I’m expecting my brand new iPhone 6+ to arrive any day. I ordered it rather than wait in the long lines at the stores. I confess to typing this essay on a Mac as opposed to a PC. I also have an iPad that I take when I am speaking to insure my Powerpoint will be available. I was unaware, however, that my family and our ministry have contributed to the economic crisis in Finland. Apple is being blamed for Finland’s economic troubles.
Entrepreneur magazine reported that the financial rating service Standard has downgraded Finland’s economy from AAA to AA+. The country might not be able to rebound for the next four years. Why has Apple been a problem to Finland? Two of Finland’s most important businesses have been Nokia, once a leader in cell phone production, and the paper mills that produced quality papers. E-mails, text messages and cell phones are making notepaper and stationary a much smaller commodity than in days past. The fact that Finland is saving their trees isn’t making them feel better about their economy.
Imagine all the businesses that have gone away in your lifetime. My dad’s first job at IBM was repairing typewriters. IBM was hiring people who knew how to make punch cards at one point. I saw an old dial phone in an antique store one time and my son asked, “How does it work?” My dad made me learn how to change the oil in my 1967 Chevy Malibu. I can also locate that model’s thermostat, fix the stick shift, and adjust the timing with the timing light. What company used to make glass thermometers? Are they still in business? Who knows how to repair 8-track players and VCRs?
I guess there are a lot of people who had to reinvent their careers just to keep up with the times. On the other hand, there are a lot of people who will always have job security. Plumbers, painters, electricians and chefs should have good job security. They have to learn new products but wires and PVC pipe are still connected using the same manpower and tools as in years past. (For the most part.)
I felt a little sorry for Finland. I’ve never been to that country but I imagine there are a lot of nice people there. It isn’t their fault that we will send this blog post out to you with a click of a button instead of thousand of sheets of paper and several stamps. No wonder stamps cost so much these days. I do everything I can to avoid having to use one!
Finland’s woes caused me to think, and then realize, that I, for one, would like to get put out of business. It would be wonderful if the Denison Forum had to reinvent our daily work because people really didn’t need our help anymore. Imagine if everyone you met today already knew Jesus, understood the Bible, and was highly motivated to serve God fully with his or her life. Everyone at our ministry would have to figure out what our next jobs should be. We are one of the few businesses that wish we didn’t have job security!
Colossians 1:28 says, “We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.” Jesus said, “The gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14). One day we will be out of a job because the heavens will open and Jesus will return for us. Until then, I think every Christian has job security. Our job is to proclaim Jesus, admonish and teach everyone with God’s wisdom and offer the love and salvation of Christ to as many as possible. We have job security until Jesus returns – and then we won’t need computers, iPhones, iPads or stationary. We won’t need anything but what we have.
I would like to be out of a job, but I look around and know there are many that need the gift of eternal life. So, I will keep blogging, teaching and speaking. But I have a favor to ask. Will you do something today that threatens my job security? God and I will be grateful!
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