Wings of Business takes a look at business and business people from then and now and specifically how and where God fits into the picture.

Prior to the 20th Century, business courses and indeed business schools themselves were based on biblical principals. In fact, biblical schools trained future business leaders.

Shortly after the 1st World War things changed. Governments assumed a stronger role in the private sectors. Politicians pressured by war-rich industrialists, passed laws that strangled competition. Monopolies sprang up in industries such as railroads, steel, oil and utilities. Leaders in these times became overwhelmed with greed and used their power and influence to promote laws punishing workers who seeked minimum wages and safer working conditions. Laws promoted to protect workers were used to control the labor movements.

The bible says: A man reaps what he sows!! Leaders from the past were sowing distrust and animosity between management and labor. When circumstances changed, unions gained political power and management began reaping the destructive harvets of unionism. Workers and management began to develop an adversarial relationship and government had to assume the role of regulator. The result = business had to pay and taxes started taking huge bites out of company profits.

After World War 2 a more ominous cloud began to form: DEBT! Debt surpassed equity in business. Most companies found it easier and cheaper to borrow money than to to raise capital through equity funding. After the 1950′s borrowing became the accepted way to fund business expansion. Too much easy money eventually makes itself known by way of inflation which is nothing more than a surplus of easy money in the hands of willing buyers who want to spend it. Such spending inevitabely bids up the price of goods and services.

Credit is like an opiate because it seems to numb the minds of those who use it.

The one major principal in business is that God’s people should be DEBT-FREE!

What kind of an economic environment does a Christian business owner or manager face today? Certainly not a favorable one!!

God gave his people 2 principals nearly 3000 years ago:

1. He promised that if people who were called by His name would obey His statutes and commandments, He would prosper them beyond every nation on earth (Deut. 28: 8-13).
2. He also warned that if the people ignored His statutes and commandments, He would allow the foreigner to rise above them. The foreigner would become the lender and they would become debtors (Deut. 28: 43-45).

Is there hope? Can the cycle be reversed?

Yes it can happen, but only if God’s people will turn to His way and be willing to be counted in His camp, without compromise.

God has a plan for His people in business! Some will be business owners, some managers and some workers. Each of God’s people must be willing at all levels to live by the statutes and commandments of our Lord to make a difference. The question is: Are we willing to make a difference?

Let’s look at the Basic Biblical Minimums.

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