"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15).
I recently heard a story of a kingdom business steward who, after many years of sharing the Gospel with one of his employees who worked in the sales department, finally won him over to the Lord. During an event the employee was asked to share his testimony with the guests. He stood up and shared how excited he was when his boss kept talking to him about the great commission. As a sales person who was primarily paid on commission, talk of a great commission excited him. Of course the commission his boss was referring to was a commission more valuable than a percentage of any sales transaction. This commission would give him an invaluable and eternal compensation.
Like this sales person, I too was brought to the Lord as a result of seeking finances. It was in the early 1990's when I was introduced to a kingdom business steward. While my interest in him was purely driven by economic incentives, his interest in me was motivated by the fact that I was a lost soul who desperately needed to be saved. As I pursued him for money and wisdom, his commitment to fulfilling the Great Commission was unwavering which finally led to me accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. My life has never been the same since. How did you come to Christ? Who was the disciple whose commitment to the Great Commission led you to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?
The Great Commission is an eternal mandate to all those who claim to be disciples of Jesus Christ. As Christians we have an obligation to share the good news we have received with the lost with a commitment to disciple them to conform to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ. This commission originated from God the father Himself. The first one to receive the commission was Adam, the first earthly son. Since the earth was unpopulated, Adam's commission was to populate the earth with other children of God who would reflect His image and likeness and carry out His will in the earthly realm, (Genesis 1:28). After Adam sinned the Lord rose up Abraham and gave him the same mandate. It would be through Abraham that all the families of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:1-3). Though Abraham's commission would bring blessings to the people of world it could not undo the spiritual damage that Adam committed since that required the sheding of blood. So God sent His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to restore spiritual order by dying on the Cross on Calvary (John 3:16). Jesus then passed the commission on to His disciples and to all those who would come to believe in Him (Mark 16:15).
Among all of Jesus' disciples' kingdom business stewards are uniquely positioned to fulfill this great mandate since the marketplace is where most unsaved people spend much of their time. So no matter what industry or type of business you are involved in each of us must have as a part of our business plan a great commission strategy. How will you, through your businesses, share this great news with others and support those who accept it towards maturity in Christ?
There are 7 steps in developing a great commission strategy for a kingdom business:
1. Clearly define your mission and vision as a company - how you fulfill the great commission as a company must be in line with your mission and vision as a company
2. Determine your circle of influence as a company - your circle of influence includes your customers, employees, vendors, investors, business associates, and those in the community where you conduct your business.
3. Determine the points of contact with the lost - what are the points of contact where you are able to reach the lost through your business operation?
4. Ensure business excellence and 100% customer satisfaction - they will not receive from you if you cannot demonstrate good business practices. Show them before you tell them. The way you conduct yourself and your business must cause the lost to want to know what makes you the way you are. Let your actions speak louder than your words.
5. Determine your communication methods and those who will carry them out - make sure your methods of communication are in line with your corporate culture. You do not always have to use words or religious terminologies. Everyone may not be able to communicate this.
6. Be all things to all people - Everyone will not receive the same message so be flexible and sensitive to the various personalities and types of people you are dealing with.
7. How will this be measured? - if you do not measure it, you will not do it. Develop measurements for both lives saved and disciples raised.
Caution: Unfortunately governments in the US are taking greater stands to discriminate against Christians so make sure you do not do anything that could violate any federal or state laws unless the law is clearly unjust, you are led by conviction and have the grace to go through unnecessary legal fights. Every kingdom business is different. Therefore the way each business fulfills the Great Commission will vary based on the mission of the business, the type of business and industry. Ultimately, all we can do is share; Jesus is the one who saves.
How are you fulfilling the Great Commission mandate? Do you have a great commission strategy? Will Jesus be able to say to you "well done good and faithful servant"?
Copyright © 2010 Patrice Tsague http://www.nehemiahproject.org/ :: ALL RIGHTS RESERVED :: Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Launch Out Into the Deep
When He had stopped speaking He said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch" (Luke 5:4).
I recently had the privilege to visit the beautiful city of Freetown; a small city in Sierra Leone, West Africa that is wrapped by an ocean where individuals come as far as Asia to fish. While I was there I had the opportunity to visit the ocean and watch fishermen carry out their business. When we arrived, there were two groups of fishermen standing by the ocean shore pulling in their nets. I was so excited.
I always read in the bible about fishermen but never saw a live fisherman in action.
