Many Christian leaders report that although they have extensive educations they have never received comprehensive training on the Christian worldview. They admit they spend inadequate time studying God’s Word or reading Christian literature. These leaders are very much aware of shifting demographic, political, and technological trends, but they are unaware of the expectations God has for them. They have no idea what God is currently doing in the world around them, but they want to know God’s heart. The following are some tips you might find helpful as your strive to balance career and family with spiritual growth.

1. Be intentional about your spiritual growth. Develop a plan. Set aside specific times to read and engage in serious study. Set goals for yourself.

2. Free up space in your life so you have time to read. Spiritual growth occurs when it is a priority. Otherwise, almost anything will take its place in our busy lives. Clearly, there is not enough time to do everything you would like to do each week, so you must make hard choices with your schedule.

3. Use technology to help you. Listen to audio recordings on your way to work or during your lunch break. Read an e-book or article on your laptop, smartphone, tablet or other electronic device.

4. Join a learning cluster. Find people who want to grow in their Bible knowledge, and organize yourselves to study together. I recently learned about a group of 10-15 CEOs who meet three times a year. These busy executives meet at a hotel near an airport for a concentrated time of teaching that occurs over a 24-hour period. These busy leaders schedule time to fly to the designated city to undergo intensive biblical training on being spiritual leaders in the workplace. Then they return home to carry on their business and family responsibilities. This is a significant sacrifice, but the reshaping work of God and the impact upon their careers is well worth it.

5. Surround yourself with learners who also want to grow in their personal, professional, and spiritual lives. Seek out strong Christians and ask them to recommend books that will help you grow in your faith. Approach the thinkers within your Christian community and have in-depth discussions with them. Far too many people are satisfied with average. Don’t let these unmotivated people deaden your desire to grow spiritually. It is a great challenge to keep learning while also holding a busy, highly demanding job. But there are ways. God wants you to grow in your understanding of him and his Word.

1. Whatever you do in word or in deed, do it for the Lord (Prov. 3:5; 1 Cor. 10:31; 2 Cor. 5:9; Eph. 5:15-17; Col. 3:17). As you perform your job, realize that Christians are called to honor Christ in all dimensions of life, including your activities in the workplace. You are a spiritual being; therefore, your work life is as spiritual as your devotional life. All of your life belongs to God.

2. Do all things without complaining and disputing (Phil. 2:14). The world has plenty of critics and people who seem to continually complain. Keep a positive attitude. As a Christian you know Jesus Christ and no problem is beyond his power.

3. Be humble (Prov. 11:2; 16:5; 29:23; Phil. 2:5-8). Follow the example of Jesus Christ who set aside his heavenly throne to live as an average citizen among the people he had created. Even commentators on secular leadership recognize that great leaders are humble people.

4. Watch what you say (Prov. 8:8; 10:19-21; 15:23, 26; 16:13; 25:15; Eph. 4:29; Col. 4:6; James 3:1-12). Words wisely chosen can encourage and energize others. Careless talk can weaken you or your listener. Don’t speak in a reckless manner. Think before you speak. Be mindful how you address others. Do you tend to inspire people, or injure with your words?

5. Keep learning (Prov. 1:5). Smart leaders realize there is much they don’t know. Keep reading, studying, and seeking godly, Bible-saturated, advice. Maintain a teachable spirit. Don’t let pride keep you from growing. The Bible is a storehouse of wisdom, and even secular leaders are discovering that biblical principles make sense. As a person who influences the culture that surrounds you, you can’t afford not to know God’s Word.

6. Guard your integrity (Ps. 18:23; 26:11; 37:37; 41:12; Prov. 2:7; 11:8). Whether you’re in the business and professional sector, or ministry, if you are a Christian, you are an ambassador for Christ. Competitiveness can tempt some leaders to compromise their principles if the outcome looks appealing. Don’t compromise. Don’t allow anyone or anything to dismantle your integrity.

7. Seek good counsel (Prov. 11:14; 13:18). Good advice is invaluable. The wisdom of a godly colleague can save you from critical decision-making mistakes. You must be teachable, however, if you are to benefit from wise advisors. Be proactive in seeking wise counsel. Don’t be like King Rehoboam who ignored wise instruction and listened instead to people who led him to his ruin (1 Kings 12:1-20).

