“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11) Growing Dominion, Part 55 As we consider our responsibilities in the business and professional world, we have to begin by distinguishing different kinds of professional or vocational arrogance. The first is arrogance of an anti-intellectual sort-driven by the egalitarian assumption that anyone can …
Expertise
“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11) Growing Dominion, Part 54 Vocation is important in business, and when a man is called to his profession, one of the things that develops over time is expertise. “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall …
Sidelong Glances
“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11) Growing Dominion, Part 53 In the world of business and vocational callings, one of the hardest things for the Christian heart to mortify is the carnal reaction to what other people make. Even the ludicrous examples illustrate the principle. In a free country, …
Cliffhangers
“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11) Growing Dominion, Part 52 The universe is governed by personal law. It is not governed by impersonal forces. Up to and including gravity, everything operates the way it does because it is the will of our Father in heaven. Economic downturns, hardships, cash …
Fair and Unfair
“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11) Growing Dominion, Part 51 One difficult aspect of learning to operate your own business is the lesson of learning how to take your lumps. In dealing with the general public, a customer’s reactions will often be out of proportion when considered in the …
Not To Decide
“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11) Growing Dominion, Part 50 Now if you get more of what you subsidize, and less of what you penalize, then what follows from this? In our egalitarian age, one of the favorite responses to any intrusions of reality is to revolt against them. …
More of What You Subsidize
“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11) Growing Dominion, Part 49 One of the fundamental laws of life, and therefore of business, is that you get more of what you subsidize, and less of what you penalize. In every social context, certain behaviors are rewarded (in some way), and other …
Lower Half of the Class
“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11) Growing Dominion, Part 48 My father-in-law likes to joke that fifty percent of all doctors graduated in the lower half of their class at med school. And if there were a school that all businessmen and retail merchants had to graduate from, then …
Thinking Outside the Cliche
“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11) Growing Dominion, Part 47 Those who are interested in improving their performance in business will find no shortage of books offering to help along the way. The American market is glutted with “guru management” books of all kinds. Those who are interested in …
A Godly Customer
“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11) Growing Dominion, Part 46 One of the best ways for a merchant, tradesman, or businessman to determine if he is thinking biblically about his enterprise when he is managing it is through reflecting on how he behaves when he is a customer. We …