God’s Talent Management Program

Recently, I was inspired as I listened to a brief given by a senior Army officer who shared how the U.S. Army manages assignments for officer and enlisted Soldiers. It hit me like a ton of bricks that the manner in which they fill assignments, which is a huge task by the way, is not too different from how God manages His children’s callings and careers. Are you curious about this? Allow me to elaborate.

Let me contrast how the Army manages the talent of its human resources and then describe how that models the way in which God manages the various callings of His people for His Kingdom and glory.

There are critical jobs that need to be filled

First of all, let me frame the U.S. Army’s talent management process. They define talent management as: “how the Army acquires, develops, employs, and retains its people to enhance readiness by maximizing human potential.” When they talk about the talent that Soldiers of every rank possess, they are describing it this way: “the intersection of knowledge, skills, behaviors, and preferences . . . that result in an optimal level of individual performance in a particular job. All people possess talents that can be identified and cultivated if properly developed and employed in the right assignments.”

This proactive approach to filling vacant assignments with the right people who are potentially capable of performing these jobs and who want to be there has been developing rapidly over the past five years. It still has its challenges, but it seems to be working quite well. The end result is that the Army is better at putting the right people in the right place at the right time with the right attitudes and aptitudes.

As a Christian, you have a divine purpose. God made detailed plans for you since before the beginning of time. The Apostle Paul writes that God “chose us in him before the foundation of the world” (Eph. 1:4). You were created through your union with Jesus Christ to do good works (Eph. 2:10). A significant percentage of these good works will involve your job, but they are not limited to your paid employment. Your good works will also be done at home, in church, and in your neighborhood.

God has a variety of assignments He wants to fill around the world with people who have the right skills to represent Him in every career field. He needs some of them to serve in vocational Christian ministry, at home and abroad. He needs the vast majority of His children to work in ordinary jobs to meet the wide range of human needs. God blessed you with talents, which is a blessing to you and to all whose lives you will touch as God loves others through the work that you do daily.

You get a say in what you do and where you do it

In the U.S. Army, much effort has been made over the last few years to radically change the way it fills jobs. After two or three years in one place, it is normally time for a soldier to move to a new assignment. Through an automated system referred to as the “marketplace” you get to prioritize the available jobs at various locations where you would be willing to go. You are encouraged to seek out challenging assignments to develop your potential. You also have the option to select a geographical area that interests you or is close to your extended family.

This is way different from my experiences on active duty. I did have some input a few times on my eight assignments over 20 years, but that was not always the case. I can still recall being at my first duty station when I showed up to work one day and was told by the operations sergeant that I was on assignment to Korea for a one-year unaccompanied tour. I had no say on that decision, but I did choose where I went after that. However, I was surprised by my next assignment as a recruiter.

In contrast, God usually allows us some freedom to choose our vocations. Children develop interests and aptitudes early on. With education, experience, and input from parents and other trusted mentors, they are guided into the field(s) where they will have the best potential to succeed if they work hard to develop those God-given talents and skills. When they begin to look for jobs in those fields, they have the freedom to choose where to apply. Finding a job is always going to be a spiritual journey. They must seek God first. When God opens a door, they should just go through it.

Every job is important

As I have studied the concept of spiritual gifts holistically in the OT and NT, I’ve discovered that these specific talents which are critical to enable a local church to function biblically are not an all-inclusive list of the kinds of abilities that God has used to build His Kingdom. The story of the Spirit-filled tabernacle project managers Bezalel and Oholiab illustrate this idea quite well. (See Exo. 31:1-6.)

The Apostle Paul compares spiritual gifts with various parts of the body in 1 Cor. 12:12-30. Paul teaches that with respect to the spiritual gifts that every believer has, it is important for them to know that everyone’s individual talent contributes to the health of the whole body. Each one of them are necessary. Moreover, none of them are more important or less important than the others.

