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  • SERVE IN SILENCE, TRANSFORM THE WORLD

    SERVE IN SILENCE, TRANSFORM THE WORLD

    When we think about leadership, our minds often go to people with names we quickly recognize, as well as people holding positions of power: kings, generals, presidents, CEOs, and others at the top levels of their profession. We perceive them as the individuals who give the orders, cast the vision, define the mission, direct those who report to them. We regard leaders as “the boss,” people who are in charge.

    However, the Bible shows us a different model for what leadership should be. In the Scriptures, we have the incomparable example: Jesus, who the Bible tells us, “Did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

    True leadership does not come from a title or a position, but from the daily choice to serve. It is noticing those around us, seeing who is struggling, extending a hand to those who have fallen, and offering words of encouragement at the right moment. Often, these gestures go unnoticed. They do not earn applause or social media posts. But in the eyes of God, nothing is invisible. He knows those who are “recognized as rulers of the Gentiles who lord it over them” (Matthew 20:25), and those who lead with humility and hearts of a servant.

    In the Old Testament, we have the example of Joseph, who remained faithful even while forgotten in prison, serving with excellence until God lifted him up to be instrumental for the people of Israel. And in the New Testament, Barnabas, called “the son of encouragement” (Acts 4:36), did not seek the spotlight, but his encouragement was essential for Paul’s ministry. We can serve in silence and transform the world.

    Leadership according to God’s heart generates trust and security, inspires others to grow, creates caring environments, and forms disciples.

    A recent sermon reminded me of this. In 1934, Mordecai Hamm was preaching in a tent in Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.A. His message caught the attention of two 14-year-old young men. When they arrived, they saw the tent was full and decided to leave. But a deacon, sensitive and attentive, ran after them. He had no title as a preacher; he was not scheduled to stand behind the pulpit, but he had the heart of a servant. He found space, asked a few people to squeeze together, and secured two seats. That night, these teenagers gave their lives to Christ. Their names? Billy Graham and Grady Wilson.

    For most people, the name of that deacon has been forgotten, if it was ever known. But his action paved the way for millions to be reached through the ministry of the Rev. Billy Graham. This is the power of servant leadership: It does not seek the spotlight, yet leaves an indelible, eternal legacy.

    Jesus taught the principle of servant leadership this way: “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:26-28).

    The lesson is clear: Serving others increases our influence – not for recognition, but to inspire and raise up other leaders. Every act of care and encouragement is a step that transforms cultures and sparks movements. Decide today to be a leader who serves – do not wait. Make a difference now!

    © 2025. Erenia Mendoza is the National Director of CBMC Brazil and a member of CBMC International’s Global Leadership Team. She also serves on CBMC’s Executive Committee for Latin America. Born in Nicaragua and raised in Brazil, Erenia built her career in the entertainment industry, specializing in distribution and marketing for films and series. She has worked with and for major studios, including Sony, Walt Disney, and Warner Bros., across Latin America.

    Reflection/Discussion Questions

    1.    If someone were to ask you to define or describe leadership, what would be your response? Has the message of this Monday Manna changed your mind at all?

    2.    Now consider the term “servant leadership.” Have you heard of that before? What does it mean to you, being a servant leader?

    3.    Can you think of any examples you have encountered – directly or indirectly – of leaders who have served faithfully behind the scenes, making a tremendous impact on their sphere of influence? People who have always seemed to be focused on others more than themselves?

    4.    What do you think Jesus Christ meant when He talked about becoming a servant to be great, and becoming a slave to be “first”?

    NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more about this subject, consider the following passages: Mark 10:45, Luke 22:25-27; John 13:4-17; Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 8:9; Philippians 2:3-8

    Challenge for This Week

    How would you evaluate yourself in terms of servant leadership? When you lead, do you impose your authority on others, or is your primary goal to serve and help others to excel in the work that they do?

    This week might be a good time to pray about how God would want you to lead, in whatever capacity you have been given. Share your thoughts with a close friend, a trusted advisor or your CBMC group if you are part of one.

    Matt Trayler

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  • High Capacity, Low Surrender?

    High Capacity, Low Surrender?

    The modern marketplace runs on giftedness. Strategic thinkers. Visionary entrepreneurs. High-performing executives. If you can move the needle, you’re given the platform. Your résumé becomes your brand. Your results become your worth.

    I’ve met leaders who can close the deal in the morning, turn a profit by lunch, and still have time to headline a conference before dinner. They are the kind of people others look at and think, That’s the standard. And in purely business terms, it is. But in Kingdom terms? Not necessarily.

    Because Jesus tells us in Matthew 23:19, the gift isn’t what makes something sacred. The altar does.

    He was talking to religious leaders who had it backward. They were obsessed with the gift, how polished it looked, how impressive it sounded, while neglecting the altar. And the altar is where something dies. It’s where ambition is laid down. It’s the place of surrender, where your offering becomes holy precisely because it is laid down.

    That’s not just temple talk from the first century. That’s Monday morning reality in every boardroom, startup pitch, or quarterly review from Quito to Tainan and Miami to Abuja.

