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| Image by S K from Pixabay |
“There’s Mr. Smith. I wonder how he made all his money?”
“God alone knows!”
“Ah, that’s why he always looks so worried.”
Business is all about making money, profiting, and increasing one’s wealth. If ever there was anything that evokes un-Christian thoughts about a successful person, it is business. The joke at the start of this article is typical of what people think of successful businesspeople – they must have done something wrong to get where they are, or, nobody can make money doing business without doing something wrong. They must have committed some other sin to get where they are, or as someone once said to me, ‘I must remove my Christian jacket before going to my place of business or people will walk all over me and I won’t make any money’. But it is written:
Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go. (Isa 48:17)
The Bible is full of people, holy people of God, who earned their keep doing business and making a profit. Abraham was a successful farmer, soldier, and businessman. So too were Jacob and Job. King Solomon sent ships to trade and barter in foreign lands even importing chariots from Egypt, Israel’s traditional enemy. Business should not be left in the hands of the ungodly few, but all can, and should, participate. If people’s riches make you wonder and doubt their faith, remember that Abraham, Job, David, and many others in the bible were extremely rich people and God had no trouble identifying them as His people. Abraham was referred to as God’s friend (2Chron.20:7, James.2:23), Job ‘My servant Job, a perfect and upright man’ (Job.1:8), and David was called 'a man after Mine own heart’ (1Samuel.13:14, Acts.13:22).
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| Image by Hanen Mehadbi from Pixabay |
In the New Testament, we read about Paul who refused to live off the congregations he preached to, relying on his skill as a maker and seller of tents. Then there is also Lydia:
And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. (Acts 16:14)
Proverbs 31 states that one of the things that makes a wife virtuous is her ability to do business.
She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands, she planteth a vineyard. (Pro.31:16)
And again:
She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. (Pro.31:24)
There is no reason to avoid being rich just because of Elijah, John the Baptist, or even Francis of Assisi. There is no reason to question people’s faith because they have money. Opportunities to do business are all around us, we must just be on the lookout for them, and grab them with both hands.
Psalm.35:27...Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
Caleb, in the book of Joshua, chose what looked like a barren mountain over the lush valleys. Later we are told why he had chosen that mountain. His mountain had water and grazing at different times of the year when others did not. While others were going through dry periods he always had water and food for his animals.
We need to have our eyes open for the right opportunities. What looks bad on the surface may have a goldmine or oilfield buried beneath it. We need to look deeper to find the riches. With Jesus, we will be able to fish on the right side of the boat.
John 21:6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast, therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
Keep your focus on God. He is the one who ‘teaches us to profit’, who blesses and rewards.
God bless you.
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All scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.
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