Torch, Summer 2003

continued from page 11 We can paraphrase Paul’s advice to Timothy by noting that we should approach our work with (1) realistic expectations and (2) real commitment. Whatever changes we face, it is a certainty that others will let us down, put us down, and/or keep us down. All have sinned and fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). Christians can keep their balance by avoiding the naive expectation that sinners at work will not sin at work. All our relationships should be bathed in prayer, a readiness to forgive, and a reliance on God’s provision rather than, simply, on human performance. And, Christians can commit themselves to authentic discipleship — grounded in God’s Word, allowing that Word to reprove and train us, committing to doing work that is good, benevolent, and profitable through God’s power. Coping with Change — and the Defeat it Brings II Timothy 4:5-7 (NAS) 5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith … As you review your recent past, you may well have faced defeat at a number of levels: your investment goals for your retirement fund may have taken a real hit in the stock market, your sales goals may have been missed, and your own workplace trials may have seemed dwarfed by the September 11 tragedies in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania. The future we face presents us with unannounced opportunities and unexpected problems. We can choose to exploit the opportunities or succumb to the threats. Paul ended his intimate and transparent letter to Timothy by recognizing that his own death was near (II Timothy 4:6), but also acknowledging that through all his trials (II Timothy 3:11), he had chosen in Christ to fight and finish in faith. Steven Covey articulates one of the seven habits of successful people as “beginning with the end in mind.” As we face the future, our goal should always be to choose to follow Paul’s “conduct, purpose, faith … and perseverance” (II Timothy 3:10), even as we encounter “persecutions, and sufferings” (II Timothy 3:11). I would encourage all of us to set our hearts on God’s rewards rather than on earthly riches or rewards as we seek to serve and please our Savior through His power and for His purposes. S haron Johnson, professor of management, is beginning his eleventh year at Cedarville University. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he serves as director of graduate programs and institutional research. He was selected Cedarville Faculty Scholar of the Year in 2001-02. With a publishing career that spans more than 25 years, Johnson is completing his tenth year as editor of the Journal of Biblical Integration in Business . He has authored numerous articles on church management, organizational behavior, and teaching. Johnson holds three degrees from Florida State University, including a D.B.A. in management. He and his wife, Cathy, have been married for 32 years and have three children, two of whom attend Cedarville University. COPING WITH CHANGE 14 TORCH / Summer 2003 T