DOES GOD CARE IF MY BUSINESS SUCCEEDS?

Because you are reading this Article, you probably have at least two interests presently in your mind – God and business. Yet, some people wonder if faith in God is consistent with running a successful business. Others dare to ask, “Does God care if my business succeeds?” Good question. Let’s look at some facts about God and the success of your business.

Did you know that according to the Small Business Administration 99.9 percent of all employers in the United States are small businesses?^[1] In fact, small businesses employ over half of the private sector workforce and generate more than half of the gross domestic product in the U.S.^[2] Think about this – every big business started out small. So does God care if your business succeeds? Absolutely! But why does God care and what does He think about it?

SUCCESS IS NOT A SIN

Some people actually think being successful is a sin. Such people are usually “hyper-religious” and have very little concept of the truth about Jesus. However, being successful in business is not a sin at all. For example, one of the most important people in Christian history is Abraham. He is the father of the Jewish nation and an ancestor of Jesus. The New Testament speaks of Abraham as an example of faith.^[3] Abraham was a wealthy man, by God’s providence. Here is how one of Abraham’s servants described God’s material blessings upon his master Abraham:

"So he said, ‘I am Abraham’s servant. The Lord has blessed my master greatly, and he has become great; and He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys.’"^[4] 

Similarly, famous King Solomon was the richest man in the world in his day. However, the Bible is clear – God gave Solomon his wealth.

"Then God said to Solomon: Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life—but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king—wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like."^[5] 

This is an important key: Solomon sought wisdom and also received all the other things – riches, wealth and honor. He didn’t seek wealth. This is exactly what the Bible teaches. When a person seeks wisdom, wealth often becomes available as well. Listen to the voice of wisdom personified:

"I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge and discretion. The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate. Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength. By me kings reign, and rulers decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, all the judges of the earth. I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me. Riches and honor are with me, enduring riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, and my revenue than choice silver. I traverse the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice, that I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, that I may fill their treasuries."^[6] 

You see, God is not opposed to people becoming wealthy. Rather, it is God who gives us the power to get wealth – for His purposes.

"And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day."^[7] 

In fact, the Bible commands that we earn an honest living, take care of our families, and provide an inheritance for our children, and even our grandchildren.

"Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished, but he who gathers by labor will increase."^[8] 

"A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous."^[9] 

"But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."^[10] 

Being wealthy is no sin. Rather, it may actually be a blessing from God – but it may not! Being wealthy may be a curse, if it didn’t come from God. So how can you tell if a person’s wealth is a blessing from God? Here is what the Bible teaches:

"The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it."^[11] 

If a person truly received their wealth from God, it will not be a source of sorrow; rather, it will be a source of blessing. Let’s look at some powerful examples of when God blessed people with wealth, without sorrow. After that, we will look at examples of wealth being a curse.

EXAMPLES OF GODLY WEALTH

The first story is about the owner of a failing business that became successful.

Years ago a young man began a small cheese business in Chicago. He failed. He was deeply in debt. “You didn’t take God into your business. You have not worked with Him,” said a Christian friend to him. Then the young man thought, “If God wants to run the cheese business, He can do it, and I’ll work for Him and with Him!” From that moment, God became the senior partner in his business. The business grew and prospered and became the largest cheese concern in the world! You ask the name of that young man? J.L. Kraft who became president of the Kraft Cheese Company!^[12] 

God obviously blessed Mr. Kraft. He didn’t seek wealth. Rather, he made God his “senior partner” in the business. What a turn around! Here’s another example.

As a teenager, Wallace Johnson was fired by a sawmill operator. Today, as founder of Holiday Inns, he is a multimillionaire and called “the innkeeper of America.” Johnson started his business empire in 1939 with a borrowed $250. Since then he has helped provide jobs for 110,000 people. He is known nationwide for his Christian activities and stewardship as a Baptist layman. “I am totally dependent on God for help in everything I do,” he declares. “Otherwise, I honestly believe it would start to fall apart in months.”^[13]

Can a multimillionaire be a true Christian and honor God with his life? If you could ask Mr. Johnson, he will tell you, “yes, of course!” What was Mr. Johnson’s secret? He was “totally dependent upon God”. When we honor God, he honors us. Of course God cares about the success of our business – especially when we care about the success of His business. Here is another example:

