Bobservations
by Pastor Bob Lawrenz
A long-time Christian friend was gifted
with a good business sense. His first business was a tremendous venture, and he
was very successful. But as a new Christian, he did not fully grasp the
importance of today’s scripture passages. His business partner was not a
believer, and lived for the world, for money, and all the things that the Bible
warns against. When the partner failed to pay business taxes, and absconded
with all the profits, the Lord used all of it in a corrective fashion for this
brother-in-Christ.
Two subsequent businesses took him into a
comfortable retirement. And now in retirement, He is a consultant for other
young Christian entrepreneurs.
Gleaning from God’s wisdom imparted to him, my friend has seen the
pitfalls that present themselves to every business venture, Christian or
otherwise. He could bask in the success that the Lord brought to him, but he
understands that being gifted freely by Jesus, he desires to freely share what
he has learned through trials, and victories, at the feet of the Lord.
THIS is
Christ; this is brotherly love. Spoken
in love, the truth is not only encouraging, but it’s also admonishing as wrong
thinking is pointed out, along with its poor results.
We look at 2 Timothy 3:16 (“All scripture is given by inspiration of
God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for
instruction in righteousness.”), and we clearly understand the personal
application of it to our lives. But if we take this same verse, and extend it
to our professional lives, and into the business world, will God not also bless
there as well?
My friend had many trials in his first
business, including a bankruptcy after its failure. But he was not beaten down,
only bruised. He plodded forward and purged his “old” knowledge of business,
and built anew.
“Blessed
be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the
God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able
to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves
are comforted by God.” -2
Corinthians 1:3, 4
Matthew 10:8 – “…freely ye have received, freely
give.