Immediately I asked them if I could take their picture. They gave me their permission only after I agreed to buy them something to drink. They explained that they had been there since 4 o'clock in the morning and the time was now about 2 PM. As I waited to see what they would catch, I enthusiastically offered to assist them in pulling the net from the ocean. I asked them how long it would take for the net to be completely pulled from the ocean. Their response was probably another 2-3 hours. The net they were pulling extended itself to a relatively deep part of the ocean. The deep is where the best catch is found.
As I waited, the first group of fishermen finally brought in their net. Unfortunately, however, they had not caught anything. I felt really bad for them. These fishermen had been working for the past 12 hours and caught nothing. Without a catch, they would not be able to provide for their families, nor for women in the market who depended on them to supply them with inventory. I thought maybe the second group would experience better fortunes, so I waited another hour and even helped to pull the net out of the ocean only to discover nothing but ocean dwellers and trash out of the ocean.
Wow, I now understood how Jesus felt as He saw Peter and his buddies having worked all night without a catch. He had compassion on them and offered them some assistance.
I asked the fishermen why they had not caught anything. Their response was that they had not gone deep enough. These fishermen were the locals; they did not have the machinery that would enable them to take their boats into the middle of the ocean, cast their nets and pull the net right there from the boat. As a result they have to extend their nets from the shore into the ocean as far as they could in hopes of getting the net as close to the deep as possible. What it would take for them to get into the deep is capital so they can invest in the machinery that will enable them to go into the deep. It costs to launch out into the deep.
This explains why Jesus' instruction to Peter was that he should launch his net into the deep. Though Peter was discouraged and uncertain about Jesus request, he nevertheless obeyed His instructions and was rewarded for it greatly. The deep is a place that extends far below the surface and is potentially full of danger.
Launching out into the deep requires double efforts and the willingness to take greater risks. It is moving beyond your comfort zone and what you are accustomed to.
Like the fishermen in Sierra Leone you may be currently experiencing low productivity or no productivity. You may be wondering what else you can do to change the course of your business or your life. You tried everything without results, and like those fishermen the lack of success for your business not only impacts you but your employees, your family and your vendors. What else can you do? Unfortunately it is during these times when entrepreneurs pull back, play it safe and protect themselves from further losses. However, this is the time when you should do the opposite. It is the time to launch out into the deep. Yes, revise your strategy, increase your efforts and give it all you have. If you keep doing what you have been doing you will keep getting the same results so you have to do something different.
The deep is the place of personal insecurity and require complete reliance on the Lord. Launching into the deep may require a greater spiritual commitment on your part, working longer hours, increasing your capital investment or making reductions in certain areas. Whatever the implication for your business, you cannot afford to stay in shallow waters. The deep is where the best catch is found.
Copyright © 2010 Patrice Tsague ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.
I recently had the privilege to visit the beautiful city of Freetown; a small city in Sierra Leone, West Africa that is wrapped by an ocean where individuals come as far as Asia to fish. While I was there I had the opportunity to visit the ocean and watch fishermen carry out their business. When we arrived, there were two groups of fishermen standing by the ocean shore pulling in their nets. I was so excited.
I always read in the bible about fishermen but never saw a live fisherman in action.
Immediately I asked them if I could take their picture. They gave me their permission only after I agreed to buy them something to drink. They explained that they had been there since 4 o'clock in the morning and the time was now about 2 PM. As I waited to see what they would catch, I enthusiastically offered to assist them in pulling the net from the ocean. I asked them how long it would take for the net to be completely pulled from the ocean. Their response was probably another 2-3 hours. The net they were pulling extended itself to a relatively deep part of the ocean. The deep is where the best catch is found.
As I waited, the first group of fishermen finally brought in their net. Unfortunately, however, they had not caught anything. I felt really bad for them. These fishermen had been working for the past 12 hours and caught nothing. Without a catch, they would not be able to provide for their families, nor for women in the market who depended on them to supply them with inventory. I thought maybe the second group would experience better fortunes, so I waited another hour and even helped to pull the net out of the ocean only to discover nothing but ocean dwellers and trash out of the ocean.
Wow, I now understood how Jesus felt as He saw Peter and his buddies having worked all night without a catch. He had compassion on them and offered them some assistance.
I asked the fishermen why they had not caught anything. Their response was that they had not gone deep enough. These fishermen were the locals; they did not have the machinery that would enable them to take their boats into the middle of the ocean, cast their nets and pull the net right there from the boat. As a result they have to extend their nets from the shore into the ocean as far as they could in hopes of getting the net as close to the deep as possible. What it would take for them to get into the deep is capital so they can invest in the machinery that will enable them to go into the deep. It costs to launch out into the deep.
