This money is used by the local church to win the lost, help support evangelists and missionaries, and bring maturity to the saints of God. There is no limit to the amount of success and wealth God wants to bring to a business when those in charge understand their role in God's endtime plan.
The Apostle Paul gave Timothy some guidelines for Christian businessmen who stand on the border between the Church and the world:
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy: That they do good, that they be rich in good works (honorable production), ready to distribute (to the poor), willing to communicate (give tithes and offerings).Timothy was the pastor at Ephesus, which, like Jerusalem, was also a large business city. But while Jerusalem was a haven for Jewish business leaders, Ephesus had mainly Gentile entrepreneurs. Those in Timothy's church were born again just like the Jewish business people in James' church.
(1 Tim. 6:17-18)
The same temptations face all redeemed business owners. There is a great pull to trust in new-found riches and not in the Lord.
Paul instructed Timothy to remind these zealous business people to keep their priorities straight and not lose their original godly vision. God blesses all of us so we may be able to bless the kingdom of God.
Money is to be used for "good works." This is giving to the poor and funding the work of the local church. Our short life's purpose is to fund the eternal kingdom of God. Our works for the Lord will endure for both time and eternity.
The admonitions of James and Paul to those in business still hold true today. After 2000 years, business is still designed by God to bless the individual with good things to be enjoyed, as well as to bless the kingdom of God.
Should Jesus not return in the next few years, business will continue into the twenty-first century. Successful principles for Christian business people will be the same then as they are today.
Business success in any century begins by accepting the plan of God.
Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker. Failure is delay, not defeat. It is a temporary detour, not a dead-end street.
-Unknown
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For more than 40 years Bob Yandian has taught the unchanging truth of God’s word. He pastored Grace Fellowship in Tulsa, Oklahoma for 33 years where he raised up and sent out hundreds of ministers to churches and missions organizations around the world through the School of the Local Church, and Grace School of Ministry.
