Hallelujah! Happy is the person who fears the Lord, taking great delight in his commands. ~Psalm 112:1
Every successful chief executive officer in the world knows something important about his or her company. He knows that it’s not what the company builds, creates, or does that’s important; it’s what the company stands for that counts.
For example, Walmart doesn’t just sell products at a discount; they want “to give ordinary folks the chance to buy the same things as rich people.” Marriott doesn’t just give you a clean place to sleep when you’re on the road; they want “to make people away from home feel that they’re among friends and really wanted.” Nike makes all kinds of athletic gear, but what they really want is for people “to experience the emotion of competition, winning, and crushing competitors.” And in addition to vacuuming all the cash from your pockets when you step off the plane in Orlando, the huge SeaWorld attraction is there for you to enjoy, while the owners “help animals across the globe.”
If you know these companies and have used their products and services, these “why we do what we do” statements come as no surprise to you. And if you worked for one of these companies, these statements would be indelibly seared into your consciousness.
If you’re a dad, you’re the family’s CEO. Everyone knows what you did to get this title, and most everyone knows what a man must do to maintain his good standing as a dad: be faithful to his wife; provide food, shelter, and clothing for his family; and be a person of exemplary character. But why do you do these things? What motivates you? What should people expect from your family because of your leadership? How would they summarize your “family business”? And what would your own family say?
Today’s psalm may be the most important one you will ever read. It opens with an incredibly succinct challenge to your heart and motives as your family’s CEO: “Happy is the person who fears [honors and obeys] the Lord, taking great delight in his commands.”
Then what follows is a wonderful list of promises to your family: your children will be mighty, each generation will be happy, and in God’s economy, they will be wealthy. There are even some assurances for you: light in the darkness as a reward for being upright, compassionate, and righteous; good things in return for generosity; a steadfast heart; security; honor. These are things every man wants.
What the CEOs of Walmart, Marriott, Nike, and SeaWorld do every day flows directly from what they believe about themselves—from the why of their existence. In the same way, what happens in our families will be a direct result of the things we stand for. This challenge to you cannot be forgotten: honor and obey God and delight in His ways. Tell your family that this is what motivates you. Then watch how it impacts everything around your house.