This explains why Jesus' instruction to Peter was that he should launch his net into the deep. Though Peter was discouraged and uncertain about Jesus request, he nevertheless obeyed His instructions and was rewarded for it greatly. The deep is a place that extends far below the surface and is potentially full of danger.
Launching out into the deep requires double efforts and the willingness to take greater risks. It is moving beyond your comfort zone and what you are accustomed to.
Like the fishermen in Sierra Leone you may be currently experiencing low productivity or no productivity. You may be wondering what else you can do to change the course of your business or your life. You tried everything without results, and like those fishermen the lack of success for your business not only impacts you but your employees, your family and your vendors. What else can you do? Unfortunately it is during these times when entrepreneurs pull back, play it safe and protect themselves from further losses. However, this is the time when you should do the opposite. It is the time to launch out into the deep. Yes, revise your strategy, increase your efforts and give it all you have. If you keep doing what you have been doing you will keep getting the same results so you have to do something different.
The deep is the place of personal insecurity and require complete reliance on the Lord. Launching into the deep may require a greater spiritual commitment on your part, working longer hours, increasing your capital investment or making reductions in certain areas. Whatever the implication for your business, you cannot afford to stay in shallow waters. The deep is where the best catch is found.
Copyright © 2010 Patrice Tsague ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Tea with The Economist: Glen Hubbard on international aid
Institutions that support local businesses are what works to help developing economies, says Glen Hubbard, Dean of the Columbia University Graduate School of Business. He sees the Marshall Plan as a prototype for restarting Africa's once vibrant local business culture. Watch the interview or view other topics on economist.com.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Haiti
My last post was nothing but a link... I was running out to catch a ride but wanted to at least provide a list of organizations through which people could give to relief work in Haiti.
Partners Worldwide sent out an email on the weekend regarding their work in Haiti; here is the text:
Since Tuesday, we have all grieved while hearing reports of the pain and suffering in Haiti. The first 72 hours are critical after an emergency and we are very thankful for the skilled disaster response teams who are working around the clock to meet as many immediate needs as possible.
Leveraging the strengths of our network, Partners Worldwide has established the Haiti Business Recovery Fund. Through our Haitian business partners, we have identified urgent needs that can be met by skilled professionals to help restore and rebuild local businesses that supply critical goods such as clean water, food, medical supplies and temporary housing.
Your contribution will go directly to Haiti Business Recovery and will help to lay the foundation for long-term development and lasting restoration. The Partners Worldwide network is made up of passionate and skilled business professionals so please consider how your experience can make a difference in Haiti.
Your continued prayers, encouragement and financial contributions are deeply appreciated. (Click here to give through Partners Worldwide.)
email: info@partnersworldwide.org
phone: (616) 818-4900
web: http://www.partnersworldwide.org
Partners Worldwide sent out an email on the weekend regarding their work in Haiti; here is the text:
Since Tuesday, we have all grieved while hearing reports of the pain and suffering in Haiti. The first 72 hours are critical after an emergency and we are very thankful for the skilled disaster response teams who are working around the clock to meet as many immediate needs as possible.
Leveraging the strengths of our network, Partners Worldwide has established the Haiti Business Recovery Fund. Through our Haitian business partners, we have identified urgent needs that can be met by skilled professionals to help restore and rebuild local businesses that supply critical goods such as clean water, food, medical supplies and temporary housing.
Your contribution will go directly to Haiti Business Recovery and will help to lay the foundation for long-term development and lasting restoration. The Partners Worldwide network is made up of passionate and skilled business professionals so please consider how your experience can make a difference in Haiti.
Your continued prayers, encouragement and financial contributions are deeply appreciated. (Click here to give through Partners Worldwide.)
email: info@partnersworldwide.org
phone: (616) 818-4900
web: http://www.partnersworldwide.org
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Organizations at work in Haiti
Link to orgs assisting in Haiti: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34835478/ns/world_news-haiti_earthquake/
Monday, January 11, 2010
The Joy of Giving
That in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality (2 Cor. 8:2)
Although the United States has the highest percentage of charitable giving then other nations in the world it is also one of few nations that enjoy tax write-offs from such giving. Do we give because of the tax write-off or because we have a heart to give? The recent economic crisis has caused some to reduce their giving and others to even stop giving all together. Do we give because we have much or do we give because we are grateful for what we have?
