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Theme: SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEURSHIP
According to Microsoft Encarta (2009) an entrepreneur, is “one who assumes the responsibility and the risk for a business operation with the expectation of making a profit. The entrepreneur generally decides on the product, acquires the facilities, and brings together the labor force, capital, and production materials. If the business succeeds, the entrepreneur reaps the reward of profits; if it fails, he or she takes the loss.” Man is created to work; to harness the resources of the earth for his livelihood and wellbeing generally. (Genesis 1:26) Under a perfect condition, work would not be full of stress, uncertainty, sweat and tears, as is the case now. Howbeit, God Almighty would continue to provide for those who are diligent, and who trust in Him, who use their talents positively to support His work, themselves and their fellowmen by His grace. – Proverbs 22:29; Haggai 1:8; James 4:13, 14.
Text: “Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” – James 4:13-14.
Comment: Apostle James in the text for today, admonishes those who undertake their businesses without regard to God. They have “a presumptuous confidence” respecting the future, and therefore make future plans without taking into account the uncertainty of life; that we are absolutely dependent on God in Whose hands are the lives of all flesh.
Those who trust only in their own efforts and lean to their own understanding are not wise. When Christians want to do something, they first seek the face of God in prayer and reflect on what they want to do in the light of the Scriptures. Ventures that are not based on righteousness will not endure. (See Jeremiah 17:5, 6) Our Lord Jesus Christ gave a parable in which he reprimanded those who trusted only in themselves and did not seek counsel from God nor advice from godly people. (Luke 18:9) Concerning the rich business man, it is written, “But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:20, 21) In line with the exhortation of Apostle James in the text for today, whatever we want to do, whether it is business or choosing a career, we ought to say, “…If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that”. – James 4:15.