The Bible is the message of salvation, wisdom, history, and truth. What many people might not realize is the vast resource it is for business. Business, you say? God cares about business? Yes, He does! He provides much wisdom and instruction for how to live our lives, and business is a very significant part of human life.
Solomon gives us this business strategy in the 11th chapter of Ecclesiastes:
“Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days.” Ecclesiastes 11:1
This simple statement by King Solomon is a foundational and profound business strategy. It is wise instruction for anyone in any kind of venture. The term translated “bread” here is another way of saying “seed”. The idea is of a farmer who spreads his seed on the marshy soil and waits for it to grow into a crop that brings food. It is a metaphor taking wise, calculated steps in business and letting time and nature bring the expected results.
You’ve heard the statement “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take”, right? Well, the idea here is similar. In order to reap the results of anything, you have to make the initiative and make things happen.
Many people like to talk about what they are going to do, places they will go, and how everything will work together to make their goal a reality. But talk is cheap, as in, it doesn’t cost much of anything to talk, and it does little to realize an objective.
Here’s Solomon’s opinion on talk:
“In all labor there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” Proverbs 14:23
Conversation without labor doesn’t produce anything. The “labor” here in this verse is the “casting your bread” in Ecclesiastes 11. Sometimes we have to move forward when there are many things not complete. Sometimes we have to take definite steps even when the path is not clear. Sometimes we have to take a risk, even when the results of possible failure are extreme.
Many people have ideas of successful business. But only a small percentage take the necessary action to make them happen.
One caveat here: all steps taken in business (or life in general) need to be backed with some calculation. Moving forward is necessary, but should always be preceded by design. In other words, look before leaping. And does Solomon speak to this? Of course he does:
“The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, but everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.” Proverbs 21:5
Planning is another business strategy. Action is vital to success, but action must be backed by planning. The diligent here are identified with success because they planned their action.
For other insightful blogposts about business strategy, please look here:
- How God says to hire employees
- What to do with money AFTER you make it
- How delaying decisions can really cripple your effectiveness
- Why watching your business closely is so vital
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