    I’ve lived this tension. The skills I honed during my years in the public sector—command presence, decisive leadership, the ability to perform under extreme pressure—were considered workplace gold. Those skills got me noticed. They opened doors. And for a while, I used them exactly the way the world told me to: to climb ladders, to earn approval, to prove I belonged at the table.

    And it worked. On paper, I was winning. But in the quiet moments, I realized those gifts, left to themselves, were empty. They didn’t carry eternal weight.

    Everything changed when I laid them before Christ. When I stopped asking, ‘How can these serve me?‘ and started asking, ‘How can they serve Him?’ That’s when my leadership stopped being transactional and started becoming transformational. The same instincts that once built my career began building people. The same drive that once secured my position began advancing His Kingdom.

    That’s the pivot point: surrender.

    Because here’s the truth, your talent doesn’t become sacred just because it’s successful. A gifted leader can exceed every target and still miss the Kingdom. A visionary entrepreneur can scale their business and never glorify God. Even generosity can become self-serving if it’s about optics, not obedience.

    When you place your work, your strategy, your deal-making, your influence, on the altar of God’s purposes, everything shifts. It stops being about personal gain and starts being about eternal impact. Your leadership becomes worship. And that’s the difference between temporary applause and a lasting legacy.

    I’ve seen leaders with extraordinary capacity become a bottleneck to Kingdom work because they refused to surrender what God had given them. High capacity without high surrender is a dangerous combination—it feeds pride, isolates you from accountability, and blinds you to your true mission.

    To receive a gift is grace. To sharpen it is stewardship. But to lay it on the altar? That’s worship. That’s where your leadership becomes sacred ground.

    So here’s my challenge: Take an honest inventory of your gifts, your influence, and your platform. Ask yourself—are these tools in my hand to build my name, or are they on the altar to magnify His?

    Because in the end, only what is placed on the altar will last.

    © 2025. C.C. Simpson is dedicated to fostering a bold and triumphant Christian faith within the global marketplace, driven by a deep conviction in the Gospel’s transformative power. Before becoming President of CBMC International, Chris dedicated 28 years to a distinguished career in the public sector – as a Commanding Officer in the U.S. Marine Corps; and serving in the U. S. Secret Service, responsible for protecting seven American presidents and leading elite teams in complex, high-stakes international missions. With his wife Ana, Chris resides in Boca Raton, Florida.

    Reflection/Discussion Questions

    1. What gifts or abilities has God given you that you are tempted to use for personal recognition and advancement, rather than for Kingdom purposes?
    • What would it look like to lay those gifts on the altar today – fully surrendered for God’s glory, not for yours?
    • Where in your leadership have you focused more on impressing others than serving them in Jesus’ name?
    • In what ways are you using your influence to encourage and strengthen others in their relationship with Jesus Christ – rather than to build your own platform?

    NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more about principles it presents, consider the following passages: Matthew 6:33, 16:24-25; Mark 10:45; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

    Challenge for This Week

    So here is the question for today: Are you leveraging your gifts for your name, for your honor and recognition – or for God’s? Are you stewarding your role in the workplace for earthly gain or eternal reward? Because only what is placed on the altar will last.

    What practical step can you take to begin turning your workplace into an altar, not just an office? Think about discussing this with someone this week – a trusted friend or advisor, or perhaps your CBMC group.

    Matt Trayler

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  • The Challenge of the Workplace ‘Shepherd’

    The Challenge of the Workplace ‘Shepherd’

    Of all the terms used to describe leaders, among the least-mentioned is “shepherd.” Have you ever heard a leader – your boss, another company’s top executive, or even yourself – referred to as a shepherd? If so, you are in a small minority. However, for those who are striving to follow Jesus Christ, the shepherd role is part of our job description.

    Very few of us have actual experience as a shepherd, so it is difficult to comprehend what God expects when He encourages us in the Bible to be good shepherds. But that is exactly what He does. In the book of Jeremiah 23, for example, God gives a glimpse of the contrast between a bad and a good shepherd. Through the prophet, Israel’s leaders were warned, “‘You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds,’ declares the Lord” (Jeremiah 23:2). The leaders had demonstrated their failure as shepherds.

    In that same chapter of Jeremiah, we find three primary ways God instructs us to be good shepherds. The first challenge is: To care diligently and even sacrificially for our flock. When God calls us to lead and care for our team members, He desires for us to consider what is best for them, not just what serves for achieving our self-interest. This is what the leaders of Israel had failed to do.

    Our second challenge is: To create a peaceful and safe environment for your team. Working directly with customers can leave some employees fearful and anxious. If they do not feel adequately supported by management, this lack of support can result in fear and anxiety and undermine trust. When other members of our team are striving to do their best, they need to know that, to borrow the phrase, “I’ve got your back.” In other words, I will come to your defense if necessary.

    In Jeremiah 23:4 we read, “‘I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing,’ declares the Lord.’” Sheep are naturally timid animals with no means to defend themselves. They must rely on their shepherd. In a similar sense, if you desire to see your team members thrive emotionally, you need to create a peaceful environment where they feel supported and protected.  

    Our final challenge is: Being able to retain the people God has called to your team. Much earlier in my career in the financial industry, I had a person working for me who became verbally abusive and rude to many of our team members. But I faced a dilemma: This person was adding significant value to the organization in other ways, causing me to move slower than I should have in confronting his abusive behavior. 

