GOD’S WORD ON BUSINESS

GOD’S WORD ON BUSINESS

IS IT POSSIBLE TO BE A CHRISTIAN AND ALSO BE SUCCESSFUL IN BUSINESS?

Proverbs 31:16 . . . She goes out to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard.

God thinks highly of people who are enterprising and hardworking.

Acts 18:1-3 . . . A Jew named Aquila . . . had recently arrived from Italy with his wife, Priscilla. . . . Paul lived and worked with them, for they were tentmakers just as he was.

Aquila and Priscilla are an example of early Christians who used their successful business to serve God.

Ephesians 6:6-7 . . . Work hard. . . . As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

When God’s people work hard in business, we are serving the Lord if we dedicate that work to him.

WHAT PRINCIPLES SHOULD GUIDE HOW I CONDUCT MY BUSINESS?

Ecclesiastes 9:10 . . . Whatever you do, do well.

If God has called us to do business, then we should do it well!

Genesis 23:7-16 . . . Abraham bowed low before them and said, “. . . Let me have the cave of Machpelah. . . . I want to pay the full price, of course.” . . . “No, sir,” he said to Abraham, “please listen to me. I will give you the cave and the field.” . . . Abraham bowed again to the people of the land. . . . “No, listen to me,” he insisted. “I will buy it from you. Let me pay the full price for the field.” . . . “Well,” Ephron answered, “the land is worth four hundred pieces of silver, but what is that between friends?” . . . So Abraham paid Ephron the amount he had suggested, four hundred pieces of silver, as was publicly agreed.

Abraham’s interaction with Ephron is a model of the kind of respect that we should show toward others when we do business with them.

Deuteronomy 25:15-16 . . . Yes, use honest weights and measures, so that you will enjoy a long life in the land the Lord your God is giving you. Those who cheat with dishonest weights and measures are detestable to the Lord your God.

Ezekiel 22:12 . . . There are hired murderers, loan racketeers, and extortioners everywhere! They never even think of me and my commands, says the Sovereign Lord.

God condemns dishonest and violent means to become successful.

Ruth 4:1-9 . . . Boaz went to the town gate and took a seat there. . . . “Come over here, friend. I want to talk to you.” . . . Then Boaz called ten leaders from the town and asked them to sit as witnesses. . . . “You are witnesses that today I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelech, Kilion, and Mahlon.”

Like Boaz, we should always conduct our business above board and in public, with no hidden kickbacks or shady deals.

Psalm 112:5 . . . All goes well for those who are generous, who lend freely and conduct their business fairly.

It is important for us to be generous in our business dealings-it is an investment that will certainly come back to us later!

Amos 8:4-5 . . . Listen to this, you who rob the poor and trample the needy! You can’t wait for the Sabbath day to be over and the religious festivals to end so you can get back to cheating the helpless.

Serving God through our business means that we live in harmony with what we profess on Sundays.

Mark 12:17 . . . “Well, then,” Jesus said, “give to Caesar what belongs to him. But everything that belongs to God must be given to God.”

We must always be sure that we pay all of our taxes that are due.

Luke 14:28 . . . Don’t begin until you count the cost.

Whenever we start a project or a business venture, we had better plan ahead and make sure that we can carry it through.

James 4:13-15 . . . Look here, you people who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what will happen tomorrow? For your life is like the morning fog-it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.”

Whatever business ventures we pursue, we must always remember that God is our Lord and that we are completely dependent on him in everything.

PROMISE FROM GOD:

Psalm 37:37 . . . Look at those who are honest and good, for a wonderful future lies before those who love peace.

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