CHAPTER 25: PAYING YOURSELF (2022)
(How much time you think you got left, what are you going to do with it?)
There are all kinds of ways to give yourself the authority to be correct, even when not correct. We all have those moments where we fight for our right to be stupid, gamble our lives on petty thoughts and stand up for ridiculously stupid perspectives and we find people to support it. God gives so much then what do we do with it? The world tells us “the Bible is past it’s prime, not relevant, enough scripture is enough, don’t go over board with all this God stuff.” It’s like an immediate eye roll to discuss this great nation being built on the precepts of Christianity, God, and freedom. All those men and women who gave their lives so the rest of us could be free to worship Christ, bear arms and get a job of our choice. Now, today — who remembers the fight? Before I start with the examples of chapter 25, for me, I need to stick close to the stories in the Bible. They engage and explain things that are happening right now, in everything I do. People want everything for free, government spending is the norm, less and less people want to work. Entitlement, it would seem, is the name of the game. Chapter 25, what I pay myself is where I stand on reality, truth, justice and, as SuperMan said, the American Way. That was the 40’s, now that saying is sadly misrepresented in most everything we do. Is the world any different than it has always been? There certainly is a lot more of bad it would seem. In the corporate turnaround I talk all about the “origin of failure”, that point where someone chooses a direction that will ultimately lead to a bitter ending for a company, a family, an important relationship, a country for that matter, finally too many bad decisions later, a free fall I call it, nothing can be done, only God has the hand that saves. People have failed in the Lord to a bitter end from the beginning. Why is it so hard for all of us to see what He has done? “More”, is the world’s go to false god it would seem.
2 Corinthians 9:15
Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!
Philippians 4:11 ESV
Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in
whatever situation I am to be content.
Such words and phrases as the aforementioned scriptures are not a primary guideline these days. The greatest violation could be seen as the countries who have been given so much, Israel and America. Blessed beyond anything in the history of man, Israel, freed from Pharaoh in Egypt, ultimately took by storm, the entire middle east, and then this unstoppable army of God, for some reason, like America, systematically pushed God out of their everyday life as they continued to enjoy the promised land, given to them by the Father. Israel put their hope in men, money, false gods and misconduct, Kings, were placed in command, instead of God, and all of them, I mean all of them, even the good ones, ultimately failed the Lord in one way or another — affecting all of Israel and ultimately bringing a nation to it’s end.
Today, America faces the same — God is virtually forgotten, laughed at, or simply used as a last resort in America. Christianity here in the states is more prevalent than anywhere else in the world. The church, the bride of Christ battles in Faith and the hope of eternal salvation in heaven. What does that have to do with paying yourself? Let me give you one scripture regarding Israel in the history book of the Bible. While I’m reading it, insert America.., and you’ll get my point. Then, I promise I’ll show how you and I choose correctly or incorrectly when it comes to “paying yourself.” First, listen to God’s voice in this passage, it’s amazing what is said here thousands of years ago and yet we face the same, this very day, God’s word or anything and everything else.
Psalm 81:8-16
New International Version
Hear me, my people, and I will warn you—
if you would only listen to me, Israel!
You shall have no foreign god among you;
you shall not worship any god other than me.
That’s a show stopper for sure, but I couldn’t stop there. Scripture marches on describing “doing what is right in their own eyes.”
“Psalm 81 continues”
“But my people would not listen to me;
Israel would not submit to me.
So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts
to follow their own devices.
“If my people would only listen to me,
if Israel would only follow my ways,
how quickly I would subdue their enemies
and turn my hand against their foes!
Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him,
and their punishment would last forever.
But you would be fed with the finest of wheat;
with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”
Is anybody listening in the whole world? A remnant, you, me and and a smaller church body than has ever been present in history since the Roman Empire. Look, kids, I know there was a time 10,20,30 years ago where a person could easily take church for granted. “C’mon, I’m a good person, I don’t need to go to church every Sunday and bible studies during the week, for crying out loud I gotta have my beer money, too!” Ah, those were the good old days weren’t they? No, actually they weren’t, they lead to today. And today, church is the last thing on the list, unfortunately. It is the only thing on the list however that can bring me peace. This world is coming apart in fragments, more people killed everyday in wars than any other time. Without God, there is no hope, and the more I spend time with God things, the less terror I have about tomorrow, and next month, next year, next anything. Back to paying myself. When I think about paying myself more than I deserve or less than I deserve — what am I doing exactly? If I’m paying myself too much and the money is running out, who is running the business? If I’m paying myself too little and the company owes me money, what am I not doing to cause such a mess?
There are three kinds of CEOs when it comes to personal salary. 1) Those who pay themselves too much, 2) those who pay themselves too little, and those who pay themselves the correct amount based on accurate cash flow. Two of the three are based in nonsense, the third and only the third is the truth. Those who pay themselves too much, are deciding that they themselves are god and deserve whatever they can get. Those who don’t pay themselves have decided that somehow that let’s them off the hook. They don’t need to cutback expenses or make collections, instead, they forego such responsibility and relieve themselves of the responsibility to fix the situation. Many simply forget about all the times money was taken when it wasn’t there causing this cash flow problem, forget about that, now that I’m not taking my check, I can just cruise on about my day. After fleecing the corporation for years — now it needs help, I won’t take my check, that’ll fix everything. The more our country declines into selfishness, it’s people do the same, and without God.., we are surely, as history as revealed.., lost.
