The Col 3:17 verse is used to imply that anything we do has to be done well since we are doing it for the glory of God. The 1Peter 4:11 verse is used to support this concept -- but does this mean 'quality' of work? Or, does it mean the intent to serve, even if the quality is low? The Greek that we translate in Col 3:17 as 'do' is the word poieo that is a broad-meaning word that conjures up the sense of making, building, authoring, to perform a promise or to carry out a set of instructions. The passage is about 'doing' not quality. Read more.

The meaning of the Beatitude "Blessed are the meek ... " sometimes is lost in the English translation of the Greek in that the Greek word that we translate as 'meek' is praus that refers controlled discipline as like a domesticated animal. Now, this doesn't imply that leaders are domesticated animals but rather as a domesticated controls its actions, how much more should leaders control their actions. This is the essence of James message in 1:18-20 in that we are first made in the image of God and second, if the first statement is true, we must live according to the righteousness that God calls us to. Of interest here is that the Greek we find for 'righteousness' is dikaiosune that is the same as we find in the Beatitude 'Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled' (Matthew 5:6). This dikaiosune implies a rich complex concept of having integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking feeling, and acting, according to Strong's concordance. Read more.

Is James telling us not to plan? Yes and no. James' admonition is of importance to leaders in that leaders are to plan for their organizations but not to plan for their own lives. Does this mean that we are not establish our 10-year plans for professional accomplishment? Yes -- and this is the key to this devotional. James' advice is that if we, as individuals, want to do something then we should ask God to wish it for us rather than for us to wish it ourselves. The reason for this is simply that when a person sets out to accomplish his personal will for his life he negates the opportunities that God provides. This is evident in the lives of people who sought their own success and achieved it yet comment that they feel like something is missing. Contrast this with the people who seem fulfilled in what they are doing and tell people that they would not have predicted a few years earlier that they would be doing what they are doing or going where they are going. The difference between the two types of people is that the first is planning and the second is preparing. Read more.

Paul's letter to Titus while Titus served the Church in Crete presents to Titus the qualities of leadership -- qualities and not gifts -- which are similar to what Paul presented to Timothy in Paul's letters to but still different enough to warrant discussion and contemplation. Of particular interest to this devotional is Titus 3:3 shown to the left in bold type (the whole passage of verses 1-7 show the context) in which Paul indicates that he and Titus were once with envy and the implication of the verse is that envy, along with other undesirable qualities should not be encouraged in the church at Crete. The focus of this devotional is the introspective look into what drives us to do what we do. Read more.

Devotional #5 -- contributed by Justin Irving
Perspective for Leaders on Wealth

“Do not be overawed when a man grows rich” (Psalm 49:16 [NIV]) To be a leader today often means having to be comfortable around people from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds. Psalm 19:16 provides a helpful reminder for leaders to “not be overawed when a man grows rich.” The Bible seems to be targeting the human tendency in our hearts to inordinately admire—or envy—those who are wealthy. Why is this tendency dangerous? Why is this warning especially relevant for leaders? Three answers to these questions come to mind. Read more.