FAILURE, A WAY FORWARD

I attended a meeting recently where a number of Christian leaders were sharing about the programs their organizations were promoting for their overseas workers. Some of these programs centered around improving the workers ability to share their faith, others on enhancing team life and working together as a team, and still others on marriage and family.  Training is good.  I am a huge proponent of training.  But we need to understand that God does not work through special programs or even special people.   When it comes to evangelism “12 Steps to Sharing your Faith”, “Shema,” The Camel Method,” “Contextualization,” “CPMs” and many more – they are all good.  But we should not stake our church planting efforts on one strategy.  Personally, I’d encourage everyone to learn as many methods as possible.  We need to recognize each method, whether in EV, marriage, raising kids overseas – any method, is simply a method, a tool, to be used to enhance our ability to serve God better.  We want to be skilled in the use of each tool.  We want to have has many tools in our toolbox as possible, because we never know when God calls to an assignment or creates an opportunity to witness for Him, which tool we will need.   But we can be sure of this – He is not going to reach the people He’s assigned us to reach using the same tools and strategies He’s used in other places with other people.

Consider Moses.  God had to humble Moses for 40 years to get his attention.
Abraham had to fail numerous times and then be faithful in the daily things of life for nearly 100 years before Isaac was born.  Abraham even tried to have a son of his own power, delaying God’s will another 13 years.
Isaac labored faithfully day to day, while his servant went and found him a wife.
Take your pick, Joshua, Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah, Gideon, any of the judges.  Saul, David and any of the kings.  With each God reminded them don’t keep looking for great things, I’ve not called you to greatness, I’ve called you to me.
The point; God’s way is not our way.
Simply put; we are told to be faithful to God’s word, striving to be close to Him, hear His instructions for us and then obey what He tells us.

We are not to be striving to be faithful to latest articles and books, apply most recent seminar we’ve attended and hear the latest teaching and then do what they tell us.  God wants us to be dependent on Him.  He wishes for all the glory to go to Him.  Too many times men and women rob Him of His glory and they do it in His name!

Psalm 37:23  tells us, The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way;

Business, B4T, is a good strategy.  It works.  But remember it’s only a strategy.  God is the One establishes our steps.  He alone gives the victory.  In business, in whatever we do, we do it for the glory of God and not some program or human.

PATRICK LAI and his family have worked in SE Asia for over 37 years. His experience in doing business with Jesus has brought him to understand the meaning of work and worship in the marketplace. He started 14 businesses in four countries, six of which are still operating. Patrick and his wife, May, mentor and coach businesspeople working where there are few or no Christians. Check out Patrick’s latest book, Workship, now available in paperback and e-book.