Why so much more productivity?
Okay, I know I'm treading on thin ice with this post. So, right up front, let me say that I am pro-USA and want us to continue being the greatest nation in the world. HOWEVER, we've got to admit that we have some challenges we need to address.
For instance, I have heard, time and time again, people complaining about jobs being outsourced to foreign countries. And I can certainly sympathize with the pain of watching our local jobs being sent overseas. BUT, did you know that when companies send jobs overseas they frequently not only save 75% on wages, but they also get a 100% increase in productivity!
When it's only about wages it's one thing, but when the people of other countries are harder workers than we are . . . that's not okay.
In the Bible, God instructs us, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." (Colossians 3:23 NIV)
In other words, those of us who are Christ followers should work circles around anyone else in the world. We're not working for the money. We're not working just to punch the clock. We're working for God!
And with 85% of Americans claiming to be Christians, how is it that other countries are so much more productive?
For instance, I have heard, time and time again, people complaining about jobs being outsourced to foreign countries. And I can certainly sympathize with the pain of watching our local jobs being sent overseas. BUT, did you know that when companies send jobs overseas they frequently not only save 75% on wages, but they also get a 100% increase in productivity!
When it's only about wages it's one thing, but when the people of other countries are harder workers than we are . . . that's not okay.
In the Bible, God instructs us, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." (Colossians 3:23 NIV)
In other words, those of us who are Christ followers should work circles around anyone else in the world. We're not working for the money. We're not working just to punch the clock. We're working for God!
And with 85% of Americans claiming to be Christians, how is it that other countries are so much more productive?
posted by Greg Nettle at 4:11 PM
15 Comments:
Greg, In the USA it might cost 10 dollars for one worker. In lets say china it might cost 10 dollars for 10 workers. Who do you think will produce more?!? I think the question should not be productivity but quality. I would think God would expect the best from us not the most.
I absolutely agree. The challenge is that foreign countries are not only prducing more, but better. The key, as you say, is for us to give our best to God.
I somewhat agree with Jason's response, 10 workers will produce more than one. I do not agree with the 'quality of workmanship' comments, however. I deal with large scale projects which involve international sources of supply all the time, and I can tell you for certain that the quality of work is often inferior from foreign sources. Also the quality of materials is inferior. To be sure, this does not necessarily apply to countries like Germany, France, Italy, Japan, etc., but it is not these countries which are taking our jobs. In my humble opinion, the American work-ethic is second to none. (For now!)
In any case, Pastor, I feel the jist of your comments are 100% correct. Christians in particular should work hard and work as if we were 'working for God' because in a sense, we are working for God when we submit to authority. God said, "by the sweat of your brow, you shall eat" and so it has been from the beginning.
I really enjoy your blog, Greg!
I've heard the statistic, too, that 85% of Americans say they are Christians. Wow. But how many actually are "Christ-followers?" I hate to be judgemental, but looking around at the people I see everyday, I think it must be much less than that. Maybe a lot of people would identify themselves as Christian because of tradition, but maybe, sadly, don't have a relationship with God.
Keep up the blogging! :)
I think all that I can do, is all that I can do (the focus on the "I") I don't know what the statistics are about production overseas. I do know that it seems much of it is headed that way. For me, all I can be sure of is whether what I am doing with my life, is quality. How the world measures quality and productivity is certainly not how I measure the worth of what I am doing in my life. In fact, I have to be careful, on a daily basis, that I don't use the "worlds" standards to measure myself or my family. If I did, then, for sure, my daughter would have a different mother and my husband would have a different wife, because the "world" doesn't measure things the same way I do. It's not that I don't care about what is happening in this global economy, but I do think quality begins at home.
Yes! Yes! Yes!
The work ethic among Americans in the 25-45 age group seems to have changed to something that resembles "I'm here, so pay me!" I've talked to HR People from companies who hope that their hires will show up 3 days a week. This is not the best from us, and it really bothers me. And if it bothers me, what do you thing God thinks about it?
In response to Dick:
I really think that God already knows about our weaknesses and our faults...that's why he sent Jesus. We are not going to be saved by pointing out how weak and faulty other people are.........only by grace.......and that involves mostly realizing how weak and faulty we are and realizing how we can't do it by ourselves! It is so easy for me to see the faults in others and see how they should be doing things (my way!). It is much harder for me to look at myself and see my shortcomings, but when I do, I know I am in the right place, because it is then that I can look at others with all of their shortcomings and faults and know that they are gifts and have just as much to offer as I do. Each day, one act at a time....loving, caring and praying for ourselves eachother......no matter what. That's when I know I am in the right frame of mind. This world will never be perfect....but each act of love and mercy is perfect through Christ.
