An example of good business

The Bible passage today was Jesus’ story of the shrewd manager. (Luke 16:1-13)

Before he turned to the passage, Duncan reflected on the role of economics and business in society in the light of one particular national company, Timpsons:

We hear news about inflation, and Gross Domestic Product, and all of these things really matter because growth or the lack of it affects the wealth of a country and it affects ultimately the way that we're able to live our lives and the way that we're able to share the things that we have.

But somehow in churches we often find it much more easy to focus on caring professions and agencies expressing compassion. Perhaps we don't focus as much as we should on business, despite the fact that many people who are part of our church, who are involved in business and wealth creation in one way or another.

Perhaps we are conscious of kind of conflict or paradox between these two different areas of life, God and money, and this often makes us a bit nervous about the whole area and how we can now relate to it in our lives.

As an example of the benefits of good business, Duncan showed us a photo of Sir John Timpson, the Chairman and owner of the Timpson Group. Alongside running the business, he and his late wife Alex fostered 90 children and had four of their own. They were committed to supporting children in They spent a life in terms of giving in relation to supporting children in very challenging circumstances. That's the private life of this particular man.

But what of this business? Let's look at the picture which will be familiar to many of us here. How many of you used Timpsons in Inverness at some point? It’s a great shop. I was really struck when thinking about being ‘shrewd’ in life by the whole value system behind this businessman, John Timpson and his son James Timpson who's Minister of State for Prisons, Parole and Probation, seeking to bring a greater level of compassion for prisoners.

The whole raison d’ètre of Timpsons is to be the best possible business. In order to build this, they hold to five values, and I want to share with you to help us all reflect on the values that we have in our own lives. For these values are not just for business, but for the whole of life. What are our own values?

Timpsons’ first value is trust. They trust their employees to give the best possible service to their customers, and give them freedom to make the decisions necessary to deliver the best possible service to a customer coming into their shops.

The second value they have is a wonderful one, and it's a Fruit of the Spirit. The second value is kindness. They practice kindness to their employees, and this was particularly demonstrated during COVID. Many businesses, before the scheme came in for support from the government, immediately made many of their staff redundant on the basis of the threat to the business. In contrast, Timpsons on being told that their employees could no longer come into work, immediately wrote all of their employees and promised that they would continue to pay their salary throughout the whole period in which there was no possibility of coming into work. That's kindness in a world of business where often the bottom line is about a different kind of reality.

The next thing is inclusion. 12% of all Timpson's employees are ex offenders and have recently come out of prison. Timpson’s ethos includes those who are often excluded in our society: it’s an ethos that doesn't look so much at the past in terms of somebody's life, but looks at the potential for the future.

Timpson’s fourth value is loyalty. They build a life around being loyal to those who are loyal to them within the business, and there are all sorts of benefits demonstrating that loyalty.

And finally, generosity. 5% of all the work that the company do is given free of charge to customers.

Trust, kindness, inclusion, loyalty and generosity. These are amazing values for a company, and I've always had a wonderful experience when I've gone to Timpsons: the reality of these values comes across in the way that they actually serve customers and go the extra mile in all kinds of ways.

(Photo of Sir John Timpson from Wikimedia Commons) ... See MoreSee Less

In the course of this morning's service, Duncan reminded us that Erica Cload is leaving soon for her trip to work in Tanzania with Vine Trust, and that Chris Watt will be very busy over the summer leading Holiday Clubs in the Highlands and North East Scotland.

Duncan mentioned that Elaine Watt is leading a Scripture Union camp during the summer. She received a bouquet of flowers from Hazel Cload, expressing thanks for her work in leading Nitelife throughout the school year along with Scott McRoberts from St Columba Church.

Elaine told us that around 30 teenagers meet at Nitelife regularly – some of them have no previous church connection and have come along invited by their friends, and attracted by those friends’ enthusiasm about faith in Jesus. Duncan encouraged us to pray for Elaine, Chris, Scott, Erica, and the work of Nitelife.

The Bible passage was Luke 16:1-13 and Duncan led and preached. He spoke about Jesus’ teaching on money and possessions, and our attitude to them as Christians. ‘All we possess is held in trust from God.’ Here are three key sections from the sermon:

In Jesus’ eyes money is a spiritual resource. And how we use our money and our possessions will reveal with who or what we really put our trust in. As Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount:

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break him and steal. For where your treasure is there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)

So the parable is encouraging a right attitude towards our money and possessions………

Jesus’ story is an important reminder to all of us that whatever we have now, money or possessions or job title, we have it only for a limited period of time.

All that we have, all that we possess, is held in trust from God. Every pound in our bank accounts, every pension and stock, every possession we have, is only ours for a limited period.

And the question Jesus is most concerned for us to consider is how we are going to use what we have been entrusted to look after by God for a period of time. What kind of stewards are we of the gifts God has entrusted to us?

What Jesus is highlighting in this story is that the time we have as stewards is limited and it can come to an end very suddenly. So Jesus says be wise, be shrewd in how you use the gifts God has given you…….

The moral of the tale when it comes to Jesus and his Kingdom is that money is never an end in itself. Money and our possessions are a trust which we are to use shrewdly, and in a way which builds relationship for and within the Kingdom of God.

This church, our homes, our bank accounts, our work, our play, our families….. all of it has been given on trust to us that we might build relationships for God's Kingdom here in this part of the world where God has placed us.

As Christians we are called to be shrewd not in a dishonest way, but in a wise, strategic, and eternal-minded way. Jesus challenges us to be intentional and thoughtful with what God has given us. To use worldly resources as tools for spiritual impact. To live each day with the wisdom of someone who knows this life is not the final one.

We are stewards and it's all about building relationships for God's Kingdom. ... See MoreSee Less