We can apply this understanding to the biblically legitimate professions or jobs held by those inside and outside the church. Every job has a purpose in God’s economy: to meet the full-spectrum of human needs (i.e., physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual). All work has intrinsic value; work is good because God works. We were called to be His coworkers to expand and sustain the creation. (See Gen. 1:28.) Thus, all workers are of value in the Kingdom of God.

What matters most is how well you do your job

The clear message that was put out was that it doesn’t necessarily matter what unit you are assigned to or what position you hold. What matters is how well you do the job. For example, if a Chemical officer aspires to be a company commander, they should take whatever company is offered. It is immaterial whether it is a chemical command or one in another type of unit. Any company command is considered equal in the eyes of those who will select officers for promotion to the next rank. What truly matters is how successful they were as a company commander.

In Col. 3:23-24, the Apostle Paul emphasizes the importance of quality work. Paul writes, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” In 1 Thes. 4:11-12, he echoes the same concept as he exhorts the church to “make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders.”

However, I don’t want to leave you with the idea that merely doing a variety of tasks efficiently to accomplish the mission should be your only goal. Any organization, including the U.S. Army, is a people business. You must treat others with dignity and respect. You must maintain relationships with your bosses, coworkers, subordinates, and customers to develop a reputation of trustworthiness. In building teamwork, you need to manage all relationships in your team, not only with you.

Closing thoughts

It would easy to forget that even though our soldiers now have more say in where they go and what they do, they are still called to fill positions according to the needs of the Army. Every soldier knows that they have volunteered to serve in whatever capacity they are needed, to do the missions that are required, in the places where the need is great, and where there are soldiers who need good leaders.

In the same way, as Christian workers, our attitude towards our own vocations should be one of submission to the will of God. We signed up for this when we surrendered to His call to repent and follow Jesus.

With open hands, we trust Him to send us where He wants us to go, to do what He needs us to do, to bring His presence with the people He loves, both inside and outside the church. Using the skills and gifts He has given us, with the training, education, and experience in applying those talents, we are to work as unto Him, allowing Him to work with, in, and through us, to love those around us, for His purposes and glory.

It is the needs of the Kingdom of God that matters. Where does He need you to serve next?

About the author:

Russell E. Gehrlein (Master Sergeant, U.S. Army, Retired) is a Christian, husband of 43 years, father of three, grandfather of five, and author of Immanuel Labor – God’s Presence in our Profession: A Biblical, Theological, and Practical Approach to the Doctrine of Work, published by WestBow Press in February 2018. He is passionate about helping his brothers and sisters in Christ with ordinary jobs understand that their work matters to God and that they can experience His presence at work every day.

What my Kids and Grandkids Have That I Didn’t Have (Part 2)

(Note: This article is Part 2 of a two-part series. I invite you to read Part 1 here.)

I think that every parent, especially dads, want to give their children more than they had growing up. Maybe it’s a bigger house, more stuff, even a brighter future. That is a fairly normal goal. However, I have not been concerned about those kinds of things. I wanted my children and grandchildren to be raised in a Christian home where my wife and I were able to impart a spiritual legacy.

Here is a summary of what I discussed in my last article:

• God enabled me to become a decent husband, father, and grandfather, despite the fact that I did not have good role models

• My transformed life in Christ made me a man who learned to think more about others than myself, love unconditionally, and become more Christ-like

• My wife and I were not raised in a Christian home; although we were raised with good values, we were not shown God’s love and truth

• Only by the grace of God our children and grandchildren have seen what Christian marriage and parenting looks like

In this second article, I will contrast the experiences my children and I had with our respective grandparents with what our grandchildren have now. I want to focus on God’s work, not mine.

What my kids and I did not have with our grandparents

Let me now step back and reflect on my experience with my own grandmothers and on what our children experienced with their grandparents and step-grandparents. Contrary to what you might think, it wasn’t all bad. For example, I saw my dad work hard to be a better grandfather than he was as a father.

