My guess is that you probably work in a rough and tumble environment that is antithetical – even hostile to the character of God and to your new nature in Christ. Given the winner take all ethos of many work places, it is all too easy to be dominated by the fear of men. How easy, it would be, for example, to look at those in positions of power and authority over us, and view ourselves and them as did the ten spies who scoped out the Promised Land: We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them." (Num. 13:33b)
So, how do we, as Christs followers live righteously and fruitfully in a marketplace that usually militates against kingdom values? For the next several weeks, we will seek to answer that question as we consider a number of the attributes of Gods and their bearing on our lives as we live out our profession and calling.
If we can grasp the Supremacy of the One who holds us in the palm of His hand and determines the course of our lives, the fear of man will diminish, and we will learn the remarkable solace of resting in His supremacy. (See Jn. 10:28, 29; Pro. 21:1)
The good news is that:
The Supreme One, who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world (I Jn. 4:4).
Jesus reassures us to Take heart! I have overcome the world (John 16:33b)." (See Rom. 8:37; 1 Jn. 5:4)
The Scriptures remind us of the Fathers supremacy in stating, [God is] our Father. We are the clay, you [God] are the potter; we are all the work of your handYours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all (Isa. 64:8b; 1 Chronicles 29:11, 12). (See 2 Chron. 20:6) (See Dan. 4:34, 35; Rev. 4:11; 5:12,13; 7:12)
One day presidents, popes, emperors, and yes, CEOs will surrender to his supremacy: At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phil. 2:10b, 11). (See Rom. 14:10-12)
Whatever the jostling and power plays of the marketplace, whatever the economic tension, whatever the decaying moral conditions, our lives are neither the product of blind fate nor the result of capricious chance, but every detail of them was ordained from all eternity, and is ordered by the living and reigning God. Not a hair of our heads can be touched without His permission. In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps (Pro. 16:9). 1 What assurance, peace, and strength this should give you, His sincere follower. (See Pro. 19:21; 20:24; Isa. 46:10; Jer. 10:23)
Perhaps our prayer should be: Lord, my times are in your hands, therefore let me rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him (Psa. 31:15; 37:7). Today Lord I acknowledge your Supremacy not only in my life but in the world around me. I choose to rest in the fact that nothing escapes your knowledge and supreme control. I choose to believe that you have your glory and my best interests at heart.
1 The Attributes of God Arthur W. Pink, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids MI, pg. 31