    Because I was slow in responding, our workplace environment became toxic, a very unfriendly place to work. As a result, a number of good people left the organization before I finally determined to address the problem appropriately. This was a painful but important learning experience for me. 

    Jeremiah 23:1 provides these words of caution that we should take to heart today: “‘Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!’, declares the Lord.” To retain good people, we not only need to care for them, but also address any challenging people and circumstances promptly before they cause significant distress for our “flock.”

    © 2025, Unconventional Business Network. Adapted with permission from “UBN Integrity Moments”, a commentary on faith at work issues. Visit www.unconventionalbusiness.org. UBN is a faith at work ministry serving the international small business community.

    Reflection/Discussion Questions

    1. When you hear the term “shepherd,” what comes to mind? Have you ever heard it used within the context of the typical work environment? If so, in what sense?
    2. What are some other words used to describe leaders? Think of terms that are used both in positive and negative ways. In your own role as a leader – whatever capacity that may be – how do you think you are (or should be) described?
    3. Describing people as “sheep” might seem like an insult, but as Isaiah 53:6 indicates this description is justified. It says, “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way.” What do you think that means – especially as it applies to us as human beings?
    4. How important is maintaining a safe, supportive working environment for maximizing productivity, as well as for worker satisfaction and building camaraderie?

    NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more about this subject, consider the following passages: Psalm 23:1-6; Ezekiel 34:16; Luke 15:3-7; John 10:1-15; 1 Peter 2:24-25

    Challenge for This Week
    What do you know about sheep and their behavior? This week might be a good time to do a little research and learn about the characteristics of sheep, how basically helpless they are when in danger, and how dependent they are upon their shepherd.

    Then, consider how effective you are as a shepherd of others you oversee or work with every day. You might discuss this with a friend, trusted advisor or mentor, or your small group to determine how you can become a better shepherd for your team or colleagues.

    Matt Trayler

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  • Where Are You Going To End Up?

    Where Are You Going To End Up?

    Can you envision preparing to take a business trip but having no idea where you are going – or why you are going there? Sounds ridiculous, right? Because it is. When planning to travel, whether for business or personal reasons, we usually have a destination. Unless we are just responding to an adventurous impulse and decide to go for a drive, we first determine where we are going and for what reason.

    Many people, however, do not conduct their lives in the same way. They embark on their journey through life with little idea of where they are going, how they are going to get there, why they are going, or even how they will know when they have arrived. As I heard someone observe recently, “Everybody ends up somewhere, but few end up somewhere on purpose.”

    Most of us get up each morning and go to work, whether our own business, a large corporation, or small company. But have you ever asked yourself, “Why am I going to work?” One reason, of course, is to earn a living. Monthly payments on a house or an apartment, maybe a car payment, utility bills, groceries, and other essentials all require money. But would it not be more fulfilling to proceed to work knowing you had greater intentions than only to earn a paycheck?

    A verse from the Old Testament book of Proverbs addresses this: “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18). There are several applications of this principle, but without vision – a greater sense of purpose behind our vocational pursuits – we can easily become as cynical as the author of Ecclesiastes who said, “‘Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.’ What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?” (Ecclesiastes 1:2-3).

    How do we gain vision, a broader sense of why God has placed us where we are, with the gifts and talents we possess? I think it starts with understanding that although He did not have to do so, the Lord has chosen us to be active participants in His work. In 1 Corinthians 3:9, for example, we are told, “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.”

    Think about it – being “fellow workers” with God! Imagine receiving a personal phone call from a famous executive and being asked, “Would you be willing to help me with an important project?” Then, multiply the magnitude of that question a million times, since God wants us to be working with Him.

    Writing and editing have always been my career. I spent the first 10 years as a newspaper editor. But if I had asked myself “why?”, most likely I could not have given a very good answer. Then I read a Bible verse that God seemed to have designed specifically for me. It read, “My heart is overflowing with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King; my tongue is the pen of a ready writer” (Psalm 45:1). 

    Suddenly I had an answer to my “why?” The Lord had given me unique abilities, passion, gifts, and experience to serve Him as a writer and editor. Monday Manna, this weekly workplace meditation created to help business and professional people discover how to integrate their faith in the marketplace, is just one of the ways I strive to do that.

    What has the Lord uniquely equipped you to do? We know one thing for certain: As followers of Jesus, we are “ambassadors for Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20). The question we must each answer is, “How can I be that ambassador most effectively and fruitfully where God has placed me?”

    © 2025. Robert J. Tamasy has written Marketplace Ambassadors: CBMC’s Continuing Legacy of Evangelism and Discipleship; Business at Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today’s Workplace; Pursuing Life With a Shepherd’s Heart, coauthored with Ken Johnson; and The Heart of Mentoring, coauthored with David A. Stoddard. Bob’s biweekly blog is: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com.

