Businesses have the opportunity to enhance the lives of people associated with the business - that includes co-workers, customers and communities. Businesses must be held to the highest standard of conduct. What is that standard?
Read more →“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. … No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” The Book
What single word best describes the value your business brings to the world? For me, the one word description for where I work is love.
To fully comprehend why it had to be love, a little background is in order. Most significantly, it is vital for you to understand why and how the company where I work came into being in the first place.
Not too long ago, I was visiting First Rate Afghanistan. One morning we closed up shop early—right before lunch. We took all our co-workers out to an enjoyable lunch. Then the fun really began.
We went bowling. In Kabul, Afghanistan! Guess how many of the fifteen had ever been bowling before that afternoon? (Hint: it’s very familiar in Afghanistan.) Zero. Not one had ever held a bowling ball, slipped on multicolored shoes, or tried making a strike or a spare.
At one of our annual customer conferences, one of our co-workers, Kate Baird, became aware that one of our customers, Donna, was going through an agonizing divorce. Kate decided we needed to love on her and take some action. A few weeks later, Kate gathered a couple other First Rate women to have a “Women’s Retreat”. Donna needed a place to get away from the continual stress and strain going on due to the pending divorce.
“Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence—and that you love your neighbor as well as you do yourself. But just how would you define ‘neighbor’?”
Jesus answered by telling a story. “There was once a man attacked by robbers. They took his clothes, beat him up, and went off leaving him half-dead.
Luckily, a priest was on his way down the same road, but when he saw him he angled across to the other side [...]
“Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This isn’t a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we’re in. If your child asks for bread, do you trick him with sawdust? If he asks for fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? As bad as you are, you wouldn’t think of such a thing. You’re at least decent to your own children. So don’t you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better?” Jesus of Nazareth, The Book
“You can always give without loving, but you can never love without giving”. Amy Carmichael
“You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.” Winston Churchill
Here at First Rate, we have a Chaplain.
The role of Chaplain provides the opportunity for First Rate to give to its employees, as well as giving to our customers. And it also allows us opportunities to give to the greater community as well.
So, why would we have a Chaplain on the payroll of our company?
“Do for others what you would like them to do for you. This is a summary of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.” Jesus of Nazareth, The Book
So Jesus got them together to settle things down. He said, “You’ve observed how godless rulers throw their weight around, how quickly a little power goes to their heads. It’s not going to be that way with you. Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not be served—and then to give away his life in exchange for the many who are held hostage.” The Book
Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. The Book
GOD hates cheating in the marketplace; he loves it when business is aboveboard. The Book
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
The Book
GOD, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing.
You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from.
True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction.
Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I’m not afraid when you walk at my side.
Your trusty shepherd’s crook makes me feel secure.
You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies.
You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing.
Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life.
I’m back home in the house of GOD for the rest of my life.
King David. The Book
“A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.”
Jesus of Nazareth. The Book
“Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God’s Law and Prophets and this is what you get.”
Jesus of Nazareth. The Book
“The kind of fasting I want calls you to free those who are wrongly imprisoned and to stop oppressing those who work for you. Treat them fairly and give them what they earn. I want you to share your food with the hungry and to welcome poor wanderers into your homes. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help.
The Book
