Compromise of the Soul

I dined today with the regional manager of the large media company where I'm employed. This was one of those public relation events which is intended to give employees a voice and to give high management a feel for what's really happening at your work place. Your boss is decisively not there. The conversation was dominated by flattering praises for our office and critical remarks of another area which had recently received help in the form of tempory manpower from my office. My boss in our standard morning meeting coached our group to feel free to discuss our complaints but, to also mention the good things that go on at our office....(Hint, Hint... a.k.a. put in a good word for me guys.) Those who dominated the conversation and also have high level job positions used this meeting to gain favor with high management and brownie points with their direct supervisor. I tried to make a couple of honest suggestions but, to be honest I think this really was a ruse for an open forum. This really was a stroke my ego session for the regional manager. If honest dialog really flowed, profits would follow. Truth would be found.

The scriptures tell us that the poor are shunned even by their neighbors and the rich have many friends(Proverbs14:20.) Jude1:16 mentions ungodly men who are faultfinders and boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage. These verses describe what I experienced today. God says to be rich in good deeds. (1Tim6:18) Godliness with contentment is great gain and those who want to get rich fall into temptation. The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil (1Tim. 6:10.)

I pray for those chasing the temporal things of this world and are truly missing the riches of Christ. I also pray for myself that I stay an alien in this world and don't desire worldly power and influence.

There are times when a part of me would like to fit in and also gain a more influential and financially rewarding employment position. But thank God I can not bring myself to compromise my soul. Children of the light live in the light. I will respect authority as God has put those in authority in their positions. But I can't play the world's social game with it's dishonest strategies and self- serving agendas.

Jesus says, " If you want to be great, you must be a servant." Jesus the "real" king of kings served mankind with the literal laying down of his life for those (us) who didn't deserve his ultimate act of sacrifice. As Christians, myself included, we make decisions on what interests us and gives us the greastest joy and pleasure. Am I really laying down my life for my brothers in Christ? Am I promoting the love of Christ or love of self by my actions?


Last Sunday, as I carried my crying grand-baby into the nursery so the church service wouldn't be disrupted, a young lady walked into the empty nursery and offered to watch the baby so I could enjoy the service. I declined her offer even though she repeatedly and sincerely insisted that she would love to care for this little one who was over-tired, cranky, and vocal. Crying babies and dirty diapers isn't glamourous work. That is why the nursery is always in need of volunteers. It is so much more convenient to enjoy the service and let mom ( it is usually mom) take care of her own burden. This lovely young woman gladened my heart. The presence of the spirit of the living king Jesus was evident in her willingness to sacrifice comfort in order to serve another.

The comparison of the secular men at my workplace who had as their audience a leader in a powerful position and, the young woman who had as her audience a tired worn-out grandma with a distressed infant is quite interesting; the former self-serving in their actions, the later sacrificing. The point often overlooked is the unseen audience that is always there in each and every situation, judging the thoughts and intentions of our hearts.