Examine Your Ladder

Winston Churchill once said, "There are two things that are more difficult than making an after-dinner speech: climbing a wall which is leaning toward you and kissing a girl who is leaning away from you." Interesting insight!

Speaking of leaners, what is your workplace ladder leaning on? Stephen Covey wrote that "If the ladder is not leaning against the right wall, every step we take just gets us to the wrong place." We all work to get to the top of the ladder, don't we?

But what's at the top? What does it look like up there? If you could get there today would you be fulfilled? Will it be worth the long career-journey you are on if, in fact, you make it to the top?

We often reduce our work-lives and the rich potential of the hours and days the Lord gives to avenues of mere self-achievement. We position our career-ladders against walls that lead nowhere. Even Christian employees can work all their lives and get to the end of their vocational road just to ask, "Is that all there is?" They ultimately discover that the ladder had been leaning against the wrong building all along!

So the question for your consideration this morning is...what is it exactly... specifically... honestly...that you are trying to achieve at work?

When Jesus told the affluent, young, influential man to go and sell all he had and give it to the poor and come follow Him, He was essentially causing the man to identify what he really wanted out of life. (Luke 18:22) It really wasn't so much about money; it was about what he wanted in life at the core of his heart.

Today's Workplace Challenge:
Don't try to kiss the girl who is leaning away from you. And don't try to climb the wall that is leaning toward you. But whatever you do, abandon workplace pursuits that, once finally obtained, leave you hollow, and seriously unfulfilled.

Want what God wants for your career. Surrender your workplace purposes to God's purposes for you and pursue a passionate love relationship with Him that allows Him to position the base and the tilt of your ladder wherever He wishes!

Do so, and the journey along the way is blessed and meaningful. And when you get to the top, you simply fall into His arms for all eternity... and that's better than any kiss, retirement package, prize or other reward!

Make today count! Examine your ladder and where it's leaning!

Dr. David Cox - The Other 6 days
WB Journal