I have noticed that when good things happen, we give God the credit. When bad things happen we tend to find someone to blame; often ourselves and everyone involved. The more complex the “bad thing”; the more blame to go around. Blame is akin to condemnation, which has become the best tool of the enemy and in today’s business climate, the enemy is having a field day.
As a company owned by Christians succeeds, God often gets a few dollars, (maybe even 10%); we give him praise and glory when someone notices as a way of witnessing for Him and we generally bask in the blessings. After all, we have been promised that we would prosper. The economy is good and we have been wise decision makers along the way.
But let the economy tank and business begin to fail, possibly even go out of business, and far too often Christians attack one another, blame one another and in general find someone to blame. If God gets the credit, shouldn’t He get the blame? Let’s change the wording a little from credit and blame to “cause”. If God causes the good things to happen, or allows them, then He causes or allows the bad things, right? He is in complete control of everything and we can do nothing of any worth unless it is through Christ. Nothing!
I can rest in the reality that God either causes or allows everything, but is never surprised by anything. What then is my response? Abide in the midst of the tough times. Do not allow the enemy a foothold for finding fault in others; blaming mere men and women for divine intervention. Give Him praise and glory regardless of the result. Trust that He will never leave me or forsake me. Try to build up those around me who are as deeply impacted by a business failure; some having lost their livelihood and some blaming themselves for having played a part in the demise.
Praise God…things are tough!
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,” James 1:2
Same old… Same old! Sometimes it appears that is what all of us are waiting for; things to return to normal, back to where things were predictable and to a large extent certain. God must detest that kind of certainty given the number of times His people lost focus during times of prosperity and certainty. This is God’s wake up call to us and it is a wakeup call to action, not fear and business as usual. If we do the same things the same way we will likely get the same poor results. This Great Disruption as it can be termed is nothing more than God getting my attention. I am listening. Now I must act.
Lest you think I am comfortable with the current state of politics, let me set the record straight; I vehemently disagree with most of everything congress and the president is doing. However, ours is not a political battle but a spiritual one and I can see no biblical precedence for solving spiritual battles through political means. Please don’t forward me any more emails “against” the current occupant of the White House. I am sick and tired of our negative, often dishonest and anti-anything approach to life. Let’s begin to uplift one another, to encourage one another and to refocus our own spiritual energies to where God would have us focus.
For me, that focus must be on business; the marketplace; the circle of influence He has given me and on the gifts, skills and experiences I woke up with on this brand new day. As a Kingdom Company member, is that where God is focusing you?
In times of great disruption, both economically and spiritually, there are also great opportunities if we will take the time to find them and to act on our only certainty; that if God is for us, who can be against us. And God is for us. Are we being tested? Yes! Are we facing trials of many kinds? Yes again! Are we defeated? Never! But how do we start looking for and taking advantage of positive opportunities when we are dealing with so much negative fall-out from lack of revenue, credit tightening and greater costs to stay in business? Consider three strategies for success and survival during times like this:
Be about His business first. What does it mean to “seek first the kingdom”? It means seeing every relationship opportunity as a divine appointment. Divine. Arranged by God. There are no coincidences in the kingdom of God. And every appointment is not necessarily arranged that you might “lead them to salvation” but that you would be a player in a much larger process. Try this. Act as if everyone you meet already knows God and act as if your walk with God is as natural and normal as anything else you do today. Let your life be your witness and if necessary speak. I believe it was St. Augustine who said that. Look for God in every contact. Slow down. Seek Him in the day to day interactions and watch what happens.
Preserve the core of your business. Most of us have spread ourselves too thin; financially and strategically. Re-examine your profit centers, clients, customers and suppliers. Who and what should be pared back. Focus, focus and focus some more on the products, services and activities that you know are your core. This may also be a time to cut back on personnel, so please don’t presume upon God that he will allow us to continue to be the enablers of poor performers and employees with less commitment to excellence that is needed during these tough times. Sound harsh? It is, only because we have allowed waste, excess and a lot of “just enough” and if this is God’s company, what right do I have to waste what He has given me to steward. Often, when we cut back, the upside potential becomes that much greater and more rapidly achieved.
Use the mind of Christ, the one you were given at conversion, to see tomorrow. This is the biggest hurdle we will have to overcome to avoid SO SO thinking. Christ was a man on the move and His Holy Spirit is not languishing in some cathedral in Rome. No, he is alive and on the move and willing to share what He sees with those committed to His work. It is Jesus who will add “all these things”; things like customers, clients, new product and service ideas, and a certainty that we are on the right track because we are on His track. He knows what we need. He can supply it.
I have been doing it on my own, with a form of Godliness but without the power thereof. Now I want the power of Christ to rule and reign through my role as a CEO and business owner. What glorious and exciting times, that the creator of the universe will allow us to be His representatives here and now. Let’s get on with it.
