We can easily find ourselves in a dangerous relationship with money. As caretakers (whether for children, parents, self-etc.), we know that money is spent on physical needs; It is also spent to support the church. However, that same money is not the currency of our spiritual needs. And yet our ultimate goal is spiritual perfection. (Philippians 3:12) How do we reconcile this? Did you know the Scriptures actually debunk many commonly believed "facts" about money? We do need money. Money is exchanged for goods and services we use to keep our physical bodies from perishing. And financial gain is one way God blesses us. Malachi 3:10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. Also Genesis 26:12-14. Having a lot of money does not make you rich. Revelation 3:17-18 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. Also Proverbs 10:22. Wealth does not measure spiritual status. Having riches does not make you inherently unrighteous. Having little does not make you inherently righteous, and vice versa. Psalm 37:16 A little that a righteous man has Is better than the riches of many wicked. The Lord speaking to Solomon in 1 Kings 3:12-13 behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. And Matt 25:24-27. The scriptures also lay out some very practical thoughts on finances. To gain riches, one must work steadily and purposefully. Proverbs 10:4 He who has a slack hand becomes poor, But the hand of the diligent makes rich. We should pay our debts. Romans 13:7-8 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. Whatever your financial goals, there is advice in God's Word. And let your ultimate desire be for heavenly treasures. In doing this, God has promised reward both in heaven and Earth. (Hebrews 13:5-6; 1 Timothy 6:6-12; Matthew 6:19-33) To attend a workshop with more information about Money Matters, please visit the Sister to Sister Lectureship Retreat Information Page!
By Undre Griggs, Jr Conflicts can arise among the closest of friends, family, and associates. Even the most trivial of matters have the ability to grow into something disruptive whenever strong feelings are involved. A leader’s ability to quickly resolve (or at least positively channel) these conflicts are essential to a team’s health. Proverbs 17:14 (NIV): Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out. Since conflicts are inevitable in every relationship, learning to deal with them in a way that is beneficial to all parties is crucial. When handled in a positive, constructive manner; conflicts provide an opportunity to grow and ultimately strengthen our bonds. At the root of most conflicts is the need for someone to feel they are being listened to, respected, and valued. An effective leader is going to foster an environment where each member of the team understands how they should speak to others. 2 Peter 1:5-7 (ESV): For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. Successful conflict resolution depends on our ability to: (1) accurately interpret verbal and nonverbal communication, (2) control our behavior and emotions, (3) pay attention to the feelings of others, and (4) be aware of and respect our differences. James 1:19 (ESV): Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; One of the more difficult aspects of conflict resolution is our ability to restrain ourselves from escalating an issue further. When we perceive someone is disrespecting us, it is hard for us to keep from reciprocating. However, to resolve a conflict, we should remember; a soft answer turns away wrath, while hard words stir up anger (Proverbs 15:1). While not always enjoyable in the moment, let us focus on extinguishing the flames, not kindling them.
By: Undre Griggs, Jr Imagine someone you believe to be a great leader. They could be someone you personally know or they could be someone you read about or admire from afar. It is likely they each have a few core traits that helped lead them to success. It may be their drive, willingness to learn, and their ability to leave their comfort zone. They may be forward thinking and adventurous; willing to challenge the status quo. But what does the Bible say makes an effective leader? We will explore this over the next couple of months as we list the top ten (biblical) traits of an effective leader. An effective leader provides a vision that benefits the whole more than the self. If a leader appears to frequently make decisions where they are the primary beneficiary; people will grow weary and dissatisfied. Effective leaders are willing to help people improve their performance and they are willing to invest in their success. Oftentimes, leaders do not want to invest in the betterment of their team because it can be expensive, time consuming, and even considered a waste of time by some. Those who are humble will find the time and motivation to develop their team’s success. Philippians 2:3-4 (NASB): Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. When a leader esteems his or her team greater than themselves, they will make sure their team is equipped for victory. Effective leaders will ensure proper training takes place and they will make sure the voice of the team is heard. Effective leaders will reward their team and share the credit during accomplishments; while taking the blunt of the criticism during failures. Whether that person is an executive, team captain, or face of an organization; they build honor among the organization as they continue to make decisions that benefit the whole more than the self. Proverbs 22:4 (ESV): The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life. No matter the success we find in life, we should remind ourselves that we all start out in the same place. We start with little to no knowledge and someone was willing to teach and invest in us. Realistically, whatever leadership position we obtain required someone to take a chance on us. Romans 12:3 (NIV): For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. We would do well to remind ourselves that all good things come from our Father in heaven. Since He took the time to think of us before Himself, He sent His son to die on the cross in our stead. Without His son, we would be lost and dead in our trespasses. While we do not have the ability to make this significant of an impact in someone’s life, our humility will make a memorable impact. Let us continue to esteem, encourage, and train the next generation of leaders as we were when we were in their place.