    Reflection/Discussion Questions

    1. When you are intending to go somewhere, how detailed is your planning? Do you seek to have a clear understanding of where you are going, how you want to travel, and what you hope to accomplish when you arrive? Explain your answer.
    2. Why do you think many people are not as precise and particular about charting the course their lives will follow? What are some of the problems with simply letting life “happen,” without a vision for where they want to go and what they hope to become?
    3. Have you ever started a workday and thought, like the writer of Ecclesiastes expressed, “Meaningless! Everything is meaningless”? Whether that has been your own feeling, or one being felt by someone you know, how would you go about trying to change that sense of futility?
    4. When you read that “we are God’s fellow workers,” what thoughts go through your mind? Is that a good thing, in your opinion? Why or why not?

    NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: 1 Corinthians 10:31; Ephesians 2:10; Colossians 3;17,23-24; 2 Timothy 3:16-17

    Challenge for This Week
    This week, try to set aside some time to consider the ‘what’ and ‘why’ of your work. Do you have a clear vision of where you are going, what you hope to achieve along the way, and how you will know that you are on the right course?

    You might get with some good friends, a mentor, or some trusted advisors to discuss this. What are their perspectives, not only for you but also for themselves? Do you know where you are going to end up – and why?

    Matt Trayler

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  • Being Repurposed, Not Replaced

    Being Repurposed, Not Replaced

    For many of us in the marketplace, our work – what we do – is a large part of our identity. What impact should it have then when striving to incorporate faith into how we carry out our vocational responsibilities? We find the best example in how Jesus Christ addressed this when choosing His closest followers.

    When Jesus called Peter and Andrew, He did not strip them of their identities. “And He said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men’” (Matthew 4:19). Jesus did not say, “Forget everything you know.” Instead, He spoke into their vocation as fishermen and redefined it: “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” In essence, He was saying: Everything you’ve been shaped by – your skills, your instincts, your daily grind – I can use that. But now, for something eternal.

    Jesus did not replace their identity; He repurposed it. And this is precisely how He calls us today. We often assume that following Jesus means walking away from the career, the training, the story we have lived up to this point – as if being His disciple requires starting from scratch. But that is not the Gospel. The call of Christ is not to abandon our past, our skills, our experience, but to surrender them. It is not about becoming someone else – it is about letting Him redeem who we already are.

    God has sovereignly authored your experiences, your gifts, your network, your education, and even your struggles. To discard them would not only be wasteful – it would be unfaithful. It would imply that God has not been at work all along preparing you for usefulness in His Kingdom. But He has been at work. Always.

    I witnessed this firsthand during my time with the United States Secret Service. The mission was demanding: to secure environments, protect lives, anticipate threats. I took that mission seriously. But I began to realize that God had not called me out of that mission to serve Him – He had called me to filter it through my faith.

    One day, deep in the Cambodian jungle, we were preparing for a visit by the First Lady, the President’s wife. It was an advance site. But God had other plans. That day became the starting point of forming a Gospel-centered relationship with another agent from New York. That conversation, born out of professional proximity, turned into years of mentoring, prayer, and discipleship – until the Lord ultimately called my friend and fellow agent to his eternal home. The whole thing unfolded not in spite of my profession, but precisely through it.

    This is how Jesus Christ works. He does not waste a moment of your story. The very things you thought were secular, irrelevant, or “just your job,” might in fact be the very instruments through which He calls others to Himself. So don’t think the invitation to follow Jesus means leaving everything familiar behind. It means placing everything you are and everything you have been given into His hands – and trusting Him to repurpose it for His glory.

    You were gifted for a reason. You have been placed where you are on purpose. To separate your calling from your context is to misunderstand both. The call of Christ is not to discard your story; it is to declare a new purpose over it: Same hands. Same instincts. But…New mission. New Master.

    © 2025. C.C. Simpson is dedicated to fostering a bold and triumphant Christian faith within the global marketplace, driven by a deep conviction in the Gospel’s transformative power. Before becoming President of CBMC International, Chris dedicated 28 years to a distinguished career in the public sector – as a Commanding Officer in the U.S. Marine Corps; and serving in the U. S. Secret Service, responsible for protecting seven American presidents and leading elite teams in complex, high-stakes international missions. With his wife Ana, a native of Nicaragua, Chris resides in Boca Raton, Florida. 

    Reflection/Discussion Questions

    1. In what ways has your career prepared you for Kingdom impact—perhaps without you realizing it at the time?

    Follow-up: How might your current skills, relationships, or position be uniquely positioned for Gospel influence right now?

    2. Jesus repurposed the disciples’ vocation rather than replacing it. How might this challenge our assumptions about what it means to “serve God” in the marketplace?

    Follow-up: Have you ever felt pressure to separate your faith from your work? Why do you think that divide exists?

    3. Reflecting on your own story, where do you see signs that God has been at work “redeeming, not discarding” your past?

    Follow-up: What part of your professional journey do you now view differently because of your faith?

    4. What would it practically look like to “filter your mission through your faith” in your industry or company?

    NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: Genesis 50:20; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 7:17; Ephesians 2:10; Colossians 3:23-24

    Challenge for This Week
    Are there conversations to be had, decisions to be made, or relationships to be established or strengthened this week through which you can intentionally start to live out these truths? That God does not want to replace your identity, or re-place you somewhere else, but to repurpose who you are, what you do, and where you are to be actively engaged in His Kingdom work?

    If you know of someone who seems to have a good understanding of what it means live out his or her faith in the workplace, you might want to set a time to meet and talk about what they have learned.

