8 Reasons Why Most Christians are Financially Broke Series - Part 6
By Bruce | April 18, 2008
Before we go to Reason #3, I still want to say something else about Reason #4, which is:
They’re not entrepreneurs!!!
As was stated in Part 5, most Christians don’t realize that we are commanded to, if we can, be “free”.
The other thing we are told to do, according to Proverbs 24:27 (KJV), is to find out what we’re called to do, and “prepare it.”:
Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.
The New Living Translation (NLT) puts it in more “modern” terms:
Develop your business first before building your house.
One thing that both of these translations have in common is that they both say that we shouldn’t build our house before we “take care of business”, or, as is the vernacular today, “handle our business”!
Yet many of us, including pastors, ministers and priests, despite what is going on today with the mortgage crisis, are still talking about buying a house and/or making other purchases before we prepare/develop our businesses!
What is our “business”?
It is the “business” that God has given us to handle for Him while we are here on earth, whether it is a business (commerce), a ministry, starting a church, or an occupation that requires entrepreneurial skills.
So, I’m curious: Has your pastor, minister or priest ever preached, taught or spoken about Proverbs 24:27?
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The Bible as a “Filter” - Part 3
By Bruce | April 10, 2008
When thinking about the Bible as a filter, I have learned that I need to check what non-Christians and Christians say, even if it’s my pastor!
Sound strange? Well, if you look at what happened when Paul visited Berea:
And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message.They searched the Scriptures day after day to check up on Paul and Silas, to see if they were really teaching the truth. - Acts 17:11 (NLT) (emphasis mine)
This will help you discern what’s true about business, entrepreneurship and, well…life!
There’s nothing wrong with checking on what people who are Christians are saying…In fact, I hope you check up on what I say…and comment! 
)
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8 Reasons Why Most Christians Are Financially Broke Series - Part 5
By Bruce | April 8, 2008
Reason #4:
They’re not entrepreneurs!!!
Many Christians wonder why they’re broke, but they don’t have, nor are they developing, an entrepreneurial mentality.
I like to think of God as “entrepreneurial”. After all, the word “entrepreneur” comes from the French, meaning “to undertake,” or “to get started”. Didn’t God do that when He spoke things that “never were” into existence (see Genesis 1)?
If we are to be imitators of God our Father as little children are to their fathers, we need to imitate Him (Ephesians 5:1) and be entrepreneurial, creating things from that which never was! (How do you do this? Keep reading this blog daily to find out!)
This Christian idea of entrepreneurship is linked to freedom:
Are you a slave? Don’t let that worry you-but if you get a chance to be free, take it. - 1 Cor. 7:21 (NLT - emphasis mine)
If you get a chance to be free from being a slave employee, take it: it’s not a suggestion; it’s a command! Why does God use the Apostle Paul to say this in His word? I believe that one of the reasons is that He wants us to know that entrepreneurs overall make more than those who are employees, and so they can contribute more monetarily to the Kingdom!
We need to take those dreams and visions that God has given us for businesses and ministries, and turn them into entreprenurial realities! (How do you do this? Keep reading this blog daily to find out!)
But in the 25 years that I’ve been a Christian, I have never heard any pastor or preacher, or teacher for that matter (except for myself) talk about this verse. Oh, but we talk about jobs…”Lord, please give us jobs.”
What about, “Lord, please give us businesses and ministries?”
Topics: Entrepreneurship, Purpose, Motivation, Economic Freedom | 3 Comments »
The Bible as a “Filter” - Part 2
By Bruce | March 26, 2008
Some of us Christians believe that we should isolate ourselves from the world as much as possible, but this is contrary to biblical teaching:
When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. But I wasn’t talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or who are greedy or are swindlers or idol worshipers. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that. What I meant was that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a Christian yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or a drunkard, or a swindler. Don’t even eat with such people. - 1 Cor. 5:9-11 (NLT)
This is not saying we should surround ourselves with people who are acting contrary to the lifestyle we’re seeking, but we need to understand what is going on in the world so that we can achieve success for the Kingdom, in saving, discipling helping people!
