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.

Revelation 14:4-5 NIV “These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among mankind and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.” https://bible.com/bible/111/rev.14.4-5.NIV

Who wants to be a special offering to God, a first fruit to Him among all those who are His? It is natural for men to pursue greatness, but we define it by trophies, treasures, and titles. God defines it by purity, loyalty, and faithfulness. The tier 1 Christians in today’s verses were faithful to Christ alone. They did not defile themselves with the worship of false idols. They were not adulterers with spiritual no-gods. The best keep Jesus first, most, and only as God of their lives, their affections, and their purpose.

They follow Jesus by doing what Jesus did and still does, which is seeking and saving the lost and making disciples, teaching obedience to everything Jesus commands. They do not compromise with the world even under persecution, but instead confess with their mouth that Jesus is Lord, so that all may know, and some believe that Jesus Christ is Savior and Lord. The finest of Christians, if such a thing can be, are those who are steadfast, loyal, and uncompromising in their devotion and service to Jesus.

They suffer for His Name’s sake and do so willingly, rejoicing to be counted worthy of such an honor. Their reward is God Himself. They receive the greatest intimacy with God. They receive the greatest honor from God. They receive the greatest eternal reward by God. Who do we want to recognize us, honor us, and consider us great? Is it men or God and the heavenly host?

Our Opportunities 

1. I hope you will join me May 6th for the Michigan Prayer Breakfast. CBMC is a ministry partner at this event. Our speaker is Mr. David Baker, retired president of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. David will share his testimony and give the audience an opportunity to reconcile themselves to God through Jesus the Savior. You can register here. Have an unsaved friend you want to bring? I might have room at my table for you and your friend! 

1. Business Owners don't miss your opportunity to learn more about how CBMC helps you through our Trusted Advisor Forums. These closed, monthly meetings help Christian business owners become more outwardly facing Christian business leaders while helping solve difficult issues with employees, customers, vendors, and competitors from a Christian worldview. We are launching a new group in Lansing May 9, we have room for 2-3 more to join us.  Email me if you are interested in learning more. 

1. The next special luncheon for sharing the gospel with your friends is now scheduled for June 5th. Our speaker will be Mr. David Tebben, owner of K&H Concrete Cutting. We will be meeting at One North Kitchen&Bar 1310 Abbot Rd, East Lansing, MI 48823. Register HERE 

1. Join CBMC men for prayer and Bible study every Friday from 8-9 am at Panera Frandor. 

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

April 28, 2025

The Whole: Greater Than The Sum Of The Parts

By Robert J. Tamasy 

Have you ever heard someone say, “The whole is greater than the sum of the parts”? This was a reality I learned in profound ways years ago when I was the editor for the magazine CBMC published, CONTACT Quarterly. Much of the writing and editing fell on my shoulders, but I was fortunate to have a small team of people who contributed greatly to the content and graphic design. 

I remember going into planning meetings armed with my own ideas for how the magazine should come together. But during several hours of “creative conflict,” we always arrived at decisions that were much better than I could have come up with alone. Everyone had made valuable contributions. The finished product always exceeded our expectations. Because the whole was greater than the sum of the parts. 

This was where I learned the truth of two Bible passages that I’ve never forgotten:
“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17).

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work. If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!… A cord of three strands is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). 

Business and professional leaders are often tempted to work alone – setting goals, devising plans and choosing strategies without encouraging input and feedback from people who will be responsible for implementing them. At best this is exhausting; at worst it is a path to failure. 

We find an excellent example of this in the Bible’s Old Testament book of Exodus. God had chosen Moses to lead the people of Israel out of captivity in Egypt. During their journey to the land God had promised them, he had taken upon himself the responsibility for resolving conflicts great and small that developed among the many thousands of Israelites. 

Moses was serving as judge for the people from morning until evening, leaving both him and the people worn out and irritable. His father-in-law, Jethro, observed this and recognized Moses’ folly in attempting to do this all by himself. “What is this you are doing for the people?” he asked. “Why do you alone sit as judge, while these people stand around you from morning till evening?… What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone” (Exodus 18:14-18). 

Jethro suggested an alternative: To appoint “capable men from all the people – men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain” to serve as judges over all but the most difficult cases. He said, “That will make your load lighter…. If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied” (Exodus 18:21-23). Moses accepted his father-in-law’s wisdom and adopted that plan, delegating judicial responsibilities to everyone’s satisfaction.  

We would be wise to heed the same advice. Whether CEO, high-level executive, manager, entrepreneur, or lower on the corporate ladder, we all have much to benefit from utilizing the strengths, talents, gifts and experience of others that complement our own. As 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 

© 2025. 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; Pursuing Life With a Shepherd’s Heart, coauthored with Ken Johnson; and The Heart of Mentoring, coauthored with David A. Stoddard. Bob’s biweekly blog is: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com.  

MONDAY MANNA

A service to the business community

A Publication of CBMC International

April 28, 2025

Reflection/Discussion Questions 

1. When have you worked on a project with others in which the result clearly showed that the same outcome could not have come about by working separately or in isolation? Did you find it gratifying to realize the benefits of collaborating together? Explain your answer.
2. The proverb says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man [one person] sharpens another.” Have you ever experienced this? In what ways?
3. Why do some people seem set on working independently rather than encouraging and welcoming the participation of others in the process? Do you think it is a matter of pride or ego, or lack of trust and confidence in the capabilities that others have? Why or why not?
4. How do you think you would react if a ‘Jethro’ approached you and pointed out some flaws in your approach to work, perhaps ways that delegating responsibility or using the strengths of others could prove to be beneficial?

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: 1 Corinthians 12:12-26; Ephesians 4:15-16; Hebrews 10:24; 1 Peter 4:10 

Challenge for This Week 

Maybe you are someone who enjoys teamwork, collaborating with others in a well-organized team to accomplish specific goals and objectives. If so, this week would be a good opportunity to observe how others around you work. If they are more inclined to work on their own, you might try to find ways for encouraging them to utilize the abilities of others to become even more productive. 

If you are one of those who enjoys being a “lone ranger,” working independently of others, this could be a time for reassessing that approach. Is it working the best for you? You might discuss this with a trusted friend, advisor, mentor, or your CBMC group if you are part of one. What wisdom do they have to offer you? 

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