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&In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths&

That's Business"

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A few years ago when Duke Power Company decided to change the company who they sub-contracted their electrical work from a local company named Y.C. Ballenger Company to a company based in North Carolina, there were a lot of people put out of work.  Now, I have never worked for either Duke Power or for Y.C. Ballenger, but as I read about this decision in the newspaper it really touched my heart.  As I read it, all I could think about were all those people losing their jobs and how that they and their families would suffer from this decision.  I mentioned this to a man who works with me and I shall never forget his reply.  Without a moments hesitation he said, "That's business".  This man of whom I am speaking claims to be a Christian and yet he showed absolutely no feeling for all those who were about to lose their jobs.  As far as I know, neither Duke Power nor Y.C. Ballenger claim to be a Christian based company and to them it may very well be business, but in any case it's bad business.  I don't have an inside view of what actually brought on the decision to make the change, but I have had several opportunities to see first hand how business was carried out between these two companies.  I personally have had a power pole moved and power connected to my house.  When this work was done, there were three Duke Power cars which came out to my house and then one Y.C. Ballenger truck.  While the two men from Y.C. Ballenger did all the work, the three men from Duke Power who came in three separate cars, just stood and talked.  The men from Y.C. Ballenger finished their work and left while the men from Duke Power stayed around and talked for quite awhile and then they finally left.  I had another opportunity to see this same type of work done at the plant where I work, with the same type of work - watch ratio, except on a larger scale.  The point I'm making here is that if Duke Power was desiring to make for a more efficient company, they were making the wrong changes.  As I have said though, as far as I know, neither of these companies claim to know the Lord.

About a year ago, I was talking to a man at work who had become a member of a certain church.  I won't name the church, but the man was all excited about the fact that he had made it into the choir.  He said, "I thought I would always have to sit on the back row, but now I'm in the choir, right up there in the front."  Now, I don't really know his reasons for wanting to be in the front, but I thought that to be a very poor testimony for that church.  A church is not meant to be a social club where one is either in or out.  Also, the only business the church is supposed to be in is the business of the Lord.  When the mother and father of Jesus found Him in the temple after three days searching for Him and asked Him why He had left them, He replied, "How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?"  Now friends, That's Business.

Yesterday, I got a report that both shocked me and troubled me.  A certain school teacher who teaches at a Christian School was informed that she would not be coming back to teach next year.  The reason for this "business" decision was because this teacher decided that she wanted to join another church.  This decision was in no wise based upon this teacher's ability.  I personally know that this teacher happens to be one of the best teachers not only at this school, but also for this school.  This decision was in no wise based upon this teacher's conduct.  As far as I know, there has never been a complaint lodged against this teacher and many whose children she has taught have had the highest of praise for her.  This decision in no wise had to do with her attitude, for to see this teacher whether with the children or without them, you can see the spirit of a true Christian about her.  This teacher has been nothing but an asset to not only this school, but to the countless children whose lives have been blessed by her and to their parents as well.  This decision also was not based upon a rule that all the teachers be members of this particular church, for there are others there who are not members there.

Friends, it's bad enough when the world sacrifices the lives and livelihood of others in the name of business, but when a group of people claiming the name of the Lord Jesus Christ take it upon themselves to do the very same thing it is right up there with what the Lord called an abomination.  It's time that people who claim that Holy name to come to the realization of just what the business of the real church is.  We, as God's children, which is the church are the bride and body of Jesus Christ and we are left here on this earth for one reason and one reason only.  That reason is to be an extension of His work here on this earth.  That work in no wise involved tearing down, but building up.  That work in no way involved a social club.  This work has everything to do with seeking those who are lost and leading them to the Saviour.  This work has everything to do with the building up of the body of Christ.  Any other business has nothing to do with Him.