Print this pageExtreme Makeover: Life Edition | Career Makeover (Part 2) | July 23-24, 2005 |
Ephesians 6:9
And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him. [NIV]
Ephesians 6:5-8
Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. [6] Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. [7] Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, [8] because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. [NIV]
1 Kings 12:1-7
Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all the Israelites had gone there to make him king. [2] When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard this (he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), he returned from Egypt. [3] So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and the whole assembly of Israel went to Rehoboam and said to him: [4] "Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you."
[5] Rehoboam answered, "Go away for three days and then come back to me." So the people went away.
[6] Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. "How would you advise me to answer these people?" he asked.
[7] They replied, "If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants." [NIV]
Colossians 4:1
Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven. [NIV]
Leviticus 25:43
Do not rule over them ruthlessly, but fear your God. [NIV]
Matthew 7:2
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. [NIV]
Matthew 18:23-35
"Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. [24] As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. [25] Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
[26] "The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' [27] The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
[28] "But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded.
[29] "His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'
[30] "But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. [31] When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.
[32] "Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. [33] Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' [34] In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
[35] "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart." [NIV]
HOW TO SURVIVE AT THE TOP OF THE FOOD CHAIN:
The Two Traits Every Follower Wants In A Leader
Proverbs 20:28
Love and faithfulness keep a king safe;
through love his throne is made secure. [NIV]
1 Corinthians 13:1-4
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. [2] If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. [3] If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
[4] Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. [NIV]
Psalm 15:1-4
A psalm of David.
Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
Who may live on your holy hill?
[2] He whose walk is blameless
and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart
[3] and has no slander on his tongue,
who does his neighbor no wrong
and casts no slur on his fellowman,
[4] who despises a vile man
but honors those who fear the Lord,
who keeps his oath
even when it hurts, [NIV]
HOW TO THRIVE AT THE TOP OF THE FOOD CHAIN:
Five Powerful Questions
1) Am I setting an example?
1 Peter 5:1-3
To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: [2] Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; [3] not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. [NIV]
2) Am I treating people as I’d want to be treated or as I was treated?
Luke 6:31
Do to others as you would have them do to you. [NIV]
Proverbs 29:21
If a man pampers his servant from youth,
he will bring grief in the end. [NIV]
3) Am I willing to remove the rebel or poisonous personality?
Proverbs 22:10
Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife;
quarrels and insults are ended. [NIV]
Proverbs 20:26
A wise king winnows out the wicked;
he drives the threshing wheel over them. [NIV]
Ecclesiastes 7:21-22
Do not pay attention to every word people say,
or you may hear your servant cursing you--
[22] for you know in your heart
that many times you yourself have cursed others. [NIV]
5) Do I take responsibility & share credit?
Daniel 9:4-19
I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed:
"O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his commands, [5] we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. [6] We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.
[7] "Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame--the men of Judah and people of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you. [8] O Lord, we and our kings, our princes and our fathers are covered with shame because we have sinned against you. [9] The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; [10] we have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets. [11] All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you.
"Therefore the curses and sworn judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against you. [12] You have fulfilled the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing upon us great disaster. Under the whole heaven nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem. [13] Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us, yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth. [14] The Lord did not hesitate to bring the disaster upon us, for the Lord our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him.
[15] "Now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for yourself a name that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong. [16] O Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem, your city, your holy hill. Our sins and the iniquities of our fathers have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn to all those around us.
[17] "Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, O Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. [18] Give ear, O God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. [19] O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name." [NIV]