Prospering in Business

2 Chronicles 31:21

And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.

Hezekiah prospered in every work that he started. He was not only a successful believer, but he was also a successful king and businessman. We often look to the world to find out how to be successful in business ventures, but we miss some of the greatest examples of how to be successful in every business venture from the Scriptures. When I talk about being successful, I am talking about prospering in that business venture. Just keeping the doors open is not enough; we go into business so that we can prosper; there is nothing wrong with that. However, you will never prosper in every work that you do as a Christian without following the same model that Hezekiah established. Let me share his business model so that you can follow it and prosper.

First, let everything you do start in church. You will notice that Hezekiah began his service in the house of God. I believe it is critical to dedicate your business to God in church when you start a business venture. If I were a businessman, I would go to the altar and ask the pastor to pray that my business venture would be prosperous.

Second, begin the work. No business venture has been successful that has not been started. You've got to step out and risk failure if you're going to be successful in business. You can talk about starting a business, but no business has started without someone taking the risk to start it. Begin the work; you won't know what you need until you start it.

Third, don’t let your work pull you from doing what is  right. Notice that Hezekiah followed the law and the commandments; this means he pursued his business venture and did right at the same time. You cannot allow your business to pull you away from doing what you know is right to do. If a business venture pulls you out of church, don't pursue it. There are many examples of businessmen who became multimillionaires and were still faithful to church and serving God. J.C. Penney, Truett Cathy, and Russell Anderson are great examples of businessmen who prioritized church over business, and look at how God blessed them. If you want God to bless your business, keep Him first.

Fourth, spend much time in prayer about your work. Hezekiah sought the LORD in prayer about what to do in his business. You will find more wisdom by spending much time in prayer about how to be successful in your business than you ever will by going to business seminars. Who are you going to trust: a person who does not keep God first, or God who has all the wisdom to help you to be successful in your business? Be a person of prayer and ask God how to take your business to the next level.

Fifth, give your work your full effort. Hezekiah put his heart into what he did. Nobody will ever be successful if their heart is not in it. If you love what you are doing, you will have no problem putting your heart into it.

Sixth, be dedicated to your work. No person has been successful without being dedicated to their work. Define what you plan to do in your business and stay focused to it, put God first, and do right, and the result will be that God will prosper you in your business, whether it is a business in the world or it is the business of serving God.