Thought for the day
The story is told of a Japanese company and an American company who decided to have a canoe race on the Missouri river. Both teams practiced long and hard to reach their peak performance before the race.
On the big day the Japanese won by a mile.
Afterwards, the American team became very discouraged and morally depressed. The American management decided that the reason for the crushing defeat had to be found. A "measurement team," made up of senior management was formed. They would investigate and recommend appropriate action.
Their conclusion was that the Japanese had 8 people rowing and 1 person steering, while the Americans had 1 person rowing and 8 people steering. So American management hired a consulting company and paid them incredible amounts of money. They advised that too many people were steering the boat and not enough people were rowing.
To prevent losing to the Japanese again next year, the rowing team's management structure was totally reorganized to 4 steering supervisors, 3 area steering superintendents and 1 assistant superintendent steering manager. They also implemented a new performance system that would give the 1 person rowing the boat greater incentive to work harder. It was called the "Rowing Team Quality First Program," with meetings, dinners and free pens for the rower:
"We must give the rower empowerment and enrichments through this quality program.
"The next year the Japanese won by 2 miles.Humiliated, the American management laid off the rower for poor performance, halted development of a new canoe, sold the paddles, and canceled all capital investments for new equipment. Then they gave a High Performance Award to the steering managers and distributed the money saved as bonuses to the senior executives.
Perhaps you've seen the same thing happen at work -- or in the church. We seem to have lots of people who want to be managers (leaders), but not so many who want to do the work. And far too often, we have seen committees appointed to decide what to do when what needed to happen was for someone just to get out there and do it.
"But Jesus called them to Himself and said, 'You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave -- just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.' " (Matt. 20:25-28)May you follow in the footsteps of Jesus as you search for ways to be a servant today.
Verses
Mark 9:23
Jesus said to him, "'If You can do anything?'Everything is possible for the person who believes!"
Isaiah 54:17
no weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me," says the Lord.
Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed any longer to the ways of this world, but be transformed by having your minds renewed. Then you will be able to discover and accept the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
Jeremiah 33:3
Call to me, and I will answer you; I will tell to you things great beyond reach of your knowledge.
2 Corinthians 9:11
He will make you abundantly rich so that you may be generous in every way, and this will make others thankful to God for what we have done.
Prayer
Jesus, we consider everything that You went through was for our benefit. Your tender response to betrayal and cruelty serves as an example to us when we are treated unjustly. Your obedience in life and especially Your death on the cross shows us how to remain steadfast in the face of tremendous suffering. You embodied the very teaching You spoke to Your followers as You carried out the will of the Father no matter the cost. Each wound that tore Your flesh brought us spiritual and physical healing. You were numbered with the transgressors so that we could be numbered with the saints. Because Your death was redemptive in power, the dark cross of Calvary has a wondrous attraction where we witness Your divine sacrifice on our own personal behalf. What wondrous, amazing love; it demands my soul, my life, my all. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment