9 December 2016
2 Peter 3:11 – 13
Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.
Years ago when my husband and I left a large company to strike out on our own, part of the rationale had to do with clients. When you are responsible for a large workforce, you don’t just worry about your own household, but every one who works for you. Sometimes that burden means you work for lucrative clients who aren’t very nice. Who aren’t very kind.
We left the large company and made a promise that we would try and work with clients who shared our belief system. We believed that nice and kind and considerate can happen in business. That you can… and should…treat the person answering phones at the front desk with the same respect as the CEO.
For the most part, we’ve been successful in our efforts. We’ve struggled when the Golden Rule is not held by the other side. When we were promised something over a handshake only to learn later that our ideas were appropriated without any compensation (or apology… “that’s business!” was the laughing response). And we’ve struggled with the aspect of considering a major job from a source we didn’t like, respect, or trust.
On the flip side, we once had a major project come from someone who worked her way through college as a front desk receptionist. Years later, when she was in charge of marketing for a major corporation, she sought us out. “I remembered how kind you were to me back then… and that’s who I want to work with.”
Being nice and kind and living holy and godly lives isn’t always easy. But when you see it returned, that’s a gift.