God’s Businessman

The Entrepreneurs Toolkit on Friday

The business world is cut-throat, and only those who are wise and shrewd can make it. What differentiates business people however, is the source of this wisdom and shrewdness. Worldly wisdom puts the individual at the center of it all—Godly wisdom on the other hand puts God and His mission at the forefront. Heaven backs businesses that seek to improve the livelihood of humanity and bring about advancement, progress and common good. Isaiah 48:17 says, “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go.” Here the scripture alludes to how God teaches us to profit.

John D. Rockefeller Sr was arguably the greatest businessman of all time. At one point in his life his net worth (adjusted for inflation) was estimated to be the largest in world history. He was a very committed Christian and many believe him to be the most benevolent person of all time. He attended church services every Sunday, bible studies during the week and even led bible study sessions in his home. He was worth USD340 billion dollars in today’s terms. By the time Rockefeller died in 1937, his assets equaled 1.5% of America's total economic output. John D. Rockefeller said that “God gave me my money. I believe the power to make money is a gift from God, to be developed and used to the best of our ability for the good of mankind. Having been endowed with the gift I possess, I believe it is my duty to make money and still more money and to use the money I make for the good of my fellow man according to the dictates of my conscience.”

The key to being Gods businessman, is to realize that the gift of enterprise is to be developed and used to the best of our ability for the good of mankind. Selfish pursuits will not create trans-generational legacies, Godly pursuits will.