I’m a fan of old time rock and roll! Real old time rock and roll. Although I love Elvis, The Beach Boys, The Righteous
Brothers, and others, most of my listening preference abides in the 70’s. This decade gave rise to groups such as Creedance
Clearwater Revival, Bachman Turner Overdrive, Led Zeppelin, Queen, The Eagles,
Kansas, Aerosmith, Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd, and so many many others. Ah, I love reminiscing, great decade, even
greater bands. Now, in your best
grandfatherly voice repeat this line, “They just don’t make music like they
used to back in my day....” This is truly
how I feel. Rock and Roll has indeed
come a long way, but they just don’t make it as they used to. In case you are wondering, and lest you make
a faulty assumption, I can clarify things a bit for you. Indeed, it’s true, I am an old head banger that’s
all grown up now. Yet, despite that fact,
and despite the fact that it’s just not as cool as it used to be to rock out with
the air guitar, or head bang with the air drums, there are some things you can
never remove from a person no matter how hard you try. One such thing for me, depending on the
subject, is having song lyrics from this great era frame the present reality. So,
as I read the second chapter in LFIO[1]
entitled In the Service of Mammon, a lyric from Pink Floyd’s song Money
played through my head. The lyric
goes like this: “Money, so they say, is the root of all evil today.”[2]
You know, maybe when Floyd sang this in 1973 they were on to something.
I say this because I have watched
over my life in leadership, some twenty plus years now, multiple times where an
organization or a company, a church, or a non-profit, even a person that was
well respected fell victim to serving the almighty dollar. Money is placed before family, friendships,
members, and everything else. Its acquisition
is the primary motive and so leadership becomes a game of keeping the one with
the deep pockets happy. “We can’t do
this or that because Mr. Money won’t be happy.”
Although other examples could be illustrated, all these give rise to the
one most damaging effect this has on any organization, which is that the organization
takes its eyes off their over-all goal. In
essence, it compromises the organization’s integrity. Yet, sadly, this damage is not always
evident, even to the leader or those in leadership, immediately. In fact, most often this is not evident until
the poison has infiltrated the entire organization. You see, “the basic test we all face...is whether
we have control over the power of money or whether the power of money controls
us.” [3]
So, is there a way to live in this
tension? Is there a way to live so that
the mammon (money as well as material possessions) in our organizations-whether
that is the church, a local non-profit, your business, even inside your own
family, does not control us? For me to live in this constant tension I need to go back to
the words of Scripture. I need to hear Jesus say:
“...do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about
your body, what you will wear. For
life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor
reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And can any of you by worrying add a single
hour to your span of life? If then you
are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they
neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not
clothed like one of these. But if God so
clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown
into the oven, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not keep striving for what you are to
eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. For it is the nations of the world that
strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these
things will be given to you as well. “Do
not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you
the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and
give alms. Make purses for yourselves
that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes
near and no moth destroys. For where
your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Luke 12:22-34 NRSV)
I need to hear
these words from Jesus because when it comes right down to it chasing the
almighty dollar is really a heart issue isn’t it. I need to be continually reminded of this. It’s as if Jesus comes and stands before me,
and most probably you as well, and says, “Do you trust me to be enough? Do you trust me to supply all your needs?” You see, when Christ shapes our reality, then
the promise is “And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to
his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians
4:19 NRSV) No longer does Mr. Money, be he a real individual or your imaginary traveling companion through this life, control the organization or my leadership there in. Rather leadership is placed on
the one who can handle it all, and supply it all. Leadership
is placed in the capable hands of Jesus Christ, freeing us to serve God as opposed to the idol of wealth.
Though countless more could be said on this important issue in leadership,
Today, these are just my thoughts from The Open Road.
[1]
Leadership From Inside Out is a book that is written by Wesley
Granberg-Michaelson. This book, as
stated in last week’s post, frames my reflections for the next ten or so weeks.
[2] Waters, Roger. "Roger Waters - Money lyrics.” AlltheLyrics.com.
http://www.allthelyrics.com/lyrics/roger_waters/money-lyrics-602091.html
(accessed February 20, 2013).
[3]
LFIO, 18
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