October 05, 2021
Years ago, I read an intriguing leadership book called, "Leadership and Self-deception." The main them was that we often treat people in the workplace (and in life) as objects, not as people. When this happens, they feel it, and they began to treat others like objects and a tragic, impersonal cycle begins to happen.
We do this with people, more than we know. Notice how some men were treating a slave-girl in Paul's day in Acts 16.
16 It happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a slave-girl having a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 17 Following after Paul and us, she kept crying out, saying, “These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.” 18 She continued doing this for many days. But Paul was greatly annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out at that very moment. 19 But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market place before the authorities...
To her masters, the girl was nothing but an object to be exploited for a few dollars. To Paul, she was someone who was tormented by demons and needed deliverance.
How do I see people today? Are they objects for my use? Just a waiter, a salesperson, etc. Or, are they someone with a history, a life, and a need for Christ?
Father, open my eyes today to see people just as You see them. Help me see their value and their need. And give me the courage to give them the one thing they need the most.
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