Solomon’s Business Principals PART 2
Illegitimately obtained bread may taste sweet at first, but in the end, it leaves a mouthful of gravel.
Today, we’ll approach things in a slightly different way. Let’s begin with a brief prayer:
Lord God, we thank You for the incredible leaders documented throughout our history. Please open our minds to your wisdom and knowledge.
Amen, in Jesus’ name!
This week, we’ll further explore King Solomon’s business principles. Keep in mind that even if you’re not in business, these principles can still enrich your daily life. You can apply the wisdom shared in this devotional. The second principle is about working wisely.
“The most important thing is wisdom; so acquire wisdom, and whatever you acquire, gain understanding.” (Proverbs 4:7)
Hard work alone isn’t sufficient; working smart is also crucial. You must enrich both your business and your life with wisdom, just as you do with money, because wisdom is a protective shield, much like money. (Ecclesiastes 7:12)
The vast majority of new businesses will not succeed, and this holds true for businesses started by Christians as well. The numbers might be shocking.
According to the statistics I found, 97% of all startup businesses fail within the first year. Among the remaining 3% that survive, only 1% will reach the 5-year mark. And out of that small fraction (I’m not great at math either), only 1% will endure for 10 years.
If I’ve crunched the numbers correctly, the odds of launching a business that lasts 10 years are a mere 0.003%. This chance doesn’t change, even if the business is founded with noble intentions and a commitment to glorify God.
Becoming a successful entrepreneur necessitates acquiring the expertise and insight to identify and seize opportunities wisely and diligently in our work.
The third principle he emphasized was the pursuit of excellence. “Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings.” (Proverbs 22:29)
Don’t settle for being merely satisfactory. You have the power to set your standard of excellence, so set it high and maintain it there.
In his first speech to the Green Bay Packers, who had finished last season, the legendary football coach Vince Lombardi famously said, “Gentlemen, we will chase perfection, and we will chase it relentlessly, knowing all the while we can never attain it. But along the way, we shall catch excellence.”
Soon after, the Green Bay Packers went on to win multiple Super Bowls, fueled by their commitment to setting high standards and striving for excellence, not settling for mediocrity.
Consider this for a moment: would you prefer to hire a plumber who is just adequate, or would you prefer to hire the absolute best?
Of course, we all want the best! We don’t want water seeping into our basements every time someone showers or flushes the toilet.
So, set your standard of excellence higher than you imagine possible and work towards it diligently every single day.
His fourth principle emphasized working proactively. “In all labor, there is profit, but idle chatter leads only to poverty.” (Proverbs 14:23)
While careful planning is beneficial, ultimately, action is required. You’ve heard me stress this repeatedly: The first crucial step is taking action! Without it, progress remains stagnant.
Consider this analogy: If you want to reach town, the initial step is moving toward the door, followed by another step, and then another. The pattern continues.
Many businesses struggle to grow or collapse entirely due to their inability or reluctance to act decisively.
How often do you receive ideas from God but fail to act upon them? Personally, it’s a daily struggle for me.
There are moments when he prompts me to reach out to a potential client, but I hold back. Or he nudges me to visit someone, yet I drive past their house without stopping.
I don’t always act on every prompting He gives me. How about you? Are you proactive in taking decisive action?
Solomon serves as a great example of proactive behavior, continuously building and consistently pursuing the next venture. (1 Kings 7).
His fifth principle emphasized the importance of being honest at all times. “Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is His delight.” (Proverbs 11:1)
Character plays a vital role. Honesty in business should be an unwavering standard.
Consider whom you would prefer to hire: an honest person or a dishonest one? If you know me, you know that honesty has been a guiding principle for me for quite some time now.
However, it wasn’t always my main principle. There was a time when I would conceal the truth or present only part of the story to avoid trouble or appear better. Then, something changed within me, and I began taking full responsibility for my mistakes.
You know what happened next? I found even greater success. Yes, I had to admit my faults more often, and I faced reprimands from others. Yet, in the end, God always shielded me from lasting harm.
As Proverbs warns, “Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man; but afterward, his mouth will be filled with gravel.” (Proverbs 20:17)
Honesty isn’t just crucial in individual interactions but also in addressing broader societal issues.
Recall the last time you felt tempted to embellish the truth to avoid embarrassment. How did you manage that situation?
“Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his wealth…will come to poverty.” (Proverbs 22:16)
Solomon’s reign was marked by generosity and a generous heart towards all. (1 Kings 4:29)
Honesty goes hand in hand with giving, aligning with God’s desire for us to be truthful and generous at all times.
On a related note, if you can’t request something face-to-face, you probably don’t deserve it. Never seek wealth through deceitful means, like leaving a note! God condemns such dishonesty, which is why such requests don’t hold weight in person.
Now, take action. Reflect on the principles we’ve discussed. Where can you improve? Personally, I see room for improvement in all of them.
When preparing to engage with someone, pause and ask yourself, “Who would I prefer to do business with? What qualities would I value in that person?” Then, go out and embody those qualities yourself.
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