Occupiers, 1% and Proverbs 11

Photo by My Pickz

As I read Proverbs 11 this morning, I was struck how the words strike a chord with current events of today, specifically in the age of Occupiers vs. the 1%.  How much would the world be different if parties on both sides followed and lived out this chapter?

"The Lord detests the use of dishonest scales, but he delights in accurate weights."
"Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people."
1%: You won't be facing criticism of making your money off the backs of the poor and the oppressed and be accused of using fear to get your way.

"Riches won't help on the day of judgement, but right living can save you from death."
1%: What are you doing with your riches?  Are you using it for right living?  You won't be depending on riches for happiness or fulfillment.
Occupiers: Are you aspiring for the riches the 1% has or are you working like an ant?  You won't be depending on riches for happiness or fulfillment.

"Without wise leadership, a nation falls; there is safety in having many advisers."
Occupiers: Does everyone have a voice or should there be a separation of those who are wise and those who should not be listened to?  Wisdom will shine through in interviews and solutions.
1%: Are you a power hungry CEO or do you have many advisers that you listen to and consult to make great policies and lead well?  By garnering the collective wisdom of a team, you will offset your personal weaknesses.

"Evil people get rich for the moment, but the reward of the godly will last."
"Give freely and become more wealthy, be stingy and lose everything."
1%: Who and what are you living for?  Are you leaving a legacy that will help others after you?  The bottom line will no longer just be a personal gain, but a gain for society.
Occupiers: Are you influencing the 1% to live a godly life or are you secretly want to be rich?  Develop a giving attitude early on and you will find it easier to give when you have wealth.

"Trust in your money and down you go!  But the godly flourish like leaves in spring."
All: Are we trusting in money?  Are we thinking that money will solve all our problems?  Are we striving to be more like Jesus?

I am reminded that in writing this that this is just not for two sectors of society - the 1% or the Occupiers, but for all of society - for me.  I believe that if these proverbs are followed, there will be an acceleration of the shrinking gap between rich and poor.   Society as a whole will be caring about the lives of people because they hold onto the sanctity of life.

But it will take more than just living a lifestyle - because it is evident through history that we can not do it with ideals.  This can only happen if we follow Jesus.

There are obvious many more ways to apply these verses - these are just my personal thoughts.  What do you think would the world look like if we applied Proverbs to our lives and followed Jesus' teaching?

Face to face communication here to stay

Although there are many online tools available to help with communication and collaboration, nothing replaces face to face communication. In this video, a leader of a virtual on-line company makes his case to employees at UPS that face to face contact can not be replaced.





I agree, there are things that can only be accomplished via face to face contact that not even Skype video chat can do. Recently, I went to a team meeting where we got to meet everyone face to face and have meetings that helped us move forward in vision and purpose. Not only did the direct communication between team members was valuable, we spent quality team building time doing fun activities that we can't do virtually (you can't arm wrestle over Google Chat).

This is a great case for conferences and off-site meetings and it can do wonders for a virtual team and communication with potential partners. And even though virtual tools can be used the majority of the time for communication within a team, face to face communication can not be replaced and be one of the team's channel of communication.

We Need You to Lead

... but people don't follow titles, they follow courage... And if you would just lead them to freedom, they'd follow you. And so would I.

William Wallace

After watching Braveheart the other day, I am reminded of Seth Godin's book, Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us, which I am currently reading. Tribes are groups of people connected to an idea with other people who follow a leader. A group is a tribe in waiting for a leader.

The Scots had a tribe leader, William Wallace, because he took the stand to lead a common cause - freedom. What is your tribe? What is your cause? And are you going to step up to lead? Because Godin argues that the best person to lead a tribe is you, because no one else will.

I agree - if there is a need for a tribe, a stand for a worthwhile cause, because there is no current tribe for it, it might be because you need to lead it for it to exist.

I think this is very applicable to many situations including campus ministry. For a new staff, a group is an MDA and to turn it into a tribe, it needs a leader. That leader may be you, or it may be a leader you will raise to lead that group so that it becomes a tribe.