8. Show mercy (Prov. 11:17). Running a business or leading an organization requires some difficult decisions, but as you seek to improve your organization’s standing, never forget to show mercy. You are where you are by God’s grace. It is possible to be competitive in your career and in business while being gracious (Mic. 6:8).

9. Control your anger (Prov. 15:18; 16:32; 29:11; Col. 3:8). Many leaders have lost everything because they could not control their temper. Anger is a deadly sin because it blinds people to the really important issues. Resentment and retaliation can destroy relationships, causing otherwise clear-thinking people to say foolish and very harmful things.

The whole world is the arena of his divine activity. God designed humanity and all his creation so that it would reflect his glory (Psa. 19.1; 1 Cor. 10.31). Your business and professional activity is a channel through which God can receive honor, an avenue through which he can express his love for people, and a conduit he can use to deliver grace to a hurting world. If you view your company as secular, you may compromise with questionable ethics, exploitation of your employees, or greed, which will discredit your Christian witness. By artificially categorizing career as separate from Christian life, a person is not only dishonoring God, he or she is more likely to subject themselves to failure. Why? Because if a Christian’s life dishonors their heavenly Father, then God will discipline His child (Heb. 12.5-11). Many Christians have testified that it took financial and professional disaster to reorient them from pursuing worldly goals in their career to putting God first.

The ways to serve and honor God through your business and career are limitless. At the same time, don’t rule out the reality that God may choose to bless your enterprises extensively. When you willingly honor God through your leadership, he may choose to guide you to remarkable success. Consider: Joseph (Gen. 41); Joseph of Arimathea (Matt.27.57-60); Lydia (Acts 16.11-15). Don’t think of your work as being merely secular. It is your ministry setting. It is (or can be) a vibrant, integral component of your Christian walk. Welcome God into your workplace. Seek his wisdom and trust his leading.

A major responsibility of leaders is the on-going selection of and development of new leaders. The process of identifying future leaders is both a means and an end. It is an end in that it produces new leaders for organizational expansion and growth. It is a means towards growth in that it stimulates life in the organization. Emerging leaders bring new life to the organization. Leaders who fail to recognize, select, and develop emerging leaders miss out on a huge opportunity for both personal and organizational growth. Overlooking this aspect of leadership almost guarantees a weak future organization that is overly dependent upon a single leader.    

►Why is this important? Without the development of future leaders any organization is just one generation away from mediocrity. New and emerging leaders often help to offset “plateau” in organizations that are struggling. When organizations are strengthened, with the presence of emerging leaders, the current leader is more secure, not less secure.

►Biblical examples include Jesus and his development of the disciples in the Gospels and the apostle Paul and his development of future leaders.

What is wisdom? It’s not knowledge. A person can have much accumulated knowledge and not be wise. True wisdom is seeing and responding to life from God’s perspective.  It includes attitudes, actions, and skills that can be acquired as we diligently seek the mind of God. Many of our problems grow out of our not responding to life from God’s perspective. In fact, Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” Proverbs 3.13-18 identifies several benefits wisdom offers: “Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, ¹⁴for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. ¹⁵She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. ¹⁶Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. ¹⁷ Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. ¹⁸ She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed.”  Proverbs says blessing, long life, wealth, honor, pleasure, security and happiness are wrapped up in learning to be wise. Proverbs 19.8 teaches that, “The one who gets wisdom loves life…” In other words, do yourself a big favor—get wisdom!

There are only two sources of wisdom: 1) the world or 2) the Word of God revealed through the Scriptures. These two sources are often in contradiction to one another. But, the wisest man who ever lived said that true wisdom comes only from God. In Proverbs 9.10 we read that, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” And in Psalm 111.10 we learn that “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding.” The first characteristic of becoming wise is the ‘fear of the Lord’. In the Scriptures fearing the Lord means 1) to fear running away from him, 2) fearing to seek refuge, and joy, and hope anywhere but in God, 3) fearing the tragic consequences of not trusting and depending on God to meet our needs, and 4) fearing attempts at understanding the world around us without the illumination that comes only from God.

How do I get wisdom?

