MARKET PLACE FORUM JULY #31 2017
JULY CASE NOTES:
See Kow:
Writes, I am very discouraged. Determined to make a good start, from the first day in my new job I make it a point to smile to my colleagues and make known that I am a Christian. So, I thought that instead of saying ‘thank you’ I would say’ Praise the Lord.’ To my surprise I found people are avoiding me. Some begin to sneer at me behind my back. Must I continue to ‘bear the Cross’ for my Lord? I want to give up my marketplace ministry.
Please advise See Kow
ADVISE FOR MARKET PLACE FORUM JUNE #30 2017
JUNES CASE NOTES:
Lai Yon:
His dilemma
Lai Yon works in an insurance company, he is happy to know there are Christians in the same company he is keen to do his marketplace ministry and his cell prayed for him in his new adventure.
The next week Lai Yon came back very frustrated & puzzled. He was working hard on a client helping him to decide on a life policy. Suddenly he found another colleague had ‘cut in with a better offer’ and he lost his sale. On the same day, Lai Yon received an invitation from this colleague to join him in the office prayer meeting. Should he attend?
How would you advise Lai Yon?
***** ***** *****
Here are your suggestions:
Kong, Melaka
Lai Yon needs support from his church cell to encourage him not to be discouraged in his desired ministry as a marketplace ‘minister’. He needs wisdom & love to work with other Christian brethren so try to clear up the misunderstanding.
***** ***** *****
Kim, Perth
First, one must find out whether his colleague knew about him working with this client before passing judgment. He was happy that there were other Christians working in the same company so there would always be competition between Christians and non-Christians in the workplace. So one must accept it whether it comes from a Christian or a non-Christian colleague to get a deal. One must try to get a sale by offering the best for one’s client so that no one cuts you out. This is not a perfect world and everyone wants to make a living and insurance is a very competitive environment. I believe Lai Yon should attend the prayer meeting. His colleague may not know that he was working with the said client. If he wants to clarify the matter he can ask his colleague about it after the prayer meeting. If after the prayer meeting the matter cannot be resolved he can follow the bible teaching of getting one or two colleagues to have another meeting. If this fails he can then ask a Pastor or an Elder of the Church to mediate.
***** ***** *****
Rev. Gary, Perth
The first key
Lai must make the decision to make this experience a stepping stone not a millstone which holds him down and back. We sadly live in a hostile environment of humanity and one where ethics are a rare commodity and that includes those who claim to be followers of Christ in the church. This is mostly caused as the lines between right and wrong are not taught from the Word of God and for many is not the final word on how we should conduct our lives. Not all who claim Jesus is Lord is in fact LORD.
The second key
When dealing with Christians: if they behave like a crook treat them like a crook, i.e. you do not apply trust; and in all your dealings handle them with the wisdom of God’s word: Be gentle as a dove and wise as a serpent. A fatal error is to treat such people as how you would like them to be. A Crook is A Crook, A theft is A Thief, you do not give them the keys to the safe in the bank.
The third key
Establish the integrity and character of the person in question and this requires you actually following the model set out in the Word of God. Confrontation is something most shy from. Why? Because confrontation without out-of-control anger will require us launching from a firm foundation of who we are in Christ, and also us having faith in God’s Word.
The fourth key
It is imperative we understand CONFRONTATION is NO COMFORT ZONE, yet it’s a pathway all who truly follow Christ will journey whilst here on earth. God never avoided man’s sin nor ignore or pretend it was not there. He dealt with “the problem” and “the person” and (the nations at times). Matthew 18:15-17 lays out a clear path for how to confront:
The fifth key
Be prepared to not be received well and be willing to disconnect from the person who rejects the approach. i.e. walk away dusting off your feet and not looking back i.e. putting the incident as far as the east is from the west. Forgive and move on without the person in question in your inner circle. Peace at all costs is not peace! Living life this way is the door way for abuse to enter and bring a world of troubles and grief. It is critical that doorway be shut tight and locked down and kept that way.
Closing Thought: It is said life is a Rose Garden. True but never forget its full of thorns so be careful where you place yourself.
***** ***** *****
Peter Chee, Perth
He should go to the prayer meeting and when there is an opportunity talk to the friend in private and express his feelings to him. Then bless his friend in his insurance business.
***** ***** *****
From the Editors:
We would advise YL to attend the prayer meeting.
• He has felt a call to witness in his workplace and to do that it is important that he be linked with the other Christians in his office.
• So the first task for YT in his marketplace ministry is to bring peace & unity among the brethren.
• He should try to clear up the difficulty with his Christian colleague by seeking an opportunity to have a one to one talk to explain to him about the incidence. Seek clarification whether he realised that he had ‘taken away’ his customer. But make it known that you desire to seek his friendship and want to work together to bring Christian witness in the office. In order to bring an amicable result YL needs to have much prayer support from his church cell members, seeking God’s grace for him to show love & humility.
• In the event that if the man does not see it wrong to ‘steal’ another colleague’s customer, YL must pray even more fervently for him and try to reach him with love and patience. This then becomes his first assignment to bring in righteousness in the life of a Christian brother.
