PLANNING YOUR BUSINESS FUTURE WITH GOD

PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU (REV)

NCE(Eng.) ND/HD (Journalism); BA (Hons) MA, PhD.

Call: +2348037346939  E-mail: profbenonyeukwu@gmail.com

PLANNING YOUR BUSINESS FUTURE WITH GOD

Devotional Text: James 4:13-17

Introduction:

Planning one’s business future with God basically means taking business steps in the order of the revealed will of God. According to Ben Onyeukwu (2001), “those who ignore God in planning their future hardly reach their goals”. Based on this assertion, it becomes worthy of note that the will of God remains the hallmark of every Christian activity. Those who trifle with God’s will in business (or whatever) often make shipwrecks. Furthermore, it is important to stress here that, a step in God’s will is a step of victory. Whereas, a step outside God’s will is a step of regrets and disappointments. Therefore, before embarking on any business venture (ministerial, political or commercial) one should first and foremost discover what God wants one to do, where He wants one to locate one’s business and finally depend on Him for success.

GENERAL REMARKS

Our general remarks in today’s Sunday School lesson will center on the parable of the rich fool, (Luke 12:16-21).

(1)    The rich fool planned his future without God (vs. 18)

(2)    He was self-centered in planning his future (vs. 18)

(3)    He wanted a life of pleasure without God (vs. 19).

(4)    His style in planning his future reaped him death (vs. 20).

DISCOVER WHAT GOD WANTS YOU TO DO (Acts 9:6 KJV)

One’s conversion marks a turning point in one’s life. In most cases, it forces a redirection of programmes and life’s purposes. As we can notice from our bible reading, the life of the Apostle Paul demonstrates this fact. All the same, it was his turn to find out, “Lord what will thou have me to do? He asked (Acts 9:6) KJV). In the same vein, every child of God should always find out;

(i)      what is good, pleasing and perfect will of God (Rom. 12:2).

(ii)    if what he or she is doing the Lord’s will, (James 4:15).

(iii)   if he or she has been taken captive to do the will of Satan, (II Tim. 2:26).

In section (iii) of the above, it is important to take cognizance of the fact that Satan can deceive or take one captive to do his will against the will of God. In the light of the foregoing, therefore, one should note that God’s will cannot contradict the Bible or support any illegitimate business (robbery, child trafficking, Obtaining By Trick (OBT), sex work, etc).

DEPENDING ON GOD FOR SUCCESS (PSALM 125:1)    

                Those who trust God for success in whatever they do make their ventures unshakably strong. This is because God backs up such ventures with His power and glory. Therefore, a child of God will know no failure in business unless; 

(i)      he/she begins to trust in his/her riches, (Prov. 11:28).

(ii)    he/she begins to trust on his/her human abilities (education, knowledge, skills, experiences, etc) (Psalm 29:12-13).

(iii)   he/she begins to trust in idols (self, money, charms, relations, beauty, etc) (Isaiah 42:17).

In conclusion, it is important to stress without mincing words that taking business steps in the order of God’s will and trusting Him for successes will definitely bring one’s business into the lime light of prosperity.