Giving should be something we do out of joy not out of obligation. Giving should be a natural response of gratefulness and an expression of joy for who God is and what he has done for us. Unfortunately many kingdom business stewards give out of obligation, guilt or benefits rather than out joy.
The Apostle Paul planted many churches, some in very wealthy communities and others in poor communities, but those he planted in poorer communities primarily supported his ministry. Even though the churches of Macedonia suffered great afflictions and were deeply poor they nevertheless gave with great joy even beyond their abilities (I Corinthians 8:1-4).
Joy is an eternal peace and excitement demonstrated by an external expression of gratitude. Joy gives rhythm, flavor and a smile to our giving. Giving without joy is like operating machinery without the proper lubrication. It will not last. Joy makes your giving consistent and easy to be received.
How to give with joy?
1. First give yourself to the Lord - You cannot give with joy if you have not first given yourself to the Lord. Giving is a response to a personal and intimate relationship with the Lord. God does not need what you have; it already belongs to Him. What He needs is you.
2. Give to those people or things you love - For God so love the world that He gave us His only begotten Son. Giving is a tangible demonstration of your love for someone or some cause.
3. Give even in trials - Giving is not something you do when things are going well but it is a lifestyle. The habit of giving is not developed during good times but in bad times.
4. Give to purpose not to need - Need eradicates resources while purpose eradicates need. Giving is not what solves problems; rather it is purpose that solves problems. You should target your giving towards those people and organizations that are working to eradicate the need you are passionate about.
5. Give to good ground - Giving is an investment in eternity so therefore you must ensure that the ground is good so that it can yield the maximum eternal returns. Make sure that the person or organization you are giving to will carry out the expected mission with proper accountability.
6. Give out of what you have - Never give that which has been obligated to other things such as rent, car note, loan payment etc.... Other then the tithe giving should always be out of discretionary money. If you want to increase your giving then either increase your income without increasing your obligated expenses or decrease your obligated expenses.
7. Give as unto the Lord - Your giving is never to people or things but rather it is to God. Though it is administered by people and organizations you must focus on the ultimate receiver of your giving, and that is God. He will honor your heart no matter what the people or organization does with your charitable contribution. This ensures that your giving is unconditional.
Some kingdom business stewards give only enough to meet their tax deduction obligations while others give as long as they have to give irrespective of their tax deduction limit. Which one are you? If the U.S. government was to end the tax deduction policy today will your giving go down or remain the same?
A young biblical entrepreneur, after being blessed by several million dollars in a settlement, was led to commit above and beyond his tithe to kingdom work against his accountant's advice, who felt that he should limit his giving to his maximum tax benefit. This young entrepreneur recognized the fact that his giving is not based on any temporal benefits he may receive from the IRS but on eternal benefits he will surely receive from the King of Kings. To the King every gift is a tax write-off in His kingdom.
Tax write-offs are great and must be encouraged for it is better to give to a kingdom cause then to the IRS. However, it should not be the only basis for our giving. The joy of giving means that I give purely because it is my way of expressing my love for the things I believe in and my gratefulness to the God who made me a steward over His resources. It is the external expression of the peace I have on the inside and my gratitude to the Prince of Peace. All benefits that come with giving are bi-products of my giving not the reason for my giving.
Copyright © 2010 Patrice Tsague ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.
Although the United States has the highest percentage of charitable giving then other nations in the world it is also one of few nations that enjoy tax write-offs from such giving. Do we give because of the tax write-off or because we have a heart to give? The recent economic crisis has caused some to reduce their giving and others to even stop giving all together. Do we give because we have much or do we give because we are grateful for what we have?
Giving should be something we do out of joy not out of obligation. Giving should be a natural response of gratefulness and an expression of joy for who God is and what he has done for us. Unfortunately many kingdom business stewards give out of obligation, guilt or benefits rather than out joy.
The Apostle Paul planted many churches, some in very wealthy communities and others in poor communities, but those he planted in poorer communities primarily supported his ministry. Even though the churches of Macedonia suffered great afflictions and were deeply poor they nevertheless gave with great joy even beyond their abilities (I Corinthians 8:1-4).
Joy is an eternal peace and excitement demonstrated by an external expression of gratitude. Joy gives rhythm, flavor and a smile to our giving. Giving without joy is like operating machinery without the proper lubrication. It will not last. Joy makes your giving consistent and easy to be received.
How to give with joy?
1. First give yourself to the Lord - You cannot give with joy if you have not first given yourself to the Lord. Giving is a response to a personal and intimate relationship with the Lord. God does not need what you have; it already belongs to Him. What He needs is you.
2. Give to those people or things you love - For God so love the world that He gave us His only begotten Son. Giving is a tangible demonstration of your love for someone or some cause.
3. Give even in trials - Giving is not something you do when things are going well but it is a lifestyle. The habit of giving is not developed during good times but in bad times.
4. Give to purpose not to need - Need eradicates resources while purpose eradicates need. Giving is not what solves problems; rather it is purpose that solves problems. You should target your giving towards those people and organizations that are working to eradicate the need you are passionate about.
5. Give to good ground - Giving is an investment in eternity so therefore you must ensure that the ground is good so that it can yield the maximum eternal returns. Make sure that the person or organization you are giving to will carry out the expected mission with proper accountability.
6. Give out of what you have - Never give that which has been obligated to other things such as rent, car note, loan payment etc.... Other then the tithe giving should always be out of discretionary money. If you want to increase your giving then either increase your income without increasing your obligated expenses or decrease your obligated expenses.
7. Give as unto the Lord - Your giving is never to people or things but rather it is to God. Though it is administered by people and organizations you must focus on the ultimate receiver of your giving, and that is God. He will honor your heart no matter what the people or organization does with your charitable contribution. This ensures that your giving is unconditional.
Some kingdom business stewards give only enough to meet their tax deduction obligations while others give as long as they have to give irrespective of their tax deduction limit. Which one are you? If the U.S. government was to end the tax deduction policy today will your giving go down or remain the same?
A young biblical entrepreneur, after being blessed by several million dollars in a settlement, was led to commit above and beyond his tithe to kingdom work against his accountant's advice, who felt that he should limit his giving to his maximum tax benefit. This young entrepreneur recognized the fact that his giving is not based on any temporal benefits he may receive from the IRS but on eternal benefits he will surely receive from the King of Kings. To the King every gift is a tax write-off in His kingdom.
Tax write-offs are great and must be encouraged for it is better to give to a kingdom cause then to the IRS. However, it should not be the only basis for our giving. The joy of giving means that I give purely because it is my way of expressing my love for the things I believe in and my gratefulness to the God who made me a steward over His resources. It is the external expression of the peace I have on the inside and my gratitude to the Prince of Peace. All benefits that come with giving are bi-products of my giving not the reason for my giving.
Copyright © 2010 Patrice Tsague ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Business Tithing
"Honor the Lord with your possessions and with the first fruits of your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine" (Proverbs 3:9-10).
Tithing has unfortunately become such a controversial topic in the kingdom today. Many are questioning whether you should tithe from your gross or net pay. Others are asking whether you should tithe from your business. Can you split your tithe? Does your tithe have to go to your local church? Does tithing still apply in the New Testament? Should I still tithe if my church is misusing the money? Should I tithe even if I am still in debt?
Whatever your personal views are with respect to tithing, I believe that it is important to let the scriptures speak for themselves. Tithing is committing the first tenth of all that God gives you back to the Lord in recognition of His ownership over your life and in appreciation for His goodness towards you (Genesis 28:22). Tithing enables the non-revenue generating ministries that God wants to see operate to have the necessary resources to function. It allows other dimensions of the great commission to be realized. It is a way to provide resources to those who are called to operate in the fivefold ministry: evangelist, teacher, pastor, prophet and apostle (Ephesians 4:11-16, I Timothy 5:17 -18). The tithe is our first gift that must be paid before we can give an offering. The tithe is an obligation; the offering is a choice (Genesis 4:4).
Every born-again Christian must be involved in a local assembly whether it is a home church, small church or a mega-church. While the size of the local assembly is not relevant, it must however, be led by a shepherd (Hebrews 10:24-25, I Peter 5:1-4). As individuals our tithe should be committed to supporting the work of the local assembly that we belong to (Malachi 3:10). If you do not trust your local assembly enough to tithe then you should not trust them with your soul. Where your treasure is there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21).
Though the New Testament does not specifically mandate the tithe it should nevertheless be the minimum basis for our giving and not the ceiling. Any New Testament believer who believes that tithing is an Old Testament principle should consistently give beyond the 10 percent and never less, otherwise you are using the Old Testament as a loophole to limit your giving rather than as an inspiration to increasing your giving (2 Corinthians 9:6-8).
