A Christian husband and wife owned a residential service company. They were preparing for generational transfer and had two successor candidates, both of whom were long-term employees. One was younger than the other. The younger professed to be a Christian but the older did not.
Early in his tenure with the company, the older candidate had been challenging to manage, but in recent years he changed and became a delight to the owners. He became humble, submitted, and teachable (HST).
During his shorter tenure with the company, the younger had been challenging as well, for example, wanting to always pick his work assignments. He was not HST.
Though the older one still does not profess to be a Christian, the owners have developed a high level of trust and confidence in him. But the younger one, who professes to be a Christian, continues to be difficult to manage.
In recent months, the business owners received multiple unsolicited calls from customers commending the older employee but received few calls complimenting the younger employee.
The challenge for the Christian couple is who to select as their successor—the professing Christian who is not HST or the one who does not profess to be a Christian but is HST?
The owners are confused and questioning whether a profession of faith is to be believed without confirmation. Is this the right standard? Can faith and works be bifurcated? The scriptural standard is words without congruent actions are not credible (1 John 2:3–6). Therefore, it is possible that the professing Christian, who is not living with integrity, is not a true Christian.
In this situation, it may be unwise for the owners to favor the professing Christian as their successor. But they struggle because the person they trust the most does not profess to be a Christian, however, he displays the fruit expected of a person empowered by the Holy Spirit. This implies that the older employee may be a Christian although he does not acknowledge it.
Based on Jesus’ teaching in John 3, regeneration precedes faith. Regeneration is, therefore, the sovereign work of the Holy Spirit. The precondition for displaying faith in Jesus and professing him as Lord and Christ is the internal work of the Holy Spirit in a person’s heart (Ephesians 2:8–9).
The owners recognized HST—Christlike transformation in the older worker. This is an indicator of the Holy Spirit working in him. Their role may be to help him understand what has happened to him spiritually. They can encourage him to be baptized and train him to obey the commands of Christ according to Matthew 28:18–20. This is called discipleship.
Succession plans may require tough decisions. But Jesus provides guidance, he said that fruit reveals truth (Matthew 7:20). While only God can see a person's heart, humans can look at the fruit of a person's life that to discern their heart.
Here is your business tip. Wise organization leaders recognize Christlike transformation in people as an indication of the Holy Spirit at work. They understand that regeneration is a sovereign work of the Holy Spirit—an extension of the grace of God that precedes the expression of faith in a person. Sometimes godly works may precede a profession of faith. When godly leaders see evidence of the Holy Spirit in people (Christlikeness manifested by HST), they will support it by helping people understand and live aligned with truth. This facilitates discipleship. Organizations with a culture of discipleship will produce excellent products and services that will bless their customers and glorify the Lord. This is a way that people and organizations show they love the Lord with all their hearts, souls, and might.