From the tribe of Issachar, there were 200 leaders of the tribe with their relatives. All these men understood the temper of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take. - 1 Chr. 12:32 (NLT)(emphasis mine)
I find that many Christians are ignorant of what is going on in the world around them, like what is going on in the economy, current events, how people (unbelievers) are thinking and what they think, and what is “success” and “successful” according to the filter, the Bible, the word of God.
Let’s make sure we understand the temper of our times and the best course for us to take!
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3 Steps to a Resurrection of Dreams
By Bruce | March 24, 2008
I was really busy at church yesterday and last week with activities related to Easter, or as some call it, Resurrection Sunday.
Of course, Easter is all about the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and how many at that time had lost all hope before, during and after His crucifixion. But of course, a significant part of the Gospel (the Good News), His death, burial and resurrection, is the resurrection itself: that He rose from the dead and ascended to be with God the Father.
And in this there is hope for us Christian entrepreneurs: God gave us dreams and visions, and for whatever reason, we may have lost hope:
Peace has been stripped away, and I have forgotten what prosperity is. - Lam. 3:17 (NLT)
The “good news” is that our dreams can be resurrected!
Here’s how:
1. Pray and ask God how He wants you to proceed. Remember what Jesus said, “…Yet I want your will, not mine.”(Matt. 26:39 [NLT])
2. Be sure to constantly seek how He wants you do it through prayer and His word. Remember Moses and Paul, among others, failed the first time because they did it under their own power;not His.
3. Commit whatever you do to Him, and you will succeed!(Proverbs 16:3) But remember, to commit means to connect with Him through prayer, His word and allowing the Holy Spirit to teach you through circumstances!
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The Bible as a “Filter” - Part 1
By Bruce | March 13, 2008
I’ve noticed that when it comes to entrepreneurship and business, a lot of us Christians read books on success that are “secular” in nature, yet have the principles that we believe are going to make us successful. Books like Rich Dad, Poor Dad, for instance. I’ve seen this book in Christian bookstores, and pastors have even had the author speaking at their Churches and events.
There are some great points that these books make, but we have to keep in mind that we should read these books using what I call “the filter.” The filter will help us to sort out that which is a biblical principle from that which isn’t.
“Your commandments give me understanding; no wonder I hate every false way of life. Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. ” - Psalm 119:104-105 (NLT)
Often, some of the principles that these books espouse are biblical, but some aren’t, so we must have discernment when we read them, to separate what’s right from what’s “off-base.” That’s why we need to always be reading…the filter…the Bible!
Here is a “filter” I recommend.
Topics: Entrepreneurship, Purpose, Motivation, Economic Freedom | 2 Comments »
8 Reasons Why Most Christians are Financially Broke Series - Part 4
By Bruce | March 5, 2008
Reason #5:
Many Christians are lazy.
Yes, a lot of us are lazy. There are many biblical passages about laziness, and one of them that I feel refers to laziness and entrepreneurship is this one:
The lazy person is full of excuses, saying, “If I go outside, I might meet a lion in the street and be killed!” - Proverbs 22:13 (NLT)
Oh, wait a minute…this one too:
The lazy person is full of excuses, saying, “I can’t go outside because there might be a lion on the road! Yes, I’m sure there’s a lion out there!” - Proverbs 26:13 (NLT)
Notice that these two verses are very similar. Perhaps the Lord wanted to emphasize the importance of not being lazy by making excuses.
A deceitful thing about laziness, I believe, is to equate it with not working hard.
But does God want us to work hard all the time, 24/7; otherwise we’re lazy? I don’t believe so, because he also said:
[It is] vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: [for] so he giveth his beloved sleep. - Psalm 127:2 (KJV)
So we have to have balance in our lives, and understand that there are ways out there to be more efficient.
