It's not "all about Me"

Recently I watched a DVD of Craig Hill talking about the differences between employees and self-employed people, business owners and investors. Each category thinks differently. There was a lot said and I'm not going to go into it all. One thing that struck me is that employees think about their hourly wage or salary, their benefits, how many hours they will be asked to work, etc. It is a contract - I'll do my part and will receive the recompense. If we're not careful, the attitude can be like the name of a store we saw in S.A.: "It's all about Me."

When a person is self-employed the thinking has to change to what do I need to do for this business in order for it to not only survive, but flourish. This will likely involve long hours, little money and much sacrifice until the business is up and running well. At this point we have to "ask not what your country (business, church, family, organization) can do for you--ask what you can do for your country" (etc.).

As business owners the thinking gets stretched to creating systems and learning how to manage them. Investors think even more broadly and manage multiple businesses and systems.

We are studying Philippians in our small group and Phil 2:3-4 comes to mind for whatever stage we are in: "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others." This is contrary to our Adamic nature but Jesus gives us the grace to do this because He did it Himself.