Read
And those who know your name put their trust in you,
for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.
Psalm 9:10
Reflect
One of the largest automobile manufacturing factories in the world is in Georgetown, Ky. This 8.1 million square foot factory is Toyota’s largest plant and it makes up to 550,000 cars every year. For many years, the plant was run by Fujio Cho, who later became president of Toyota’s worldwide operations. During his time in Kentucky, he ensured that not one employee was ever laid off. In fact, he instituted the practice of never calling the workers “employees”; instead, they were called “team workers” or “team members.”
Cho connected well with his team members, even in the way he dressed. He wore blue jeans, tennis shoes and a short-sleeved shirt, and he made sure that the team was aware that if they ever suffered, he would feel the pain first. Every six months, Cho renewed a pledge in writing that said, “Before there is one employee laid off, there will be deep salary cuts for every executive.” This is a very different situation than what is found in most American manufacturing plants, where sometimes thousands are laid off from their jobs.
Then and now, the average Georgetown assembly team member earned about one-half to one-third of the typical General Motors employee. But you would rarely find a person in Georgetown who will criticize the management of their working conditions. Trust makes such an enormous difference, not only in production but also in our attitudes.
As Christians, our leader is someone we can always trust. His love and care for us are always consistent, and as we draw near to Him, all fear is pushed away and set aside. When we place our complete trust in Jesus, we become more confident and productive — and we enjoy life more fully!
Reflection copyright © 2025 Doug DeBolt and Charles Fulton.
