The Christian and Business

Business is the ability to manage men and materials to produce profitable results. This definition is not complete without taking into consideration the fact that business is one field where our faith in God is tested to the extreme. Men are deceitful and we require the grace, wisdom and patience of God to effectively manage them. Materials are fleeting – can disappear fast so you cannot rely on them, yet you have to manage them to not only to stay, but make gains. You need more than anything else, the grace of God to keep you going.

I need not dwell much on whether or not Christians should be involved in business. I should rather say that because many Christians are not involved in business, the business world in our society today is regarded as dirty and even sometimes dirtier than politics. Many Christians are in business and are making success out of it. Business is not dirty; it is the people in it that are dirty.

To get into business, depending on the type of business you want to get into; you need a few basic requirements:

• You need a very big and healthy heart with new shock absorbers. There are a lot of shocks in business.
• You need plenty of faith, hope and patience. It takes a lot of time to mature. Learn to work for longer hours.
• You need a bit of study on management of men – human relations. A course in leadership will do
• You need a little study on Business Management. The use of money and a little study in Accounts.
• You need a little study and practical application on “Ijebuism”- try to deny yourself some of the pleasures in order to make the business to grow. If you want your business to grow, you must forget at least initially, a lot of luxury. You should be thrifty in spending. Look for a little gain at a time.
• You need a Business survey to ascertain the type of business that would thrive where you are and the type of customer base you have.
• Learn to walk closely with God and learn to live the truth in word, action and even in thought.
• Some Business need some form of apprenticeship. If yours requires one do some time as someone’s apprentice. Some others you can learn in the classroom but the best classroom for all business is the practice of the business itself. You learn it best by doing it.

The job opportunities in business are limitless. All unemployed persons in Nigeria today can be employed if they are properly motivated, equipped and directed. Funding has always limited the employment facilities. Self employment abounds in business. Every man can be a business man depending on your interpretation of profession. I wish to add that business is not limited to buying and selling: it includes production, consultancy, teaching and every other profession. My Lawyer, Engineer, Medical Doctor and Accounting friends are all in business, but carrying it out at different dimensions and scopes. They all manage men and materials to make gains.

There are a number of difficulties and temptations. Your biggest temptation is to do it like others and get the monetary gains quickly, but the Bible reminds us that those who hasten to get rich fall into temptations and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows (1 Timothy 6:9-10)

The Bible therefore outlines for all business men the following guideline for successful business venture:

1. God hates a dishonest scale and delights in honesty (Proverbs 11:1; 16:11; 20:10, 23)
2. Don’t sign a note, cheque or even surety for someone you barely know (Proverbs 6:1-5; 11:15; 17:18)
3. Don’t withhold payment of your debts (Proverbs 3:27)
4. God will not let a good man starve to death (Proverbs 10:3)
5. Don’t be lazy – for lazy men are soon poor; hard working people have an abundant supply (Proverbs 10:4; 22:29)
6.  If you are employed don’t be lazy. A lazy worker is a pain to his employer – like smoke in their eyes or vinegar that sets the teeth on edge (Proverbs 11:26)
7. Don’t trust in your riches, even when they increase. He that trusts in his riches shall fall. (Proverbs 11:28)
8. Don’t accept bribes to twist justice: it is wrong. (Proverbs 17:23)
9. Develop your business first before building your house- Business before pleasure (Proverbs 24:27)
10. Remember Riches can disappear fast and the king’s crown doesn't remain in his family forever – so watch your business interests closely. Know the state of your investments, there will be enough gains for clothing, and feeding for all the household at the end of harvest, and new business will crop up (Proverbs 27:23-27) (my own paraphrase)
11. Finally, Remember- all you are and have are the Lord’s. Glorify the Lord through your business. Don’t forget to give God His own share in the Business by paying your tithes regularly.

God bless you all.