Kingdom business stewards should not just tithe from their personal income but they should also tithe from their business profits. Though the personal tithe should be committed to supporting the work of the local assembly, the business tithe can be used to support the other ministries of the church. Business tithe can be split but personal tithe must be paid to your local assembly. The business tithe is a tenth of your business profits not the gross revenue. Some businesses do not enjoy a 10 percent gross margin. As such, if businesses are required to tithe from their gross revenue then some will operate at a loss. Of course we know that operating a kingdom business at a loss is not biblical, since Jesus rebuked the unprofitable servant in Matthew 25:30. The other reason why the business tithe should be paid from the profits is because Proverbs 3:9-10 instructs us to honor the Lord with the first fruits of our increase. You do not have an increase if you have not paid for the expenses associated with generating the revenue. The increase is the net income after all expenses are paid. The tithe must be paid in spite of your debt situation. Since you are tithing from your net profits, you can pay the debt from the balance remaining after the tithe. This shows that you are trusting in God and not in your own efforts to make you debt free.
Why is business tithing necessary for the kingdom business steward?
1. It sets us apart from others businesses
2. It recognizes that God is the owner and we are the stewards
3. It shows our appreciation to God for His goodness towards us
4. It allows us to be able to finance other work within the kingdom
5. It enables God to trust us with more
6. It helps us not to be attached to the money
7. It allows God to open the windows of opportunity for us and protect our production from loss or destruction.
There are many kingdom businesses who have experienced the joy of business tithing: JC Penney's, John D. Rockefeller, Chick Fil A, Timothy Plan and one who recently began; Davis Endodontic.
Though a committed tither from her personal salary, after recently learning about business tithing, Dr. Davis had her staff review her profits for the pass couple years and committed over $40K to support the work of the kingdom as a commitment to paying her past business tithe. That is powerful and a tremendous commitment to living the principles of God. If most believers were committed to tithing from their personal income and their business profits then the work of the kingdom would not lack the resources to feed the hungry, nourish the thirsty, house the homeless, clothe the naked, and visit the sick and imprisoned. In addition, God's ministering servants would not be distracted by other activities and could fully give themselves to praying and ministering the Word of God (Matthew 25:31-40, Acts 6:4).
Would you want your doctor working another full-time job just to make enough money to be able to practice medicine? Would you want your teacher to work another job to be able to teach? Would you want your pilot working another job just to make ends meet so he can afford to fly? Of course we wouldn't. We want our professionals to devote themselves fully to servicing us with excellence without other distractions. Why then do we expect those who are called to five-fold ministry to do other things to make ends meet yet expect excellence of ministry? Why do we expect ministries that serve the least of these to devote time to tasks like identifying ways to generate revenue (in the hopes of remaining sustainable) that divert attention away from their primary mission and focus? Sustainability is not always realized through fee-for-service revenue. It can also be realized through the faithful contribution of the faithful saints and the proper stewardship of those contributions.
In this New Year let's commit ourselves to being a part of God's work by entrusting our personal and business tithing to His kingdom and enjoy the benefits of being one of the few that the Lord can count on to see His work realized in the earth realm. As Kingdom-minded business stewards we should be part of the solution and not part of the problem.
Copyright © 2010 Patrice Tsague ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.
Tithing has unfortunately become such a controversial topic in the kingdom today. Many are questioning whether you should tithe from your gross or net pay. Others are asking whether you should tithe from your business. Can you split your tithe? Does your tithe have to go to your local church? Does tithing still apply in the New Testament? Should I still tithe if my church is misusing the money? Should I tithe even if I am still in debt?
Whatever your personal views are with respect to tithing, I believe that it is important to let the scriptures speak for themselves. Tithing is committing the first tenth of all that God gives you back to the Lord in recognition of His ownership over your life and in appreciation for His goodness towards you (Genesis 28:22). Tithing enables the non-revenue generating ministries that God wants to see operate to have the necessary resources to function. It allows other dimensions of the great commission to be realized. It is a way to provide resources to those who are called to operate in the fivefold ministry: evangelist, teacher, pastor, prophet and apostle (Ephesians 4:11-16, I Timothy 5:17 -18). The tithe is our first gift that must be paid before we can give an offering. The tithe is an obligation; the offering is a choice (Genesis 4:4).
