Christian Business Builder

When doing any business planning as a Christian we must always remember to look first to God. I have been overwhelmed with what the Psalmist said in Psalm 37.

We are told, “Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.”

This passage puts the responsibility on us to let God handle the planning of our businesses. We need to not let the world control our thinking when it comes to business. What we are to do is:

1. Trust in the LORD. God knows what our business should look like and what we can handle to bring the greatest glory to him. We need to trust the Lord in his wisdom.

2. Delight ourselves in the LORD. This simply means we need to be soft or pliable in God’s hands. As we do this, God will give (appoint, ascribe) us the desires of our hearts. In other words, when we are pliable in God’s hands he will place desires in our hearts that allow us to fulfill his will.

3. Commit our way unto the LORD. This is where the rubber meets the road. If we trust the LORD for the design of our business and we become so pliable in his hands that he can place his desires into our hearts, we then need to commit our way (the course of our lives) to him. When we commit ourselves this way, God promises to bring those desires to pass.

Business planning is important and every Christian business owner needs to have a strong business plan, but that plan needs to reflect God’s will above everything else.

What is it that makes our Christian life distinctive in this world? Is it just the fact that we follow a set of “rules” that are outlined in the Bible or is there more to it? Is there more to the name of Christ than the music we listen to and the books that we read? What makes Christianity worth considering and even more worth embracing?

You see, what makes Christianity distinctive, is what will make the business owned by a Christian equally distinctive.

I think that there are three things that make Christianity distinctive among the religions of the world:

1. Christianity is built upon a personal relationship with God himself. Unlike every other world religion, Christianity is based upon the ability of the individual to have a personal relationship with God. This relationship guides the believer in every other aspect of his life. His family life, relationships with friends as well as enemies, and of course the function of his business. Only when the relationship with God is as it should be can the Christian business owner run their business as it should be run.
2. Christianity is based on the notion of love. God, we are told is love and therefore as his children we ought to be the practitioners of his love. Jesus was asked one day what the greatest command was and his answer was to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, and mind. Then he went further and said the the second great commandment was to love your neighbor as yourself. He concluded the thought by saying that it was upon these two commandments that all the law and the prophets hung. Everything is God’s word leads to these two ends. Our relationship with God will lead us to love him and all those that he loves. In business we need to remember that our customers and/or clients ought to see in us the love of holy God. We should demonstrate a genuine, loving concern for them in all that we do.
3. Christianity is distinctive in that it is a religion of mutual service. Throughout the word of God, the believer is shown a pattern of service to others both by Christ himself and by the disciples he trained. Each believer is to care for the other. When this mutual concern is realized its synergy multiplies the result. The Christian business owner knows that she must look for these opportunities to benefit and serve both her customers and/or clients while also looking for ways to benefit her employees and vendors as well. As she learns to serve and bless everyone involved in the success of her business, she will succeed in more than just money.

These three distinct aspects of the Christian faith need to be seen and felt in our businesses for us to be truly a “Christian business.” God will be honored, our clients, customers, employees, and vendors will be best served and we will live under the blessed had of God himself.

In my view, there is no better way to run a business!

When attempting to build a Christian business, the first and most striking question that must be answered is, “What is a Christian Business?”

There are three basic truths that must be understood in order to answer this question. Today I am going to present these basic truths in a broad and general way. Over the next week I will get more specific as to the how these basic truths answer the question, “What is a Christian Business?”

My goal here is to present something that makes us all think. Just because we are Christians and just because we own businesses doesn’t make our businesses “Christian.” My goal is not to denigrate anyone, but to make us all think. Too often we, as Christians, following the “it works” method of business building rather than thinking (and praying!!) about whether or not Christians should follow after such business methods.

So … here are the three basic truths every Christian who wants to own and operate a “Christian Business” needs to understand:

1. To be a Christian business owner, you must first be sure that you are a Christian. Tragically in our world today, many people carry the banner of Christianity and when asked when and how they became a Christian don’t have an answer. Others still have an answer that isn’t consistent with Biblical teachings. This is not the forum to discuss or debate the different nuances of theology, but it is safe to say that being a Christian is necessary to having a Christian business.

