The Lord’s Help in Business

July 2, 2022 The Lord’s Help With Opportunities

Opportunities to do things in business is, of course driven by the business purpose, the “cause” of the business. General application of sound business practices will keep proving themselves sound if what is being followed is bringing about the desired results. The bible tells us “The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul.”—Prov. 13:19 (the context is a contrast with a fool—the Bible has a lot to say about a fool.)

Seeing one’s business opportunities, then, is predicated on several things: the product involved, the materials to produce the product, the people who know how to bring forth the product, and the resources to produce. Resourcing is a bit more than simply money. But if there’s no money, it quickly becomes the number one priority. The bible also tells us “…money is a defense”—Eccl.7:12 and also “…money answereth all things”—Eccl.10:19 (the context of both passages is to get and use wisdom.) 

Finding money for a business is simple but not always wise. If one has no money, one cannot start a business. If one doesn’t see that as a deterrent then comes the hunt for money: spouse or other family member? venture capitalists, bank loan, sell existing assets? These are all possible in varying degrees of opportunity and the selection process has many, many consequences. 

Venture Capitalists have the money, but they are with you on the basis of your business plan and have little to no sympathy for changing it (they don’t lend their money without the spying eye inside your work-a-day world.) VC involvement is seldom a happy stroll through the park. Following 1 These.4:11 (And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands….) might be very difficult with VCs involved. Sort of cuts slashes in the business opportunity, doesn’t it.

Bank loans are not totally different from venture capitalists though they have their own foibles. Bank loans today always rely on a specific repayment amount to be returned to them each month. No varying from that, it is set in a “concrete” lien reduction contract. (You pay or we foreclose, that sort of thing.)

There was a time when one could step into his local bank, say hello to his friends who worked there who helped him manage his money in a checking account, etc. Then walk over to the president’s desk and say, “Joe, I need $5,000 for about 90 days, ok?” Joe would say, “Sure thing, Abe, just sign this note and take it over to Hillary’s window and she’ll put the money in your account.” “6% per annum, ok?” Sure. 90 days later walk into the teller and say, “Hillary, I want to pay the interest on my note, and renew for another 90 days, ok?” hand her $75, she gets the nod from Joe, hands a receipt over and a new note to sign and nobody worries about it for another 3 months…..Try that today. That simple process is gone forever.

See here of what the Lord reminded some men about their own business (of course, the Lord was using this business practice to show men how to determine whether they should follow him, but my borrowing the principle use is just a practical application of Scripture, not doctrinal)

Luk 14:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

Luk 14:29Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,

Luk 14:30Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

So, the Lord has much to say about money and business, always principled to a T and not for the faint of heart. Learn from the Bible what living this life to the fullest is all about. To us believers, that’s a simple tenet. If you happen not to be a believer in the God of the Bible, the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and the free salvation by grace simply received on account of “how that Christ died for our sins,…was buried, and was raised again the third day…” because He was “delivered for our offenses and was raised again for our justification” that’s up to you. You’ll still never find better business acumen written anywhere. The world’s “wisdom” has been usurped from the Lord’s wisdom (see 1 Corinthians 1:18-21.)

Thanks for reading, The Elder