Issue 259
Based on Luke 10:25-37
This piece is part of a mini-series, within a series, looking at a world famous, life changing story.
When you go to work today, what questions will you carry in your mind?… How can I do this deal? How can I win this case? How can I satisfy this client? How can I make enough money? How can I please my boss? How can I teach this class? How can I make this table? How can I refit this kitchen? How can I repair this machine? How can I treat this patient? How can I buy this company? How can I lead, manage, relate, win, get-out, get-in, get on – or maybe, how can I make it through the day?
Not to mention the why’s, who’s, when’s, and what if we don’ts!
Each working day is filled with questions; they are real, powerful, and important. They are the stuff of life and not to be dismissed, relegated or ignored.
Questions characterise the beginning of the Jericho road. At first sight these are different questions to the ones already listed, but first sight is not always 20-20.
The Jericho road begins with a massive question – perhaps the biggest one of all “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” It’s certainly the right question, open enough for any answer. It could be answered “nothing, for there is no such thing as eternal life”. Many of your co-workers are living out that answer. It could be answered “I have no idea – take your pick”; others are living out that one, in turn. Again it could be answered “the five pillars” or “the eight fold path” or “Karma”, and some are living out those answers.. The questioner at the beginning of the Jericho road asked it as a test question. Why test someone? Jesus of Nazareth had something about him which provoked people to enquire. In fact he provoked people in all kinds of ways. He lived, worked and spoke in a style that stirred the souls, minds and spirits of those with whom he rubbed shoulders. In fact rubbing shoulders with Jesus was simultaneously dangerous and exhilarating.
So where are you with this question? Does your work style provoke people to ask this question? Is your method of achieving your aims so intriguing that people want you to explain?
You can’t manufacture this intrigue. It comes from following the one who started the whole thing off. The more you rub shoulders with Jesus, the more you will ask the question “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” The more you ask, the further he will take you down the Jericho road and the more you will connect this question with all your other questions. How can I do this deal, through to how can I make it through the day, will be answered in such a way that inherits eternal life.
The more you live out the answer, the more you will provoke others to ask you test questions. Some of the questions will be genuine; some just testing you for fun – no matter – it is the answer that counts. You might like to review whether your work style is exploring the question, living out the answer, and stirring up hearts and minds.
So when you go to work today, what question will you ask?
Luke 10:25-37
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'”
28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the Innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ 36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
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Work well
Geoff Shattock
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