Proverbs 16:18 New International Version (NIV)
18 Pride goes before destruction,
a haughty spirit before a fall.
Have you been taking money from the company or making money? Have you personally taken too much money in the past. Have you overspent corporate budget? Have you failed to collect money owed? Have you committed the horrible infraction of low bidder and lost money? Are you selling more, requiring credit to complete the jobs? Do you know how to spell diminishing returns?
Common sense is not so common and stupid is very, very expensive. We all fight for our right to be stupid. And in the face of good counsel, we run, mouth off, walk away, point fingers, why? Because I, we can get lost in our own “inexperience” — and decide, without realizing the consequence, to do the wrong thing and cast aside good information, ego wins, common sense be damned.
Proverbs 27:17
New King James Version (NKJV)
17 As iron sharpens iron,
So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
Paying yourself too much money, or not enough.., the dominoes fall and chaos takes over. Direction and discernment from those who have fought the dragon and survived. Prayers to God that you listen to the right people, not the wrong ones. Remember iron sharpens iron and your life is a training ground for all the things that God has planned for you. If you survive the challenge this is testimony in Christ, with Christ, for Christ, and all things holy He has given you. Why is Chapter 25 so important? Because 25 is a lesson of what can happen to any of us. We pay ourselves based on our perception of the matters at hand. What is truth however, is perspective. Perception is in my head, i.e. what I deserve, perspective is truth — what it means to take more than I should or not pay myself at all! The tip of the iceberg and for those who are paying themselves correctly 25 is a reminder to keep yourself in check, otherwise, when it gets out of hand — it get’s outta hand, outta your hands!
2 Peter 1 New International Version
5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. 10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters,[a] make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom
Then there is “The Ungrateful Company President.” Be careful when disparaging your company in times of trouble —- or ever for that matter! Your gift is irreplaceable, take care, it is certainly not the ‘ole ball and chain!
Philippians 4:11 ESV
Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
It’s easier to fix the path than to live with the consequences. You don’t fix the problem, or monitor the situation you could find yourself without a company — without a life, paying yourself incorrectly is a sign of obstinance and stupidity. If you lose it you get to remember and that’s about it.
“The memory of being special without being special anymore..”
Job 36:11
Holman Christian Standard Bible
11 If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
Produce, Deliver, Collect and check your income vs expenses, all the time. Stay away from Perceived Benefits (not good ideas), terminating relationships with people because you don’t think they get it, well, maybe they do get it, look at their track record. Borrowing money to keep up with the competition, and the boat, and the vacations, and the, and the, and the…, STOP! Keep what is necessary, let the rest go. LISTEN TO KEY PEOPLE WHO HAVE A HISTORY OF SAVING YOUR BUTT! The company must survive to fight another day, revolt against old ways, evolve into a better more efficient leader and pay yourself according to income vs expenses. Collect your bills and correct your cash flow!
2 Corinthians 10:5
New International Version (NIV)
5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Why Chapter 25, what is the bottom line? Chapter 25 is about destroying excuses, quit supporting excuses, I hear them all the time. I quote “It’ll do Lou” our historic stupid nature that we fight against.
“I’m doing the right thing for family, true love, even God, God told me to do it, I knew the Lord had his hand in directing me in this thing I want to do, blah, blah, blah” All nonsense.
Truth be known, I’m not doing the right thing for family, true love, or even God. Not only am I confused, but now I’ve got a reason to put a wedge between me and everything good. Paying oneself or not paying oneself is like watching a poker table, a face tells it all, actions speak to where a person is spiritually, whether or not I’m able to take advice or am teachable at all! If you find yourself in this situation, stop, turn around, now.
Isaiah 30:21
New King James Version
Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,
“This is the way, walk in it,”
Whenever you turn to the right hand
Or whenever you turn to the left.
Check yourself daily, listen to those around you who have a history of wisdom, when you need more schooling and information, yearn for direction and be willing to yield in the face of doing things you don’t like, or don’t want to do. Step back when quoting yourself about what God has planned for you and that your decisions are anointed. There’s a good chance you could be dead wrong. When things are in order, praise the Lord for His work and honor those men and women who, given to you by God, brought you into order. However as soon as you do that, get back to work and keep it order, one day at a time. Resistance, pettiness, entitlement, wretched thinking, stubborn insubordination and an unyielding example in the face of grace, mercy and wisdom — all of it is in this chapter. Paying myself, how I measure that, how grateful I am for it, a lot or a little. Be wise, learn to measure ..you. Fix any problem today, right now and live well, strong — time is never on your side.
Rise up and be “better…” Chapter 25, Paying Yourself 2022, a great reflection of Christ in your life, or not.
Job 13:23
“How many are my iniquities and sins?
Make known to me my rebellion and my sin.
Amen.
