The challenge of sales

Christian salespeople must often be between a rock and a hard place. At least, in my observations and imagination, they have two choices when approaching a customer, particularly another Christian. The sales person must decide what to base his appeal on: the human and fleshy need for bigger, better, more or the spiritual reality of being a good steward and seeking the mind of God in making a good decision.

Obviously the second option will not appeal to someone who is not trusting the Lord. They don’t see the Lord as giver of all nor feel any obligation to seek and follow His will. Sadly, a non-believing person cannot call upon the Lord anyway, at least without the power of the Holy Spirit behind his request:

Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:3)

This quandary is easier for most others. A pastor’s task is to present the Gospel and describe how to live it out. Other believers can do the same, considering the hearers and their needs. But a salesperson is trying to make a living. If he appeals to the flesh, he sets foot in the camp of the enemy. It he tries to appeal to the spiritual side of things and the Spirit is not in that customer, he needs great skill to help his listener understand wise choices — at the same time risking the loss of a sale.

Tozer writes, “I think that one of the most hopeless tasks in the world is that of trying to create some love for Christ our Savior among those who refuse and deny that there is a need for a definite spiritual experience of Jesus Christ” in their lives.

I’ve noticed that many Christians do this in varying ways. We want people who do not know God to go to church where we gather to worship Him. Such people usually need to hear the Gospel and be saved before they even want to do that. As today’s verse says, no one can say that Jesus is Lord unless the Holy Spirit enables him through spiritual life and experience. As Tozer says, the enemies of God may love Him for what they imagine Him to be, but the real friends of God love Him for who and what He is.

I’m not a good sales person. I’m also a hard sell in that I need to discover all I want to know rather than have it pushed on me. I need to remember that others may feel the same and respect their desire to not be pushed by a sales pitch. At the same time, God expects me to share the Gospel. For that, I need grace!

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Lord, today my prayers include those Christians who are in sales. They need wisdom in their presentations and grace from You to avoid putting one foot in their faith and the other one in the ways of the world. However, all of Your people need grace to share the good news of the Gospel with everyone, trusting Your Spirit to grant them the ability to believe it.