Proverbs at Work: Have a Mentor, Be a Mentor

“Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.” (Proverbs 19:20)

Obviously, owning a business takes a lot of time and hard work. However, there are numerous rewards in bringing an idea to fruition, seeing your dream become reality, and working with people who share your vision. Time and hard work are necessary for having a successful business. Worry and stress, however, don’t need to be.

God has provided advice on coping with both practical day-to-day issues and issues such as complex decision-making, by advising us to have a mentor. Whether you are on the start on your career path or have worked for many years, there is tremendous spiritual and practical wisdom in having a mentor.

Early in my business, I was fortunate to have a colleague who also owned a clinic. She gave valuable advice. She had been where I was starting. This also grew into a group of other business owners, and we mentored each other. We shared practical advice but also encouraged and supported each other. I have continued to keep in contact with my original mentor.

If you are just venturing into entrepreneurship, a new job, or a new responsibility, it is difficult to understand the impact the choices you make now will have in the future. However, someone who has been where you are can provide valuable advice and wisdom. A recent statistic indicated 68% of churched young adults identified the opportunity to receive advice from people with similar life experiences as very important.

Even if you have been working for many years, you may be at a stage where there are many decisions to be made and opportunities to decide between. A mentor can provide insight into what your decisions may mean to you and/or your family.

There are many benefits to having a mentor, such as having someone who:

1. You can discuss your present practices with.

2. You can develop a professional/peer relationship with.

3. You can learn from them because of their experiences (both successes and failures).

4. You can gain more detailed industry knowledge and personal contacts.

5. You can discuss ideas with them before implementing them.

6. Can provide you with a different perspective and understanding of your workplace.

7. Can hold you accountable.

This week, take time to consider the following questions.

1. Do you have a mentor with whom you can discuss business issues with and/or receive advice from? This is not your lawyer or accountant but someone whose advice you can seek on everyday work issues.

2. If you do not yet have a mentor, is there any particular reason why? Is this something which has not crossed your mind, or you did not think would be relevant or of value to you?

3. Looking back, can you see instances where it would have been helpful to receive input from someone who has dealt with a similar issue you were struggling with?

4. What kind of qualities are you looking for in a mentor? Write down at least 5 things you feel would be necessary.

5. Does someone come to mind who may be a mentor to you? One of the most essential qualities of a mentor is they love the Lord and spend a lot of time with Him. Ask God for wisdom to show you the person who can have this important role with you.

Taking This to God in Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word which gives me direction and confidence. You have said it is wise to listen to advice and accept discipline. Sometimes, I find it difficult to make decisions. Having a mentor to discuss issues with, and receive wise counsel from, would assist me in making decisions which honor You and bless others. Would You led me to the right mentor for me in this season? In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

May God richly bless you as you honor Him by taking Proverbs to work.

Bonny, Christian Women at Work

Expressing the Fruit of the Spirit at Work: Kindness

KINDNESS is defined by the Oxford Language Dictionary as: “the quality of being friendly, generous and considerate.” As we look at this next aspect of the Fruit of the Spirit, it might not be quite as obvious as to why this one is included for us Christian women to consider expressing in the workplace. However, the Message translation of our key text shows us the answer to this question:

“But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.” (Galatians 5:22-23 MSG)

Kindness for the Christian is demonstrating “a sense of compassion in the heart.” Not for the sake of just being kind, but by letting the Spirit give us this sense of compassion from deep within our very being. The heart in Jewish tradition referred to the whole person, so showing kindness with our whole being takes just a kind act to a deeper place. The heart of the matter is what matters to God, and to us as Christian women.

How would this look in our workplaces?

• When that client calls or comes in and is losing their temper, kindness the Spirit’s way doesn’t hold it against them, but continues to remain kind in our actions, responses and business dealings with them - each and every time.

• When an employee makes a big mistake, kindness the Spirit’s way is to deal with it in private with them, and to sincerely seek to understand why this happened by not jumping to conclusions. To keep calm, and speak in a kind way which shows you value them as a person despite their error.

