“But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.”
Paul to the Church in Galatia
We recently surveyed 125 local business owners and leaders. We were trying to test some conclusions we had drawn about how they felt about their work, what they most needed, and where they saw solutions might come. The itch we were scratching is that despite the incredible amount of time, resources, and energy they applied to their challenges, not much seems to be changing. The survey largely confirmed our thoughts.
Echoing in my mind as I read through the data, was a series of statements I’ve heard from the hundreds of business leaders I have been in conversations with over the years:
“I don’t own the business, the business owns me.”
“I don’t work on the business, I only work in it.”
“I work for my employees instead of the other way around.”
etc.
I have heard all of those (or similar statements) dozens of times. Ironically, those sentiments reflect almost the opposite of the reasons they all say they got into business for themselves
They wanted to work for themselves instead of others.
They wanted the freedom to do it differently and better.
They wanted to have the business serve them and the life they felt called to live.
They wanted to thrive and not merely survive.
Of course they did.
Of course we do.
For it is for freedom, that He set us free. It was always intended that we would be unburdened from the yoke of slavery, that we would take our place as sons and daughters of the King, and as those sons and daughters of a King, we would benevolently rule over this Kingdom on His behalf.
Freedom is the cry of all our hearts. It is our destiny.
Of course this is a country of entrepreneurs where our populace is largely employed and cared for by small to medium sized businesses. It is the natural conclusion to the privilege of freedom that we would seek to establish a vocational space that reflects that freedom and seek to restore the nobility and generative governance that a healthy culture can provide.
Of course.
- Those who came from unhealthy environments, be it work or family, are seeking to join or establish “healthy.”
- Those who came from healthy environments, seek to recreate the same and even push the bar higher.
It was always intended this way. It was part of the plan. It is, however, rarely realized.
As a coach, one of the great privileges of the work, is that I get to partner with the courageous and humble few who are willing to go on the rare journey to reclaim the freedom that was always intended. That is their heritage.
To find positional freedom in salvation is amazing. But to live in practical freedom, running unfettered through the fields as only a well loved daughter or son understands, is what we all desire… in our life and our work.
Despite all the world and your experience might have taught you to the contrary, it is still possible.
- Is “freedom” one of the words you would choose to describe how you feel about your life?
- Is it a word that others would describe about you and your life?
- Does your heart rise at the possibility?
- What are you willing to sacrifice to find it?