A young man accepted for the African missionary field reported at New York for “passage,” but found on further examination that his wife could not stand the climate. He was heartbroken, but he prayerfully returned to his home and determined to make all the money he could to be used in spreading the Kingdom of God over the world. His father, a dentist, had started to make, on the side, an unfermented wine for the communion service. The young man took the business over and developed it until it assumed vast proportions—his name was “Welch,” whose family still manufactures “grape juice.” He has given literally hundreds of thousands of dollars to the work of missions.^[14] 

There are thousands of examples of godly men and women who have prospered in their businesses because of God’s hand of blessing. One of the most recent examples that comes to mind is Mr. Truett Cathy, the founder of Chick-Fil-A, a family-owned chicken fast food restaurant chain. Started in 1967, the chain presently records 1,340 stores in 37 states, with 2007 sales exceeding $2.640 Billion.^[15] Mr. Cathy is deeply Christian and draws his management philosophy from the Bible. Since the founding of the company, they have always been closed on Sundays!^[16]  If you asked Mr. Truett today, I am sure he would tell you that the following proverb from the Bible has been true in his life.

"Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine."^[17]

What a marvelous promise! Truly, Mr. Cathy and his family have honored God with their business, and God has prospered them just as He promised. But the Bible does caution us in the right thought and use of wealth.

WEALTH THROUGH SIN BRINGS POVERTY

One of the major principles the Bible teaches regarding money is that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. 

"Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."^[18]

Notice it does not say money is the problem – the problem is the love of money! When we love money, we are fooled into thinking that money is the answer to our life’s problems. For example, wealth without love is really poverty.

"Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure with trouble. Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a fatted calf with hatred."^[19]

Listen to wise counsel straight from Jesus:

Jesus said to them: "“Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”"^[20]

Jesus is not saying you must be poor. Rather Jesus is saying it is extremely foolish to be rich in everything but the things of God.

EXAMPLES OF TRUE POVERTY

Here are some real life examples of true poverty. Each of these is an example of a man who stored up treasure for himself but was not rich toward God. How many do you recognize? 

“In 1923 a group of the world’s most successful financiers met at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago. Collectively, these tycoons controlled more wealth than there was in the United States Treasury, and for years newspapers and magazines had been printing their success stories and urging the youth of the nation to follow their examples.  Twenty-seven years later, let’s see what happened to them. (1) CHARLES SCHWAB—the president of the largest independent steel company—lived on borrowed money the last five years of his life, and died penniless. (2) ARTHUR CUTTEN—the greatest wheat speculator—died abroad insolvent. (3) RICHARD WHITNEY—the president of the New York Stock Exchange—was released some time ago from Sing Sing. (4) ALBERT FALL—the member of the President’s Cabinet—was pardoned from prison so he could die at home. (5) JESSE LIVERMORE—the greatest bear in Wall Street—committed suicide. (6) LEON FRASER—the president of the Bank of International Settlement—committed suicide. (7) IVAR KRUEGER—the head of the world’s greatest monopoly—committed suicide.  All of these men had learned how to make money, but not one of them had learned how to live.”^[21] 

Modern examples are no less difficult to find, such as Howard Hughes who suffered from mental illness and drug addiction,^[22] Marilyn Monroe who died of a barbiturate overdose,^[23] and Kurt Cobain who committed suicide.^[24] Here are a few more: (1) Heath Ledger, star of Brokeback Mountain, died at 28 of an accidental pill over-dose. (2) Brad Renfro, Telling Lies in America, had a serious drug and alcohol problem.  (3) Kevin DuBrow, singer from “Quiet Riot”, 52, died alone in his Las Vegas apartment. It was six days before his death was noticed.^[25] 

The problem is not with money, it is with money alone – without God.

“The poorest man I know is the man who has nothing but money.”

 —John D. Rockefeller, Jr.

What good does it do someone to own a successful business, become wealthy, and yet be unable to enjoy the blessings of their efforts? Listen to Solomon:

"Here is what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage. As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God. For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart. There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: A man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honor, so that he lacks nothing for himself of all he desires; yet God does not give him power to eat of it, but a foreigner consumes it.  This is vanity, and it is an evil affliction."^[26] 

What a disaster it is for someone to spend their whole life accumulating wealth, but never being able to enjoy it. They never enjoy it, or life, and then wake up and it’s all over. In fact, the greatest tragedy is for a person to be so in love with money, and their present success, that they forget their inevitable future.