By: Undre Griggs, Jr. Effective communication is essential for any leader. We use communication as means to better understand each other as well a tool to share information. Communication can be used to influence and connect with those around us as we try to motivate and encourage action. Oftentimes, it is not what we say, but how we say it that people remember and respond to. Colossians 4:6 (ESV): Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. A leader who communicates graciously will build respect and trust among their team members. Through their clear direction and careful choice of words, a leader can foster an environment where problems are solved, compassion is shared, and creative ideas flourish. Conversely, a lack of effective communication will lead to conflict and frustration in both professional and personal relationships. Proverbs 12:18 (ESV): There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. To be an effective communicator, we must pay attention to the verbal and non-verbal signs emitted from ourselves and others. We should also pay attention to our team’s stress level and have a high emotional awareness when engaging them. People receive and respond to information differently, so we need to make sure we are considering the most effective ways to share the information. A visual learner may have difficulty listening to someone present information without visual attachments. On the other hand, an audio learner may find the visual attachments confusing and distracting. The important thing to always remember is communication is collaborative, not self-sufficient. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (ESV): Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Leaders understand their success depends heavily on their support apparatus. They understand communication is a two-way process that involves exchanging ideas, not dictating them. While not always easy, creating an environment of effective communication will significantly improve our ability to exchange thoughts and ideas.
By: Undre Griggs, Jr. Imagine someone you believe to be a great leader. They could be someone you personally know or they could be someone you read about or admire from afar. It is likely they each have a few core traits that helped lead them to success. It may be their drive, willingness to learn, and their ability to leave their comfort zone. They may be forward thinking and adventurous; willing to challenge the status quo. But what does the Bible say makes an effective leader? We will explore this over the next couple of months as we list the top ten (biblical) traits of an effective leader. For someone to be an effective leader, people must be willing to follow them. Generally speaking, we find people are willing to invest in someone or something they believe in. The best salespeople will usually be selling a product they believe in and personally own. The people willing to follow someone tend to have the same mindset; they must believe in what the person is saying. One of the easiest ways to accomplish this is by always telling the truth. Proverbs 16:28 (ESV): A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends. The culture a leader creates will disperse among the team; as either a benefit or detriment to the overall success. If the leader is dishonest, there will be divisiveness and a lack of trust. People will be uncomfortable repeating or acting on the information the leader provides. They will be unsure if someone says something contradicting what the leader told them; because they know their leader is unreliable. On the other hand, if the leader is honest, there will be inclusiveness and fewer arguments. Everyone will be on the same page because the leader has told everyone the same thing. The vision will be clear because it does not change with the audience, nor does anyone dare lie because they know it will be evident to all. Proverbs 19:9 (NIV): A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will perish. Honesty comes down to expressing our intentions and then keeping them. A leader has to be willing to hold themselves and their team to their word. It is no different than a parent raising a child. If a parent wants to make sure their child acts a certain way, they should behave that way themselves. They have to incentivize the constructive actions and discourage the damaging actions. The best way to accomplish this is with our personal example; as it is always the strongest testimony people will react to. If a leader wants to build a culture of honesty, they must start by being honest themselves. Ephesians 4:25 (NKJV): Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. An honest environment is an environment where people are more concerned about each other than themselves. For a leader to successfully create an honest environment, everyone must be willing to speak and hear the truth. There can be no favoritism, no exceptions to the rule. Whether you are the leader or the intern, whether you started yesterday or have been there from the beginning; everyone should be held accountable to the vision the leader set forth.
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Dean Road
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