• When you need to let a person go from your department or company, kindness gives them a written reference for what you can recommend them for, as well as their complete pay cheque of what is owing to them. Again, this should be done in private, and not in the middle of their shift. Kindness also does not have them train the next person taking over their position, nor would you give them immediate notice they aren’t coming to work again tomorrow. Kindness God’s way tries to kindly deliver this news while they still have 2-3 weeks of work, so they have time to prepare for this change.

Jesus was a great demonstrator of kindness the way God looks at it, and desires us to express it. He forgave those who harmed him, showed kindness to those from different cultures and backgrounds, and not only healed people, but left them better than they were before their encounter with Him. Even on the cross, He knew His mother would have quite the hard time coping with His death so He asked His closest disciple to take care of her. This is true compassion from the heart.

This week, Christians have just celebrated Easter, where the kindness and grace of God met our sin and transformed us forever more. Out of His loving kindness, Jesus went to the cross to bear the weight of our sins and pay the debt created by our wrong doings. When He rose and came back to life, He invited those who believe in Him to do the same - to die to their old self, and to rise to a new life following and living like Him. Such kindness, indeed!

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 ESV

One of the kindest women in recent history, Mother Teresa gave her life to serve the orphans and outcasts of India, and the following ‘kindness’ quote beautifully puts this Fruit of the Spirit into perspective.

“Let there be kindness in your face, in your eyes, in your smile, in the warmth of your greeting…Don’t only give your care, but give your heart as well.” - Mother Teresa

As you go throughout your day at work and at home, be sure to invite the Holy Spirit to guide you when you face situations where His kindness is the response God wants you to demonstrate. The Holy Spirit will help you respond from and with His heart for the ones in front of you.

May you offer God’s kindness to all you meet this week at work, and may you experience the blessings by doing so.

Karla Lees, Guest Blogger

www.karlalees.com

Take Proverbs to Work: Trust God & Leave the Judging to Him

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

I read the story about a little girl who had two apples. Her mother asked if she could have one of them. The little girl took a bite of one and then took a bite of the other. The mother was sorrowful that her daughter had done this, thinking she was keeping them to herself. The little girl handed her an apple and said, "This one tastes the best, Mommy, so I want you to have this one."

• How often do we judge others like this?

• How often do we make an assumption about behavior that leads to a judgment of character?

• How often do we say or do something because we have formed an opinion, feel they are doing something wrong, and feel we need to tell them?

If our answer is "a lot," then it is time to take a step back and remember and acknowledge that God is the Judge, and judging should be left to Him.

God tells us not to judge others. I am sure there are many reasons why God asks this of us. Besides the fact it is not our role, we cannot help but have underlying beliefs which affect our opinion. Judging others takes away our enjoyment of others as we spend time being critical of them instead of counseling or helping them. God expects us to decide if someone is being foolish so we can discern if their behavior would harm us or others. We are not to be judging them: that is to only be left up to God.

Ask God for wisdom if you find yourself in a situation where you find yourself judging someone. Make sure you are judging whether their actions are foolish or wise but not making a judgment about their motives. There is a difference. As a business owner, I must evaluate an employee's behavior, work accomplished, and work ethic. It is not my role to judge them as a person. There is a vast difference. I am responsible for forming an opinion or conclusion about their job performance, not them as a person.

Consider these 10 signs you may be judging someone:

1. You find yourself saying, "You should" or "I would"

2. You avoid people who disagree with you

3. You consider their behavior and not their heart

4. You gossip about them

5. You make a decision about whether or not they can change

6. You make a decision on what their motives are

7. You compare them to you

8. You do not feel compassion when talking to someone about your opinion of something they have said or done.

9. You forget you will be judged by the same standards by which you judge others

10. You do not pray before you decide to share your opinion

Taking This to God in Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, please forgive me for the times I have spoken words in judgment instead of words spoken out of kindness, love, and willingness to help. Please give me the wisdom to recognize if I am being judgmental as I prepare to speak to others. Thank you for the joy that comes from doing things Your way, not mine. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

May God richly bless you this week as you reflect on the seriousness of judging others.

Bonny, Christian Women at Work