    Matt Trayler

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  • Mastering The Art Of Delegation

    Mastering The Art Of Delegation

    Delegation. For some people it is easy, but for others it can be very difficult. ‘If you want something done right, do it yourself!’ they reason. When you are accustomed to doing work yourself, it can be challenging to turn over valued projects to others. However, often there is more work to be done than one person could possibly accomplish. So, here are four steps I have found helpful in learning to delegate some of the work burden to others.  

    The first step is: Recognize and admit you need help. We find a good example of this in the Bible’s Old Testament. After Moses had spent a very long day judging legal cases brought before him, his father-in-law, Jethro, cautioned, “What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone” (Exodus 18:17).

    Moses had never considered delegation previously but quickly recognized its value. If you have experienced some very long days at work lately, ask yourself, “Is there work I should be delegating?” 

    The second step is: Teach your team members your guiding principles and expectations. Bill was a bank president known for his clean loan portfolio. He prided himself on having very few past due loans. If a loan payment was one day late, Bill expected his lenders to call the borrower – that day! His high standards established an expectation different from anything I had previously experienced. 

    In Exodus 18:20, Jethro directed Moses, “Teach them (God’s) decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave.” By training your team to understand your values and expectations, fewer problems will arise that you must resolve.

    The third step is: Choose capable, honest, and trustworthy people. When I was a young commercial lender, my boss and I hired a new executive assistant. On her first week I assigned Brenda a project that could have taken an entire week. Within one day, Brenda had finished a week’s worth of work and had completed it perfectly. Our new assistant proved to be honest, professional, and trustworthy. My trust level in Brenda soared and I discovered the power of delegation. She had significantly lightened my load. 

    As Jethro told Moses, “But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain”(Exodus 18:21). Hiring the right people is critical for successful delegation.

    The fourth step is: Establish an effective organizational structure and begin delegating. Bill was the president over five branches. He divided the bank’s operations between retail and commercial. I led the commercial side. Every Monday, Bill assigned me a stack of files and required me to set a date for completion. If they were not completed, Bill would call. The bank prospered – and he enjoyed more golf. 

    Completing his recommendations, Jethro told Moses, “Appoint (capable men) as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you” (Exodus 18:25). 

    As your business grows, you will need an accountability structure and a willingness to delegate the work. By distributing responsibilities equitably, no one will feel overwhelmed – and you still can have the final word when complex or difficult circumstances arise.

    © 2025, Unconventional Business Network. Adapted with permission from “UBN Integrity Moments”, a commentary on faith at work issues. Visit www.unconventionalbusiness.org. UBN is a faith at work ministry serving the international small business community.

    Reflection/Discussion Questions

    1. How would you describe what it means to delegate responsibilities, whether in the workplace or even in a home environment? What are some challenges in doing this?
    2. When it comes to delegating work assignments, how easy is that for you to do? How have you felt if someone was unwilling to delegate work that you were fully capable of performing?
    3. What are some of the problems that can arise when work is not properly delegated?
    4. Why is establishing a level of trust important in the process of delegating work responsibilities? What happens when people fail to live up to the trust given to them? Are they deserving of getting a second chance? Explain your answer.

    NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: Deuteronomy 1:9-13; 2 Chronicles 19:5-7; Proverbs 11:14, 27:17; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

    Challenge for This Week
    Are you a person who likes to be in control, who would rather do work yourself than to delegate to ensure it is done to your standards? In many instances there is nothing wrong with this, unless you are taking too much on your own shoulders.

    Take time this week to evaluate how well you do at delegating assignments, not only to lighten your own load but also to prepare others to do the work when you are not available to do it. It might help to discuss this with a trusted friend, mentor, or accountability group to get their perspectives.

    Matt Trayler

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  • Looking For Wisdom In All The Wrong Places?

    Looking For Wisdom In All The Wrong Places?

    We are living in a time of virtually unlimited information. We can access it through TV, radio, social media, books, periodicals, and it is literally at our fingertips on the Internet. Because of all this information we can acquire great amounts of knowledge. However, masses of information and knowledge do not always translate into wisdom.

    What is wisdom, anyway? One definition says it is, “the ability to make sound judgments and decisions based on deep understanding of situations and experiences, often involving knowledge, good judgment and the ability to discern what is right or true.” This sounds good, right? But how do we gain this ability?

    A young businessman, aspiring to achieve significant corporate success, approached his mentor – a man he regarded as wise – and asked, “How do you acquire wisdom?” “Through experience,” the wise man replied. “Then how do you gain experience?” “Through making good decisions.” “Well, how do you learn to make good decisions?” The wise man quickly replied, “By making bad decisions.”

    This is funny – and true. But is making mistakes the ideal way for gaining wisdom? One place where we can look for wisdom – which I believe to be the best place – is the Bible. In fact, several Old Testament books are called ‘books of wisdom,’ including Job, Psalms, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes. The most quoted of all is Proverbs, which makes this declaration about wisdom: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7).

    Even a casual glance at our world seems to confirm this. Politicians, business leaders, entertainers and other prominent people, operating without a biblical worldview, fit how the Old Testament describes the ancient Israelites: “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6 and 21:25). This was not wisdom, it was foolishness. And it remains the same today as well.

