Happy Easter Or Passover,

If only Eve hadn’t bit into that apple.  Indeed if only.  Well she did!  Now that we have put that behind us what does the Christian business entrepreneur stand to gain from the bible and its many lessons about building a successful business?

With current economic worries, and as what little consumer confidence wanes and whittles, the message is as clear today as is it was during similar difficult times for the Jews under Roman occupation and rule.

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”  Let us not forget that as the words preached about anxiety and it’s poor results.  It is asked of us  “And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?”

Furthermore we are advised in the poignant Sermon on the Mount,  “And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, [shall he] not much more [clothe] you, O ye of little faith?

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.”   One of the best songs is titled Consider The Lilies of The Field by The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, when times are tough you can mosie on over to YouTube.

That the Bible is filled with lessons in common knowledge.  Now having laid the foundation let us then look at what the Christian entrepreneur can do to thrive in these blessed times.

1. Be still and know that I am God :  Contrary to popular thought and opinion we are not being asked to become inactive, to sit on your rear and do nothing.  Instead we are to learn that Spiritual serenity, the psalmist admits; ought to be cultivated in spite of the shaking mountains and agitated waters and financial upheaval. In other words come hell or high water. This spiritual calm, that God commands, does not come from a lack of troubles; it derives from a steady, deep assurance that  God has always intervened in history on behalf of his people.

There is another meaning to being still.  When you are agitated, expectant, stressed and /or anxious it is difficult to hear “the still small voice” . This is the voice of the Holy Spirit, “the comforter”  sent to speak peace, calm and inspiration to your heart and mind.  Remember  “for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.   Allow Him the space.  Let Him speak!

2.    Too many people expect success and yet fail to make the necessary preparations.  It has been said that luck is when opportunity meets preparation.  Think back to the story of the 10 Virgins. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them. But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.  We all know how that story came to an end,  The five that were prepared reaped what they had sown for good and they that were unprepared  reaped for bad.
3.    To be prepared is to know who you are and what you are capable of doing.  You are a child of God.  And how will know your abilities and your limitless bounds if you do not cultivate the talents that have been gifted to you?  If you do nothing else with article may I challenge you to read Matthew Chapter 25.  This is the Holy Grail of Success!  The story of the talents lays the foundation for success.   The one that had 5 talents, multiplied them to 10.  The one that had 2, even 4. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.  But it gets better, his rationale?  I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.  And the master says unto him, “Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.”   Indeed, the rich keep getting richer, while the poor keep getting poorer.  As it has been demonstrated, this is the Lord’s law of prosperity.  Use it Or Loose It!
4.    The fear that leads us to be inactive as the slothful servant in the parable of the talents is directly linked to these telling words “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee…”  To succeed in business you have to be in the know.  Are you still using 8 track methods to build your business in an iPod world?  If so be advised.  Bill Gates, former richest man in the world, in an interview with Larry King Live in 2000, when asked the secret to his success Bill Gates willingly shared his secrets to success, he said:

i). Recognize the future of an industry
ii). Take immediate massive action
iii). Be at the right place at the right time!

In early 2008 As Bill Gates prepared to step down as CEO of Microsoft, he said in a BBC interview when asked again his secret to success, “Most of our competitors were very poorly run,” he told Fiona Bruce, for The Money Programme.

“They did not understand how to bring in people with business experience and people with engineering experience and put them together. They did not understand how to go around the world.”

He said something that cannot be ignored any longer:

iv).  If your business is not on the internet, then your business,
will be out of business!

5.    Live the Platinum Rule: The Golden Rule, do unto others as you would have them do unto you is definitely one you ought to live. The Platinum Rule will propel you to heights beyond your imagination.  “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give unto your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete, withal it shall be measured to you again.”   This particular scripture is a commandment and a promise of blessing. God does not want us empty, barren or in poverty. Whatever is dear to us, if we give it unto the Lord he in turn will fill the void. We must give all if we are to completely be blessed by him.  What does giving accomplish?  It is like being a pack-rat you are cluttered and have no more room to receive nor to enjoy that which you have received.  Giving creates the vacuum for more blessing to be poured upon you.
6.    Give it your all.  Don’t hold back: “If you are going to do it, do it well or not at all,” my other would always say to me. Thrust in your sickle with all your might.  You will not only sleep well, but as we are told “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.”
7.    The Law of Tithe: A tenth of your earnings belong to the Lord. “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.  Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground…And all nations shall call you blessed…”  What more can I add?
8.    Neither Shall Ye Rob Uncle Sam : The Pharisees, seeking to catch Jesus in a trap asked of Him, “Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.  Pay your taxes.  It is good business practice.  All that which is done in the dark shall one day come to light.  Need I remind you of Enron and their creative accounting?  What about the recent Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac sub-prime loans that have led us to current economic situations?
9.    You Got to Have Faith : Remember the golden oldie by wonder boy and every body’s teen crush George Michael?  It is true what is sang. “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”  And my personal favorite, Therefore I say unto you, What things so ever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”  Have you asked for guidance? Have you asked in faith?  Have you prepared yourself?  Have you cultivated your talents?  Have you sought knowledge?  Have you got into action? If you can honestly answer yes to these questions, you my friend are very, very successful indeed!
10.     Stand aside and see the Glory Of God:  For “They that be with us are more than they that be with them”   “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper…!”

About The Author: Patricia Kagwiria Makhulo is an author, speaker, consultant specializing in branding and creating online and offline presence.  She works with women, with a specific emphasis on women of color who are struggling to establish their presence in the business world & struggling to attract more customers in order to build successful business both online and offline!

Website: http://www.partyplanpat.com
Blog: http://www.homepartyplansuccesstips.com

Scripture References:

John 14:27
Luke 12 :25
Matt 6:28 – 32
Psalm 46:10
1 Kings 19:11-12
John 16:7-15
Philippians 2:13
Matt. 25: 3-4
Matt 25: 18
Matt 25: 25

Matt. 25: 28-29
Hosea 4:6
Luke 6:38
2 Corinthians 9:6
Malachi 3:8-12
Mark 9:23
Mark 11:24
2 Kings. 6:16
Isaiah 54:17