Five Principles of Biblical Stewardship for Your Small Business

Stewardship is a biblical perspective that can be applied to your business. Stewardship simply means managing possessions and property that are not yours. You may say, "My business belongs to me." According to Psalm 24:1, the earth and everything on it belong to the LORD. The world and its people belong to him (CEV). Based on this scripture, your business belongs to God; therefore, you are a steward managing his business. He has blessed you with the talents, time, and treasures that you need to properly manage that which you are responsible for.

There are five principles of biblical stewardship: persistence, planning, proportionate, pleasantness, and purpose. Let's see how we can apply them to your (God's) business.

Persistence: Scripture teaches us that faithfulness is a necessary quality to possess as a steward. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful (I Corinthians 4:2 KJV). Being persistent and dependable is viewed as being faithful. If you have any doubts, you can't move forward in your business. You have to believe it to achieve it. You have faith that you can be a successful entrepreneur and small business owner; therefore, you are persistent in making it happen.

Another symbol of your faith is your dependability. Your business is not fly-by-night; you are in it for the long haul. Your clients can depend on you being there and not skipping town. Also, they can depend on you to be faithful in completing their projects and tasks.

Planning: God wants everything to be done peacefully and in order (I Corinthians 14:33 CEV). Planning goes without saying in any size or type of business. It is highly advisable to have a business plan as entrepreneurs and small business owners, as well as a marketing plan. A plan will keep you focused and on track; therefore, your business plans will be accomplished peacefully and in order.

Proportionate: If God has been generous with you, he will expect you to serve him well. But if he has been more than generous, he will expect you to serve him even better (I Corinthians 16:2 CEV). The proportion of talents, time, and treasures God blesses you with will determine what services and/or products you will offer to your target market. Remember, He gives you what you need to be good stewards. At the same time, you are serving God by providing your clients with excellent service and/or products, which come from your proportion of talents, time and treasures that He has given you.

Pleasantness: Each of you must make up your own mind about how much to give. But don't feel sorry that you must give and don't feel that you are forced to give. God loves people who love to give (II Corinthians 9:7 CEV). Be pleasant in your business dealings, especially with your clients. It's what's known as providing excellent customer service. Don't force it, give your pleasantness freely. Your clients would much rather conduct business with someone who is pleasant rather than with someone who is rude. Do to others as you would have them do to you (Luke 6:31 NIV). When completing their projects and tasks, do it cheerfully. God sent you that client as a way of providing you with treasures.

Purposeful: When you eat or drink or do anything else, always do it to honor God (I Corinthians 10:31 CEV). As a steward over God's business, it's important to honor Him by operating it with honesty and integrity. I remember reading in "The Prayer of Jabez," written by Bruce Wilkinson where Bruce was having a conversation with some business executives. One of the executives asked Bruce, "Is it right to ask God for more business?" Bruce responded, "Absolutely! If you're doing your business God's way, it's not only right to ask for more, but He is waiting for you to ask."

Conclusion: Biblical stewardship deals with use of your money; however, it is a perspective that covers your entire life, including your business. As I have pointed out, the five principles of biblical stewardship can be applied to your business. This should be our business plan as entrepreneurs and small business owners. From time to time, we need to refer back to our plans to ensure we are on the right track. God has entrusted his business to you by appointing you as steward to manage it. The more God bless your (His) business, the more He wants you to bless individuals, the community and the world at large. This style of stewardship will bring honor and glory to His name. It is also a manner of serving God.

*This post provided by one of our guest bloggers, Rita Cartwright. Rita Cartwright has been owner and sole proprietor of RJ's Word Processing Services (rjswordprocessing.com) since 2002. She is a professional administrative expert offering virtual assistant services.

The Entrepreneur's Great Mistake (MSI, Pt 2)

Warren Buffett’s Rules of Money:

#1 – Never Lose Money

#2 – Never Forget Rule #1

Warren Buffett’s rules of money are incredibly simple and succinct (and of course a little comical), yet unfortunately many entrepreneurs today don’t heed the wise sage’s advice. Tens of thousands of dollars in personal income is often lost by many small business owners because of one major flaw in their business model. In part 1 of this series, I pointed out the importance of generating multiple streams of income in your business. It is essential to your financial well being that you develop numerous revenue streams, preferably diversified across different business classes. This helps to minimize risk and create a safety net for times of economic contraction or uncertainty. However, one major caveat must be included in this conversation to make sure you never violate Buffett’s #1 rule (or #2 for that matter).

