By Mike Murdock, "The Leadership Secrets of Jesus"
Submitted by Debra Stitt - 4 May 2003
"Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men" (Romans 12:17).
Liars are eventually exposed.
It may take weeks or even months, but the truth always surfaces. "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper (Proverbs 28:13).
Anyone who does business with you wants the truth -- the total truth. People fear misrepresentation.
Jesus had the greatest product on earth -- salvation. He offered the human race an opportunity to have a relationship with God. He spoke of heaven and angels. "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you" (John 14:2).
But, He never painted a distorted picture.
He warned His disciples of persecutions. "But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues" (Matthew 24:9).
He spoke of their afflictions. "Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake" (Matthew 24:9).
He spoke of loneliness. "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head" (Matthew 8:20).
Jesus believed in preparing people for any possible situation that could happen. He was honest. His teaching was far more than a "pie in the sky" philosophy.
Listen to the apostle Paul. "Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once I was stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep."
(Corinthians 11:24,25).
This certainly does not sound like the most ideal sales talk to a group of students in Bible school! Paul did not misrepresent his product either.
Jesus spoke to many of people of the good things and the benefits of what He offered, but He was also quick to talk to them about the total picture. Then, they would be prepared to face their trials.
Address the benefits. Focus on the advantages that your product or your business will offer to another person. But never forget that an honest relationship is worth one hundred sales.
Your integrity will always be remembered longer than your product.
JESUS WAS HONEST.
The purpose of this series is to encourage people to live as loving,
compassionate, and peacemaking children of God: Jesus tells us to pray, "Thy
kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10) God
tells us through Micah (6:8), "He has told you, O man, what is good; And what
does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk
humbly with your God." And we know from Revelation 21:4 that there will be no
more mourning, or crying, or pain, or death. Thus, Christian living requires us
to set the standards of these conditions here on earth for our fellow human
beings, and for the other animals, as a witness to the rest of the world. To do
otherwise is not Christian.
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