- The C12 Group - East Carolina
Christian CEOs & Owners Building GREAT Businesses for a GREATER Purpose
Priorities are what we do. Everything else is just talk!
What are Nine Hindrances to Our Work & Ministry?
Nine Hindrances to God's Greater Work in Our Business
Although constituencies and contexts differ between church and business, our enemies remain the same. Believers are peppered with ungodly influences on all sides. It’s well said that “If God’s work were unopposed, it would already be accomplished.” The first step in countering an enemy is to identify him and his methods. Here is a highlight of nine specific hindrances that can harm our workplace ministry and leadership:
1. Unbelief
How might unbelief hinder God’s work in our business? It can manifest in a number of ways, but perhaps the most damaging is not trusting in God’s complete sovereignty. We tend to think that God is in control of some aspects of our lives, but not all. How else can we comfortably explain our habitual sin or insensitivity to ministry opportunities? By maintaining this dualistic or schizophrenic divide in our thoughts and actions, we try to live out of two different value systems by not believing that Christ is Lord of all. This unbelief causes many who observe us to conclude that we’re hypocrites since they see us saying one thing while doing another. It also greatly diminishes our ability to see God working in our lives, thereby compromising the depth of our learning and faith.
2. Complacency
This may be one of the most devious enemies we face in this generation. We live in a time of such material abundance, with such freedom of worship and access to Christian teaching, that a subtle arrogance exists in American Christianity. It’s hard not to be complacent. The prosperity heresy heightens the problem by claiming that such abundance is proof of being specially blessed. Those enjoying great blessing are presumably just a bit more right with God than others. This is unbiblical. The fact is that abundant material resources aren’t a blessing as much as an increased stewardship responsibility. God doesn’t entrust us with much without expecting more from us (Lk 12:48).
3. Self-Righteousness
This is a danger for every leader. Since God has entrusted us with authority to be exercised in the normal conduct of business, we can easily develop the wrong idea. Although our leadership role is a gift from God, it can prompt others –particularly employees and suppliers – to treat us deferentially. They may tell us what they think we want to hear, rather than what we need to hear. Over time, this can lead us to think we have all the answers and that those who disagree are disobedient or less enlightened. We can easily become what the Bible calls “puffed up” (e.g., Hab 2:3- 5, 1Cor 4:6 & 13:4, 1Tim 3:6). Thinking that we’re the final authority in work-related matters can infect spiritual matters as well.
4. Fear of Man
This enemy limits God’s good works through our lives and severely hinders marketplace ministry. What else do we CEOs fear more than to be poorly thought of by our peers, stakeholders, and markets? The fear of appearing different, odd, or even radical shuts the mouth of many saints in the marketplace. The truth is that respect and reputation are built over time. Research has shown that those willing to consistently stand by their convictions actually tend to be more trusted. They’re more likely to attract than repel others with their consistency and submission to a higher authority.
5. Love of Luxury
The fear of man frequently combines with this fifth enemy to choke the flow of the gospel in countless day-to-day marketplace situations. The evil one whispers: “If you witness they’ll laugh at you! No one will want to be seen with you. Then what? They won’t do business with such a religious radical! You’ll lose your fancy home, car, and your head start on the ‘American Dream’! No more high life for you! You’ll be back to mundane living!” When we listen to the lies of the enemy, we choke back the very words the Holy Spirit urges us to speak. We justify it by saying we must protect our livelihood and that of our employees, but that’s also a lie from the pit! We can’t truly hurt anyone by obeying the Holy Spirit. God is the trustworthy sustainer of all that is.
6. Secret Sympathy with the World
This sometimes hidden, often subconscious, enemy can be tricky to identify. But we know it exists when we desire in our hearts to have freedom to sin the way the world promotes, like indulging in the sensual pleasures of the flesh. This is costly even when we stop short of actually indulging ourselves. Sometimes this enemy rears its head when we use business as an excuse to enter into compromising situations; doing worldly things we wouldn’t otherwise do, or going places we wouldn’t otherwise go. If He forbids something, it’s because to do it would hurt us, not because He wants to deprive us of something good. When we don’t totally believe that, by longing to be free from His restrictions, we harbor secret sympathy with the world.
7. Self-Confidence
This is the underlying belief that we’re sufficient to handle our day-to-day needs and can navigate based on our own strength and ability. A true expression of Godly confidence is “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Php 4:13, NKJV). Our confidence and testimony is in Him, not ourselves.
8. Pride
Pride is closely related to self-confidence. It seeks personal credit and directs glory from ‘good’ situations to ourselves. The opposite of pride is true humility which reflects total dependence on God and gives Him all glory. Pride denies our dependence on God, resulting in immeasurable personal cost. God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (Pr 3:34). Self-focus causes a great deal of our frustration when an otherwise apparently successful leader struggles to develop a flourishing ministry.
9. Unholy Thoughts
Tozer’s final enemy is a strong and insidious foe of God’s work. Our thought life is what ultimately manifests in our actions. Every act – holy or depraved – begins as a thought. Learning to control our thoughts is vital to our spiritual growth and eternal blessing. We can’t maximize our fruitfulness if we regularly entertain unholy thoughts. Paul says that we must learn to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2Cor 10:5).
