Pure Refreshment 1.16 -> No Further Rules

The first day on the job for a new company is normally an exciting and busy time. There are new procedures and routines to learn. There are other employees to get acquainted with. There are packets of paperwork that have to be filled out.

In addition, a new hire typically receives an employee handbook detailing the many rules and regulations they’re expected to follow. Dress code, emergency procedures, non-disclosure agreements, access restrictions—the sheer amount of rules can be quite restrictive and overwhelming!

One company that has been in business for over a century also provides a handbook to its new employees. In the case of Nordstrom, the “handbook” is actually a gray card and contains the following 75 words:

WELCOME TO NORDSTROM

We're glad to have you with our Company. Our number one goal is to provide outstanding customer service. Set both your personal and professional goals high. We have great confidence in your ability to achieve them.

Nordstrom Rules: Rule #1: Use your good judgment in all situations. There will be no additional rules.

Please feel free to ask your department manager, store manager, or division general manager any question at any time.1

By providing its employees the freedom to do what’s necessary in order to help a customer, Nordstrom has been able to remain a leader in the retail industry.

According to Webster’s dictionary, freedom is defined as the “enjoyment of personal liberty, or not being a slave nor a prisoner.”

In today’s society, there are individuals who believe claiming Jesus as Forgiver and Leader is akin to a crutch to hobble around life with. By this, they believe Christians are weak-minded and/or have been unable to “get with” any other ‘commonly accepted’ belief or doctrine. However, the Christian faith is actually the essence of freedom. Paul made it clear when he wrote, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free” (Galatians 5:1 [NIV]). And if that isn’t enough evidence, Jesus proclaimed that the following passage was fulfilled when read at the synagogue in Nazareth:

“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor.”
(Isaiah 61:1-2a; found in Luke 4:18-19 [NIV])

Those who claim Jesus as Forgiver and Leader have been granted freedom. So what does this look like? How does it differ from slavery or imprisonment?

For starters, Jesus distilled the laws and regulations from the innumerable ones we have today to two: Love God with every facet of your being, and love others as you would want to be loved (see Matthew 22:37-40). In doing this, we are able to obey all the rules on the books today. For example, by not gossiping about someone, we’re treating others with the respect we would want to be treated with. By helping a person in need of assistance, we’re showing our love of God.

It’s like the concept Nordstrom uses with their employee handbook. By obeying their one rule, employees are able to show good customer relations and sales practices while adding their own creative touch.

Secondly, freedom as Jesus desires means we are not to be mindless robots, obeying in a mechanical fashion. Instead, we are to use the distinct personality we’ve been blessed with to make a difference for him wherever we’re at. For example, I’m the type of person who enjoys sharp wit, is game for any type of sporting activity, and likes to be creative. To not be these things would be to disavow who God has made me to be. Allow the freedom he’s provided you to make him known to others in your own special way.

Finally, freedom in Christ means that he places in our lives the ability to break away from things that can easily ensnare us. Whether the struggle we face involves drug addiction, alcoholism, bad relationships, or individuals/groups that have attempted to control facets of our lives, we can overcome these with the Lord’s help. Whether our struggle lasts for a few days or for a lifetime, we must remember that God does not want us to just ask for assistance and leave it at that. He might use others who have been in our position to help challenge and encourage us as we strive to become truly free.

Remember, the only reason we can even experience freedom is because of Jesus’ death and subsequent resurrection. Those events freed us from the stranglehold of our mistakes and failures permanently—but only if we truly believe Jesus is who he said he is.

So, what does freedom mean to you? Are there things/people/events in your life that are keeping you from experiencing the freedom Jesus desires for you?

I pray that you would use good judgment as you think about these things and allow God to refresh you. And as he does, may you, in turn, refresh others.

“[You] were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.”
—Galatians 5:13 (NIV)

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.”
—James 1:21-25 (NIV)

1 Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nordstrom.