2. To be a Christian business owner, you must develop a biblical world-view. Most businesses (even those whose owners are Christian) operate from a fleshly world-view. All that their businesses are about is “success” and “success” by definition is always about making more money, having more things, and “living the dream.” God doesn’t ever say that his people should all be poor and without means, but he does give great amounts of insight as to how their blessings of success are to be used.

3. To be a Christian business owner you must live a life of benevolent service. God is glorified when his people serve others ahead of themselves (just like he did by going to the cross). We are called to be stewards of those things he gives us (and that includes our businesses). Until we see our mission as one in which we help others even ahead of ourselves, we will never really know what it means to have a “Christian” business.

WOW!!! I must be nuts to think like this! But, before you just write me off as  kooky, take time to consider and pray about what you read. Going into a new year is a great time to move forward in both your faith as well as your business.

Talk soon ….

Have you ever wondered about why there is so much debt in America these days? Have you ever considered the shear magnitude of what debt does and the true horrors is produces in our society? Have you ever thought about who might be behind such a diabolical plan to enslave the vast majority of this countries people to the place where there is little or no room for God in their lives? As Christians, these questions must have answers and we must be settled in those answers if we are going to be living testimonies for the glory of God.

Thoughts about money, debt, and greed have been the focus of my thinking over the past couple years. I have come to some firm conclusions about these thoughts and am going to make them available to you here. There is literally too much to say in one post, so I will divide things up into several articles. I hope you will enjoy them, be challenged by them, and really consider the real battle underway through the methods of greed, covetousness, and debt.

Let me start out by saying that having money and possessions is not a sin. However, coveting money and possessions is! Covetousness and greed are among the biggest problems in America today and their ramifications reach into every one’s view of God. The poor who are covetous blame God for their lack and the wealthy who are covetous see themselves as always deserving more “blessings.” They both have wrong views of God based on their covetous and its evil twin, greed.

As Christian business owners, we certainly want to be successful. We want to honor God in this part of our lives as well as any. We know that God blesses those that work hard and we certainly are willing to work hard. However, we sometimes forget that God does not keep score by how much, but by faithful and that he distributes life’s blessings as it pleases him. Even David, the king whose heart was after God’s own heart, knew times of luxury in the palace and times of living in caves.

The Apostle Paul said, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. ” Philippians 4:12-14

His primary concern was not how much that he had but that he had it from the Lord. He was content knowing he was serving the Lord, and he trusted God for his wealth. Paul continued this teaching when, writing to Timothy, speaking about false teachers said, “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;  He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” (1 Timothy 6:3-11)

Now I know that this passage does say that the LOVE of money is the root of all evil, but how many times have you asked someone, “What do you do?” and had them answer in some other way than how they make money? How many business owners, when asked that question, say, “Well, I run my business so that I can be a blessing my church, strengthen my community, and change the world for the glory of God?”

I will leave you with that thought for now … Remember, Greed Kills!

I want to start this post by asking a question: “How do the concepts of Christianity mesh with the ideals of capitalism?” In other words, “Can a faith-filled and serving believer in Christ also effectively own and operate a successful business in an age of rampant greed and corporate corruption?”

Let’s face the facts. A very large number of “home-based” business opportunities are scams designed to make a privileged few a lot of money and the real backbone of the company (the field-force) very little. The intent of most “brick and mortar” businesses is to make the most money for the owners while paying  the employees the least amount possible to keep them at their jobs. Add this to the stress of a bad national economy and what is a Christian to do?

First, let me say without doubt that I believe that a person who is a life-altering servant of the living God can and really should be actively involved in the marketplace. What I think we need to consider though, is not should we run successful businesses, but how should those businesses look and what should those businesses promote and do?

The answer to these questions will not only define our business models but will also testify of the practicality of our faith. Ghandi once said that he would be a Christian except it be for Christians. He said that he had read the Bible and agreed with much of what Jesus taught. However, what had kept him from accepting Jesus’ teachings was the lack of a testimony of the power of those teachings in lives of professed believers.

