Dependence

"Be strong and very courageous! Obey all the laws Moses gave you.  Do not turn away from them, and you will be successful in everything you do.  Study this Book of the Law continually.  Mediate on it day and night so you may be sure to obey all that is written it.  Only then will you succeed." (Joshua 1:7-8)
 
It is a common presupposition that God has no place in the business world.  We are tolerant of people who practice any form of religion on Sunday, but that religious expression has to be confined to the church, and not brought to work on Monday morning.  Yet, the God who lead Joshua into Canaan and was now preparing him to build a great nation, was very clear in what he expected of Joshua: day and night. 
 
To ad validity to the above, we often tell others that we are of a set religion, yet outside of this verbal expression there is no evidence in our actions.  It is hard for us to hold on to an absolute truth.  It is easier to suggest that perhaps what God was instructing Joshua was appropriate thousands of years ago, but not in our constantly changing world.  We have to continually change if we are to keep up with the work place.
 
I suggest that many of the things written thousands of years ago were only relevant for that society in that time and place in our history.  Many of the Judeo-Christian writings were composed to address specific problems occurring during the times and communities of the writers.  Yet, we must differentiate between what was an admonition for a certain time and a
timeless principle.  Then we can differentiate between those timeless writings that have principles and admonitions from those bound to time, or culture.
 
To meditate on these writings day and night, does not mean that we spend every second of our existence reading them, if we do this we have no time to work, all we would do is read.  What this verse speaks to me is that as I go through out my day facing the many challenges I face daily, and reach back to these timeless principles for guidance set forth in these writings I will find success, not in some of the things I do, but in all the things I do.  Yet, how can I reach out to these eternal principles if I have no knowledge that they exist?
 
Lord, give me a hunger for your word, and when in doubt, allow me to reach for it as a guiding post for my life.

Meditation:  How many of these timeless principles found in the Judeo-Christian writings do you know?  When in doubt where can you find them?

Jorge L. Valdes, Ph.D.

Back to Top