Doing Business God's Way

 The Importance Of Being Equally Yoked With God In Business

Christians should be equally yoked in all areas of their lives, if they're not, all other areas where they are equally yoked can be negatively affected.  However, for this article I'm going to concentrate on being equally yoked God's way for business.

Some Christians don't understand how to be equally yoked with God and others believe that it just means to marry a person who is a Christians or choose a partner in business with someone or others who are Christian too, but it goes deeper than that.

II Corinthians 6:14

¹⁴ Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 


It's not enough to create a partnership with someone whether in marriage or in business based upon the fact that the other person goes to church and says they believe in God.  An equally yoked partnership in Christ means that both parties must be at a level of Biblical understanding and commitment from where they can continue to grow.  11 Corinthians 6:14 says that righteousness cannot fellowship with lawlessness.  If you are the righteousness of God, then you must look to other Christians who live as the righteousness of God as you do.

The partners should not be at a place of Christian growth with one at the top of the scale for Christian commitment and one or more at the lower end of the scale.  The scales of Biblical wisdom and knowledge for the most part should be equal for a true partnership in Christ to take place.  More important an equally yoked partner must be willing to grow in Christ continually as well as spread God's Word in thought, action and works throughout the community where they do business.  

Another important business commitment for those equally yoked in business is to put God's will above financial wealth.  This doesn't mean that financial growth and financial projection isn't important, but many Christians in business put the cart before the horse.  They look first to their business as a means of freedom from a job they hate, a means of making more money and hopefully getting rich or showing others they are a great success or perhaps more successful than friends or family are.  There are others who may have more altruistic purposes for their business, but having an unselfish purpose for your business is not to be at the center of a business endeavor--not even if you want a business to give all your profits to the poor. 

All parties joined together in business, need to build a business on a foundation of Jesus Christ with God at the center.  The foundation of Jesus Christ is the Word (the Bible), and centering upon God is giving that Word first place in the midst of every decision and business activity.   This is done by prayer and waiting upon God together and in agreement.  When this happens God is able to work in the midst of a business to create great success and prosperity for the business owner or ownerss and also for those who comply with their business practices.

My Business Experience With A Partner In Christ and Without        

Learn How To Do Business God's Way

When I began my first home business, I was very successful according to what I wanted to achieve for my family goals and financially.  I experienced great blessings in many areas of my business and personal life because I chose to put God at the center.  I was in control so my choice of putting God's integrity over the worlds in my business practices went unchallenged.

At that time, I didn't know as much as I do now about being God-centered and being a good steward, but I worked with God from what I knew at the time and He honored what faith, devotion and commitment I understood.

God has great understanding for our ignorance and great respect for our commitment to Him, even if we aren't getting the full picture of what we're suppose to do.  However, He expects continued growth, so as we continue to walk with God He will help us develop in His ways. 

However, some time later, I made the mistake of trusting someone in business at a level that I believed I could control.  It was a temporary situation where I thought that if I stated my standards clearly and spelled out everything I would or would not do in accordance with the other persons agreement the business would be in line with God.  I had even watched this particular woman for a year become more and more successful with what I believed to be ethical and moral values.  So when this person initiated our business partnership I agreed because I thought I could learn business skills from her that I didn't have.    

I should have known better at that time, but I went my own way with the excuse this was going to be temporary.  Well I'm here to tell you that my "just temporary" business situation turned into a nightmare. Everything we agreed upon went out the window. This woman bullied and pushed and screamed to have her own way.  She was the slave-master and I was the slave.  I also began to see that her business practices were based upon lying to people and deceiving them.  It was apparent that all the time we spent talking before we became partners she was in the process of deceiving me into believing that our values were the same.  She wanted me as her partner because myself and husband had a good reputation.  That was the one element she needed in order to get reputable clients.

I had to leave the business, of course, but not without losing money and valuable time that could have been spent serving God.  But God is good and will take our foolish business mistakes and turn them into positive directions and situations as we repent and ask for forgiveness.  If we always look to God to lead and direct our businesses, we will never experience the kind of problems that can set us back in time, money and worse--serving God.
 
In conclusion, build your business with God at the center and always let Him direct you.  Then you will experience peace, respect and great success God's way.