Crossing The Line
Recently, one of my peers traveled to our home office for our sales meetings that we have 3 times a year, bringing his wife and four kids along with him this time. What makes this even more of a story though, is he makes his home in California… and our office is in Michigan– AND HE DROVE THE ENTIRE WAY – WITH HIS WHOLE FAMILY!
As I was talking to him, I realized that he and his family were staying in hotels the entire way, as well as with relatives when possible. And when I looked at him a little closer on that first day of our sales conference, he had some serious bags under his eyes.
As the sales conference came to an end, I realized that he was actually going to be staying around town for several more days, staying in more hotels, and visiting some family that happened to be living nearby – and he would still be living with those bags under his eyes.
This is where things got interesting.
As we were traveling back from our sales meetings, I was telling my wife about my co-workers situation – especially the part about him looking like he hadn’t slept since he had been at home 9 days earlier.
She immediately suggested that since he was staying in town for the next several nights that we should have them stay with us at our house (props to her for thinking like this!). We had plenty of room, and our 2 kids actually were out of town with their grandparents so their bedrooms were even available for them to sleep in. We had space to hold them all, toys their children could play with, and we were close to his relatives that they were going to visit – it was too easy.
Now this post is not about how great we are that we invited them to stay with us or how we are just “Super Christians” because of what we did.
You see for me, it wasn’t an easy, quick decision.
I had to momentarily think about it.
Because it was about crossing the line.
Crossing the line from “co-worker” to “friend”. Allowing someone who I was not that familiar with, but that I worked with, into my home. My personal space that I live.
It was scary – at least I made it out to be that way – for a moment.
But you see, it really isn’t that big of a deal – or it shouldn’t be.
After I quickly thought about it, I realized what we needed to do. I needed to do what Jesus would do, what a real Christian business Man should do, and bless those with what we have been blessed with.
Phil 2:4 “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (niv84)
Crossing the line from peer to friend takes a big step. You don’t’ always want people you work with to see your house. “What will they think?” “Will they think we are rich because of how big it is?” “Will they think it is too small because of how small it is?” What if they see my dirty underwear in the laundry room?” Satan has a way to infiltrate even the strongest of minds.
No – crossing the line means extending the hand of Christian fellowship. Even if you don’t know your co-worker that well. It means being a real Christian Business Man and recognizing a need (my man needed some sleep!) and reaching out and offering what you have available so that someone else can be blessed by what you have been given.
Needless to say, we had a GREAT time. Their kids loved having all of our toys at their disposal, my co-worker (now whom we consider his entire family as our friends!) got some well needed sleep, and we got to experience God’s love by sharing a couple of days with some of His people.
We made the right choice by inviting them over, by crossing the line, and becoming friends with some of my co-workers, all in the name of Christ.
The decision was actually easier than we thought. But would you invite your co-worker to spend the night if you had an opportunity similar to this?