Do you recognize the Shema? No, it is not a golden-garbed wise one from the mountains of Nepal. No, it is not the skin some people use to wipe down cars after washing. That’s a chamois.
The Shema is the most important prayer in the Jewish faith. It is used daily as an expression of faith and devotion. It is probably one of the first learned by Jewish children. It speaks of priority, what’s most important. It goes like this-
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heartand with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:4-9. NIV
Jesus quoted the Shema in answer to a trick question from religious leaders of the day. A question about values.
One of their religion scholars spoke for them, posing a question they hoped would show him up: “Teacher, which command in God’s Law is the most important?”
Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.” Matthew 22:35-40 The Message
I have a book entitled Get Everyone in Your Boat Rowing in the Same Direction. It states that a key leadership function is deciding “What’s important around here” and communicating that. Deciding what’s important around here is a critical function for our CEO. She can’t delegate it. However, as a leader here, I am bound to join her in communicating “what’s important around here”. There is no way I can avoid making that decision for my department and for my circles of influence.
Fact: Values are always being demonstrated. Whether we are conscious of that fact or not, they are being taught. Shared by every word and action. What are my top one or two values? Integrity? Profit? Reflecting God’s love? Excellent Service? Quality? Uniting against a common enemy? Have I made a conscious choice? If I asked my staff what my values were, would they name different ones based on my actions?
Whether at work, school, or home, I have a responsibility to lead based on my values. Let them be pleasing to my Father in heaven.