As you all know I am a pharmacist working in a retail setting. This involves dealing with the public. I look at my job as if it's my ministry. Lately I've been mulling over this question in my mind, and I'd like to hear your thoughts. Is the customer always right?
Discuss.
Showing posts with label job. Show all posts
Showing posts with label job. Show all posts
Tentmakers in the Bible: Joseph
"You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you. And Pharaoh said to Joseph, See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt." Genesis 41:40-41 (ESV)
Jospeh is a great Biblical example of the tentmaker priniciple. He had a day job - it just so happened his job was to run the whole country of Egypt. And he leveraged his day job for God's glory.
Jospeh is a great Biblical example of the tentmaker priniciple. He had a day job - it just so happened his job was to run the whole country of Egypt. And he leveraged his day job for God's glory.
Here's what I've learned from Joseph:
- He was a visionary.
- He dealt with adversity - a lot!
- He had a tremendous work ethic.
- He was trustworthy and reliable.
- He was humble - quick to give God the glory instead of taking it for himself.
- He was transparent - people could see God in him.
I could go on and on, but I think I've made my point. Joseph was a stud!
What other traits do you see in Joseph that impress you?
A Tentmaker's Influence
As I mentioned in my last post, there was a point in my life when I was really torn between pursuing vocational ministry or pharmacy. During this time, God showed me a professional could indeed have a powerful influence on others for Christ. This occurred, of all places, at the funeral of my friend's father.
My friend's father was the district attorney and his death was sudden and unexpected. He was an elected official who did not allow politics to influence his faith, but vice versa. He often came under attacks from those who didn't care for his faith-based principles, however they couldn't keep him from being re-elected. He walked his talk.
Allow me to summarize his funeral:
My friend's father was the district attorney and his death was sudden and unexpected. He was an elected official who did not allow politics to influence his faith, but vice versa. He often came under attacks from those who didn't care for his faith-based principles, however they couldn't keep him from being re-elected. He walked his talk.
Allow me to summarize his funeral:
- 2000+ plus were in attendance (it was standing room only in the overflow rooms and more people were outside and couldn't get in).
- Attendees included members from the govenor's office, national and state lawmakers, the mayor's office, police and fire chiefs.
- For miles on ahead of his motorcade, people stood outside their cars by the side of the road to show their respect.
- An altar call was given, and many, many, many people came to Christ after hearing about this man's personal testimony.
This man obviously had influence. Not the political influence so many sell their souls to get, but genuine, righteous, God-inspired influence that people see and respect. I kept asking myself "If this guy were a pastor, would this many people be here? Would all these officials be here? Would the city people respond as they have today?"
I'm not slighting pastors in the least. I'm merely saying, unless they pastor a mega-church, their sphere of influence is limited to their church and community. A tentmaker's sphere can include their church, community, co-workers, company, vendors, customers, etc, etc. Tentmaker's are poised to reach more people if they have to mind to do so.
How many people could you possible include within your sphere of influence?
What's a tentmaker?
First off, welcome to my blog. I'm truly honored you have shared a few moments of your time with me.
So, what exactly is a "tentmaker?"
Acts 18:3 reveals a little snippet about the Apostle Paul's life that I find extremely fascinating. The Message says it like this:
Yep. Paul, at one point in his life, had a day job. A regular 9 to 5'er. However, he didn't merely toil at making tents for no reason. Rather, he leveraged his profession to advance the Gospel.
So, to answer the question, a "tentmaker" is someone who has a career and a passion to let God use them in their career to further the Gospel. Like Paul, God may call them to vocational ministry, or not. The point is, a "tentmaker" uses their career as a propellant for ministry.
What about you? What is your career, and how do you see God using you as a "tentmaker?"
So, what exactly is a "tentmaker?"
Acts 18:3 reveals a little snippet about the Apostle Paul's life that I find extremely fascinating. The Message says it like this:
"Paul moved in with them (Aquila & Priscilla), and they worked together at their common trade of tentmaking." (emphais mine)
Yep. Paul, at one point in his life, had a day job. A regular 9 to 5'er. However, he didn't merely toil at making tents for no reason. Rather, he leveraged his profession to advance the Gospel.
So, to answer the question, a "tentmaker" is someone who has a career and a passion to let God use them in their career to further the Gospel. Like Paul, God may call them to vocational ministry, or not. The point is, a "tentmaker" uses their career as a propellant for ministry.
What about you? What is your career, and how do you see God using you as a "tentmaker?"
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