Business and the Bible (part 5)

Copyrighted, written and edited by
Lara Velez of Moms of Faith (momsoffaith.com),
Rachel Lower of Christian Mommies (christian-mommies.com)
By the grace of God

Choosing Business Associates

Proverbs 14:7
Go from the presence of a foolish man,
in whom thou perceivest not the lips of knowledge.

R: You take on the attributes of the people you associate with. It's a Biblical fact and can be attested to by parents of teens everywhere. Mimicry is human nature. Obviousy if we associate with business people who lack integrity then we are setting ourselves up for disaster.

Another bad practice often overlooked is dealing exclusively with people in the “same boat,” just starting out or going nowhere fast. Doing so is like setting yourself up for ruin by proxy.

The mix of people just starting out can be caustic, no offense meant to them. We've all been in this mix. Certainly there will be people who will be successful among the newbies, but as of now not many of them have developed the tools that will get them there. The greater number of people just starting out can be a bad influence, especially if they come into it thinking they know it all and have got all the right stuff to be instant successes. Among the gems you'll find an even larger sour mix of the foolish, the proud, the vain, the flatterers, those that lack integrity, the angry, and the lazy. Those types probably make up the majority of beginners because the myth of the Internet gold rush attracts millions.

Proverbs 19:27
Cease,
my son,
to hear the instruction which causeth to stray from the words of knowledge.

You'll usually get bad advice from people just starting out, if any advice at all. After 4 years of steady progress, I've received bad “advice” on occasion from people who haven't been successful in the least. In my case, they were just trying to discourage me because the loss of my site would be their gain, at least they thought so.

Many fools think they know it all, even after years of failure, and boy, they want to tell you how to do the same! That is precisely why they haven't gotten off the ground! I wouldn't be surprised if those at the very “top” of internet business, like Google, get the occasional “this is what you should do” letter from a guy who hasn't learned anything, but thinks he knows everything. On the same note, those successful businesses never stop learning- from people who know what they are talking about!

This doesn't mean you must dump all of your current online buddies. Just add to them! It is better to include online friends and business partners from all stages of business development in your circle. If you can't find many who will personally associate with you, you can still learn from many of those that came before you through their articles, books, interviews, etc.

Fortunately for some, if not all business niches, this is easy. There are various forums for different businesses attended by a great mix of people. Some groups have even set up business related mentorship programs, like Mom Masterminds or the upcoming Our Christian Family Network.

L: We need to be smart in business. When we seek the council of others we need to make sure that they have done their homework, and that we do ours. You can take that “Berean” attitude to work! Just because someone seems to know what they are talking about does not make it so.

Another thing that we must always keep in mind when seeking advice is to make sure that the advice given does not compromise our Christian walk. We are called to represent our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We must keep our business doings and lives upright. We must never even dip our toes into murky water.

If we are wise, and we honor God in our business, He will guide us into success. We will be fruitful. Proverbs 3:6 (amplified) says, In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.

Who better than God is there to lead us in life and business?


More Reference
Pr 17:4, 20:19, 22:24-25, 22:26, 24:1-2, 28:10, 29:9