The Value of Relational Equity in Your Work

Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – November 10, 2017

Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Mark 10:43-45

Relational equity is the time, goodwill and value I invest in relationships, expecting nothing in return. If I listen over coffee to a new friend, learn of their needs and offer some ideas to help, and pay for the coffee, I am building relational equity. If I introduce two people and they serve each other, I am building relational equity. However, “expecting nothing in return” is critical to the heart of growing relational value. My goal is to give—void of the motive to get. The beauty of God’s economy is what is sown in the Spirit will uniquely create an attractive, abundant life!

Jesus teaches death as the ultimate act of service: His death on the cross to pay for the sin of mankind and to save all who believe, but death can also be applied to the death of man’s selfish, sinful desires. Jesus explains with clarity that becoming first in God’s Kingdom is to serve “all”, not just those easy to serve, but the demanding and the disrespectful. The Son of Man could have insisted on being served but instead joyfully made Himself a servant of those who came His way.

“If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 4:11).

How can you build relational equity in your work? As you listen to co-workers, discern ways to connect them with a person or resource that can make them successful. Your service can be as simple as, “I know someone who is skilled in what you need to do, would you like for me to ask their permission for you to talk with them?” Take the initiative to keep your team and supervisor updated on the progress of a project they value, inform them before deadlines, so adjustments can be made on time. You build relational equity when you anticipate what’s important to others.

Above all, serve in the power of the Holy Spirit. How? Spirit inspired service looks for the good in others and in the situation, so your positive reinforcement builds trust. Trust is relational glue that keeps hearts and minds engaged in execution of the plan. Be prepared to offer solutions as problems arise, always looking for better ways to serve everyone. Your relational equity is able to build teams, solve problems, attract great people and best of all, glorify God. Relationships are your greatest asset, so serve them well, share them willingly and pray for them in the Spirit.

“But now that we have died to those chains that imprisoned us, we have been released from the law to serve in a new Spirit-empowered life, not the old written code” (Romans 7:6, The Voice).

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