A few years ago, Tony Erskine read a book that changed how he viewed life and his career. The idea of discovering “Joy at Work” challenged him and led him to follow God’s calling to start his own business.
At the time, he didn’t know what the business would do, but he knew what it would look like.
First came a name: SharpTop. While hiking with his daughter, he was struck by the beauty of the eagles soaring in the sky and thought, “I want God to feel that way when he watches us work…to see us using our talents in a way that brings joy to us, but also brings joy to Him.”
Tony now runs SharpTop Co., a local software development company. He doesn’t focus on the success of the company itself, but rather the long-lasting impact that he gets to have on his employees and co-workers. “As you teach someone a skill — especially something that they really value — you earn their trust and have the opportunity to walk through life with them,” he said.
Over the course of a year, Tony schedules a one-on-one lunch with each of his employees. “Sometimes we talk about work, but more often it’s like talking to my little brother,” he says.
This intentional time has brought about the opportunity for meaningful conversations. Tony recalls, “I remember a conversation I had with a young married man who was trying to lead and love his wife in a better way. I was able to explain to him from what God has taught me that leadership in marriage means going first in submission and obedience.”
It’s not always easy to approach work in the right way, however. Running a business has caused Tony to experience real anxiety for the first time in his life. He struggles with a fear of public failure and looks back on a time that he rushed ahead in a business decision without following the promptings of the Holy Spirit. It cost him a lot of time, money, and emotional stress.
“A lot of times we try to divorce our spiritual life from our work life. We should be finding the will of God and then obeying it in every area of life,” he said. Tony now follows the “PRO” model that Pastor Woody talks about — pray, read, and obey.
He realized that fear was driving him to maintain control of his business. “Fear is anti-faith, but faith is what helps me to be obedient to God,” he said. Tony finally saw that he couldn’t maintain control of his organization and handed it over to God, saying, “This is yours, God. This company is yours and these people’s salaries are yours.”
Handing over control to God has freed him to focus on loving his employees. “My goal and my hope is to be able to invest in people. I might not ever see those dividends, but I don’t have to worry about that because I know that I followed God in obedience by loving these people.”
We’ve talked a lot about missional living over the past few weeks. Tony shares how we can carry out that mission wherever God puts us. “Missional living is great for India, but why can’t it happen here in Lynchburg or Bedford?” he said.
Tony’s values and motivations are focused on bringing joy to God’s heart. “My job isn’t to be a success. Obedience is what will matter in the end. This isn’t just how I lead my business, it’s how I lead my life.”
Let’s use our jobs as platforms for investing in others and loving people as the Body of Christ. How can you look for ways to invite God into your job, your career, and your daily interactions?