Foundations in Christian Stewardship Part I: God Owns Everything
Posted inChristian Stewardship

Foundations in Christian Stewardship Part I: God Owns Everything

The companion video can be watched here. In this series I’m titling Foundations of Christian Stewardship, I’ll outline what I believe to be the foundational passages and principles for Christian Business Owners to adopt and follow if they are going to be faithful stewards of the business that God has given to them. The first foundational principle is this: God owns everything. Corollary: We own nothing. The Scripture that teaches us...
October 23, 2020Posted inChristian StewardshipTags:
Sufferings are an Entrustment
Posted inChristian Stewardship

Sufferings are an Entrustment

I recently had a conversation with a rather talented developer in the SharePoint space. For the last 10 years, she's been working on her own as a contractor through various consulting companies. Her work is steady and she is fairly compensated. Customers like her and she likes them. But inside her is this growing swirl about how much the consulting companies charge the customer and how much...
September 2, 2020Posted inChristian StewardshipTags: , ,
Posted inChristian Stewardship

Foundations in Christian Stewardship Part III God Gives us the Ability to Create Wealth

Watch the companion video of this Foundation for Christian Stewardship at the Bible and Business You Tube Channel. Deuteronomy 8.10-18 is one of the foundational passages for Christian Stewardship. Here are verses 10-11: 8.10-11: When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to...
August 9, 2020Posted inChristian StewardshipTags: , , , ,
Posted inChristian Stewardship

Do We Pursue that Which is Most Valuable?

I was reading in Luke 3.1-2 this morning the following: "In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene— 2 during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness." I'm sure most...
August 8, 2020Posted inChristian StewardshipTags:
Foundations of Christian Stewardship Part II: It’s about God’s Agenda
Posted inChristian Stewardship

Foundations of Christian Stewardship Part II: It’s about God’s Agenda

The companion Videocast can be found here. The second element in understanding Biblical stewardship for Christian business owners is a natural follow-on to the first element, which was God owns everything and it is this: All events are orchestrated by God to serve God's agenda This can be a bit disconcerting to us Type A people who like to control everything. We like to roll up our...
October 16, 2017Posted inChristian StewardshipTags: ,
Posted inChristian Stewardship

Sorry, Christians Don’t Get to Retire

I have referenced how I believe that we will need to work well into our 70's because I simply don't believe that most have saved enough to be independently wealthy and whatever safety nets that are provided by the Federal Government will have negligible effect in 15 or 20 years. But I've not dealt with retirement, as a concept, directly until now. So I'll say this: The...
April 22, 2017Posted inChristian StewardshipTags: , , , ,
When Starting as a CEO, First Define Yourself
Posted inChristian Stewardship

When Starting as a CEO, First Define Yourself

Taking a page out of Bowen Family Theory, when a person differentiates themselves within a family system, the anxiety (think fusion that results in conflict) tends to dissipate over time. In Bowen's thinking, differentiation was all about defining yourself relative to others around you. The role of defining one's self is central to creating boundaries (to use Henry Cloud's terminology now) that let's others know where your...
August 20, 2016Posted inChristian StewardshipTags: , ,
Being Responsible for Another’s Debts Shows Lack of Judgement
Posted inChristian Stewardship

Being Responsible for Another’s Debts Shows Lack of Judgement

There are four passages in the book of Proverbs which discuss the scenario in which one person (Guarantor) takes on the responsibility to pay the debts of another person (Debtor) should the debtor default on his payments. Here are the passages: Proverbs 6.1-6 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger, you have been...
November 12, 2015Posted inChristian StewardshipTags: , ,
Ten Principles to Remember When You’re Vocal about Your Faith as a Christian Business Owner
Posted inChristian Stewardship

Ten Principles to Remember When You’re Vocal about Your Faith as a Christian Business Owner

I walked into a business in Indianapolis when I was in high school that was owned by a classmate' father. There on the wall, in raised lettering was this: "This business is dedicated to the glory of Jesus Christ". If I remember correctly, this man had an affair and ended up divorcing his wife. I've often thought about that scenario and what those who were not believers...
April 5, 2015Posted inChristian StewardshipTags: , ,
Philanthropy: God’s Purposes for Business – Part V
Posted inChristian Stewardship Theology and Business

Philanthropy: God’s Purposes for Business – Part V

The fifth purpose of business is to provide business owners with unique opportunities to be financially generous toward God. Because God has been generous with God’s followers (John 3:16), God’s followers are generous with those in need. Christ reminds us of this truth in Matthew 5:42, “give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.” John Wesley’s...
August 31, 2014Posted inChristian Stewardship, Theology and BusinessTags: , ,
Profits: God’s Purposes for Business – Part III
Posted inChristian Stewardship Theology and Business

Profits: God’s Purposes for Business – Part III

When profits are consistently achieved ethically, sustainability is achieved for the owner, employees, and the community. Hence, a third purpose for business can be stated this way: Business exists to create profits, which provides the business sustainability that allows the owner to fulfil the other five purposes. Profits are a good indicator on excesses in the other purposes: If one of the other purposes gets out of...
November 1, 2013Posted inChristian Stewardship, Theology and BusinessTags: , ,