to view it as a privilege, a gift, and a blessing. Then roll up our sleeves and put forth the required effort. 

Business consultant Tim Kight has observed, “Doctors don’t make you healthy. Nutritionists don’t make you slim. Teachers don’t make you smart. Trainers don’t make you fit. They help, but you must take responsibility and do the work.” When we do this, we can enjoy the fruits of our labors and feel the satisfaction of a job well done. 

© 2020. Robert J. Tamasy has written Marketplace Ambassadors: CBMC’s Continuing Legacy of Evangelism and Discipleship; Business at Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today’s Workplace; and The Heart of Mentoring, coauthored with David A. Stoddard. Bob’s biweekly blog is: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com. 

CBMC Central Michigan 4407 W. St. Joe Hwy. Lansing 48917 / 517 481 5996  lansing.cbmc.com 

 MONDAY MANNA

A service to the business community

A Publication of CBMC International

January 25, 2021 

Reflection/Discussion Questions 

1. Before you read this “Monday Manna,” how would you have described your attitude toward your work? 

1. What do you think is the importance of one’s perspective toward their job, especially since it typically consumes a sizable percentage of our time each week? Do our perspective really matter? Why or why not? 

1. David McKay speaks about work being a privilege, a gift, and a blessing. How do you react to hearing those terms associated with the everyday challenges and frustrations we all experience in the workplace? 

1. If you were to change one thing about your perception of work – in general, or in your current situation specifically – what would it be? Explain your answer. 

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: Genesis 1:27-31; Proverbs 10:5, 12:24, 22:29; Ecclesiastes 1:1-2,9-11, 2:4-11,24-26, 5:18 

CBMC Central Michigan 4407 W. St. Joe Hwy. Lansing 48917 / 517 481 5996  lansing.cbmc.com