Wisdom must include a sensitive, mature judgment and discernment of how the fear of the Lord should work itself out in the many circumstances not specifically dealt with in the Bible. The apostle Paul says that there must be a “renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom. 12.2). There are at least three biblical instructions for acquiring biblical wisdom. First, desire wisdom with all your might, “Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you” (Proverbs 4.8). Proverbs 2.4 says we are to seek wisdom and understanding “as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure.” Second, since God’s wisdom comes to us through the Scriptures, we must apply ourselves in study, discussion and reflection. Psalm 19.7 declares, “The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.” Psalm 119.130 says, “The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” Psalm 1.1-3 commends the person who intentionally takes time to consider the Scriptures: “Blessed is the manwho walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; ²but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. ³He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season; and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” Third, we should pray that God would grant us wisdom. Solomon was not born a wise man but he prayed for wisdom. God honored Solomon’s request saying, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, ¹²I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart” (1 Kings 3.11-12).

While initial sanctification occurs instantly and is where we are delivered from the kingdom of darkness and delivered into the Kingdom of Christ (Colossians 1.13), progressive sanctification continues over time until we go to be with the Lord. Initial sanctification is entirely the work of God the Holy Spirit who imparts to us the life of Christ. Progressive sanctification is also the work of the Holy Spirit but it involves a response on our part so that we as believers are actively involved in the process.

The progressive nature of sanctification is implied throughout the New Testament letters in all those instances where we are called upon to grow, to change, to put off the deeds of the old man and put on Godlike character.

Romans 12.2: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

2 Corinthians 3.18: “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

The word common to both these passages is transformed. In both instances the verb transformed is in the present tense, indicating that the action is continuous. These Scriptures indicate that personal transformation takes place as a work of the “Lord, who is the Spirit,” and through the renewing of our minds. In both these passages the verb be transformed is passive, indicating it is a work done in us rather than by us. (However, many Scripture passages stress human responsibility in the work of progressive sanctification.) And the passive voice of the verb be (or being) transformed indicates that the transforming work of progressive sanctification is the work of God’s Spirit. God is the One who changes us more and more into the likeness of Jesus Christ. This transformation is much more than merely a change of outward conduct. It is a renovation of our inner being. It means our motives as well as our motivations are being constantly changed.

Although the verb be transformed is in the passive voice, it is in the imperative mood, therefore it is a command to do something. This indicates that we as believers are not passive in this transforming process. God has given us a mind and heart with which to respond to and cooperate with the Spirit as He does His work in us. This is consistent with Paul’s classic statement in Philippians 2.12-13 of the working together of the believer with the Holy Spirit who is at work within him, “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”

Adapted from Transforming Grace by Jerry Bridges

►”You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ ³⁹But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” – Matthew 5.38-39 

Big Idea:   “An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.” Rather than LIMITING vengeance, the Pharisees took this phrase as a mandate FOR vengeance. 

• God gave law to protect righteous men against ungodly, evil men (see 1 Timothy 1.9-11). 

1.  Civil matters (in Exodus 21-23) were handled within the __FRAMEWORK__ of magistrates, judges, courts, and appropriate authorities. 

•  
  • “An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth” is not a statement related to personal relationships. (Exod. 21.22; Lev. 24; Deut. 19.21; also see Lev. 19.18)
  • The punishment fits the crime. The way to get rid of evil in a society is to give just punishment, quickly for people who commit crimes. 

2.  Law was a __RESTRAINT__ on the innate vengeance that is in an evil heart.   

• This is God’s “just law.” It is the oldest law in the world, the “lex talionis,” sometimes today called “quid pro quo.”
• Bound up in the human heart is a sense of justice. The problem is that it gets perverted into vengeance.  
• This is a good law. Law puts fear into people’s hearts. The law doesn’t do anything but good for righteous people. It just protects them. The more strict the law, the more protection for righteous people.
• This is a merciful law. It limits vengeance. It does away with vendettas and blood feuds.
• This is a law that protects the weak from the strong; the peaceful from the violent.
• To not restrain evil, not to have punishment, is to allow evil to run rampant; then everyone pays the price.  

Arthur Pink wrote, “Magistrates and judges were never ordained by God for the purpose of reforming reprobates or pampering degenerates, but to be His instruments for preserving law and order, and that by being a terror to the evil (Romans 13), they are to be an avenger to execute wrath on him that does evil.” 

