Business – Crown Financial Ministries New Zealand

Basic business minimums for Christians

Peter Crawford — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 01:18:15 +0000

Basic business minimums for Christians

A business is a tool that can be used by God to demonstrate the truth of the Gospel. In James 1:22 we are told to be “doers” of the Word. A business is the perfect environment for living Christ’s truth.

Purpose of a business

To determine whether a business is being used to serve God, look at the policies governing its day-to-day actions. If Christian owners or managers are truly committed to Jesus Christ and to serving His purposes, the business will be run according to His minimum principles and precepts.

The business should have one overriding purpose: to glorify Him. Each decision—hiring, firing, paying, promoting, and so on—must be made in harmony with God’s written Word, under the direction of His Holy Spirit. No function is more or less important, and each must be done with excellence.

Basic business minimums

Whenever most people think about the basic minimums of Christianity, they generally think of the Ten Commandments. These are the minimums that God said would separate His people from those around them.

In the business environment, the same commandments apply, but there are some other minimums that set apart God’s followers from others in the business world.

These are indicators of whether they are serious about dedicating their businesses to the Lord. These minimums are:

Keep out of unnecessary debt. “The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower becomes the lender’s slave” (Proverbs 22:7). It is sometimes necessary to accrue debt, especially when starting new businesses. Borrowing to keep a business going, to fund operating expenses, or to purchase product should be avoided.
There is no tool more effective for evangelism than businesses dedicated to the Lord. Employees can be won by the example of dedicated owners or managers and also suppliers, creditors, and customers. The key is the walk, not the talk.
Disciple others. Discipleship is training Christians to grow stronger in their faith. In businesses, that effort should be directed by the owners or managers to those immediately under their authority. They will then be able to disciple the others under their authority. “The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2).
Provide for needs. A business must provide for the needs of the employees, creditors, customers, and owners. That is done by paying salaries, paying for supplies and equipment in a timely fashion, and providing a quality product at a fair price.

If Christian business owners accept meeting needs as a normal part of God’s plan, they will play an effective role in evangelism and discipleship.

Be accountable. All business people need some other Christian or a group of impartial Christians to whom they are accountable and with whom they can discuss major decisions or communicate personal problems or difficulties. “Without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counsellors they succeed” (Proverbs 15:22).
Provide a quality product at a fair price. Value can be defined as the effective return on a purchase. Low cost does not necessarily represent value. When Christian businesses accept the standard for services and products that the Bible prescribes, the end result will be the best product at the best possible price.
Honour creditors. Creditors include those who have loaned businesses merchandise as well as those who have loaned money. Suppliers are often treated like a no-interest source of operating capital.

If the situation is beyond owners’ or managers’ control, that’s one thing. However, if businesses are simply choosing a cheaper way to operate, they are violating one of God’s minimum principles. “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. Do not say to your neighbour, ‘Go, and come back, and tomorrow I will give it,’ when you have it with you” (Proverbs 3:27-28). Continuing to order materials and other supplies when there are already past due bills is deceitful.

Treat people fairly, especially employees and customers. Fairness recognizes that all people are important, regardless of their vocational position. “But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors” (James 2:9). The principle of fairness relates to employees, creditors and customers.

Creditors will be more inclined to listen if they get paid on time and are treated fairly. Customers will be more inclined to listen if businesses give them a good product at a fair price and stand behind their word.

Generate a profit. Any business must be able to make a profit if it is to continue operations. God’s Word says that it is His will for us to prosper (3 John 2). That mean that owners and managers are to work hard and be active participants in God’s plan for their businesses rather than observers.

Conclusion

There is no such thing as a “Christian business.” A business is a legal entity and has no spirit or soul. However, it reflects the values of the principal owners or managers.

Committed Christians need to give their businesses to God, live by His basic minimums for operating businesses, and accept the fact that they are merely managers of His businesses. God becomes the source of everything for their businesses. “I walk in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice, to endow those who love me with wealth, that I may fill treasuries” (Proverbs 8:20-21).

Other useful resources:

Should I start a business?

Sample business plan

Managing time with a home business

Peter Crawford — Mon, 13 Feb 2023 01:08:23 +0000

Managing time with a home business

Working at home in a home business provides flexibility and freedom, but discipline is necessary to complete the work required. Proverbs 6:10-11 notes “A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest – then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.”

The following ten tips will help with managing a home business.

Start each day by dedicating it to the Lord. Our time each day is given to us by God: “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Before the workday begins, dedicate it to the Lord. Ask Him for guidance and for help in using the time He has given, as He wants and as He sees fit.
Schedule time for business paperwork and accounting. Set aside a certain time each day or week (depending on the size of the home-based business) to do paperwork. This would include filing receipts, invoicing clients, balancing accounts, and paying bills.
Plan time—don’t fragment it. Divide the day into similar things by category. Group all phone calls (mornings are best for phone calls), projects, and errands to be done at the same time. Finish one category before shifting to another.
Be productive—don’t procrastinate. Procrastination is probably one of the primary reasons why goals are not accomplished. By determining when is the most productive time, you can limit procrastination. Strive to work during peak performance periods if it doesn’t conflict with family time or the family routine. Home-based businesses must conform to the family routine, not the reverse.
Establish a routine that is acceptable. Home-based businesses do not have to be limited to a 9-to-5 routine. However some type of routine should be established—one that can maximize production without sacrificing family. You might;
1. commit a certain number of hours per day to the business, or
2. certain full days to the business and take full days off—perhaps working with the business every other day.
Know when to say No! If you commit to friends, projects, or jobs, you must honour those commitments. Before any commitment is made, be sure to determine how that commitment will affect your family, business, deadlines, or other commitments. If accepting the obligation will negatively affect any of these, the answer to the request should be, “No!” Or at the very least, “Not at this time.”
Organize commitments. List all things that need to be accomplished or commitments that have been made. Then list the time that it will take to accomplish or finish each task. Divide the steps necessary to meet each goal or accomplish each task into daily assignments. Maintain these assignments until the project is complete.
Schedule extra time. When making schedules, make sure that there is enough flextime. Pad all appointments and activities with a few extra minutes in anticipation of unforeseen delays or unexpected circumstances.
Evaluate the importance of all meetings and appointments. Many meetings and appointments waste time that can be used for more productive things. Some business can be conducted quickly by phone, online meeting, or e-mail, rather than scheduling a meeting to do it. Don’t hesitate to set a length to meetings and end meetings that become non-productive.
Have family co-operation. Business schedules and routines should not interfere with quality family time, but the family should understand and support an agreed upon business and work schedule. Family time is a priority, but the family needs to understand the value of being a good steward and maintaining good work ethics.

Conclusion

When God provides an opportunity for people to operate a home-based business, they need to organize that business and operate it with the highest level of work ethics if they expect it to be productive.

If God controls the business and if good time management is used there’s more likelihood the home-based business will be successful.