What road map in life do you follow to direct your business affairs? Do you follow the worldly example that Satan controls or the spiritual example that God controls? This is one of the MOST important questions you have to answer in your life. Your eternal salvation in heaven with God depends upon your answer and commitment! If you're a non-christian, you probably follow the worldly Satanic example; which, if you take time to look, read, and examine is not very scriptural. See if one or more of these "Fruits of the Flesh" are part of your business life: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissentions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, and revelries. If you are a christian, then you will see one if not all of these "Fruits of the Spirit" in your business life: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. You see, there really is a world of difference in attitudes, conduct, performance, direction, and results that occur between non-christian and christian business owners. In my discussions with non-christian business owners I always ask this question: Why don't you become a christian first and then focus on your business. The responses and excuses I get should are eye opening and surprising. Excuse: Please let me get established and successful in business first. After it is running and successful, then I'll take time to become a christian. Discussion: Absolutely no business, not one, should try to avoid and cheat oneself from the blessings that flow from heaven every day! There is no amount of property or material gain that you can achieve (with your worldly mindset) that is greater, should come before, or is greater than being a child of God and receiving the blessing from HIM! "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?" Mark 8:36 (NKJ) God called one man a fool to his face, saying "You fool!" On this night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?" Luke 12:20 (NKJ) This verse comes from the story of a man who totally neglected his personal responsibility to develop and nurture his eternal soul. In contrast, as he was successful, he built bigger barns to store the increases in crops and grain that he grew, and fed his soul off the edible comforts of his labor. Sound familiar in today's concept! The whole point to this story is that without placing God first in your life, everything you work for in business will pass away to someone else when you die. If you are a christian this is not a problem. But as a non-christian who lives his life concerned with only the here and now, the one major question you have to answer is this. Is it worth losing your soul and eternal life with God for the temporary achievement of riches and personal glory at the expense of God! You can't take it with you when you die and ALL will stand before God for judgment after the first physical death! Who do you think gives you the wisdom, power and ability to be successful in the business you have? If you believe that YOU achieved it all by yourself, read further. God blesses you with talents and abilities to achieve HIS will in your life, not yours. Those that understand this and serve God will tell you that abilities and talents that are unused or used in selfish reasons are taken away. On the contrary, God is able and will increase the fruits from your labor providing that HE is first in your life, and you offer HIM the first and best of everything in your life, along with following HIS word. In Matthew 6:33, Jesus reinforces and confirms this teaching by saying "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (NKJ) Over in the book of Psalms 1: 1-2, we read: Blessed in the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the Law of the Lord and in His law he mediates day and night. (NKJ) King Solomon tell us in Proverbs 29:25: The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be secure. (NKJ) Finally, in Mark 10: 29-30, Jesus talks about your eternal reward as follows: "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for My sake and the gospel's, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time-houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands with persecutions-and in the age to come, eternal life." (NKJ) It's never too late to change your attitude or life! Are you now willing to commit your life to Christ, be baptized for the remission of your sins, and let HIM guide your personal life and business affairs? If my soul and eternal life is at stake, my answer would be a resounding YES! You have the power and authority from the Word of God, use it often and wisely! May the God of Peace bless you as you labor! Live and be the example that God "knows you can be!"
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