DIGGING INTO A THEOLOGY OF WORK
In our last devotion on world-view, I discussed a biblical theology of work. We saw how a biblical theology steers us away from two opposite errors, namely, in work is found all meaning, and in work is found no meaning. Today we move from the workers to the employers, that is, business owners. Here are three biblical principles Christian businesses should seek to follow:
1. Quality over quantity-
It's pretty easy to produce a quantity of garbage (we all do it everyday!), what's more difficult is to produce something that is truly quality. In our consumer culture, we have become accustomed to most of the things we own having a short life. There used to be T.V. repair men, now we just buy a new one; there used to be vacuum repair guys, now we just buy a new one.
As a person operating a business, one of the things God has called you to do with that business is to produce something that brings glory to Him. "All things are to be done for the glory of God." Now does this mean everything has to be the finest quality? Of course not, but it does mean that we seek to do the best with what we do have. We don't cut corners in our production just to save a few bucks, if in the end that means a product that is more poorly made.
2. Service to the Community-
A biblical business is not just a service to the owners, but to the employees, their consumers, and the broader community of neighbors all around them. John Stott, in his book, Issues Facing Christians Today states it well:
Work is intended not only for the fulfillment of the worker, but also for the benefit of the community. Adam did not cultivate the garden of Eden merely for his own enjoyment, but to feed and clothe his family. throughout the Bible the productivity of the soil is related to the needs of society. Thus God gave Israel a "land flowing with milk and honey", and at the same time issued instructions that the harvest was to be shared with the poor, the alien, the widow and the orphan. similarly in the New Testament, the converted thief is told to stop stealing and start working with his own hand, so that "he may have something to share with those win need."
If a business detracts from the good of the community, then that business is not operating according to Biblical standards. With this guide in mind, a Christian cannot in good conscience work for a business that lies to the community, or sells smut to the community, etc.
3. Valuing your employees-
One can never underestimate the power of letting your employees know how much they are valued. Without them, your business doesn't exist. Colossians 4:1 says, "Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven." Luke tells us that "the worker deserves his wages." So the Christian business seeks to reward it's employees for good work by giving them decent, competitive pay, some flexibility and allowance for time off. However, even more than this, I think the most important thing here is that your employees are shown appreciation through your words and deeds. Here's Stott again:
The knowledge that our work is beneficial and appreciated adds considerably to our sense of of job satisfaction. I understand that Henri De Man's studies in Germany between the wars, and the Hawthorne experiments which were conducted at the same time at the Chicago plant of the Western Electric company, were the first pieces of scientific research into this now well-accepted fact. The Hawthorne studies in particular showed "that workers would increase their output even when the lights were dimmed to the strength of moonlight, if they thought that their labors were considered by other people to be important and significant."
"In a survey conducted by the Work foundation in July 2004... pay was less important to people that the content of their job and fulfilling personal ambitions."
If you're interested in seeing what it actually looks like to run a Christian business according to these principles, check out any article on In-N-Out Burger. Their food is most definitely focused on quality over quantity (thus their drive thru line takes longer than almost any fast food place, but it doesn't hurt business. Why? Because people love the quality of the product so much, they're willing to wait!). They serve the community they're in not just by their quality food, but by their charitable work as well. And lastly, their employees know they're valued. They're paid more than most, if not all, fast food restaurants for the job they do; they're instilled with a sense of pride over the job they do. It really is unlike any other business, though Chick Fila (another Christian business) is run very similarly, and once again, the difference is stark between their service and other places.
Now I'm hungry....We'll talk more about this stuff tomorrow.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Erick
RECEIVING FROM CHRIST....GROWING IN CHRIST....GOING WITH CHRIST....
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