Every born-again Christian must be involved in a local assembly whether it is a home church, small church or a mega-church. While the size of the local assembly is not relevant, it must however, be led by a shepherd (Hebrews 10:24-25, I Peter 5:1-4). As individuals our tithe should be committed to supporting the work of the local assembly that we belong to (Malachi 3:10). If you do not trust your local assembly enough to tithe then you should not trust them with your soul. Where your treasure is there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21).
Though the New Testament does not specifically mandate the tithe it should nevertheless be the minimum basis for our giving and not the ceiling. Any New Testament believer who believes that tithing is an Old Testament principle should consistently give beyond the 10 percent and never less, otherwise you are using the Old Testament as a loophole to limit your giving rather than as an inspiration to increasing your giving (2 Corinthians 9:6-8).
Kingdom business stewards should not just tithe from their personal income but they should also tithe from their business profits. Though the personal tithe should be committed to supporting the work of the local assembly, the business tithe can be used to support the other ministries of the church. Business tithe can be split but personal tithe must be paid to your local assembly. The business tithe is a tenth of your business profits not the gross revenue. Some businesses do not enjoy a 10 percent gross margin. As such, if businesses are required to tithe from their gross revenue then some will operate at a loss. Of course we know that operating a kingdom business at a loss is not biblical, since Jesus rebuked the unprofitable servant in Matthew 25:30. The other reason why the business tithe should be paid from the profits is because Proverbs 3:9-10 instructs us to honor the Lord with the first fruits of our increase. You do not have an increase if you have not paid for the expenses associated with generating the revenue. The increase is the net income after all expenses are paid. The tithe must be paid in spite of your debt situation. Since you are tithing from your net profits, you can pay the debt from the balance remaining after the tithe. This shows that you are trusting in God and not in your own efforts to make you debt free.
Why is business tithing necessary for the kingdom business steward?
1. It sets us apart from others businesses
2. It recognizes that God is the owner and we are the stewards
3. It shows our appreciation to God for His goodness towards us
4. It allows us to be able to finance other work within the kingdom
5. It enables God to trust us with more
6. It helps us not to be attached to the money
7. It allows God to open the windows of opportunity for us and protect our production from loss or destruction.
There are many kingdom businesses who have experienced the joy of business tithing: JC Penney's, John D. Rockefeller, Chick Fil A, Timothy Plan and one who recently began; Davis Endodontic.
Though a committed tither from her personal salary, after recently learning about business tithing, Dr. Davis had her staff review her profits for the pass couple years and committed over $40K to support the work of the kingdom as a commitment to paying her past business tithe. That is powerful and a tremendous commitment to living the principles of God. If most believers were committed to tithing from their personal income and their business profits then the work of the kingdom would not lack the resources to feed the hungry, nourish the thirsty, house the homeless, clothe the naked, and visit the sick and imprisoned. In addition, God's ministering servants would not be distracted by other activities and could fully give themselves to praying and ministering the Word of God (Matthew 25:31-40, Acts 6:4).
Would you want your doctor working another full-time job just to make enough money to be able to practice medicine? Would you want your teacher to work another job to be able to teach? Would you want your pilot working another job just to make ends meet so he can afford to fly? Of course we wouldn't. We want our professionals to devote themselves fully to servicing us with excellence without other distractions. Why then do we expect those who are called to five-fold ministry to do other things to make ends meet yet expect excellence of ministry? Why do we expect ministries that serve the least of these to devote time to tasks like identifying ways to generate revenue (in the hopes of remaining sustainable) that divert attention away from their primary mission and focus? Sustainability is not always realized through fee-for-service revenue. It can also be realized through the faithful contribution of the faithful saints and the proper stewardship of those contributions.
In this New Year let's commit ourselves to being a part of God's work by entrusting our personal and business tithing to His kingdom and enjoy the benefits of being one of the few that the Lord can count on to see His work realized in the earth realm. As Kingdom-minded business stewards we should be part of the solution and not part of the problem.
Copyright © 2010 Patrice Tsague ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.
Windows of Opportunity
"Bring all the tithes into the store house, that there may be food in My house, And try me now in this," Says the Lord of Hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it" (Malachi 3:10).
How would you like to have endless business opportunities? How would you like to have so many opportunities that you have to turn down business? A story is found in the book of Luke 5:1-11 where a fishermen name Simon after obeying the instructions of Jesus caught so much fish that his net could not handle it and he had to call for help. What was the key to his sudden productivity? He allowed the rabbi to use his boat to carry out His ministry and followed the instructions that the rabbi had given him.
Though most people view opportunity as something that you chase and spend most of your energy going after, we view opportunity in the kingdom as something that God orchestrates in his own timing but we must be prepared for it.
