In the account of the fall of man in Genesis 3, Adam and Eve’s response to the recognition of their sin was shame because of their nakedness before God, which meant they felt unacceptable to God. This led to an attempt to remedy their condition by covering their nakedness with garments made from fig leaves.
Given that all humans are descendants of Adam and Eve and, therefore, possess the same nature as Adam and Eve, then, metaphorically speaking, all humans default to making garments of fig leaves; that is, endeavoring to make themselves acceptable to God through their own works.
One of major lessons from the Old Testament Israelites was the inefficacy of humans to self-save. The Israelites failed in their attempt to live under the Mosaic law. The problem was not the law, but their human nature.1 They were unable to fully obey the law. And to fail even once was to fail completely.2 If Israel failed to satisfy God's standards by their own works, why would anyone expect to succeed?
Clearly, the way of the fig leaves is doomed. Living based on the assumption that human works can satisfy the righteous standards of a holy God is folly. Nevertheless, humans continue in this state of insanity.
The true solution to the problem of mankind’s fallen condition can never come from man, it can only come from God. The solution is Christ and his substitutionary atonement. Therefore, the key to anyone being acceptable to God is through Christ.
Given this reality, the only way for fallen mankind to live well in God’s universe is to embrace the gospel of Christ. By so doing, mankind has not only the solution to the problems of sin and death but also the power to live wisely in God’s universe. To live wisely means to live effectively, efficiently, and efficaciously.
The ability to live wisely is imparted through the gospel, in part by changing man’s thinking, which enables man to better discern the will of God3 and therefore align with the will of God,4 which then facilitates the favor of God and success.5
Here is your business tip. Wise managers build organizations with people who display the fruit of the gospel of the grace of Christ. These people no longer live in the fig-leaf state, seeking to gain God’s acceptance through their own works. Nor do they work for money, power, or fame. They work out of profound gratitude for the gift of eternal life given to them through the gospel of the grace of Christ. They obediently find and fulfill the call of God on their lives, including their workplace assignments. In every aspect of life, they live intentionally, seeking to discern and align with the will of God. Because they believe in God’s sovereign purpose in all of life, they live always as unto the Lord with gratitude because they have been made acceptable to God through the work of Christ. Consequently, their work-product will be excellent because they are divinely empowered and motivated. Such workers excel and, therefore, enable organizations to deliver products and services on time, on scope, and on budget. Organizations that deliver such value will build stellar reputations and be industry leaders.
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1.
Galatians 3:21.
2. Galatians 3:10–12.
3. Romans 12:1–2.
4. James 4:13–17.
5. Psalm 1; Deuteronomy 28.
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