Christian Business Builder

Well, we are finally coming to the end of this series. It has taken me longer to get it out than I anticipated, but life has a way of slowing the process. This is a lesson in the success process as well. (But I digress)

Today I want to turn your attention to the seventh step in the Biblical pattern of success. Note Proverbs 3:9-10, “Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.”

God’s word is pretty clear here. It reminds us that we need to remember that our business is merely an extension of our relationship with the Lord and as such we should share in the rewards with him. God does not need the money, but the use of that which we gain through our business efforts for the greater good of the kingdom reaps eternal benefits that would not otherwise be accomplished.

Remember that throughout the scriptures the tithe belongs to the Lord. In Malachi 3 we are told that those who rob God are those who forgo both the tithe and offerings (those things not required by command). In the New Testament, Paul tells the church at Corinth that their giving testified of the sincerity of their love for God.

Generosity and a willingness to bless others ought to be the hallmark of every Christian business. As I write that I am reminded of the parable of the rich man who tore down is barns to make bigger barns so that he could store, keep, and use for himself the bountiful crop given him by God’s grace. His unwillingness to share his abundance caused God to call him a “fool” and to bring his life to an abrupt end.

On the other hand, God promises in Proverbs 3:10, that if we learn the lesson of generosity, given through our honouring of the Lord, our barns will be full and our press will overflow with new wine. One caveat I would make: Remember that God knows your heart. You may look like you are honouring God to me, but God knows if you are real or are just show.

In my next article, I will try to pull all this together and bring some concluding thoughts. As always your comments are appreciated.

Talk more later ….

Ok, yesterday I told you that I had a seven step plan for business success. I told you that I would deliver that plan to you over the next seven days. I also told you that the creator of this plan can guarantee you success if and only if you are willing to follow the plan completely. If you fail to completely follow this plan your level of success will be effected.

So … without any further adoo, here is step number one in the seven steps to business success:

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; …” (Proverbs 3:5a)

I know, I kown, you’ve heard this before. But wait, give me a chance and I will show you how all of these thought fit together before I am done and, if you believe God’s word, you will see how your success can be guaranteed if you are willing to work this plan.

Now, let’s look at step one.

Trust means to be confident or sure. It means to be bold and to make to trust. So, if we apply this to business success, we could say that if we are going to be successful in business, we need to be confident in the Lord; to be bold in him.

We need to trust in the Lord “with all our hearts.” Our heart is the seat of our intellect, emotion, and will.

So, when we put these definitions together, we need to be confident in the Lord with all of our intellect, our emotion, and our will. This means that the Lord needs to be our confidence when we consider the technical aspects of business and marketing, when we struggle with the emotional ups and downs owning a business can bring, and as we surrender our will for success to that of the Lord. (Remember he doesn’t always define success the same way that we do.)

It is a simple first step, but it is not an easy one. To truly trust in the Lord means that you have to always agree with him and yield yourself to his direction throughout the course of your business career. Add to this the fact that Satan battles, seeks to blind and discourage all those who trust in the Lord and you have to make a real commitment to this first step.

However, if you are willing enough and surrendered enough God will bring you to a place of real success if you trust in him with all your heart.

Tomorrow - “and lean not unto thine own understanding.”

Over the next eight days I want to outline for you a sure fire success formula that will allow you the greatest opportunity to be successful in this life! Now, I cannot guarantee anyone success, mostly because I don’t know what success looks like to you, I don’t know how closely you are walking with God, I don’t know if you are being led by the Holy Spirit, I just don’t have enough information to guarantee you success.

What I can do is lay out a plan that was written by the Creator of all that is. His plan will at least lead you to the greatest opportunity for success (guaranteed if you follow the plan without fail). But, remember as you go along, Adam and Eve were guaranteed success in their lives as well but failed to follow God’s plan. His guarantee was good while their execution left something to be desired.

This plan lays out perfectly with seven clear and distinctive parts. (Remember 7 is the number that represents perfection.) This is a perfect plan, designed by a perfect being, to provide perfect success to those who have the faith and the courage to follow it perfectly. Any deviation from the plan lessens the synergistic effect and lessens the level of success you can expect.

Success is a strange thing, God desires it for everyone, yet so few achieve it! Are you ready to take up the challenge? Come back tomorrow and we will get started!

Wax on, wax off Danielson!