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Free To Fail
YSWA Men's Meeting: Groomed For Success (8 Dec 2007)
By Jonah Sng
Are we destined for success?
This was the burning question in the hearts of the young working men who attended the Men's Meeting in December. With the theme of the event to dress up to the nines, many of the men came strolling into fourth floor overflow room looking at their very best - in suits, ties, jackets, patent leather shoes and clean, pressed shirts. Jazz music played quietly in the background while the men slapped shoulders and exchanged firm handshakes upon spying familiar faces.
For those who needed a little assistance with grooming and dressing up, help came in the form of Keith Monteiro, the YSWA North CGL, who gave a short presentation on the practical realities of looking presentable. He discussed the intricacies of skincare – such as cleansing, moisturising and exfoliating – which appeared to be alien topics to most of the men gathered in the meeting.
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Keith Monteiro gave a short presentation on the
practical realities of looking presentable. |
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Pastor Benjamin taught that Christ has set us free
from trying to attain success in our careers. |
Taking a cue from business etiquette and interview tips, Keith also highlighted from studies that have stated that lasting first impressions are made within thirty seconds of meeting. Furthermore, these impressions are largely formed by nonverbal appearance and behaviour: 55% visual appearance (including body language, posture and facial expression), 38% voice quality (tone, inflection and volume) and only 7% based on the content of your conversation.
While we acknowledge that man looks at the outward appearance (1 Samuel 16:7), we also know and believe that God loves us for everything that we are and that we can be real with Him. As Pastor Benjamin shared that evening, the world has attempted to define manhood through consumerism, preaching a lifestyle and an identity through the mass media. We see advertisements telling us that we need a car, an expensive suit or a credit card to be able to have a sense of fulfilment.
But these symbols of status in themselves do not reflect who we are, how much more so we who are the righteous sons of God? As Pastor Benjamin said, "We cannot let the world define success; it is done according to the Word of God." We are destined for success because our success was purchased on the cross of Calvary; we were crucified in Christ and raised up in Him (Romans 6).
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Pastor Benjamin taught the simple truth that Christ, in setting us free from the law of sin and death by His sacrifice, also set us free from trying to attain success in our careers. We no longer need to rely on our arm of flesh to become successful when the abundance of His grace has been made easily accessible.
This wonderful truth means that we have been set free from the need to perform, from the very fear of failure. Pastor Benjamin affirmed this, who said: "Failure does not separate the blessing of God from you. Failures in life breed success. But this freedom does not mean that we become reckless (in our careers, such as in business) – it means that we have been set free from comparison. When we are set free from the need to perform, we start performing!"
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"When we are set free from the need to perform, we start performing!"
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Pastor Benjamin affirmed the men that failure does not separate them from the blessing of God. |
We were also reminded not to despise the industry we are in or the day of humble beginnings – to believe in the 100% that God has already given us, and not the 35% that we may actually have. As we continue to know and walk in the grace and mercy of God, the blessings of God will manifest in our lives.
That's right, men. We are free to make mistakes, no longer bound in a performance trap. We are defined not by worldly trappings, but by the very word of God that says we are sons of righteousness, called for great things. Let the core of our identity and manhood be found in the person of Jesus, both velvet and steel, and as we stand firm in His finished work, we shall surely see that we are indeed, destined for success.
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