We cannot undermine the benefit of seeking God's wisdom to ensure our visions are in alignment with His plan. Taking this approach will propel your business to new heights while experiencing the deepest joy and a profound sense of fulfillment.
Business failure can sink even the most resilient person into an unfathomable depth of despair, especially if a substantial financial loss is involved.
Considering the current economic climate, significant losses will likely decimate many businesses as crises pile up one after another. And there seems to be no respite on the horizon as these crises continue to upend our lives and disrupt the global economy.
Many small business owners may suffer in silence, concealing the depth of their pain and distress from their loved ones.
To them, we say: Whenever you feel a dark cloud of despair brewing to drag you into the abyss of dread and hopelessness, you are not alone because Christ is in you.
For Jesus made a promise in Matthew 28:20 (NKJV), saying, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
God never promised that life would be devoid of suffering. But, he promised us this: He will sustain us amid formidable trials so we won't sink under the weight of our burdens. God will carry us through the darkest times if we just let Him.
And the peace of God will keep your heart in perfect peace, as stated in John 16:33 (NIV): “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
You can come out strong despite life's chaos and menacing storms. All we have to do is cling to God and follow His leading, for He alone can lead us close to the harbor safe and unscathed.
This, too, shall pass.
Here are some additional Bible verses that can serve as inspiration for small business owners:
Psalm 37:23 (NKJV): “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way.”
Conventional wisdom asserts that business success entails seeking professional advice from industry experts who can provide exceptional insights and strategies to help catapult any business venture to success.
As sound as such advice may be, it may not always hold true for believers. Because regardless of how adept your business consultants are or how sharp your business acumen might be, your efforts are doomed to fail if your aspirations are at odds with your God-given purpose.
Thus, failure to seek God's wisdom is tantamount to wasting precious time, effort and resources.
Nevertheless, God can sometimes allow our business to flourish despite not seeking or following His guidance. However, there is a caveat; we will feel utterly decimated, empty, and unfulfilled even after achieving great success because we aren't living our life according to God's plan.
The Importance of Aligning Our Goals with God’s Plan
God has plans for each of us. But we can only be made privy to His plans if we come to Him in prayer and ask in silence what He wants us to do.
You might ask, how can I know God’s plan for me if He doesn’t speak to me?
If you’re one of Christ’s faithful followers, you will hear Him speak through your Spirit. For Jesus, Himself declared in John 10:27: “My sheep hear my voice.”
We cannot undermine the benefit of seeking God's wisdom to ensure our visions are in alignment with His plan. Taking this approach will propel your business to new heights while experiencing the deepest joy and a profound sense of fulfillment.
Be comforted by the words God spoke in Jeremiah 29:11: "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"
Having said that, in no way do I denigrate the expertise of business gurus. On the contrary, their advice is as valuable as the most insightful recommendations we receive from credible sources. Besides, God also uses others to convey His message to us or affirm what we ask of Him in prayer.
In essence, it is just a matter of consulting God before soliciting advice from everyone else. And should we follow experts’ advice, we must be prudent enough to discern whether it conforms to what God has revealed to us in prayer.
Experts’ advice must not infringe on Christian ethical principles and values. Otherwise, none of our business initiatives will prosper, at least not the kind of success we envision.
As it is written in Psalm 1:1-3 (KJV): “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. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditates day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
God Values and Rewards Hard Work and Honesty
It's human nature to take quick routes to success. Others even become oblivious to other people's well-being, acquiring material gain at the expense of others—a human frailty that led many to deviate from Christ's teachings.
God disapproves of idle people and individuals who engage in nefarious activities to obtain wealth.
Hence, it is wise to heed the warning contained in Proverbs 10:4: “Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth" and Matthew 16:25 (ESV): “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?”
To run a business ethically, Christian entrepreneurs can use the Scriptures for guidance. We must be wise and diligent enough to establish our company's long-term viability through ethical business practices, sheer hard work, and tenacious determination.
We must not cut corners but instead take a long-term approach aimed at building a sustainable business for the long haul, a kind of enterprise that not just generates profits but also nurtures our soul and brings glory to God's name.
Let’s Nip the Pride of Life in the Bud
As we achieve tremendous success, we tend to succumb to our innate desire to trumpet or exalt our accomplishments without restraint. Pride, as we all know, is a grave sin God utterly detests.
Proverbs 16:18 (NIV): “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”
Pride signifies our burgeoning belief in our abilities and accomplishments while eschewing the virtue of relying on God for success.
Hence, it is unsurprising that the ostentatious display of wealth and achievements will alienate us from God. We must nip pride in the bud, uprooting it from every area of our lives if we want to capture God’s heart. 1 Peter 5:5 says, “God exalts the humble and opposes the proud.”
Remember God in Times of Plenty
Deuteronomy 8:18 (NIV): “But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today."
The allure of material wealth can be enticing for all believers, especially those whose faith in God is not firmly rooted. Certainly, acquiring material possessions is not bad, but when riches dominate our lives, it becomes a form of idolatry.
We could get trapped and fall into a state of interminable loneliness and spiritual stagnation—a result of having lost touch with God, drifting away from the teachings of Christ.
We mustn't then be ill-prepared to receive God's abundant blessings by faithfully nurturing our relationship with our Maker. In doing so, our love, faith, and reliance on God will remain firm and invincible no matter how successful we become.
Commit Your Work and Plans to the Lord
Proverbs 16:3 (NIV) encourages us by saying, “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”
You can sometimes be indifferent to the proddings of the Holy Spirit as He guides your decision-making. Often, when you have tasted success, you are convinced of your competence and wisdom, pivoting your business to uncharted territories without consulting God. You become confident in your ability to navigate the stormy waters of the business arena solely through human efforts.
But let us be reminded that when we fail to commit our work to God, not allowing Him to guide us in every decision we make, we will only labor in vain, as it is written in Psalm 127:1: “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.”
It Is God Who Empowers His People
As Christians, we go through life's adversity for myriad reasons. And it is only by examining our actions in light of God's will for our lives can we truly gain insight into why we're in such dire straits.
Despite this, even in the most adverse circumstances, God's children always emerge victorious. We can do so because we have a God who sustains us when times seem bleak and challenges abound.
Timothy 1:7 NIV: “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”
God is Our Greatest Rewarder.
Sometimes you resent God because of the meager opportunities He provides—scratching your head in confusion, wondering where you went wrong. It becomes a real struggle to refrain from comparing your gifts with those of other believers. Their cup seems to overflow with blessings, whereas yours never fills up.
You start to wonder, does God love me? Does He play favorites? How come others are inundated with opportunities while I languish in a cycle of failure and hardship?
Suppose your business venture isn't generating profits over a prolonged period despite your fervent prayers. In that case, your business is either not aligned with God's plan for your life, or He might want you to wait as He refines you to better receive an abundance of blessings.
As Christians, we must remember that God seeks to ensure we are trustworthy, even with scant resources and privileges, before providing us with greater opportunities.
Proverbs 22:29 shares, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.”
Lastly, we should view life from an eternal perspective. The troubles we face are only temporary, so don't let your problems overwhelm you. Instead, rejoice and look up because our redemption is drawing near.
Luke 21:28 (NKJV): "Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."
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