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Big Business We all know men who work in big business. Big business is a “cut-throat” society in which people watch out for themselves and will even take someone down if needed. In big business, the more money one has then the more power one has. Big business will go to small businesses and make deals only to shrink the competition and increase the income. The key word to big business is competition. Those involved must always win, and the bigger the win, the better. People in business look for advancement in their company. They work hard. They fight against disappointments. They do whatever it takes for more recognition, prestige and authority. The competition in this country is intense right now. This country is clearly divided on what they think is best: more small businesses or bigger big business? more local authority in government or bigger big government? Clearly, the church is not hearing from God or else the people would be united. So why isn’t the church hearing? Many of our churches in America are run as big business. Clergy and laymen watch their own backs, making sure they are getting their needs met; and then, if they have some left over, they will help the needy. They speak badly of small churches and older congregations, saying how they can’t keep up with the technology available to have church growth. They speak of needing more money so that they can have more and nicer things. Then with the more they have, the more power and influence they have in the city. The bigger their church is, the smaller others become. The competition in these churches is intense. They speak of victory and freedom based upon their high finances and lofty numbers. It seems that the bigger a church is, the less accountability there is with people. There are many divisions within a large church. Yet, these same churches will speak against democratic government. They will say that big government is evil and that more power needs to be given to the states. There is much hypocrisy when it comes to these comparisons, and there is much competition in the church between political parties. It is amazing to note that so many people serving the same God who has given his commandments and decrees are so different in their beliefs about needed authority. Many so-called Christians vote for a leader who is clearly pro-choice. The poor seem to want big government and the rich seem to want more local authority. But what does God want in government? What does God want for His church? The word is clear about big church businesses. John 10:12-13 says that these pastors stay in the good times and leave in the bad times. “But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.” A hireling is simply someone who works for pay. Big business pastors work not for the people, but for money. Job describes the hireling best: “…an hireling looketh for the reward of his work:” Job 7:2 (KJV) Staying in the good times and leaving in the bad, like playing the stock market, demonstrates faithlessness. True fans of a sport team do not root for a different team when their team starts losing. They cheer them on in the bad times too. If we are servants of the Lord, we must remain faithful in the bad times as well as the good times. We are here to serve first the Lord, and secondly the people. Serving isn’t about number, popularity or money. Let’s let God take care of the business and let us just be obedient to what He says. -S. Chad Ross January Newsletter 2001 | Pharisees & Counselees | Big Business | Pastor's Journal January 2000 Got Vision? Don't Lose It | Inside-Out & Upside-Down - part 1 of 3 | God of Paradox
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Biblical Counseling for Leaders
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