Sign up for our free newsletter:

Key Bible Verse: It is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong! (1 Peter 3:17) Bonus Reading: Exodus 23:4–5

Jack Willome's customers were suing him. Jack was president of Rayco, a San Antonio, Texas home builder. An attorney had rallied a number of homeowners to join a lawsuit against Rayco that could destroy the company. After much prayer and counsel from friends, Jack decided to sit through 45 days of depositions as one homeowner after another filed through to describe him and his company in the worst possible terms.

The process was painful. But Willome came to realize that these homeowners had genuine concerns about his company or they wouldn't be in court. He later remarked, "I believe that where the compassion of Christ comes in is to be able to see the innocence of people who are attacking you." This ability allowed him to grasp a fundamental fairness that had eluded him up to that point.

Jack managed to settle the case before going to trial. And the deeper knowledge of the needs and concerns of first-time home buyers he gained from the experience helped him revitalize Rayco in the late 1980s. By the time Jack sold the company in 1996, it had achieved an astounding 40 percent share of new home closings in San Antonio.

—David Davenport in Shepherd Leadership

My Response: Have I considered looking for valid aspects to opposition I face?

Adapted from Shepherd Leadership (Jossey-Bass, 2003) by permission.

Prayer for the Week

I realize, Lord, that You don't let trials through on a whim. So help me gain the benefits You intend from them.

				Try an Issue of Men of Integrity Free! Name Street Address City/State/Zip E-mail Address No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. Click here for International orders. If you decide you want to keep Men of Integrity coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive five more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The trial issue is yours to keep, regardless. Give Men of Integrity as a gift Buy 1 gift subscription, get 1 FREE!

FREE Newsletter Sign up for the Men of Integrity Newsletter    RSS Feed   RSS Help