“Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve”

I woke this morning and did my usual routine of media intake and I was struck today by a few stories that reinforced to me that star power is not enough.  What do I mean by that?  Two very well-known superstar entrepreneurs who were splashed all across every newspaper, blog and magazine six months ago were back on the front page of the New York Times this morning defending why their service has not grown. Once over-the-top supporters are now backpedaling and questioning the viability and desire for the product.  It’s not an unusual story for a company to come into the market and fail – just think about the corner restaurant. What struck me again today was how we continue to think and put our bets on those with star power, over maybe substance, experience and deep knowledge.  Our culture has become American Idolish and we must guard against this in the workplace.  Keeping touch on what is real versus what is perceived is hard but as we make people decisions, it is critical.

So, as believers, how does this matter to us?  First and foremost, we can remind ourselves that we serve a King and that all else falls short.  Second, we can be the standard bearers in looking through the veneer and instead to the hearts and minds of people and lean towards values and principles first as the determination.  Third, we can conduct ourselves today, and everyday, in the model of Jesus, who refused and fled the moniker of “star”. Without a doubt, He was and is a light to us all, but he never wanted or expects us to be one that needs star power.

Reference: Joshua 24:15 (New Kings James Version)