Christians looking to be successful in business and finance need not run far to get the best advice and counsel. The Bible contains instructions that will make any believer succeed in any endeavor, if only we would obey them.
God knows finance very well
Being successful in business and finance is actually part of the Kingdom. We might not have noticed it, but Jesus often spoke of God's Kingdom using illustrations involving money, bosses, servants, investments, and trade. Think about that:
- We read of the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30. There we read of a master who entrusted some talents in varying amounts to three men, two of whom made profits.
- In Matthew 13:44 we read of a man who found some treasure in a field, hid it, and sold all that he had to purchase the field.
- We also read in Matthew 13:45-46, about the parable of the pearl of great price. Here, a merchant sells all that he had in order to buy a very valuable pearl.
Jesus also spoke of parables that did not include money, but the fact that Jesus would speak about Kingdom principles using money stories should make us think that God really knows finance. In fact, He knows more about it than all the billionaires of the world combined:
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9)
That said, why should we Christians want to succeed in business? Why can't we grow our money at times? James gives us one key answer:
"You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures." (James 4:3)
God wants to prosper all of us financially, but if we will just spend it on what He doesn't want, what's the point. We must keep in mind that God blesses us ultimately for His glory.
How to succeed in business and finance
Now that we've understood that God knows finance more than any other, and that we can't desire to be a successful Christian businessman only for our selfish goals, how do we succeed in business and finance? Here's how:
"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." (Matthew 6:33)
When we seek God first in all that we do, we are assured that all that we need will be provided us.
But why do we need to seek God? Isn't Sunday enough? Well, to be honest, we have to seek God in all that we do, even if we desire to prosper:
"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." (Matthew 6:24)
Some of us, however, don't know what "seeking God" means. Some think it's about being religious or spending all day inside the church halls. No, it doesn't mean that. In this matter, it simply means obeying what He says:
"Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." (Joshua 1:7-8)
Friends, it's that simple. We keep God's commands. We read the word of God, we meditate on it, and we make sure to observe what it says without turning to the left or to the right. God promises success if we keep His word.