Nine Hindrances to God's Greater Work in Our Business
Although constituencies and contexts differ between church and business, our enemies remain the same. Believers are peppered with ungodly influences on all sides. It’s well said that “If God’s work were unopposed, it would already be accomplished.” The first step in countering an enemy is to identify him and his methods. Here is a highlight of nine specific hindrances that can harm our workplace ministry and leadership:
1. Unbelief
How might unbelief hinder God’s work in our business? It can manifest in a number of ways, but perhaps the most damaging is not trusting in God’s complete sovereignty. We tend to think that God is in control of some aspects of our lives, but not all. How else can we comfortably explain our habitual sin or insensitivity to ministry opportunities? By maintaining this dualistic or schizophrenic divide in our thoughts and actions, we try to live out of two different value systems by not believing that Christ is Lord of all. This unbelief causes many who observe us to conclude that we’re hypocrites since they see us saying one thing while doing another. It also greatly diminishes our ability to see God working in our lives, thereby compromising the depth of our learning and faith.
2. Complacency
This may be one of the most devious enemies we face in this generation. We live in a time of such material abundance, with such freedom of worship and access to Christian teaching, that a subtle arrogance exists in American Christianity. It’s hard not to be complacent. The prosperity heresy heightens the problem by claiming that such abundance is proof of being specially blessed. Those enjoying great blessing are presumably just a bit more right with God than others. This is unbiblical. The fact is that abundant material resources aren’t a blessing as much as an increased stewardship responsibility. God doesn’t entrust us with much without expecting more from us (Lk 12:48).
3. Self-Righteousness
This is a danger for every leader. Since God has entrusted us with authority to be exercised in the normal conduct of business, we can easily develop the wrong idea. Although our leadership role is a gift from God, it can prompt others –particularly employees and suppliers – to treat us deferentially. They may tell us what they think we want to hear, rather than what we need to hear. Over time, this can lead us to think we have all the answers and that those who disagree are disobedient or less enlightened. We can easily become what the Bible calls “puffed up” (e.g., Hab 2:3- 5, 1Cor 4:6 & 13:4, 1Tim 3:6). Thinking that we’re the final authority in work-related matters can infect spiritual matters as well.
4. Fear of Man
This enemy limits God’s good works through our lives and severely hinders marketplace ministry. What else do we CEOs fear more than to be poorly thought of by our peers, stakeholders, and markets? The fear of appearing different, odd, or even radical shuts the mouth of many saints in the marketplace. The truth is that respect and reputation are built over time. Research has shown that those willing to consistently stand by their convictions actually tend to be more trusted. They’re more likely to attract than repel others with their consistency and submission to a higher authority.
5. Love of Luxury
The fear of man frequently combines with this fifth enemy to choke the flow of the gospel in countless day-to-day marketplace situations. The evil one whispers: “If you witness they’ll laugh at you! No one will want to be seen with you. Then what? They won’t do business with such a religious radical! You’ll lose your fancy home, car, and your head start on the ‘American Dream’! No more high life for you! You’ll be back to mundane living!” When we listen to the lies of the enemy, we choke back the very words the Holy Spirit urges us to speak. We justify it by saying we must protect our livelihood and that of our employees, but that’s also a lie from the pit! We can’t truly hurt anyone by obeying the Holy Spirit. God is the trustworthy sustainer of all that is.
6. Secret Sympathy with the World
This sometimes hidden, often subconscious, enemy can be tricky to identify. But we know it exists when we desire in our hearts to have freedom to sin the way the world promotes, like indulging in the sensual pleasures of the flesh. This is costly even when we stop short of actually indulging ourselves. Sometimes this enemy rears its head when we use business as an excuse to enter into compromising situations; doing worldly things we wouldn’t otherwise do, or going places we wouldn’t otherwise go. If He forbids something, it’s because to do it would hurt us, not because He wants to deprive us of something good. When we don’t totally believe that, by longing to be free from His restrictions, we harbor secret sympathy with the world.
7. Self-Confidence
This is the underlying belief that we’re sufficient to handle our day-to-day needs and can navigate based on our own strength and ability. A true expression of Godly confidence is “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Php 4:13, NKJV). Our confidence and testimony is in Him, not ourselves.
8. Pride
Pride is closely related to self-confidence. It seeks personal credit and directs glory from ‘good’ situations to ourselves. The opposite of pride is true humility which reflects total dependence on God and gives Him all glory. Pride denies our dependence on God, resulting in immeasurable personal cost. God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (Pr 3:34). Self-focus causes a great deal of our frustration when an otherwise apparently successful leader struggles to develop a flourishing ministry.
9. Unholy Thoughts
Tozer’s final enemy is a strong and insidious foe of God’s work. Our thought life is what ultimately manifests in our actions. Every act – holy or depraved – begins as a thought. Learning to control our thoughts is vital to our spiritual growth and eternal blessing. We can’t maximize our fruitfulness if we regularly entertain unholy thoughts. Paul says that we must learn to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2Cor 10:5).