The Hook Up

We live in a society where it’s not what you know, but who you know. Your forward progression is no longer based on your skills or ability to effectively perform a job. It’s based on a what clique you belong to.

Being in the military, I’ve seen this all too often. When my family and I lived in Belgium, Terri began looking for a job. Most US agencies used a software program called Resumix. It is a program that scans candidate's resumes for certain key words then forward these candidates to employers. Someone offered to give me the key words for Terri's resume – a “hook-up”. Though it was tempting, we felt convicted and didn’t do it.

Unfortunately, the same “hook-up” mentality has seeped into the church. It’s now called “networking.” Now don’t get me wrong, networking at its basic element is essential for churches. It fosters a sense of community and creates interpersonal relationships among the entire Body of Christ that allow them to operate on one accord. It also affords the leadership the opportunity to be held accountable, especially pastors who are charged with the weight of the ministry on their shoulders. But networking has replaced the reliance on the Holy Spirit…people are placed in positions based who they know and not necessarily on what right.

Genesis 23 opens with Sarah’s death and Abraham is negotiating with the Hittites for a burial plot. One of the Hittites told Abraham that he would give him the land free of charge. To some of us that would have been a “blessing from God!” Let’s update this scenario. While you were shopping, you’ve notice that the cashier didn’t charge you for an item or gave to too much change. Do you bring it to their attention or do you just “thank God for your blessing” and don’t mention it?

Abraham maintained his integrity and paid full price for the land. Yes, there are situations where God will cause people to bless you. But if employees are not charging you for services rendered without approval that isn’t a blessing – it’s stealing. Hook-ups cause us to subtly compromise our faith; we begin to look to man to bless us and label it godly. Maintain your integrity before man and, more importantly, God. Realize that the blessing of man is temporal, but God is permanent.
-Abrian Haynes