Servant Leadership Practice--Honor Another

A while ago, it was called the "Yuppie Conundrum". Young, upwardly mobile people were confronted with others who weren't doing so well. They might be the homeless beggars on the street. It might be the person standing at the intersection with a cardboard sign. It might be the person down the street moving out of their home because they can't afford the mortgage. The "Yuppie Conundrum" exists because we know that many people are down on their "luck", not through any fault of their own, but because of economic cycles, mismanagement of companies by others, mergers and acquisitions and a multitude of other causes. If people can be knocked down just because they're in the wrong place at the wrong time, people can also be raised to higher lifestyles by being in the right place at the right time. And here's the conundrum: I want to believe that I'm doing well because I'm intelligent, talented, wise and wonderful, but my reason tells me that's not the true reason I'm here now.

Others will say that success comes when you're prepared for the opportunity when it arrives. Preparation doesn't guarantee success because the opportunity may never come.

Therefore, as you walk around today, realize that the others prepared for their success just as much as you have. They prepared differently. They prepared for different opportunities. You are not better than they are. Though you might think they work for you, the people WITH whom you work are intelligent, talented, wise and wonderful. It's amazing that you're allowed to work with them because they are really awesome people. You are honored to be with them. Show them some honor today. Be amazed that you are in their presence.

Gary Smalley in many of his videos and seminars holds up a battered violin in some disrepair, strings dangling from its neck. How we view people is often how we perceive this violin. It's worthless. Then he reads the name inside, "Stradivarius", and our reaction is often one of awe. Even in its current condition, that instrument may be worth $100,000. We now handle it gently and with care. We don't want to be responsible for further damaging something so valuable.

People are priceless and should be handled with care and honor.

For C12 and Truth@Work members, think about how you honor your employees as if they were Christ himself. Ephesians 6 asks us to do just that. No threats, no favoritism. We are all humble children of God, people worthy of honor.