    Most of Proverbs is attributed to Israel’s King Solomon, who was termed the wisest man who ever lived. He explained the proverbs were “for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, for doing what is right and just and fair” (Proverbs 1:2-3).

    If this is true, do you think it might be a good idea to read Proverbs and discover what it teaches? Many people have resolved to read one chapter of Proverbs every day. This way, since the book contains 31 chapters, the entirety of Proverbs can be read in a single month; 12 times over the course of a year.

    Proverbs offer wisdom on many topics, such as restraining anger; being an effective leader; accepting correction and discipline; receiving wise counsel and guidance; having discernment and exercising prudence; dealing with envy and jealousy; avoiding sexual temptation; cultivating generosity; working diligently; pitfalls of pride and benefits of humility; striving for integrity and honesty, and many others.

    Ultimately, they all are anchored in “the fear of the Lord.” This does not mean approaching God with dread. It means recognizing His perfection, power, love, and goodness. Proverbs says fearing the Lord is wise, just as fear widely keeps a person from venturing too close to the edge of a high cliff. More than that, the fear of the Lord offers the assurance of experiencing a fulfilling, fruitful life:
    “The fear of the Lord leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble” (Proverbs 19:23).
    “Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life” (Proverbs 22:4).

    © 2025. Robert J. Tamasy has written Marketplace Ambassadors: CBMC’s Continuing Legacy of Evangelism and Discipleship; Business at Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today’s Workplace; Pursuing Life With a Shepherd’s Heart, coauthored with Ken Johnson; and The Heart of Mentoring, coauthored with David A. Stoddard. Bob’s biweekly blog is: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com.

    Reflection/Discussion Questions

    1. How would you differentiate information and knowledge, which we have in great abundance – perhaps more than ever in the history of humankind – with wisdom, which often seems lacking?
    2. Who would you identify as a person who demonstrates great wisdom? Why do you consider that individual to be wise? In what ways have you seen him or her exhibit wisdom in how they work and live?
    3. Early in the first chapter of Proverbs we read the statement, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” What do you think this means? Do you agree with it?
    4. In what ways would you contrast worldly wisdom – which is presented to us every day through various sources – and biblical wisdom?

    NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: Proverbs 2:6, 3;13-15, 10:14-15, 12:8, 14:6,8, 15:7,33, 16:16,21, 17:24, 19:8

    Challenge for This Week
    If you were to decide today, ‘I want to start acquiring wisdom. I want to be wise in how I work and live,’ how would you go about doing that?

    In your life to this point, what are some of the wisest things you have learned? Take time this week and discuss this important topic of wisdom with a close friend, mentor or small group of trusted advisors. What are some ways you need to have and learn how to exercise more wisdom? Who is someone you consider to be wise that might be helpful to you?

    Matt Trayler

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  • God Provides For Needs “In Its Season”

    God Provides For Needs “In Its Season”

    In the Scriptures, we read that God promised His people that if they walked in His ways, He would give them “rain in its season” – and with it, the fruitfulness of the land (Leviticus 26:3-4). Not instant reward. Not on-demand outcomes. But blessing, in its appointed time, according to what was fitting, according to His divine wisdom. This truth still governs the marketplace today.

    God does not operate according to our calendars or expectations. His actions are never delayed, never rushed, never misaligned. He moves in absolute harmony with His will, according to what is fitting in the scope of eternity. And that is deeply uncomfortable for us. We are trained to measure value by deadlines and deliverables. We prize speed. We reward early achievement. But God is not bound by our urgency. His promises are not transactions; they are covenantal promises. His timing is not mechanical; it is precise. And His movements are not arbitrary; they are appropriate.

    This is the test of faith for every leader: Are we willing to yield not only our ambitions but also our expectations? Much of our frustration in leadership and life does not stem from failure; it stems from mistimed desire. We demand results on our schedule and call it “vision.” But what if the waiting is not punishment? What if it is preparation?

    That is why patience is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). It is not a passive disposition. It is Holy Spirit-empowered endurance. God gives patience because He knows what we cannot see – how formation must precede fruit. How roots must deepen before harvest arrives. Waiting is not weakness. It is the strength to trust when everything in you wants to act. As Isaiah 40:31 promises: “They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

    Daniel Tan, a Christian agricultural engineer in Malaysia, spent years developing a low-cost irrigation tool to serve rural farmers. He believed it was from the Lord, an innovation to restore dignity and open doors for Gospel witness. But for five years, there was nothing. Government delays. Lost funding. Silence in response to his prayers. Then, in year six, a non-government organization discovered Daniel’s prototype. Within months, the tool was in use across Southeast Asia, paired with biblical training on stewardship and the concept of hope. He later realized: The delay was not rejection, it was formation. God was not just preparing the product. He was preparing the man.

    This is how God works. Always with precision. Always with purpose. “When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son (Galatians 4:4). Jesus did not appear early or late. He came at the exact moment when roads, language, and hearts were ready for redemption through the life-transforming message. Not a second too soon. Not a second too late. God moves when it is fitting. His timing is flawless.