All material copyright 2006 J. Alan Sharrer. No part of this message may be reproduced—other than the forwarding of the original, unaltered message—without express written permission.

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Pure Refreshment 1.15 -> Ring the Bell

“If we did well, ring the bell!”

A sign bearing this comment sits to the left of the exit doors at a local fast-food eatery. Bolted to the wall nearby is a old-fashioned bell, complete with a rope hanging from the end of the clapper.

As with most everyone, I have a subconscious expectation of what constitutes good service. This means that the order was executed properly, the correct change was given, the place was clean, and the staff was courteous and helpful.

One afternoon, I had lunch at this particular restaurant with members of my extended family. The experience was a good one, and while acquiring a drink refill, I noticed the sign and bell on the wall. That’s a neat idea, I thought. Instant verification of whether they did a good job or not. I returned to my seat, finished the meal, and before walking out the door, I picked up my daughter so she could pull the bell’s rope.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! Immediately, we heard a chorus of “Thank you!” from the front counter and kitchen. It was a shocking yet nice way to end the dining experience. I later thought about the whole situation and the seemingly instinctive response by the staff. It seemed so trained, so mechanical, so . . . expected. Ivan Pavlov, the Russian psychologist who taught dogs to salivate at the sound of a bell (whether they received any food or not), would’ve been proud.

The reactions of the employees that afternoon are not as unusual as one might think. Every person has a bell similar to the one found at the restaurant that can be “pulled” to bring out a certain response (in words, actions, or both).

Jesus understood the concept of bell-ringing quite well. While sitting on a hillside one day, he gave three examples of how hypocrites—individuals who act religious but aren’t really that way—try to elicit reactions from people:

#1 - “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full” (Matthew 6:2 [NIV]).

#2 - “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full” (Matthew 6:5 [NIV]).

#3 - “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full” (Matthew 6:16 [NIV]).

Obviously, these people were attempting to make sure as many folks as possible knew of their actions. And I’m sure they were convincing to quite a few individuals as well. But they forgot to remember that it’s not that easy to ring the bell of the Creator. God understands the feelings, thoughts, and intents of humanity—for both good or evil (see Psalm 94:11). Jesus noted, in each of his three examples, that they would only get one type of reward—the hollow praise of men.

Sometimes the words we say, the actions we convey, even the thoughts we think can reveal more about us and our true intentions than we’d like to admit.

The truth is, in many ways, we want to be known for something. And our corrupt human nature, if unchecked, will do whatever it takes to make sure that happens:

If we desire praise, we’ll make sure people know how wonderful we and/or our successes are.

If we desire power, we’ll make sure nobody stands in our way of reaching the top.

If we desire godliness, we’ll stop ringing bells and allow God to provide what he deems necessary for our lives.

In each of Jesus’ three examples, he noted that the correct way to get the Lord’s seal of approval is not to desire the cheers and accolades of men. In this, one would not make a spectacle out of what they were doing (giving, praying, fasting). Followers of Christ are called to be different, to be agents of change in a world that seems to grow nearer and farther apart simultaneously.

Think about your life for a minute. Are there situations where you’ve attempted to ring the bells of others? How have they reacted? How strong is your desire for godliness in comparison? What do you think God is challenging you to do today by ringing your bell? I pray that he would refresh you in ways that only he can. And as he does, may you, in turn, refresh others.

“Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant. If you puff yourself up, you’ll get the wind knocked out of you. But if you’re content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty.”

—Jesus, in Matthew 23:12 (The Message)

“In Christ Jesus freedom from fear empowers us to let go of the desire to appear good, so that we can move freely to the mystery of who we really are.”
—Brennan Manning 1

1 Manning, Brennan. The Ragamuffin Gospel. Multnomah, Sisters OR, 1990: 147.

All material copyright 2006 J. Alan Sharrer. No part of this message may be reproduced—other than the forwarding of the original, unaltered message—without express written permission.

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