I think that the post serves as a good reminder for many of us that we can do better and do more. To be honest, spkeaking only for myself, if Jesus was sitting in my humble little cubicle with me Monday morning, and he told me that he had come to see how I work for him - I'm sure it would be my most productive day ever (assuming I could get over the whole shock thing). Anyhow - point is - this will remind me and even inspire me to do more.
Now, about the 85% - WOW! That's shocking. Imagine if 85% of the American population were "practicing" Christians - Christ followers. Frankly, I'm at least pleasantly surprised that 85% would say it - that means at least that they are not "Anti-Jesus." But imagine what America and even the world would be like if 85% of Americans made Jesus a clear number 1 in their lives. Not only would it be hard to go to hell in Ohio, but perhaps in the world. It's kinda fun to think about...
About that 85% who say they are Christians. Unfortunately, most people say they're Christians because they believe in God. All of that 85% will say they believe in God, but how many of that percent will say they believe in Jesus? That's they key. 85% is a lot of people, but if they have no standard by which to be measured to, then why should they even bother giving their best of anything to anyone?
And I don't think it matters a hill of beans to the Lord how many people claim to be Christians. It's not about whether or not we say we are Christians, it's whether or not God says we are. Jesus like to talk a lot about fruit, trees, and seeds. I have never mistaken a cactus for an apple tree...just like He said...we'd know the trees by the fruit they bear. Look around and tell me what you see. Blech.
I am "so" picturing a conversation with Jesus........"Hey, Lord, can you believe that 85% of the people in my country say they are Christ followers?" "I mean, Lord, if that were only true.....I mean if all those that said that were really, well, more like me.....wouldn't that be great?"
How are we to decide how to measure these people who have stated that they are "followers of Christ"? I don't think we are to measure them......only measure yourself....and do so humbly.....before the Lord.
Everyday we are required to make judgements. I don't believe it wrong to judge others. Instead we must be careful about the standards we use for judging (my opinion). As Christians, I think we must be discriminating and discerning. We must make value judgements; we must judge the quality of what we allow into our bodies and hearts and homes; we must judge the people we allow to influence or children. Christ gave us the units of measure: we judge them by their fruits. And so, tying this back to Greg's original theme, we can put value on the fruit of one's labor, as well.
As for the 85%? I think it may be smaller now. City University New York's ARIS2001 study said in 1990, 86% claimed to be Christian (this included all variants which means they were neither Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddist, etc.) By 2001, that had fallen to 76%. Mark Twain said there were three kinds of lies and statistics was the worst. How many are true God-Fearing, Christ-Following, Born Again, Spirit-Lead, Christians? Judge for yourselves.
I like what forum monk said. It's the responsibility of Christians to keep an eye on each other. Paul said we are even to gently attempt to restore our brothers and sisters when they fall out of step, so that being said, ther must be some kind of value judgment made on what their actions are producing.
We could look at this on a spiritual level, too. I believe that whatever is going on in the natural world is also going on in the spiritual world. If this 85% of Christians is producing shoddy natural work, which is tangible or visual, what kind of work are they producing for the currently invisible Kingdom of God?
My mom used to get on to me about the atrocious condition I kept my highschool locker in. She said one day, "You know, everybody knows what your room looks like just by looking into your locker." And darn it if she wasn't right...again. And it works even with the natural vs. spiritual realms. If Christians aren't willing to put forth the effort and increase productivity in the world in which they live and can see, then what would motivate them to put forth enough effort to do some serious collateral damage to the Devil's strongholds, the results of which will remain largely unseen until the very End?
Of course, we are a country that has much...I'd say "opulent." What we have is legendary compared to the conditions in which most of the world's population lives...and that makes us lazy, even the Christians. We take for granted what we have, that it will always be there. Look what happened to Solomon...God gave the man everything and he took it for granted: systematically broke the Deuteronicals (as I call them) wound up serving everything BUT God, and lost it all.
I'd also like to say real quick that when I was talking about what percentage would say they believed in Jesus, I didn't mean that we hold them to His standard, but that they hold themselves to His standard. Just wanted to clarify.
I just listened to the message from last week that Pastor Al gave. WOW! I was thinking how pertinent it was to this particular blog topic. It was mostly about the gift of grace that we have all been given.........none of us deserving of it, no matter how discerning or judgemental we are or have been. And yet, grace is the one gift that we are capable of giving others that is the most meaningful and the most Christ-like. Yes, we all have other gifts that are God-given...discernment and judgement being among them....but of all gifts we have received, and could possibly give......Grace would be the most life altering for both the giver and the receiver. Judgement is just too easy ......
As Pastor Al said, "When given the choice......what "gift" will you take to the party?"
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