Issue 034
What makes you who your are? Lots of people go to work to make
something of themselves. They want to make a difference or an
impact. They certainly want to make a living – some want to make a
name for themselves, or maybe a company great. We even have our
phrases such as ‘he is a self-made man’ or ‘she’s made it’ or ‘he’s made
a fortune’. But while we’re busy making things, what makes us?
If you listen to the experts you will hear some famous phrases:
Physiologists, like myself, tell you “You are what you eat”, which is true.
What makes us what we are, is what we eat. Sports physiologists will
add “Use it or lose it”, referring to our need to exercise or lose our
physical health and strength. In this sense what makes you is what you
use. Physiologists and psychobiologists, which incidentally I also am,
will tell you that “what you think – you are”. Here they agree with
Solomon who said, “What a person thinks, so he is.” So what makes us
is what we think.
I also happen to be a theologian. Something which you won’t see in
the management journals is found in Psalm 115. Solomon’s father
David, speaking about people who make idols of silver and gold, says,
“Those who make them will be like them.” So what makes us is also
what we worship.
So what do you make of this? If it is true then it changes everything –
when you and I go to work it is to be part of our worship. What we
eat and use will be seen in the light of our bodies being temples of the
Holy Spirit. Our thoughts must be taken captive for Christ and nothing
or no one will be worshipped but him.
As we worship him our minds are renewed our bodies invigorated and
our emotions healed. This makes us what we are. This will enable us
to make something of our lives. It will empower us to make a
difference, an impact, and a living.
When the prodigal son came home he changed his words from “Father
give me” to “Father make me”. If you want to make something of your
life today at work it might be worth turning the prodigal’s words into a
prayer.
Psalm 115
1 Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.
2 Why do the nations say, “Where is their God?”
3 Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.
4 But their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men.
5 They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but they cannot see;
6 they have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but they cannot smell;
7 they have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but they cannot walk; nor can they utter a sound with their throats.
8 Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.
9 O house of Israel, trust in the Lord – he is their help and shield.
10 O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord – he is their help and shield.
11 You who fear him, trust in the Lord – he is their help and shield.
12 The Lord remembers us and will bless us: He will bless the house of Israel, he will bless the house of Aaron,
13 he will bless those who fear the Lord – small and great alike.
14 May the Lord make you increase, both you and your children.
15 May you be blessed by the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
6 The highest heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth he has given to man.
17 It is not the dead who praise the Lord, those who go down to silence;
18 it is we who extol the Lord, both now and forevermore.
Praise the Lord.
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Work well
Geoff Shattock
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