3.  We are called to personal __FORGIVENESS__, not __VENGEANCE__.  

• When a crime is committed, our heart is to be filled with love and forgiveness; but this is done within the context of allowing the civil law to exercise its God-ordained authority. 
• Matt. 5.44: “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
• Prov. 25.21: “If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.”
•  Prov. 24.29: “Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done.”
• Romans 12.17-19: “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. ¹⁸If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. ¹⁹Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

►”Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ ³⁴ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; ³⁵ or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. ³⁶ And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. ³⁷ All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” – Matthew 5.33-37 

1.  Jesus was not dealing with the specific words of the Mosaic law, but rather the __CORRUPTION__ taught by the Pharisees.  (v.33b/c; Exod. 20.7; Deut. 6.13; Lev. 19.12; not a quotation but based on OT reality) 

• Oath defined: Making a statement and calling God to witness to the truth of that statement, and invoking a curse from God if, in fact, you re not telling the truth. 
• “break your oath” (v.33b; perjury) – the willful act of swearing to tell the truth with the intent of not fulfilling that promise thereby affecting the outcome of a legal proceeding.  

►Moses

1.  Purpose: to control the human tendency to fall into __LYING__.  

• Wanted to restrain an out-of-control situation. 

2.  Purpose: to restrict oath-taking to serious and __IMPORTANT__ matters.  

• The tendency was for people to take an oath for any kind of trivial matter. Oath-taking is reserved for causes and conditions of exceptional concern.
• Every part and portion of life was to be conducted in such a way as to demonstrate that God was most important in their life.

•  
  • “I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy.” – Lev. 11.44

►Scribes & Pharisees 

1.  Their general problem was that they were __LEGALISTIC__, being more concerned about the letter of the law—rather than the spirit of it.

• As long as they could persuade themselves that they were keeping the letter of the law they were perfectly happy. For example, murder (v.22), adultery (v.28), divorce (v.32). 
• Perjury was the issue. They taught that you could take all kinds of oaths, but as long as you never committed perjury you were not guilty before the law. For example, an oath by the temple—not binding; an oath by the gold in the temple—binding; an oath by the altar—not binding; an oath by the gift on the altar—binding. 
• Leviticus 19.12. The emphasis is that you shouldn’t swear falsely. Pharisees emphasis was that “you shouldn’t swear by His NAME falsely. See Numbers 30.2. Pharisees read it to say that “when a man makes a vow to JEHOVAH, he shall not break his word.” Otherwise, you could break it. 
• Their self-righteousness said that if you didn’t say “in the Lord’s name,” you could lie and it was acceptable. (See Matt. 23.16-22) 
• They ignored Scriptural teaching about lying. 
• There are no “shades” of truth – Half truths are whole lies.
• Prov. 6.16-19 – the Lord hates lying
• Prov. 12.22 – Lying is an abomination
• Psalm 58.3 – the wicked engage in lies
• Jeremiah 9.1-9 – the world lies
• 1 Timothy 4.1-2 – apostates lie
• Revelation 21.8 – liars will go to the lake of fire 

►Jesus 

1.  Jesus says to speak __TRUTH__ always. Let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no.  

2.  Jesus is not __FORBIDDING__ the taking of oaths that are in God’s name and handled properly. (see Matthew 5.17, 19; Matthew 26.63, Jesus responded after being put under an oath; 2 Cor. 1.23, Paul calls on “God as my witness”; Gal. 1.20, “before God, I do not lie”; Heb. 6.13-14, God himself bound himself under and oath; James 5.12, condemning false speech supported with misleading with false oaths.)  

3.        Jesus says that swearing by something in order to __DECEIVE__ can only have one source—the evil one. (v.37)

►”You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ ²⁸But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. ²⁹If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. ³⁰And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.” – Matthew 5.27-30

Big Idea:  The disease of sin requires radical __AMPUTATION__.

 1.  Jesus emphasizes the __DEPTH__ and __POWER__ of sin.

                 ●     Sins are the symptoms of the disease—called __SIN__.

                ●     Sin must be understood not so much as the thing I do; it is what makes me do it. 

2.  Men and women can modify behavior (peer pressure, pride, piety, fear of rejection), but only God can change a __HEART__.  

