Some folks want to compartmentalize their life. For example, they don’t want anything religious to touch the business part of their life. That kind of compartmentalization is neither desirable nor possible if you want to truly be successful.
First, morality comes from God. Without God and God’s laws, there is no steady, unmovable reference to point to what is right and wrong. If we base right and wrong on perception, the mark will shift and change over time. In order to be successful, we must be moral and that standard cannot shift.
Second, God’s laws do more than simply teach us morality. They help us be successful in all areas of God’s plan for our lives – our relationship with Him, our family, and our businesses.
The 10 Commandments of Business provides a guide to not only help you be more successful in business, but help you be more successful in other areas of life as well. If other areas of your life are out of whack, your business will be too. It’s all interrelated, and it all hinges on honoring relationships.
You will be more successful when you: honor God and your relationship with Him (Part 1); honor your family and friends (Part 2); and honor your relationship to your business (Part 3).
Honor God and Your Relationship With Him –
If you want your business to succeed, you must honor God and your relationship with Him. The first 4 of the 10 commandments of Business (inspired by original 10 Commandments) address this.
1. God comes first
Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Exodus 20:3
Building your relationship with Jesus is the greatest thing you can do for your business. God has a plan for all things pertaining to your life, and you need to find out what each of those things is. That only happens when you spend time walking in fellowship with Him and keeping Him first at all times. Remember, God blesses obedience.
2. Don’t make your goals into your god
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
Exodus 20:4
In my office space in my den, I keep my goals clearly visible. I want to remember what I am aiming to achieve. However, there is a difference in doing that and in putting your faith in yourself through some visualization technique.
Instead of making your goals into your god, let God create your goals. Seek God’s guidance in all things. Also, remember that God owns it all. He is the source of all you have. Regularly give thanks to Him.
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
1 Timothy 6:10
Greed is not good. It is not your friend. Instead, make a point to give a tithe of all your profits and help others when you can.
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Luke 6:38
I can tell you that that is absolutely true! I see it quite often in the lives of those seeking to walk with the Lord!
3. Swearing is unattractive, and it will cost you
Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
Exodus 20:7
Using the Lord’s name in vain does not honor God, and generally speaking, swearing will cost you business. Employees do not like to work for an angry, explosive employer. It will cost you to train new ones. If they deal with the public, they may share your explosion with the next customer or business partner they encounter either by telling them about you or by being explosive themselves. Customers and business partners may also prefer to not hear swearing. Any way you want to look at it, swearing will cost you in new sales, repeat business, and referrals.
4. Take time off to worship
Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Exodus 20:8
Taking time to worship goes back to building your relationship with God. Consider God’s example. He created everything in 6 days and rested on the 7th day. Take a day off to spend with God.
Also note, I heard of a study that indicated that people are more productive if they only work a 6-day workweek. Co-incidence? I think not.
LIFE APPLICATION
The challenge is to honor God in your speech, spend time with Him, and don’t worship your goals. Seek God’s direction, and know that if you put God first that the rest will fall into place. Ask God to show you if you need to make any changes in your life.