The first thing that comes to mind is that my children had way too many grandparents due to multiple divorces and remarriages. Instead of just mom’s mom and dad, and dad’s parents (four total), each of our parents at one point were all remarried, so our kids had a total of eight grandparents and step-grandparents. I know; more presents at Christmas, right? However, it was all very confusing to our young children. It also made it difficult to split time between them at the holidays. Also, as nice as my two grandmothers were and as kind and generous as my children’s eight grandparents and step-grandparents were, only one of them (on rare occasions) was a godly influence. Other than my wife’s mother, I never heard one of them say that they were praying for us or our kids.

One of the other frustrations my wife and I had while our kids were growing up was how infrequently our kids saw their grandparents. To be fair, it may have been largely due to the fact that we were a military family for twenty years. We were often stationed far away from our families of origin, but we would try to see as many of them as we could when during our moves across the country. Some of our parents who were in good health and had the means to travel did make an effort to see us. My dad and my wife’s dad both visited us while we were stationed in Germany.

What my grandchildren have

Let me begin with one of the few references to grandparents in the Bible.

In Paul’s second epistle to Timothy, Paul acknowledges the strong spiritual influence of Timothy’s grandmother: “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also” (2 Tim. 1:5).

Even though my wife and I as well as our children did not have godly grandparents to love us unconditionally and teach us God’s truth like Timothy did, I can say in all humility that our grandchildren do.

I can also honestly say that my wife and I have known each of our grandchildren from Day One. As a result of our consistent pursuit of deep relationships with these precious children, we are close to them. They know we love them. We have begun to fill large treasure chests of special memories. We pray for them by name and go to church with them. We have laid a foundation of a lifetime of influence.

Also, we see our grandchildren more much than we saw our grandparents or our kids saw their grandparents. It takes some time and money to drive several hours to see our three grandchildren to the northeast and the other two to the northwest, but it is so worth it. We make it a habit to visit at least twice a year. They usually come here to see us at about the same frequency. We have spent many holidays with them. We had a great family reunion last summer and have one planned next month.

What will be passed down to future generations?

Only by God’s grace, mercy, and life-changing transformation, I know that my first generation Christian family, which began on our wedding day nearly 44 years ago, is going to impact many generations to come.

My wife and I taught our kids biblical principles in a way that is different than many other Christian families, but it worked for us. We did not have regular family devotions. We did not home-school our children. What we did do was to simply live out our Christian faith openly by our transformed thoughts, words, and actions every day. We read the Bible and prayed for and with our children. We spoke the truth in love. My wife liked to take advantage of teachable moments when driving in the car. In doing all of these things, we demonstrated how to live as a Christian.

Moreover, we showed them what it takes to be a Christian husband and wife. They saw my wife and I be loving parents. They are learning how to be grandparents by watching us now. As a result, five generations will be directly impacted by God’s grace over our family. Following Jesus changed me, my wife, and our kids. Our kids are teaching their kids. This third generation knows what a Christian husband or wife, parent, and grandparent looks like. Thus, we will have influenced our grandchildren’s grandchildren. They will never meet us, but God has already blessed them.

Final thoughts

We read in James 1:17, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” I am extremely grateful for the gift of being a Christian husband, father, and grandfather because I know the source of these blessings.

If you have been blessed with some or all of these roles, I encourage you to keep on seeking your heavenly Father, who gives us all the love we need to fulfill our responsibilities to our spouses, children, and grandchildren through our being transformed into new creatures through faith in Jesus. Through Him, we have been reconciled to God the Father, so that we can not only have peace with Him, but with our loved ones as well. This faith that changes us will impact generations.

About the author:

Russell E. Gehrlein (Master Sergeant, U.S. Army, Retired) is a Christian, husband of 43 years, father of three, grandfather of five, and author of Immanuel Labor – God’s Presence in our Profession: A Biblical, Theological, and Practical Approach to the Doctrine of Work, published by WestBow Press in February 2018. He is passionate about helping his brothers and sisters in Christ with ordinary jobs understand that their work matters to God and that they can experience His presence at work every day.