If we then, as believers, want to build successful businesses while advancing the cause of Christ, what should we do?

1. We should remember that we are Christ-followers before we are business owners. If we would simply treat those in our businesses with the love and wisdom of Christ, we would be well on our way to a successful business model.
2. We should establish biblical principles in every phase of our operations. From the training of our sales-force to the way we pay our debtors, we should use biblical principles as our sole guide for success.
3. As our business grows and gains profitability we ought to look for ways to reach out to our communities and their needs. Christian business owners ought to be out front in looking for real solutions in our troubled neighborhoods. We ought to be the ones who will look at every possibility to provide opportunity for hard working and willing people to get ahead and make their own way in this world. So much talent is lost in the cracks of society when people are left to themselves. We, as Christians who also own businesses, ought to work with those in the cracks (and churches that are willing to get out into the communities) to teach a new generation the benefits and blessings of a Godly worldview.

Just a week or so ago we were all saddened (and hopefully righteously indignant) over the video of the honor student who was beaten to death on that street in Chicago. If Christian business owners would band together and re-take these streets, tragedies like this one might well be avoided. We must not just see folks as clients, potential sales, and the like, but as souls bound for eternity. Christ came to give life and when we abandon the streets to Satan, we fail to serve our God. Like Ghandi those who struggle in this life might well say, “I would be a Christian, except it be for Christians.”

Will we choose to establish our businesses with a greater vision in mind? One that includes not only profits for us, but also considering how our companies reflect the testimony of Christ as well.

The Jesus Model - Part 4

In this post we are going to look at the fourth principle that we see in the life and ministry of Jesus. This fourth principle is that: Jesus lived in an environment of prayer.

In Matthew 14:22-25 Jesus had spent a day laboring in a dessert place. He had taught and then fed a large crowd of people and when he sent them away, he headed into the mountain alone for a time of prayer with his Father. It was after this time alone with God the Father that he taught the disciples the lesson of faith by walking to them on the water.

Jesus prayed before he named the twelve, he prayed to the Father for blessings on his disciples and those who would get saved throughout the ages to come, and he prayed for God’s will to be done in the garden before he went to the cross.

How about us? Do we bath our businesses in prayer? Do we seek God’s guidance in who we bring on to our teams? Do we pray about the needs and direction of our businesses? Is prayer a principle element of our business growth?

I know for me it has not always been so. I got into network marketing without much prayer and worked to grow my business through the counsel of my upline leaders. (Again without much time with the Lord.) When I was the most successful I was praying much more and when I struggled I was “doing everything I was told to do” by my upline.

This principle ought to cause us all to think a bit, and maybe even to reevaluate our current business practices. Without clear guidence from the Lord we are just really throwing darts in the dark.

Following the principles of  The Jesus Model will always place us in the best place possible to give God the greatest glory in our bodies and our spirits, which are his!

Just my thoughts ….

This is the third post in a five part series entitled The Jesus Model. In this post we are going to look at the third principle in The Jesus Model:

Jesus Penetrated the Culture of His Day

In Matthew 9:10-13 Jesus is questioned about the time he was spending eating with the Publicans and Sinners. Jesus declares to his detractors that those who are whole don’t need a physician, but those who are sick do! While I understand and agree that Jesus is speaking primarily about the salvation of those he dined with, I also think that a principle is evident here as well.

I recently heard a preacher on the radio say that the most amazing thing was not that Jesus ate with sinners, but that sinners wanted to eat with Jesus. Throughout his life Jesus made himself available to everyone who wanted to spend time with him. He never condoned the sinners sin, but he always treated them with respect. His very presence caused sinners to look up and to pay attention. While not all of those he ate with accepted him as their Saviour, it is apparent that his life and words effected them all!

As Christian networkers the question is can we penentrate the “ultra-hype rich” network marketing industry and have a positive effect on it without being tainted by it? Can we be “in it but not of it?” I for one believe we can!