Every entrepreneur starts out with good intentions, armed with an optimistic vision for the future and a fresh commitment to self-reliance. After years of working for “the man”, they are ready to experience the freedom and invigoration of this brave new frontier. In the beginning, grinding out long & arduous hours with little sleep is considered the norm. It’s seen as a necessary “short-term sacrifice” for the chance at the “long-term gain” of owning their own business, being their own boss, and achieving great prosperity.

After successfully getting the fledgling business off the ground, many entrepreneurs see the need for an additional income stream, and begin pursuing other opportunities. This requires working even longer hours in an attempt to maintain the momentum of the 1st business, while making the necessary sacrifice to see the 2nd business through the inevitable “growing pains” of start-up. Though from outward appearances it looks as if all is going according to plan, there is an ugly secret lurking around the corner, just waiting to be discovered.

At the end of another long work day, our entrepreneurs suddenly look up and realize that 5 years have gone by, and the term “short-term” sacrifice now seems like an unbelievable misnomer. Both revenue streams are providing a steady source of income, but the once optimistic visionaries have now become tired and disillusioned. Upon careful reflection and self-examination, our entrepreneurs realize that their “multiple streams of income” are nothing more than 2 full time jobs in which they have grown to hate their new boss worse than their old one.

After years of pounding out 80 hour weeks, and teetering on the edge of a nervous breakdown, our small business case studies learned a valuable lesson that I hope you can grasp long before they did. The secret to financial freedom is not just multiple streams of income, but multiple streams of passive income. More on that in part 3…

To Your Success, Matt Robinson

You’re Not Just Facing Difficulty; You’re Building a Great Testimony

In the midst of a recession, the stories of heartache and financial distress can be heard on nearly every street corner. Many in our great country have lost their jobs, their homes, and even worse, their hope. The Bible says that “hope deferred makes the heart sick” (Prov. 13:12) and these days there are certainly a lot of fabulous believers with ailing hearts, as they try their best to make their way through these difficult times.

If you can’t tell from the title of my blog, I am passionate about Christian entrepreneurs. I want to create them, develop them, train them, encourage them, and then watch them grow. As much as I’d like to think that all Christians are thriving in the midst of this recession, I know that in reality that is simply not the case. And in periods of economic contraction, many times it is the entrepreneur and small business people that feel the crunch the most. That’s why I want to encourage you today with an uplifting word from the Lord.

As the Biblical poster boy for suffering and loss, Job experienced this same type of hopelessness as he went through major trials in his life. After experiencing tremendous success & personal achievement, Job tragically lost his entire family, his possessions, and everything he held dear in his life. As a result, Job’s passion for life and hope for the future had all but disappeared. "What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What prospects, that I should be patient?” (Job 6:11).

Job saw nothing positive on the horizon, and because of the surrounding darkness, was unable to see the victory on the other side. The story of Job’s redemption has encouraged believers for centuries, but as Job sat covered in sickness and poverty, the future benefits of his story on the Church were the furthest thing from his mind. Perhaps if he had picked his head up and looked forward to what God had planned for him, he would have maintained his hope and joy through what was otherwise a tragic time in his life.

It’s always difficult when you’re in the midst of a trial to see through to the proverbial “light at the end of the tunnel.” When we go through trials and tribulation, we oftentimes become very egocentric and inward focused, removing our ability to look UP, look OUT, and look AHEAD to the promise of a better future. You must realize that you’re simply going through a difficult time, not stuck on a treadmill of misfortune. Like Job, you are building a remarkable testimony that will encourage others for years to come. You are writing a powerful story of triumph in God that will resonate in the future with those who are facing similar circumstances.

