What Jesus has to say to Christian Managers #1 - Don't forget God in the good times

Ok, here is something slightly old fashioned (ha - a blog) that I can do while I am in Japan.

I guess it is a chance for me to actively reflect on Scripture and to think about what principles those of us in management should be thinking through as we go about our daily work.

I am thinking here about covering some of the stories Jesus told (and possibly also some critical goings on around him) that help me think out what matters in my work.  I also think that they need to be short, informative and interactive (if that is possible).  To that extent, I am changing the comment settings on the blog soon as well, as it seems that the old comment system has died.

Perhaps one of my favourite parables, and perhaps the one I need to hear most, is the Parable of the Rich Fool in Luke 12:13-21.

The introduction matters, because as we all know, good managers know their rights, and what they should get.

But then Jesus turns a family argument about money (like that ever happens) into a very strong word about money.

“Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

But with his story, you could almost tell it as the story of the frugal farmer.  He had a good harvest, he then went and spent some previously saved capital (wow - what a good Protestant work ethic) and he stored his grain to sell at the right time.

Reading bible stories regularly with my kids has just taught me another link in this story.  This story sounds a bit familiar for me, because it sounds a bit like what Joseph in Genesis.

Remember Joseph, he had revealed to him that Pharoah knew that famine was coming.  Because famine was coming, Joseph was given command of the treasury, and then required to build big barns.  In fact in Genesis 41:49 we read:

Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea; it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure.

But in Jesus' story, being just like Joseph, and building big barns and the storing of the bumper crops wasn't looked on favourably.  Jesus called the man a fool for being too comfortable, and said that God would take everything from him.

But our amazing farmer, our great investor, our wise foreboder of good things, he did one thing that Jesus really critiqued.  His accumulation took his eyes off God and God's word.

And in that we have lesson one.  Good fortune and prosperity can make us forget God.  The power not to work can make us forget God.  The good things, the life of luxury can make us forget God.  If we are satisfied with what we have now, how easy is it for us to not look expectantly for heaven.

If God has abundantly supplied our needs, how hard is it to humbly wait for his supply for tomorrow.

Next time - maybe even still this week (especially if I want to finish ten of these) - #2 What the resurrection does to our money.