How Christian Values Make our Businesses More Competitive

Do you feel this way? The GOOD NEWS for Christian Small Business Owners is that following our faith in all of our business dealings, decisions, and directions would make us even more competitive. WHY?

* We would treat all of our customers, employees and vendors with respect, dignity, and integrity. (Proverbs 2:7)
* We would serve our customers, employees and vendors to the best of our ability. (Proverbs 22:29)
* We would make plans in advance to achieve the vision. (Proverbs 21:5) ( Proverbs 16:3)
* We would build our business on a strong foundation. (Matthew7:24-25)
* We would be excellent stewards of the company’s resources because we would know they aren’t ours anyway.
* We would persevere even in hard times. (2 Timothy 4:7) (Proverbs 17:7)(Phil 3:14)
* We would delegate effectively. (Exodus 18:18)
* We would hire qualified people with high character. (Proverbs 26.10)
* We would equip and train our organization. (Proverbs 9:9)
* We would be consistent and firm in our expectations and commitments. (Proverbs 29:18)
* We would hold everyone, including ourselves, accountable to Godly character, hard work, and consistently meeting expectations. (Proverbs 19:19) (John 15:2)
* We would lead with boldness and humility simultaneously. (Proverbs 18:12)
* We wouldn’t partner with thieves. “He who is a partner with a thief hates his own life; he hears the oath but tells nothing.” Proverbs 29:24.
* As a leader, we wouldn’t be riddled with stress and anxiety. (Matthew 6:26)
* Our services and products would be of the highest quality. (John 15:2)

Do these actions seem uncompetitive? God created everything and He is way smarter than us. Whether it is in our relationships, our finances, or our business His ways are everlasting. Our competitors may use cheaper ingredients to increase their margins, build up their riches in storehouses, use force to get extra work from their employees, but these strategies won’t last. It will catch up with them. That is why it is so important to recognize the success of unethical businesses as a “house built on sand” and not get caught up with adhering to the world’s standards. Leave those not following Godly ways to the Lord and keep doing what we know is right.

Did you know having good intentions can still be a form of disobedience? Procrastination is very deceptive and Proverbs 3:27,28 instructs us not to do it. Often, we do not see putting things off as disobedience because we intend to obey God; it is just that we are going to do it when–when we have more money, when we are not so busy, as soon as Christmas is over, after we get the kids in school/college, when we return from vacation, after the snow is gone, etc. Remember, the best intentions do not produce results. Ask God to help you take action in a timely manner in every situtation.

So, what are some strategic solutions to helping Class A+ Procrastinators; Proverbs 4:5 instructs us to get “skillful and godly Wisdom,” and here are some of the results that you can expect as you apply wisdom in your life.

Wisdom will always lead you to God’s best. Wisdom teaches that you will not keep friends if you try to control and dominate everything that goes on in your life and theirs. You will not keep friends if you talk about them behind their backs or tell their secrets. Wisdom says, “Do not say things about others that you would not want people saying about you.”

Wisdom will guide you in money matters. You will not get into debt if you do not spend more money than you make. A lot of people never have fruitful ministries because they think they can run a ministry without good business principles. The Holy Spirit does not need to speak in an audible voice to tell us that we cannot have more money going out than we have coming in. Wisdom tells us that we will get in trouble if we do that.

Wisdom will not let us get overextended in our commitments if we listen to her. No matter how anxious we may be to accomplish things, wisdom says we need to take time and wait on God to give us peace about what we are to do and not do. It has been very difficult for me over the years to learn to say no to certain speaking opportunities, but I have learned that it is not wise to wear myself out trying do to so much that I end up not doing a quality job.

To God, quality is more important than quantity. Many times wisdom leads us to say no to things we would like to say yes to. Wisdom may also lead us to say yes to something to which we would like to say no. Having an opportunity that will stretch you outside of your comfort zone may cause you to say no, because you are afraid you might fail. But Wisdom may be telling you that you can do all things through Christ that strengthens you, and although you may have never done this or that, or tried this or that, doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t try. How do you ever grow beyond what you are capable of if you never put yourself in a situation where you know exactly what you are made of. Feel the fear and do it anyway.

Wisdom is our friend; it helps us not to live in regret. I think one of the saddest things in the world would be to reach old age and look back at your life and feel nothing but regret about what you did or did not do. So many people are playing it safe. In case you haven’t noticed, “You can’t get out of life ALIVE!” It’s always more fun on the field than it is in the stands. Failure is merely feedback. The sorrow is not in the falling down, the tragedy is in never having tried in the first place. Wisdom helps us make choices now that we will be happy with later.

A word of advice to all my soon to be reformed Class A+ Procrastinators, don’t put off for tomorrow what you can to today, maximize your moment!

Be Encouraged. [Excerpts from Joyce Meyer Amplified Bible] 

Linda Dillard

Founder/CEO & Relationship Strategist for Power In Progress, LLC

Deuteronomy 15:8
But you shall freely open your hand to him, and shall generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks.

Psalm 15:5
He does not put out his money at interest, nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.

Luke 6:35
But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.

Proverbs 3:27-28
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, and tomorrow I will give it,” when you have it with you.

Exodus 22:25
If you lend money to My people, to the poor among you, you are not to act as a creditor to him; you shall not charge him interest.

Leviticus 25:35-37
Now in case a countryman of yours becomes poor and his means with regard to you falter, then you are to sustain him, like a stranger or a sojourner, that he may live with you. Do not take usurious interest from him, but revere your God, that your countryman may live with you. You shall not give him your silver at interest, nor your food for gain.