In his book, Focal Point: A Proven System to Simplify Your Life, Double Your Productivity, and Achieve All Your Goals, Brian Tracy explains the way we should think about work a la Psalm 127:2:
“…Most people are trapped in an old paradigm: They believe that the only way they can increase their incomes is by increasing the amount of work they do or the number of hours they work. In fact, many people feel guilty if they are not working almost to the point of exhaustion most of the time. However, this is an old way of thinking that leads inevitably to a physical, emotional and spiritual dead end…The world has changed dramatically, and we must change with it. In less than two generations, we have moved from the Industrial Age through the Service Age and into the Information Age. In the Information Age, knowledge has become the most valuable resource and the most valuable factor of production. We have moved from the Age of Manpower to the Age of Mindpower. In this age, you are no longer rewarded for the hours you put in but for what you put into those hours…Peter Drucker calls this the Age of the Knowledge Worker. The way you think and get results today is totally different from the way it might have been in the past. Today, you are paid for accomplishments, not activities. You are paid for outcomes rather than for inputs, or the number of hours you work. Your rewards are determined by the quality and quantity of results you achieve in your area of responsibility. This change in the paradigm of work opens up unlimited opportunities for creative people who recognize it and capitalize on it.” (emphasis mine)
Wow! I couldn’t have said it better myself! ;o)
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Topics: Entrepreneurship, Motivation, Economic Freedom | 2 Comments »
One of the Results of Not Discovering Your Purpose, Calling and Entrepreneurship Up Front!
By Bruce | February 28, 2008
Well, “the chickens are coming home to roost”, as they say, in this current economy. Many of us have followed the world’s philosophy of becoming a homeowner, buying the house before we find our purpose and calling and becoming entrepreneurs and/or entrepreneurial. But this is not biblical!:
“Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.” - Proverbs 24:27 (KJV) (emphasis mine)
This can be a negative result of not following God’s word, yet so many of us, Christians and non-Christians, do it- heck, I even did it at one time…but because of God’s grace and mercy we have avoided the consequences.
Let’s find our purpose and calling first, then build our house…lets do it right (this time?).
We’ll be discussing how to do this in detail soon, so get free updates by e-mail or RSS.
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8 Reasons Why Most Christians are Financially Broke Series - Part 3
By Bruce | February 26, 2008
Reason #6:
Most Christians don’t budget, save and invest.
Many of us complain how we don’t have money and can’t afford to do this and that (I’ve done it, too!).
But how many of us actually budget our money?
“Know the state of your flocks, and put your heart into caring for your herds, for riches don’t last forever, and the crown might not be secure for the next generation.” - Proverbs 27:23-24 (NLT)
Do most of us know where our money goes, and determine where we’re going to put it ahead of time? Or do we just go from paycheck to paycheck?
How many of us actually save our money?
“There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.” - Proverbs 21:20 (KJV)(emphasis mine)
Do we pay ourselves second? (We should pay God first, but more about that later!) Do we set aside something, even if we start with $10, $20, $50 or $100 dollars per check that we receive (including income tax refund, tax rebate, etc.)? Just put a fixed amount aside and forget about it…you’ll be surprised at what happens!
How many of us actually invest our money?
“Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.” - Ecclesiastes 11:1-2 (KJV)
Save first…then diversify by investing.
What are some of your challenges and victories in these areas?
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Happy Birthday Christian Entrepreneurs!
By Bruce | February 22, 2008
This blog’s one month old!
Wow! And to think we started a month ago!
So much has happened…you’re posting great comments; we’re getting more subscribers every day (Have you subscribed yet? Why not do it now?; we’ve got a lot of great things planned, and you don’t want to miss them!)
We’re getting visits from all over the world…this tells me that so many people everywhere are interested in Christian entrepreneurship and want the economic freedom God talks about in his word.
Thanks to all of you who have subscribed, commented and encouraged me to keep going.
What do we have planned? More teaching on what God says in His word about Christian entrepreneurship, purpose, business and motivation. And teaching you about how to start a business or a ministry!
But we want to make this blog the premier blog for Christian entrepreneurs.
What would you like to see???
Topics: Entrepreneurship, Purpose, Motivation, Economic Freedom | 2 Comments »
