The Inspired Leader: 101 Biblical Reflections for Becoming a Person of Influence (17 page)

JOHN ROCKEFELLER WAS one of the most brilliant businessmen in American history. His colossal company, Standard Oil, became the envy or the nemesis of countless people. To overcome federal laws prohibiting companies from conducting business across state lines, Rockefeller developed an elaborate system of trusts whereby Standard Oil extended its interests across North America and the world. For years government agencies sought to curb the excessive power and influence of Standard Oil but despite efforts by critics, U.S. presidents, and various government agencies, Rockefeller’s company continued to prosper. Then in 1911, the Supreme Court finally ruled against Standard Oil’s antitrust violations and Chief Justice White instructed Standard Oil to be dismembered and the stock of the resultant companies to be publicly traded on the stock exchange, something Rockefeller had always avoided.

Initially this appeared to be a devastating blow for America’s most famous businessman. His massive empire would be subdivided into 34 independent companies. Rockefeller’s critics were initially ecstatic at his dramatic downfall. His enemies had caused his life’s work to be destroyed. Yet what appeared to be a devastating defeat became in reality an enormous windfall. Rockefeller owned roughly 25% of Standard Oil so, with its division, he now owned 25% of the 34 new companies. When these companies began to be publicly traded, investors were so eager to buy into Rockefeller’s companies that stock prices soared. At the time of the court’s ruling in 1911, Rockefeller was worth 300 million dollars. By 1913, his assets reached 900 million dollars, almost making him the world’s first billionaire. It has been estimated that the equivalent amount of wealth in 1996 would have been 13 billion dollars. The foundations of Rockefeller’s world had been shaken and he had come out stronger than ever.

In Psalm 11 King David, CEO of Israel, once asked: “
If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”
(vs 3). He wondered this at a time when his enemies were aggressively pursuing his downfall (vs 2). His friends were urging him to flee. It appeared as if he could lose everything. Yet David chose to evaluate his situation from this starting point: “
In the Lord I put my trust”
(vs 1). Every decision he made concerning his future was based on his unwavering faith in God. David understood that God allows difficult times to come. For the wicked, these trials are forms of divine judgment (vs 5-6), but for the righteous they are times of testing (vs 4-5). David passed the test! He concluded: “
For the Lord is righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright”
(vs 7).

David began his psalm by contemplating running from his problems and trying to save himself. He ended by basking in God’s presence. David’s hope was not that all he had lost would be restored, or that circumstances would return to the way they once were, or that like Rockefeller, he would prosper through his adversity. David’s thoughts rose higher. He realized that God’s presence was all he needed. For David, God was enough. Some Christians want God PLUS success, or wealth, or victory, or… David found such joy, satisfaction, and peace in the divine presence, everything else was secondary. In these days in which the foundations are being shaken, how are you facing the test?

REFLECT FOR A MOMENT

1. Make a list of the crises you have faced recently. Review the list. Have they shaken the “foundations” of your life? Which adversity has been the most difficult for you to endure? Why is that?
   

2. How has Christ’s presence in your life made a difference as you endured crises? Have you sensed His presence? Have you experienced His peace and joy in the midst of what you have been going through?
   

3. What have others witnessed as they watched you undergo difficulty? Has it demonstrated to people the profound difference Christ makes in people’s lives? Has God been glorified by how you handled your crises? If not, what does God want to teach you before the next problem inevitably comes?
   

IN OCTOBER 1907, America plunged into a massive financial crisis. Banks and brokerage houses were failing by the dozens. On October 19, 70-year-old J.P. Morgan returned to New York to try to save the situation. Crowds of terrified businesspeople waited outside 23 Wall Street, desperately hoping to gain Morgan’s help. When Charles Barney of Knickerbocker Trust was denied admission to see Morgan, he committed suicide. Other suicides followed. Morgan saved New York City from bankruptcy. He summoned bank presidents and collected $25 million in 15 minutes to rescue the New York Stock Exchange. He instructed religious leaders what to preach on Sunday. The White House made an additional $25 million in Federal money available to Morgan to stem the tide of the financial panic. Though many businesses failed to survive, the crisis was averted. Subsequently, the Federal Reserve System was developed for, as Senator Nelson Aldrich declared, “Something has got to be done. We may not always have Pierpont Morgan with us to meet a banking crisis.”

Business leaders expect to deal with challenges and crises. Throughout history people have occasionally risen to Olympian heights to save their business as well as others from ruin. Yet at times, even the most famous executives experienced grievous failure. Morgan’s marriage was riddled with infidelity. He was addicted to purchasing expensive works of art that left his finances in precarious condition. His only son was terrified of him. Human saviors inevitably have feet of clay.

The apostle Paul urged people to trust in the one Savior whose power was always sufficient for every problem. He prayed that they might know “
what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places”
(Ephesians 1:19-20).

No one ever faced the magnitude of crises that Jesus did. Satan hurled every demon and weapon of evil against Him. Death had always proven invincible to its doomed captives until it attempted to restrain Christ. We cannot begin to comprehend the weight of sin that Jesus bore. Consider if every sin YOU ever committed were piled into your mind and conscience and you were forced to carry the burden for them yourself. Now imagine if the guilt for every person’s sin
throughout history
was placed upon your conscience and you had to carry that load. We’ll never know the depths of evil Jesus faced as He bore humanity’s sins upon His shoulders. The power of wickedness, death, and sin were fiercely determined to destroy Jesus and His work. Yet Christ overwhelmingly conquered them!

Why do we celebrate Easter? Because it reminds us that the same power that overcame humanity’s most insurmountable problems is now resident within every believer. There is
nothing
you can face in your life or business that God’s power cannot decisively overcome. Trust in Christ and live daily in His power.

But take heart! I have overcome the world.

JOHN 16:33b

REFLECT FOR A MOMENT

1. Think of the three greatest challenges you are presently facing at work or in your personal life. Consider their complexity and difficulty in being resolved. Now imagine the power required to raise Jesus from the dead when Satan and all of his evil hordes, Death, that had never been defeated, and Sin, that had ravaged humanity throughout history, were desperately trying to keep Jesus in the grave. In light of that, do you think God can handle your problems?
   

2. Consider for a moment that the same power God used to defeat Sin, Death, and Satan is constantly at your disposal to enable you to live a life that glorifies Christ. What is one example of that power being exercised in your life this week? Would a non-Christian be attracted to Christ if he watched your life and looked for the powerful difference Christ makes in you?
   

3. Are you presently living in defeat in some area of your life? Why not take your discouragement to Christ and let Him show you what He can do with it?
   

IN 1858, NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD Samuel Clemens was living his boyhood dream, working in the pilothouse of the
Pennsylvania
riverboat as it ferried passengers up and down the Mississippi River. He had encouraged his favorite brother, Henry, to join up as a ship’s hand. They had taken six trips together. One day the pilot, William Brown, became furious at Henry Clemens and began to physically assault him. Samuel quickly came to his younger brother’s aid and proceeded to pummel Brown for several minutes until the ship, pilotless, came dangerously close to a collision. The animosity between the two men was so fierce that Samuel had to be transferred to a different ship to restore order to the crew. On June 11, Henry Clemens departed from New Orleans aboard the
Pennsylvania
with his older brother Samuel scheduled to follow two days later aboard the
Lacey.
At 6:00 a.m. on June 13, a boiler exploded, obliterating the
Pennsylvania
. Over 250 people were killed in one of the worst steamboat disasters in American history. Henry was sleeping above the boilers. The blast propelled him into the sky on a jet of steam. Henry fought for his life for several days, but his scalded and broken body was beyond the restorative powers of the physicians.