Financial Discipleship in BusinessSmakprov

[IMAGE CONTENT] An important aspect of God’s role as Owner of the business is to provide sufficient finances. He can sometimes provide in unexpected ways. Can you believe that He will provide what is necessary to finance His business? Financing through equity, either through savings or external investment, is preferable. Can we look to the Lord first, before turning to banks for loans? Can we find people to invest in the business and share the risk? Can I use business assets as collateral instead of personally guaranteeing the loan? Standing as a personal guarantor for a loan is very risky and to be avoided (Matthew 6:33). There are two guiding principles: share the risk and avoid bondage! The major temptation is to use the bank as the first resort for funds. If God owns the business, then He will provide for its needs (2 Corinthians 9:8). God can do this in unexpected ways and wants us to turn to Him for wisdom and provision in financing our business. Remember, He wants us to maintain our freedom, being independent of the world and dependent upon Him, as we design the financing of the company. God’s best for us is to remain free from debt! I am sure He can enable us to finance all transactions and meet all obligations to those dependent on the business. I was CEO of a company providing services to the European Space Agency (ESA). This company was set up by the owner, an American, who used to work for NASA. In the US, he earned a lot of money, but through illness and bad investments lost everything. He was married to a Dutch wife, and they decided to move back to Holland. He wanted to start a business but had decided that, as a Christian, he would not borrow money from a bank. He got a chance to compete for a contract and was awarded the business. Because he would not take a loan to start the business, he asked ESA to pay the contract in advance which would enable him to start the business and employ people. This was unheard of, but the Agency surprisingly agreed. This was a great example of the Lord providing in expected ways! Question for the day: Can you believe that the Lord will provide when you earnestly seek the priority of the Kingdom and conduct business His way?