Thinking Outside The Box

The human creature is one that is resistant to change. Many of us eat the same breakfast each day. We have a clothing rotation that we seldom change. We take the same route to the office each morning. And if the truth be told, we even sit in the same spot in our church sanctuary each Lord’s day. Same routine day in and day out. Month after month. Year after year.

As believers we have not been left on the planet to uphold the status quo but to be God’s change agents in the world today. Romans 12:2 (NIV) states, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will–His good, pleasing and perfect will.” What this passage suggests is that we break out of old patterns and habits by changing our thinking (“renewing of your mind”).

When it comes to operating our business in a Christian manner, do we operate only from a motivation of profit? Are you willing to think of “renewed” ways of serving your customers? Jesus thought outside the box when he:

- Redefined who the religious customer is: the paralytic at the pool (John 5); the deranged man living in the tombs (Mark 5); or the thief on the cross (Luke 23:42-43).

- Instituted new customer service policies: washing disciples feet (John 11); was patient with belligerent and scheming customers (Mark 15:1-5; Matthew 27:27-31; Luke 23:33-34)

- Did things against the norms of the day: forgiving a sick man of his sins (Mark 2:4-11); visited Samaria and talked with a woman in public (John 4); commuted the death penalty of a woman caught in adultery (John 8:3-11)

As Christians who are business leaders in Hawaii, God is calling on each of us to reflect upon how we can better serve the Lord through our business. Your business is your ministry! Is your vision restricted and restrained because your mind has not been recently renewed? The Lord desires to do a great work through you. Think outside the box of conventional business thought and embrace the words of the master in John 14:12 (NIV), “. . . anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these . . .”

(Article was originally written for Christians In Real Estate's Newsletter in Honolulu, HI)