What my Kids and Grandkids Have That I Didn’t Have (Part 1)

(Note: This is Part 1 of a two-part article on a topic that is near and dear to my heart.)

Once in a while, especially on Father’s Day, it will hit me how much God the Father has blessed me as a husband, father, and grandfather. God has enabled me to function in these callings, despite the fact that I did not have a good role model for any of them. By the grace of God, I was saved at the age of 17, which radically changed the trajectory of my life. It gave me an opportunity to succeed in each of these callings. (Click here to read my testimony of how I became a Christian.)

It also occurs to me that as a result of the new life in Christ that I have had for nearly 50 years, I have a completely different relationship with my three adult children than I had with my own father. I also have a much different kind of relationship with my grandchildren than I did with my two grandmothers. (My dad’s dad passed away when he was in college and my mom’s dad passed away when I was very young.) It is much better than what my children had with their grandparents as well.

Let me contrast some of those differences between what I experienced growing up with my own parents and what my kids and grandkids have had. I don’t want to put the focus on what I or  others have done, but on the radical transformation my wife and I had seen over many years of walking by faith as Christians. God has brought abundant and eternal life to members of my own family and beyond.

Key elements of Christian conversion

Before I reflect on my experiences with these core relationships, let me describe a few of the irreversible transformations that take place when a person comes to faith in Christ and how that impacts how they parent.

One of the first things that happens to a person when they become a Christian is that they begin to think more about others than they think about themselves. (See Phil. 2:3-4.) Humility is one of the key attributes of Jesus. Although He was equal in essence to God the Father, He humbled Himself and became a human being to be our high priest (Phil. 2:5-8). Learning to have a servant spirit is critical to become a faithful husband or wife, father or mother, and grandparent.

A second key element of the transformation that occurs in a new Christian’s life is that we learn how to love unconditionally. The Apostle John teaches, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:7-8). God’s love will flow through us to others.

A third change revolves around the fruit of the Spirit. (See Gal. 5:22-23.) These nine character traits develop over the course of a Christian’s life. We become more like Jesus through the process of sanctification. In addition to love, which we already mentioned, transformed words, thoughts, and actions that express joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control will positively impact a parent’s relationships with their children.

What I did not have with my parents

My wife and I were not raised in a Christian home. Our moms and dads did not live or speak like those who had a personal relationship with God through faith in Christ. Nonetheless, both of us were taken to church regularly and brought up with solid values taught by responsible parents.

However, parents who intentionally walk according to God’s ways will have more success that those who choose to follow the “wisdom” of the world, which often amounts to foolishness. Parents who know nothing of God’s love cannot love their child properly in the way God intends. If they do not know Jesus, they cannot teach their children the kind of truth that will set them free. (See John 8:32.)

My wife’s parents and mine got divorced when we were both in our teens. The insecurity that children from a broken home experience cannot be overstated. It breeds anxiety, fear, and hopelessness. The consequences increase over time. For example, the adult siblings have no home to go to during the holidays. They have no role model to see how husbands and wives navigate midlife and beyond.  

What my children had with their parents

The kind of homes my wife and I had growing up were defined by anger, adultery, and alcoholism. In contrast, only by the grace of God, we saw none of those sins passed on to the next generation. I cannot say that we were perfect; far from it. The difference was that the sins that crept into our home by two sinners saved by grace were dealt with through confession, repentance, and forgiveness.

Our transformed lives brought God’s love and truth into the picture from Day One at our Christ-centered wedding. We knew that we could not just do the opposite of what our parents did, although that was a good place to start. We had to intentionally seek God’s truth in the Bible and obey what it taught about what husbands, wives, and parents must do. (See Eph. 5:22-33, 6:4, and Col. 3:18-19, 21.)

