Business and the Bible (part 6)
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
Ants vs. Slugs
Proverbs 24:30-34
I went by the field of a sluggard, and by the vineyard of a man void of understanding; and lo, it was all grown over with thistles, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and its stone wall was broken down. Then I looked, I took it to heart; I saw, I received instruction: --A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest! So shall thy poverty come as a roving plunderer, and thy penury as an armed man.
R: Laziness. You'll get what you give in business. No work done, no pay.
A lazy businessman is called brother of the destroyer (18:9), perhaps because he destroys his spirit and any chance at success. No one can start a business without actually doing any work, even if many internet scams and MLM pyramids claim so. Real businesses always take an enormous effort in the beginning. Start ups can take a toll on the entire family. Eventually things settle down, but work is still an every week day matter. Sometimes it requires an entrepreneur to always be on call.
Proverbs 26:16
A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men that answer discreetly.
Laziness is tied to various undesirable traits in Proverbs, such as vanity and foolishness. Perhaps foolishness begats laziness, and then vanity arises in an attempt to cover up the lack of results, i.e. “I can slack off as long as no one notices! Alas, I have my own business! I'm such an fab entrepreneur!”
Proverbs 12:9
Better is he that is lightly esteemed, and hath a servant,
than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.
I recall reading a post on the CWBN on Ryze eons ago that warned about taking advice from just anyone, because you never know how successful someone online truly is. Success can be faked online, much more easily than in real life. You can't peer in an online stores window to see if they have any customers browsing the isles.
Be sure to put into action what you've envisioned for a business. Do your research, learn and learn some more, and ACT! Otherwise you may end up deluding others, and eventually yourself.
L: There is another verse that goes well with this one...
Proverbs 6:6-11 (Amplified Translation)
Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider her ways and be wise!
Which, having no chief, overseer, or ruler, Provides her food in the summer and gathers her supplies in the harvest. How long will you sleep, O sluggard? When will you arise out of your sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to lie down and sleep-- So will your poverty come like a robber or one who travels [with slowly but surely approaching steps] and your want like an armed man [making you helpless].
It takes more than a positive attitude to have a successful business. It takes a lot of hard work and determination over a long period of time. If we do not put forth the effort, we cannot expect a good harvest. No amount of praying and believing will change that. Even the ant has to prepare for the winter, so that she will eat. We must also work hard and not grow weary in doing good. The Lord will bless our hard work with abundant success.
Ephesians 5:14-16 (Amplified Translation)
Therefore He says, Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead,
and Christ shall shine (make day dawn) upon you and give you light.
Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately,
not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people),
Making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity],
because the days are evil.
We must live our lives on purpose. We must make a choice to be steadfast and work hard. Not just in business, but in all areas of our lives. Then and only then will we have joy and peace and true prosperity. The kind that no amount of money can create!
More References Pr 6:6 (the famous ant proverb),
6:9-11, 10:5, 10:26, 12:24, 12:27,
13:4, 13:7, 13:11, 15:19, 19:15-16,
19:24, 20:4, 20:13, 21:17, 21:25-26, 28:19-20
Saturday, January 21, 2006
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