Richard Blackaby

In the midst of an avalanche of disturbing economic news, the media recently reported the disappointing behavior of the former CEO for Merrill Lynch, John Thain. Incredibly, during a period in which his company was losing billions of dollars, Thain authorized the expenditure of 1.2 million dollars in renovations to his executive office suite. He explained that the office he’d inherited from his predecessor “was very different than the general décor of Merrill’s offices. It really would have been very difficult for me to use it in the form that it was in.” (USA Today 27, January 2009, 4B). At year-end, knowing that the Bank of America was purchasing his company and needing billions of dollars of government aid to do so, Thain rushed through the payment of roughly four billion dollars in bonuses to his top executives, arguing, “If you don’t pay your best people, you will destroy your franchise. . . Those best people can get jobs other places. They will leave.” The tax paying public was appalled.

Shakespeare wrote: “All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances.” He knew that people, and especially leaders, live their lives before a ubiquitous audience. Queen Elizabeth I, who was masterful at using the public stage, observed: “We princes are set on stages, in sight and view of all the world. It behooveth us to be careful that our proceedings be just and honorable.” While leaders can feel the weight of constant observation and critique, CEOs should recognize that the corporate stage is one of their most valuable leadership tools.

On the evening He was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed for His disciples who were about to face the most fearful and humiliating night of their lives. His prayer contained this unique request: “Father, the hour has come, glorify Your Son, that Your Son may glorify You” (John 17:1). The word glorify means to magnify or to lift up. In essence, Jesus was asking the Father to place a magnifying glass over Him so people could clearly see His every action and hear His every word. This particular prayer might not be popular among today’s business leaders! Why did Jesus want to be observed so closely? It was because He knew that if people examined His life, they would come away impressed with His heavenly Father. It was during Christ’s most difficult moment, facing the cross, that He could bring the maximum glory to God.

God has placed you on stage before those you lead and in view of the general public. Your actions can represent your Lord accurately and bring Him glory, or they can confirm peoples’ misguided suspicions about Christianity and turn people away. As a Christian, it is not only important what you do but how you do it. Even difficult tasks such as initiating layoffs, closing plants, and eliminating benefits can be handled in a way that honors God. During demanding times Christian CEOs can differentiate themselves from unbelieving executives. A crisis is an enormous opportunity to glorify God. Leaders with integrity don’t fear the limelight. Rather, they understand that God assigned them to the stage. Godly leaders seize every opportunity to act in a way that blesses their employees and inspires unbelievers to be impressed by their God.

God has assigned you a role at center stage. The audience is watching. Is God being glorified?