• ^“For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, ²² adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness.” (Mark 7.21-22, NLT) 

3.  Jesus __DESTROYS__ self-righteous standards of religious achievement. (Matt. 5.21-22; 5.28; 5.48) 

 4.  The word adultery (Gk: moicheuo), in this context, is widened from the marriage relationship only, to include __ANY__ kind of illicit sexual behavior with married or single persons. (v.28) 

• “everyone” and “woman”—could be single or married. 

5.  The word __LOOKS__ carries the meaning of a purposeful, self-satisfying, repeated gaze. (v.28)

 6.  The heart is filled with adulterous __DESIRE__ wanting to find an __OBJECT__ on which it can attach the fantasy. (v.28; cf. Matthew 18.7; 1 Cor. 8.9)

• The heart is looking for someone (something) to throw its lustful desires upon.

• Being tempted to illicit sexual desire or fantasy is not sin. The sin comes in what you do with it. If you entertain the temptation, if you maintain the temptation and hold onto the evil thoughts, then it becomes sin. 

►Radical Amputation 

1.  We must realize the exceeding __SINFULNESS__ of sin, and its tragic consequences.

• Sin in you and in me is what caused the Son of God to sweat drops of blood in the Garden of Gethsemane.
• Sin is what caused Christ to endure all the agony and the suffering to which He was subjected.
• Sin is the reason for which Christ died on the cross. 

2.  __NOTHING__ must be allowed to come between you and your soul’s eternal destiny.

• If something is harmful to the soul it must be hated and put away.
• Luke 14.26: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple.” (See Matt. 5.44)  

3.  We must __HATE__ sin and make __EVERY__ attempt to __DESTROY__ it at all costs within ourselves.

• Psalm 97.10: “Let those who love the LORD hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.” 

4.  We must realize that a __PURE__ heart is the ideal. (Matt. 5.8) 

5.  We must continually be about the business of __KILLING__ sin.

• See Rom. 8.13; 13.14; 1 Cor. 9.27; Col. 3.5 

6.  We must __NEVER__ feed the flesh and we must always __RESTRAIN__ the flesh^.

• Rom. 13.14b: “…do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.^”
• Matt. 26.41: “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

Big Idea: Fulfilling God’s command, “Do not murder,” is not accomplished simply by avoiding legal homicide. The intent of God’s Law is to nurture __RELATIONSHIPS__; with God and with others.

1.  The Hebrew word for murder denotes __PREMEDITATION__ and __DELIBERATENESS__.  (v.21; see Exodus 20.13) 

Heart Problem: ^“For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.” (Matt. 15.19) 

2.  Jesus condemns __SELFISH__ (slow burning) anger and verbal __INSULTS__. (v.22; slander, malicious, arrogant; Raca! Fool!)  

•  
  • The judgment given by the civil court was capital punishment, execution, and that judgment should belong to you for anger as much as for murder. (Exodus 21.12)
  • Jesus does not condemn righteous anger (indignation) when the character of God is being assaulted.
  • Eph. 4.26: “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger…”
  • John 2.14-15: “In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. ¹⁵So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.” 

3.  God condemns treating others with __ARROGANCE__ and __CONTEMPT__; stripping others over their dignity of being created in the image of God. (anger, insults, “you fool”) 

4.  Identity theft is worthy of __CAPITAL__ punishment. 

5.  Reconciliation of relationships (with God and others) is of __FIRST__ importance—more important than __WORSHIP__. (v.23-24) 

• 1 Samuel 15.22-23: “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. ²³For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry.”
•  Psalm 66.18: “If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.”

6.  Jesus’ disciples are to __SEEK__ a kind of reconciliation that creates friendships out of adversarial relationships. (v.25) 

• “Come to terms quickly…”
• (lit. “to make friends quickly”)

 Changing Angry Behavior: 

• Resist the temptation to vent your anger (Prov. 12.18). 
• Replace sinful anger-concealing behavior with godly speech that builds others up. (Eph. 4.29; see Prov. 10.11) 
  • Be honest—Eph. 4.25
  • Keep current—Eph. 4.26-27
  • Attack problems, not people—Eph. 4.29-30
  • Act; don’t react. Control your emotions—Eph. 4.31-32