Psalm 37:26
All day long he is gracious and lends, and his descendants are a blessing.

Deuteronomy 23:19-20
You shall not charge interest to your countrymen: interest on money, food, or anything that may be loaned at interest. You may charge interest to a foreigner, but to your countrymen you shall not charge interest, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all that you undertake in the land which you are about to enter to possess.

Proverbs 28:8
He who increases his wealth by interest and usury gathers it for him who is gracious to the poor.

Deuteronomy 24:10
When you make your neighbor a loan of any sort, you shall not enter his house to take his pledge.

Psalm 37:26
All day long he is gracious and lends, and his descendants are a blessing.

Nehemiah 5: 1-13
Now there was a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brothers. For there were those who said, “We, our sons and our daughters are many; therefore let us get grain that we may eat and live.” There were others who said, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards and our houses that we might get grain because of the famine.” Also there were those who said, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tax on our fields and our vineyards. Now our flesh is like the flesh of our brothers, our children like their children. Yet behold, we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters are forced into bondage already, and we are helpless because our fields and vineyards belong to others.” Then I was very angry when I had heard their outcry and these words. I consulted with myself and contended with the nobles and the rulers and said to them, You are exacting usury, each from his brother!” Therefore, I held a great assembly against them. I said to them, “We according to our ability have redeemed our Jewish brothers who were sold to the nations; now would you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us?” Then they were silent and could not find a word to say. Again I said, “The thing which you are doing is not good; should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies? And likewise I, my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. Please, let us leave off this usury. Please, give back to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money and of the grain, the new wine and the oil that you are exacting from them.” Then they said, “We will give it back and will require nothing from them; we will do exactly as you say.” So I called the priests and took an oath from them that they would do according to this promise. I also shook out the front of my garment and said, “Thus may God shake out every man from his house and from his possessions who does not fulfill this promise; even thus may he be shaken out and emptied.” And all the assembly said, “Amen!” And they praised the LORD. Then the people did according to this promise.

Suggested Reading:

YOUR MONEY MATTERS

Malcolm MacGregor. Bethany House Publishers 1977, Paperback, 176 pages, $2.99

Money, Purpose, Joy

Matt Bell. NavPress 2008, Paperback, 208 pages, $0.96

Prepare your work outside and make it ready for yourself in the field; afterwards, then, build your house.

Proverbs 28:20

A faithful man will abound with blessings, but he who makes haste to be rich will not go unpunished.

Ecclesiastes 11:2

Give a portion to seven, and also the eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.

Proverbs 15:22

Without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed.

Matthew 25:14-26

“For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. ‘Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’

Suggested Reading:

The Intelligent Investor

Warren E. Buffett (Collaborator). Collins Business 2003, Paperback, 640 pages, $10.92

Rich Dad’s Guide to Investing

Robert T. Kiyosaki. Time Warner Books 2000, Paperback, 403 pages, $7.50

Deuteronomy 25:13-15
You shall not have in your bag differing weights, a large and a small. You shall not have in your house
differing measures, a large and a small. You shall have a full and just weight; you shall have a full and just measure, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you.

Job 31:13-14
“If I have despised the claim of my male or female slaves when they filed a complaint against me, what then could I do when God arises? And when He calls me to account, what will I answer Him?”

Psalm 112:5
It is well with the man who deals generously and lends, who conducts his affairs with justice.

Proverbs 10:4
Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.

Proverbs 11:1
A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is His delight.

Proverbs 13:4
The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the soul of the diligent is made fat.

Proverbs 13:11
Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles, but the one who gathers by labor increases it.

Proverbs 16:8
Better is a little with righteousness than great income with injustice.

Proverbs 22:16
He who oppresses the poor to make more for himself or who gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.

Jeremiah 22:13
Woe to him who builds his house without righteousness and his upper rooms without justice, who uses his neighbor’s services without pay and does not give him his wages.

Malachi 3:5
Then I will draw near to you for judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers and against the adulterers and against those who swear falsely, and against those who oppress the wage earner in his wages, the widow and the orphan, and those who turn aside the alien and do not fear Me, says the LORD of hosts.

Luke 16:10
He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much.

Ephesians 6:9
And masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.

Colossians 4:1
Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven.

1 Timothy 5:18
For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.”

James 5:4
Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.

Are there any bible verses that I missed? If we did, add them in the comment section!

Suggested Reading:

Faith Entrepreneurs

Dr. Michael Simms. iUniverse, Inc. 2006, Paperback, 150 pages, $8.46

My Business, His Way

Andrea J. Wilson. CreateSpace 2009, Paperback, 212 pages, $13.58

Let me illustrate this. In Acts 17:21-31 the Apostle Paul in his journeys visits with some folks in Athens on Mar’s Hill (KJV). Paul notices that the people in Athens are very religious and seeking something to believe in. They had on display many items that they worship (or “devotions” as it is referred to in the KJV). And just to cover all bases, they had a devotion to the UNKNOWN GOD. Paul seized this opportunity to share the gospel in verses 22 and 23 (KJV):

22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.

23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

Take note of how Paul used diplomacy to be a witness. Other translations of the Bible use the word “religious” instead of “superstitious.” Paul gave these people respect and in doing so he was able to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them.

Being a diplomatic witness does not mean you do the same things others do when they are partaking in illegal, unhealthy, or immoral behavior. It means that you are tactful or use strategy that is considerate of others. The Old Testament is full of stories of those like Joseph who did their best to be tactful with the rulers that were placed over them even though they would not abandon their faith.

Being a diplomatic Christian goes a lot farther than being a rude Christian. Think about it.