    So here’s the question every marketplace disciple must confront: Can your faith trust God’s timing? Can your prayers shift from “Lord, bless me now,” to “Lord, shape my life, my work, and my family until the blessing You’ve prepared actually fits who You’re making me to be”?

    Are you willing to surrender not just your outcomes—but your calendar? The rain will fall. The ground will yield. But only in its season (Gal. 6:9).

    The sooner we embrace this truth, the sooner our walk with God matures—from anxious hope to confident trust (Ps. 27:14; Eccl. 3:11).

    © 2025. C. C. Simpson is dedicated to fostering a bold and triumphant Christian faith within the global marketplace, driven by a deep conviction in the Gospel’s transformative power. Before becoming President of CBMC International, Chris dedicated 28 years to a distinguished career in the public sector – as a Commanding Officer in the U.S. Marine Corps; and serving in the U. S. Secret Service, responsible for protecting seven American presidents and leading elite teams in complex, high-stakes international missions. With his wife Ana, a native of Nicaragua, Chris resides in Boca Raton, Florida. 

    Reflection/Discussion Questions

    1. Can you think of a time in your life or leadership when a delay turned out to be exactly what was needed – and even more fruitful than what you had originally hoped for?
    2. Galatians 5:22 lists patience as a fruit of the Spirit. Why do you think patience is essential for spiritual maturity – especially in the marketplace?
    3. Daniel Tan’s story serves to remind us of how God sometimes forms the person before releasing the mission. In what ways might God be shaping you right now for something He has not yet revealed?
    4. Isaiah 40:31 says, “They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength.” What would it look like for you to surrender not just your outcomes, but your calendar?

    NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: Leviticus 26:3-4; Psalm 27:14; Ecclesiastes 3:1; Isaiah 40:31; Galatians 4:4, 5:22

    Challenge for This Week
    This week might be a good time for you to consider how you are in terms of patience, especially when it comes to being willing and able to wait upon God’s timing. Are you currently waiting to have a specific prayer – or prayers – answered? How do you think He might be using this time to prepare you and shape you into the person He wants you to be? 

    Share your need with a good friend, mentor, small group or some trusted advisors, asking for their wisdom and counsel – and for their prayers that you can remain faithful as you wait for God to answer your prayers “in its season.”

    Matt Trayler

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  • Appreciating The Courtesy Of Their Business

    Appreciating The Courtesy Of Their Business

    How do you build a successful business? Countless books have been written about this. So-called ‘experts’ tout many formulas for how a company can rise above the competitors. But rarely do we hear these authorities mention a particular word that can make a tremendous difference for both an enterprise and its clients or customers. That word is: Courtesy.

    One definition of ‘courtesy’ is “the demonstration of politeness in one’s attitude and behavior toward others; a respectful or considerate act or expression.” Courtesy – or the lack of it – is a quality that I quickly notice whenever I patronize a business, such as a grocery or department store, doctor’s office, movie theater, or restaurant.

    Sadly, in our world today, it seems that courtesy has largely fallen out of style. Even the simple act of holding the door for another person when entering a business seems to offend some people. This gesture is not intended to demean or seem condescending. It is merely a simple act of recognizing the presence of the other person and politely offering them the opportunity to enter before you.

    In our community, one grocery store and its staff are known for courtesy. They always greet customers, ask if they can help in any way, acknowledge you when checking out, and even offer to help take the groceries to your car. Another grocery store, also very prominent, rarely displays such forms of kindness. Guess which of the stores I prefer to visit?

    Why the difference? I believe in most cases, it is the culture of the business, training, and expecting all employees to act in a certain, consistent manner. Courtesy does not happen by accident. What is most interesting is that it takes so little effort to be courteous to others, but the benefits are substantial. 

    Many passages in the Bible talk about courtesy being extended, along with underlying principles for how and why it should be prominent in our interactions with others. Here are just a few of them:

    Giving others priority. Showing courtesy toward others communicates that they are valued. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4).

    Treating others as you would want to be treated. When someone asked what God expects of His people, Jesus Christ said the answer was not complicated. In addition to the command to “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength,’” He said, “The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these” (Mark 12:29-31). How would you like people to respond courteously to you?

    Setting ourselves apart in a highly competitive working environment. In the marketplace, where profits are often paramount and everything else is considered of much lesser importance, demonstrating genuine concern and interest in others can make us – and our companies – stand out. “…to be kind and conciliatory and gentle, showing unqualified consideration and courtesy toward everyone” (Titus 3:2, Amplified).

    © 2025. Robert J. Tamasy has written Marketplace Ambassadors: CBMC’s Continuing Legacy of Evangelism and Discipleship; Business at Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today’s Workplace; Pursuing Life With a Shepherd’s Heart, coauthored with Ken Johnson; and The Heart of Mentoring, coauthored with David A. Stoddard. Bob’s biweekly blog is: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com.

    Reflection/Discussion Questions

    1. Think of a recent example of a time when someone in a business setting demonstrated genuine courtesy toward you. How did that make you feel? How did you respond?
    2. Why do you think that in many businesses, the importance of showing courtesy is not part of their operational philosophy? Do you believe that makes that much of a difference in building and maintaining a strong organization? Why or why not?
    3. In your own company or organization, is the sincere display of courtesy toward others – not just customers and clients, but also employees and suppliers – given a high priority? Explain your answer. 
    4. How do you think the value of expressing courtesy toward others can be encouraged and cultivated, especially in businesses where it is not prioritized?

    NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: Luke 7:36-47; Romans 12:9-13,17-18; Titus 3:2; James 3:17; 1 Peter 3:15-16

    Challenge for This Week
    If you were to grade yourself on the ‘courtesy scale’ from 1 to 10, with 1 being the lowest and 10 the highest, what do you think would be your score?

    If you believe your rating in terms of courtesy toward others could be higher, consider ways in which you could improve. Ask for the advice and counsel of someone or a small group that you trust. In the process, you might be able to help someone else who also needs to improve in showing courtesy toward others. As Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens others, so one man sharpens another.”

    Matt Trayler

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  • Do You Suffer From ‘Semmelweis Reflex’?

    Do You Suffer From ‘Semmelweis Reflex’?

    Ignaz Semmelweis was a Hungarian physician and scientist who in the mid-19th century implemented hand-washing procedures for doctors at Vienna General Hospital. This practice decreased the incidence of maternal death, then called “childbed fever,” from 18% to 2%. Semmelweis, the “savior of mothers,” was a pioneer in medical antiseptic policy and practices that have become commonplace today.

    At the time, however, many in the medical community were offended to be told a “gentlemen’s” hands could possibly carry disease. Because of this attitude and resistance to change, doctors unanimously continued their deathly procedures. Happily, the wisdom offered by the “father of hand hygiene” was not ignored forever, and death rates during childbirth were reduced dramatically.

    Resistance like what Semmelweis received was hardly a unique response. Many of the great advances in history initially were opposed or rejected because they ran counter to conventional wisdom. This behavior, sometimes termed ‘groupthink’ or ‘confirmation bias,’ is known as the Semmelweis Reflex.  

    We see this in the marketplace all the time. Maybe you have responded in similar ways yourself. We do not seem to mind change when we initiate it, but when significant change is being imposed on us, we might dig in our heels and complain, “But we have always done it this way!” 

    This happens with new technology. When mobile phones were introduced, many were reluctant to try them not only because of cost but also because they were unfamiliar. A writer friend, when offered his first desktop computer, initially resisted. He thought, “My electronic typewriter works perfectly well.” Once he tried using the computer, however, he quickly asked to have his trusty typewriter taken away.

    In the Bible we see many examples of minds set in old ways, resistant to change. Especially with the Pharisees and Sadducees – religious leaders who were rigid and hard-hearted. They might not have heard of the Semmelweis Reflex but behaved as if they had invented it.

    In the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John we see numerous incidents where these ‘experts of the Law’ presented strong opposition to the ministry and teachings of Jesus Christ, regarding him as a radical and troublemaker, a threat to the religious practices and rituals they were espousing.

    When they resisted His teachings of repentance, forgiveness and mercy, they hurled many accusations at Him. In response, Jesus said things like, “You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good?” (Matthew 12:34). Another time, He rebuked the leaders for their hypocrisy: “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?” (Matthew 23:33). 

    However, Jesus spoke more kindly to His tender-hearted disciples. He said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see!” (Luke 10:23). This is especially important when we deal with spiritual truth, but it is equally valid when facing change in the marketplace. When fresh new ideas are being introduced, let us seek to see what the Lord sees, and not just what our industry embraces. 

    Knowing God is aware of circumstances we face we can find assurance in Proverbs 3:5-6, which tells us to, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

    © 2025, Unconventional Business Network. Adapted with permission from “UBN Integrity Moments”, a commentary on faith at work issues. Visit www.unconventionalbusiness.org. UBN is a faith at work ministry serving the international small business community.

    Reflection/Discussion Questions

    1. The “Semmelweis Reflex” is defined as “a psychological phenomenon where people reject new evidence or knowledge because it contradicts established norms or beliefs…that leads to dismissal of new, transformative ideas.” Had you heard of this before reading this Monday Manna? Have you ever observed something like this occurring in the workplace?
    2. Why do you think that many people feel uncomfortable or even threatened when new ideas, principles, or practices are introduced?
    3. How do you think the Semmelweis Reflex might be involved when the concept of integrating spiritual beliefs with everyday workplace practices is introduced? How do you respond when someone says the Bible and faith in Jesus Christ have no relevance for the marketplace?
    4. When confronting unwanted change, how do you typically respond? Does trust in God and His involvement in every area of life help you in dealing with such challenges? Explain your answer. 

    NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: Isaiah 26:3, 41:10; Jeremiah 29:11; Psalm 37:4-5; Matthew 6:33-34; Philippians 2;14-15

    Challenge for This Week
    Are you struggling to deal with changes that are being imposed upon you right now in the workplace? Or perhaps you are facing opposition in trying to introduce changes that you believe would be beneficial. If so, find a good friend, mentor, or advisor with whom you can discuss this and pray for you to have God’s wisdom in how to respond.

    And if you are not currently dealing with troublesome changes, perhaps you can find someone to encourage as he or she needs to address such challenges. With the many changes we all experience in the marketplace, the question is not “if” we will have to find ways to cope with uncomfortable changes, but “when.”

    Matt Trayler