6 principles in a God-led career

6 principles in a God-led career

This Friday, we were privileged at FGB Jaya Chapter One to have brother Stephen Chew, Vice President of Marketing, Communications and Business, McDonalds Malaysia share with us his testimony.

Brother Stephen has worked for 15 years with McDonalds Malaysia, since starting as a Marketing officer in 1996. Through many tough years, he rose through the ranks to become part of the senior management team. In the course of his working life, he found 6 main principles that helped him the most.

Firstly, is the principle of staying humble. It is so important for us to stay humble and remember where we have come from no matter how high we have risen in life. Saul was once small in his own eyes, but allowed power and fame to shift his view, and his arrogance caused him to lose his anointing. We need to always depend on God. A few years back, having risen to the post of Director, Brother Stephen was given a company car, a simple white Proton. No one below him envied him, those above him pitied him. In a way, it was a reminder to remain humble.

Secondly, is the principle of knowing that everything we have comes from God. We may be tempted to think that we have become successful based on our own effort, but the truth is, everything we have, everything we have been given comes from God. Throughout his Christian life, one thing brother Stephen did faithfully was tithe. Tithing is a reminder to us that all we have belongs to God, and in His grace, we are allowed to keep 90% for our needs. Initially, in his career, brother Stephen tithed even though he did not have any savings, but over the years, he is thankful to God that he has managed to buy a house on a single income.

Thirdly, is the principle of “God’s will over my will”. As a person, brother Stephen tends to want to do everything on his own, a little perfectionist. It is hard to change when we think we know better. In the course of his career, brother Stephen received a lot of job offers, but he chose to seek God’s will. One particularly tempting offer was to work in Singapore, but both Stephen and his wife felt that the need was greater in Malaysia despite the crime and problems in the country.

There is a lot of distorted teaching about success. The prosperity gospel teaches that Christians should show the world they are prosperous. However, before that, Christians should show the world that they will still love God and be humble despite anything that happens to them. Each one has to die to self, take up their cross and follow Christ. Our mission is not to be prosperous, it is to preach the gospel, it is to serve God. We don’t need to be successful to bring people to Christ. We just need to testify of His goodness. The more we testify, the more praise we give God. 

Fourthly, is the principle of “God over work”. Climbing the corporate ladder is not easy, and many times, brother Stephen found himself working up to 9pm, having little time for the family, and he wasn’t happy. Somehow, God led him and his wife to the school of Acts, and through the experience, God taught him so much. Work was so challenging, he taught he would have to give up, but somehow God made it so he was able to go. At night, his parents helped him take care of the children. He went on a mission trip to Thailand by a step of faith. All things became possible because of God.

The fifth principle is “use every opportunity to influence people around you.” McDonalds has 110,000 employees. The founders said “we are not in the hamburger business, we are in the people business”. In his position, brother Stephen realizes that there are so many people he can influence. Charting out the plan for the next couple of years, he realized the challenge of the Malaysian mindset, the “tidak apa” apathetic attitude. He desires to get the best out of the people. His vision is to start changing McDonalds by changing the people. He wants the employees to know there is a right way of thinking, a right attitude, right values. He realizes he can play a part in cultivating positive values in society.

Recently, during an advertising campaign on the Prosperity burger, he used it to redefine the meaning of prosperity. Prosperity is happiness, friendship, love, satisfaction, peace, family. The concept of the Breakfast in the Box is all about family. It is about family eating together. Even in the toys in the Happy Meals, brother Stephen influences where he can the suitability of the toys, and not just the popularity.

The final principle is “Family before work”. If we are not careful, we can be so busy at work and for God that we neglect our family. At home, dealing with rowdy, jumping children is more difficult than systematic, efficient work. However, it is spending time with the children that cultivates them. In the world, there are so many unhealthy things that attract them. We have to grow with them, as they grow up in the world.

In closing, brother Stephen shared with us how God protected him in a dangerous car-jacking incident. On the way to fetch his children in his CRV in 2007 at night, he slowed down at a bump, and the car behind knocked him. He got down to inspect the damage, and suddenly, a man jumped into the car. His wife, pressed on the horn loudly, but the man started to drive. Bravely, she managed to unbuckle her seatbelt and jump out of the moving car, rolling on the ground. Praise God that she was fine with no scratches, only dirtying her clothes. After checking she was alright, brother Stephen ran after the car, knowing that it could stall. Sure enough, he found that the CRV had stopped some distance away. He shouted loudly at the man, who just ran away. Checking his car, he found nothing missing, not even his house keys. In just 20 minutes he had recovered his stolen car. Then suddenly, he found a 19” machete at the side of the car. Had he realized the man was armed so dangerously, he might not have given chase like that. Looking back, brother Stephen realizes that it was God protecting the family. Thank God his wife had jumped out of the car. Thank God his children were not in the car. Thank God he was not harmed by the man and his machete. And thank God he recovered the car with no losses at all. God is indeed our mighty God!