God and business.

You may be surprised to learn that the Bible touches a lot on business. We see examples of successful entrepreneurs, such as Abraham, who prospered in his ranching business, or Solomon, who grew in his international trade business. Over and over again, the Bible shows examples of people who were successful in their ventures. God knows the value of work. In fact, He blesses those who strive to achieve their goals. For example, Proverbs 13:4 says - The soul of the lazy desires, and nothing reaches. Still, the soul of the diligent will be prosperous.

Jesus also used many parables that give examples of working and striving. In particular, Jesus used many examples of agriculture since it was one of the most critical industries. Time and time again, Jesus paints us a picture of someone who sows, cultivates, and reaps.

But by the time of Jesus, there were many difficulties in business: the economy, the weather, workers, diseases, and even wars. All these things happened too regularly.

I show you all this because you will face difficulties in achieving your goals as an entrepreneur, business owner, or leader. But don’t be discouraged. Don’t be discouraged when hard times come, when you face opposition, run into financial difficulties, or when employees leave. Don’t get discouraged when it seems like nothing is going right. There is a verse that is used a lot in the church: “be strong and be courageous” - Joshua 1:6. This verse was a word of encouragement from God for Joshua to strive and be courageous when difficult times come. Although I am a pastor, I am also a marketing coordinator at a Publishing House in Nashville, TN. I know that business is a place where effort and strategy can yield good results. I also know that strategies are “only for the brave”. That’s why I encourage you to make an effort and be brave. The Bible says in Psalm 128:2 - You will eat the fruit of your work, you will be happy, and everything will go well for you. My prayer for you on this day is that God gives you health and strength, that you can achieve what you have undertaken, and that God is your strength and refuge. But, when you get discouraged and have difficult times, you can know that there is a God who is interested in hearing your prayers. Get closer to Him, through Jesus.