If we are going to follow this principle lived out in the life and ministry of Jesus we are going to have to do three things:

1. We are going to have to be sure why we are in this industry. If you go back to the beginnings of the network marketing industry, it was designed to allow compassionate people the opportunity to reach out and help others build successful businesses from the comfort of their own homes. The key ingredient to this kind of compassion should be our love for God and the desire to express that love to those he puts us in contact with. Jesus did not find the sin that permeated the life of those he dined with pleasant, but he loved them just the same. His love for the sinners allowed him to fulfill God’s will among them.

2. We are going to have to avoid the temptation to isolate ourselves. By eating with these sinner Jesus taught us that while he did not agree with the life-style of the sinner, he still understood that they needed what he had to offer. He maintained his personal testimony and integrity while making sure the sinners understood his love for them. Jesus insulated himself from the sin around him while not isolating himself from the sinner.

3. We are going to have to endure the rebuke that may come our way. Jesus was rebuked by the religious crowd of his day. He quickly and without a doubt let them know that he was here for anyone who recognized their need and sought him. Many Christians in this industry want to work only with other believers (I like working with like-minded believers as well). However, Jesus was willing to go where the doors were opened to him and deal with those he found with both love and respect. In doing so, lost people were saved and those who rejected were made to be “without excuse.”

I would love for my organization to be filled with Christian people who were so committed in their service t the Lord Jesus that they would work with everyone God brought their way. That they would show the same commitment to thoe who don’t know Christ as they do to those who do. With this kind of organization we would see lost people come to Christ and God glorified in all that we do.

Just a thought ….

One of the most difficult things that can plague a Network Marketer is when people you know and love don’t believe in your vision of business success. As a matter of fact, I personally believe that this lack of belief is the number one killer of success in our industry.

When you run into this in your own business, what do you do?

First of all, remember that they people in Jesus’ own hometown didn’t believe in him either. In Matthew 13, Jesus found himself being questioned by those in his own country.

And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?  And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.  (Matthew 13:54-58)

If Jesus could be doubted with all that he had to offer, then I should expect that there will be people who know me and love me who will do the same thing!

Next, we need to understand that Jesus didn’t stay and try to prove his point to those who did not believe. Instead he continued to present his message to those who would hear. By the way, he didn’t speak badly (or think badly) about the unbelievers, he just left them to their own choices.

Finally you need to remember who you are here to please. When God created you, he created you to be a testimony of his love, his grace, and his power. Since you have been burdened (by the Holy Spirit I hope) to show God’s love, grace, and power through your business, you need to make that your priority.

If in doing what God has called you to, people don’t believe, your obligation to God’s will should take precedence. God’s word says that if you will humble ourselves before the mighty hand of God that he would exalt you IN DUE TIME!

Then when you have been given your platform by God, you need to look for ways to bless those who didn’t believe. If you can find ways to genuinely bless your current non-believers, they will come back to you. You can then be a testimony to them as well.

Don’t let those who don’t believe steal God’s will from your life!

Just my thoughts ….

You know, in the Network Marketing arena, we are told that the best way to learn about leadership is to “follow a great leader.”

I personally think that we need to be careful about that idea. I would much rather say, lead by following the right leader. By choosing the right leader to follow you will learn the right skills that will in turn make you a better leader for your team.

How do you choose the right leader? Psalm 1 says, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” This means that you need to be careful who you follow and/or take counsel from. The responsibility is yours to check out the advice you receive and the leaders you follow.

Psalm 1 also says, “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” As we are choosing the best leader to follow, we need to consider God’s word and the view of leadership we find there. Once we know God’s thoughts we can trust anyone who knows and follows God’s leadership ideals. They will always give us advice that will benefit us first.

Then as we learn to follow the right leader, we need to ask God to make us that kind of leader for our team. They need to see in us what we have found in the leader God gave us.

Leadership has always been more about surrender and sacrifice than it has been about being honored and lifeted up. When we learn to care for the needs of our team we will create an atmosphere where great leaders will be born.

As I have said before, if your leadership produces skilled leaders, you will build a strong and stable business that will grow and survive for years to come.

Just a thought ….