Once again, only by the grace of God, our three children (as well as their children) have seen a marriage based on our Christian faith. They knew that our marriage was solid, which gave them security and hope that a happy marriage was possible. There was peace in our home. They observed how to be a Christian husband and wife. They learned how to be loving parents. In this last phase of our marriage, they are learning how to be grandparents. The grandchildren are also learning these roles.

Closing reflections

As I look back on my own family’s experiences, you may have reflected on your own. So many people come from broken, dysfunctional, or even abusive families. I also know that God is in the business of restoring what is broken and can heal wounded hearts. He is a father to the fatherless. (See Ps. 68:5.)

“My Father’s Chair,” a song written by Christian artist David Meece contrasts the pain of growing up with a neglectful father with how God transformed his own family through faith in Jesus. Reflecting on a tender moment when his own kids needed some comfort, he sings, “Holding them close, calming their fears, praying they always will say, ‘My father’s chair sits in a loving room . . . though all the years and all the tears I need not fear. Love’s always there in my father’s chair.’”

When God gets hold of a family, those generational curses or chains that bound you can be reversed. When there was once hate, God can teach you to love like He does. When there was fear, God can bring peace and gentleness between you and your kids. If this sounds like something you want to pursue, I urge you to see a professional Christian counselor who will not only listen, but will offer timeless words of wisdom and truth that can bring lasting change to you and your family.

(Note: In my next article, I will contrast the experiences I and my children had with our respective grandparents with what our grandchildren have now.)

About the author:

Russell E. Gehrlein (Master Sergeant, U.S. Army, Retired) is a Christian, husband of 43 years, father of three, grandfather of five, and author of Immanuel Labor – God’s Presence in our Profession: A Biblical, Theological, and Practical Approach to the Doctrine of Work, published by WestBow Press in February 2018. He is passionate about helping his brothers and sisters in Christ with ordinary jobs understand that their work matters to God and that they can experience His presence at work every day.

All Who Labor Will Be Heavy Laden, but Jesus Will Give Us Rest

Have you ever read a familiar Bible verse and then see something you never saw before? I imagine that if you read the Scriptures regularly, this happens to you on occasion. I know it has happened to me.

My wife has often reminded me that one of the things the Holy Spirit does is help us understand God’s Word. As we grow in grace, He may highlight new truths for us, based on where we need help to get us through what we are experiencing at the time. He provides deeper insight at just the right moment so that we can press through the trial. We didn’t see that particular truth earlier, even though we may have read it 100 times before because we weren’t ready to receive it.

I had one of those moments not too long ago. The verse I saw posted on social media was Matt. 11:28. Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (ESV). Jesus invites all of us who work hard and have become weary to come to Him so that He can share our burdens.

Let me break it down phrase by phrase and share some insights and applications.

Come to me

Jesus is clearly giving an invitation to a wide audience. He addressed all who were physically there when He said it, and He is still addressing us today. He graciously invites all believers to come to Him in faith.

When I was 17 years old, I was weary of trying to make myself a better person with few results to show for my efforts. When I heard that Jesus invited me to have a relationship with Him and that He would change me from the inside out, giving me a new purpose and direction for my life, I eagerly accepted Jesus as my Savior and Lord and became a new creature. Since then, I have found true rest.

All who labor

As I read this part of verse, I sensed something new. It seemed obvious to me that everyone who does any kind of work will be heavy laden. No one is exempt from the curse God pronounced on work after Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:16-19). This is true for believers and unbelievers.

Based on their agrarian culture, Jesus was most likely referring to what we call blue-collar work. It could also apply to those who do mental work, such as teachers or rulers. All kinds of work wears people down in one way or another: physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

However, there may be some who read the verse above and wondered about the translation.  A few versions say all who “are weary” instead of all who “labor.”

Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words sheds some light on the Greek word used. The word translated “labor” in most versions is kopiao. This word has “two different meanings (a) growing weary, (b) toiling.” It points to several other verses where it is translated as “labor”, “work”, or various forms of those words, which includes John 4:38, Acts 20:35, Rom. 16:12, 1 Cor. 4:12, 15:10, and 16:16, Eph. 4:28, Phil 2:16, Col. 1:29, 1 Thes. 5:12, 1 Tim 4:10 and 5:17, 2 Tim 2:6, and Rev. 2:2. The word is translated “weary” in John 4:6 and Rev. 2:3.

Based on this analysis, I conclude that Jesus was addressing those who work, not merely those who were worn out from life. This labor applies to all those who have a paid job, volunteer, or work at home. Wherever time and effort are expended, weariness will naturally follow.

And are heavy laden

Although some jobs might not be as burdensome as others, every kind of work will produce burdens (AKA thorns and thistles) that make it unnecessarily painful. In addition to the sin of Adam, our own sins and the sins of those we work for, work with, and serve will also contribute to the effects of the Fall on work. This curse on work will continue every day until Jesus returns (see Rev. 22:3).

Every job has various thorns and thistles that are common to all fields of work; i.e. bad bosses, disgruntled customers, unreasonable deadlines, or equipment breakdowns. Also, each job has its own unique challenges.

I will give you rest

Jonathan Roumie, who plays Jesus in the series, “The Chosen” reflected on this verse in a Netflix documentary called “Jonathan and Jesus.” Several months before he was given this defining role, he was at his lowest point. One day, he found himself with only $20 in his pocket, was $100 overdrawn in his bank account. and had only enough food for just that day. Reflecting on this verse, he gave himself in surrender to God, asking Him to give him relief from these burdens he was carrying. Later that same day, four checks arrived in the mail. God provided $1,100 to get him through that day and many days after.

In the next verse, we see that rest comes with conditions. “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matt. 11:29). We have to do something to receive it. We must humbly submit to the Lordship of Christ and yield control to Him.

However, even when we do surrender, I don’t think Jesus meant physical rest. Jesus said, “you will find rest for your souls.” Moms, farmers, and teachers will always be tired, but Jesus offers a deeper rest. There may be other factors as well. We may be in a season of heavy responsibilities or trials, such as raising small children, dealing with a serious illness, or recovering from an injury. We live in a fallen world. Many stressors of life continue to come at us much of the time.

Also, there is something the Apostle Paul described as “the peace that passes all understanding” (Phil 4:7). This too is conditional. It starts with rejoicing in the Lord always (Phil 4:4), which is done by faith, even before our situations are resolved. Then, we are taught to not be anxious about anything, but to pray with thanksgiving (Phil 4:6). Only then will we be able to experience this unfathomable peace.

Parting thoughts

This powerful promise from the mouth of Jesus is extended to a wide audience. All of us work in one fashion or another. This work is burdensome in this life, under the sun (Eccl. 1:9). But when we come to Jesus in faith and ask Him to lessen the load, He comes alongside us in a way that may be difficult to explain and helps us to get through each trial in His strength. Under the Son is where we find true rest.

I encourage you to give this a test the next time you sense that the burdens of responsibility that you carry on your shoulders is too much. Take Jesus up on His gracious invitation to be present with you in your work and be His coworker. Practice His presence with you everywhere you are.

About the author:

Russell E. Gehrlein (Master Sergeant, U.S. Army, Retired) is a Christian, husband of 43 years, father of three, grandfather of five, and author of the book, Immanuel Labor – God’s Presence in our Profession: A Biblical, Theological, and Practical Approach to the Doctrine of Work, published by WestBow Press in February 2018. He received a Master of Arts in biblical studies from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary in 2015. He is passionate about helping his brothers and sisters in Christ with ordinary jobs understand that their work matters to God and that they can experience His presence at work every day. He has written more than 350 articles on a variety of faith and work and other topics; 160 of them have been published or posted over 300 times on Christian organization’s websites, including the Institute for Faith, Work & Economics, Coram Deo, Nashville Institute for Faith + Work, Made to Flourish, The Gospel Coalition, and the Christian Grandfather Magazine.