“A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:26, NRSV)
Whether our businesses are growing or struggling, they may need a heart transplant. Why do I say that in times of plenty or struggle that the heart of the business may need to change? Because too often in success we believe that it is all about what we have done and accomplished, the amount of money we are making and a hundred other things about the self and we forget where all our blessings and success comes from and who it belongs to – God. In success we forget we are stewards charged with the proper management and use of what we have been given.
“Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6, NRSV)
In times of trouble and when we are struggling, we can get caught up in the “woe is me” mentality and question why God isn’t blessing us and lose our focus on God and instead focus on worrying about how we will pay the bills, what others will think if we fail, and other cares of the world.
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Luke 12:34, NRSV)
There are many scriptures that remind us to be careful where our heart is focused. I have experienced both ends of the spectrum…wondering where the next client will come from and if the bills will get paid and having so much success that I forgot that it was not my success but God’s plan for me.
“He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”” (Luke 10:27, NRSV)
Given that our businesses reflect the state of our faith and relationship with God. It should not be surprising that the state of our heart is manifested our businesses. A business may legally be a separate entity from its owners, employees and managers, but it is the sum of the people that own it or work there. The heartless corporations and businesses are often described as faceless entities, but we are the face, the arms, the legs, the heart and spirit of the business – whether that business is a huge corporations doing business all over the world or the small business down the street.
“But the aim of such instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith.” (1 Timothy 1:5, NRSV)
So my question for you is Does Your Business Need a Heart Transplant? Does your business reflect your love of God? Are you more concerned with money than with service? Do you have faith in God that succeed or fail He is there? Do you believe that if you do the godly thing that everything will work according to God’s plan for you? Are your real values reflected in your business and how you do business? Do those values align with God’s?
“But thanks be to God that you, having once been slaves of sin, have become obedient from the heart to the form of teaching to which you were entrusted,” (Romans 6:17, NRSV)
Author: Lea A. Strickland, MBA MA CMA CFM CBM GMC
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