So, if you’re facing financial or business related challenges, and find yourself discouraged and disheartened, I am here to speak TRUTH over you and get you out of your funk! LIFT YOUR HEAD UP and see beyond today to a powerful and prosperous future. Your future will be greater than your past (Job 8:7) and you will undoubtedly be the HEAD and not the tail (Deut 28:13). Our God is faithful to watch over his Word and make sure it does not return void (Isaiah 55:11), and so I have no doubt that He SHALL meet ALL of your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:19). He has plans to PROSPER you and NOT to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future (Jer. 29:11). Hallelujah, Amen, and SO BE IT!

To Your Success, Matt Robinson

(Encourage yourself with this great worship video, “Your Latter will be Greater” by Israel Houghton, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6j5gTIXmsOs )

CNBC's Olick - Homebuyer Credit Again?

"Just when I thought the housing market was finally being left to correct on its own, I'm starting to hear talk regarding yet another home buyer tax credit. From HUD to the hedge funds, it sounds as if it is gaining steam yet again. This one could involve not just first time/move-up buyers, but a credit for buyers purchasing foreclosed properties or short sales (when the bank allows you to buy a home for less than the value of the outstanding mortgage). HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan, appearing on CNN's State of the Union this weekend, didn't rule out another tax credit. He did say it's 'too early to say,' but then added that 'we're going to be focused like a laser on where the housing market is moving going forward, and we are going to go everywhere we can to make sure this market stabilizes and recovers.' After that several Congressional candidates in Florida threw their voices behind the possibility, and Florida Gov. Charlie Crist then chimed in on the same show, saying that another tax credit, 'would stimulate the economy. It would increase home sales in Florida.' He finished with: 'I would absolutely encourage the president to support that because it would certainly help my fellow Floridians."

"So of course then I went the official route and followed up with a HUD spokesperson who responded: 'No news here...there are no discussions underway to revive the credit.' Is it all political? And is another tax credit the answer? 'I don't think it's all political,' says housing consultant Howard Glaser. 'I think they are panicked that the economy/housing got away from them.' Glaser doesn't sound convinced the tax credit is really on the table. 'They can do a lot off budget with the GSE's and FHA with no Congress.' I know a lot of you out there would argue that a housing market correction, as painful as it is, is necessary for housing to truly find its footing again and recover for the long term. Another artificial stimulus could just prolong the agony and set us up for the same drop off in sales and prices that we're seeing right now. But it could also move some inventory quickly." "With inventories of new and existing homes dangerously high, and the shadow supply of foreclosures pushing that volume even higher, more stimulus could be a necessary evil.

I liken it to what I'm doing with my lawn this week. All summer I fought the weeds, pulling them, using the organic sprays and repellents, spreading mulch to deprive them of any air. And then I gave up. I called the lawn service and told them to bring every chemical in their arsenal. Shock the overgrown mess into submission once and for all, so that I can start fresh again and reseed this fall."
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Matt's Commentary: Oh, someone please tell me it's all a bad dream! They're not really considering another tax credit, are they? They say that the definition of "insanity" is doing the same things over and over and expecting different results. Well, if that's the case, it's time for someone to put a straight jacket on the whole city of Washington D.C.

If some government intrusion doesn't work, then the answer has to me MORE government intrusion, right? WRONG!!! Can they please just let the markets correct themselves, regardless of how long it takes, so we know where we stand? With the November Mid-terms lurking around the corner, these rumblings about another credit absolutely reaks of politics, but we have to learn lessons from the past. This is especially true when the "past" was just a few months ago.

The homebuyer tax credit did nothing to stabilize the housing market or to remove excess foreclosure inventory from the market. All it did was take sales that would have occurred in the 3rd and 4th quarter of the year and moved them up to the 1st and beginning of the 2nd quarter. That truth manifested itself when pending home sales fell 30% in May, and existing homes sales had a similar drop of historical proportions in July.

Republicans and Democrats alike, please listen loud and clear; just stay out of our business! I've never seen more of a reverse-Midas-touch than that which exists with the federal government, and it's time that they just GET OUT OF THE WAY. Don't turn the American Dream into a nightmare with your constant meddling. Keep taxes low, keep motivation high, and let this great country do what it always has....SUCCEED.