“Among the thrilling stories told in connection with the search of gold in the Klondyke is one which impressed me more than all the others.  A prospecting party, penetrating far into the country, came upon a miner’s hut. All without was as quiet as the grave.  Entering the cabin, they found the skeletons of two men, and a large quantity of gold. On a rough table was a letter telling of their successful search for the precious ore. In their eagerness to get it, they forgot the early coming of winter in that northern land. Each day, the gold was found in more abundance.  One morning, they awoke to find a great snowstorm upon them. For days the tempest raged, cutting off all hope of escape. Their little store of food was soon exhausted, and they laid down and died amidst abounding gold! Their folly was not in finding and gathering the gold but in neglecting to provide against inevitable winter.”^[27] 

Running a successful business is no sin. There are plenty of godly examples of successful people in the Bible and in history, people that God blessed in their business efforts and in the enjoyment of their lives. Likewise, there are plenty of examples of foolish people who learned how to succeed in business but awoke only to discover that they had wasted their lives. They were fools!

WHAT WOULD JESUS SAY TO YOU?

Here is a story about a successful business person. If you were in this story, what would Jesus say to you?

"Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’” And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.” So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” And those who heard it said, “Who then can be saved?” But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”"^[28]

Is Jesus saying that all rich people need to sell their possessions to have a place with God in heaven? No – absolutely not! Remember what Jesus said earlier, it is a fool who amasses wealth in this life, but is not “rich toward God.” 

The problem for the rich person in this story is that when he was told what to do to inherit eternal life he couldn’t do it. His wealth possessed him, and not the other way around. The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, including the evil of being in bondage to money. Listen to money personified:

Money talks, we have been told since childhood. Listen to this dollar speak: “You hold me in your hand and call me yours. Yet may I not as well call you mine. See how easily I rule you? To gain me, you would all but die. I am invaluable as rain, essential as water. Without me, men and institutions would die. Yet I do not hold the power of life for them; I am futile without the stamp of your desire. I go nowhere unless you send me. I keep strange company. For me, men mock, love, and scorn character. Yet, I am appointed to the service of saints, to give education to the growing mind and food to the starving bodies of the poor. My power is terrific. Handle me carefully and wisely, lest you become my servant, rather than I yours.” —Ray O. Jones^[29]

God desires that you worship and serve Him, not money. True happiness and fulfillment can only be found in worshiping and serving God. Money, success, possessions are not sinful, unless they prevent you from worshiping and serving God. In fact, some of the most blessed, happiest people, rich people, have been those who use their great wealth and power to worship and honor God. Sure, God cares if your business succeeds, but only if it helps your life to succeed. 

ARE YOU RICH TOWARD GOD?

You don’t need to sell all of your possessions to follow Jesus, but you do need to follow Jesus to be rich toward God.

"Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."^[30]

Following Jesus is serious business, with serious consequences. The reason is because we live in the time the Bible calls the “last days”, when people love money and not God. The Bible describes it like this:

"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:  For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!"^[31]

Doesn’t this sound like the world we live in? Truly we are in the last days. As a result, the Bible says God plans to judge this world. Yet, God has given us an opportunity to change our mind about things.

“In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by [Jesus] the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”^[32] 

God is not asking you to sell all you have and give it to the poor. God doesn’t want your money. He wants your heart!

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."[33]

If you would like to give God your heart and start following Jesus, pray a simple prayer – something like this:

God, I believe you are going to judge the world. But I know you are calling me out of judgment and into salvation. I want to start laying up treasures in heaven. I want to be rich toward you. So right now, I ask in Jesus name, please forgive me of my sins and save me. God, please take my heart, it’s yours. Amen.

If you prayed a prayer like the one above, in full sincerity, you have made a great first step toward following Jesus. But this is only the beginning. Following Jesus means more than just saying a prayer. It is learning how to live a new life. Jesus said, "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."^[34]  We are all under the burdens of daily living and Jesus wants you to take His burden in place of yours -- His burden is light.  When we learn from Jesus, by reading the Bible and being with other followers of Jesus Christ, we begin to exchange our heavy burden for His light one. 

We at Calvary Oswego Church invite you to learn from Jesus with us. We believe the Bible and follow Jesus with our whole hearts.  We would like to help you do the same.  So please feel free to contact us at any time.  May the Lord richly bless you in this new life.

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