Opportunity is recognizing when God's timing meets preparation. You are responsible for preparing for the opportunity while God is responsible for orchestrating them. Without opportunities in the market place to meet market needs a business cannot be profitable. Business success begins with opportunity recognition.
Although God is the orchestrator of opportunities our obedience or lack thereof can impact the number of opportunities available to us. God told the Israelites to bring all the tithes into the store house, that there may be food in His house, and he will open for them the windows of heaven and pour out such a blessing that they will not have enough room to receive it. And He will rebuke the devourer for their sakes, so that the fruit of their ground will not be destroyed and their vine will not fail to bear fruit in the field (Malachi 3:10-11).
During the time of these instructions to the children of Israel their main business was agriculture and they were very dependent on farming for survival. God's instruction to them was that if they were to apply the principle of the tithe then He would open for them the windows of heaven and protect their production. Opening the windows of heaven was symbolic for creating market opportunities for them. These market opportunities would be so much that they would not be able to handle them. There would be such production that they would not have enough barns to preserve them. There would be such demand for their product and services that they would not be able to that demand fast enough. Another word if they were committed to providing for the needs of the work of the Lord through the principle of the tithe, God will ensure that they never lack resources. If you seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness everything that you need will be added to you (Mathew 6:33).
Giving opens the windows of heaven which leads to market opportunities being available to you for greater business productivity (2 Cor 9:6-8).
Why does God tie market opportunities to giving?
1. It is a sign that you recognize God's ownership of the business and sovereignty over your life.
2. It demonstrates that you are not attached to money.
3. It shows that you understand the purpose of profit which, among other things, must be used to advance the kingdom of God.
Giving will not only open windows of opportunity for your business but God will also rebuke the devourer. Devourers are things that eat up your production or keep opportunities from fully materializing. It could be high interest rates, bad weather, market instability or employee theft. Giving protects what you have from being destroyed, as well as enabling God to protect your production and market opportunities from being materialized prematurely or before you are prepared to take advantage of them.
All of this is so because God wants to fund His work. He wants to supply His Church with ample resources. However, in order to do so he needs productive, profitable kingdom businesses that understand the purpose for which God called them into business.
How is your business doing? Are you experiencing the kind of growth you desire? Commit to tithing from your personal income, from your business profits and give generously as the Lord blesses you. Not only will windows of opportunity open for you, but your production and market opportunities will be protected from destruction and premature conception.
Copyright © 2009 Patrice Tsague ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.
How would you like to have endless business opportunities? How would you like to have so many opportunities that you have to turn down business? A story is found in the book of Luke 5:1-11 where a fishermen name Simon after obeying the instructions of Jesus caught so much fish that his net could not handle it and he had to call for help. What was the key to his sudden productivity? He allowed the rabbi to use his boat to carry out His ministry and followed the instructions that the rabbi had given him.
Though most people view opportunity as something that you chase and spend most of your energy going after, we view opportunity in the kingdom as something that God orchestrates in his own timing but we must be prepared for it.
Opportunity is recognizing when God's timing meets preparation. You are responsible for preparing for the opportunity while God is responsible for orchestrating them. Without opportunities in the market place to meet market needs a business cannot be profitable. Business success begins with opportunity recognition.
Although God is the orchestrator of opportunities our obedience or lack thereof can impact the number of opportunities available to us. God told the Israelites to bring all the tithes into the store house, that there may be food in His house, and he will open for them the windows of heaven and pour out such a blessing that they will not have enough room to receive it. And He will rebuke the devourer for their sakes, so that the fruit of their ground will not be destroyed and their vine will not fail to bear fruit in the field (Malachi 3:10-11).
During the time of these instructions to the children of Israel their main business was agriculture and they were very dependent on farming for survival. God's instruction to them was that if they were to apply the principle of the tithe then He would open for them the windows of heaven and protect their production. Opening the windows of heaven was symbolic for creating market opportunities for them. These market opportunities would be so much that they would not be able to handle them. There would be such production that they would not have enough barns to preserve them. There would be such demand for their product and services that they would not be able to that demand fast enough. Another word if they were committed to providing for the needs of the work of the Lord through the principle of the tithe, God will ensure that they never lack resources. If you seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness everything that you need will be added to you (Mathew 6:33).
Giving opens the windows of heaven which leads to market opportunities being available to you for greater business productivity (2 Cor 9:6-8).
Why does God tie market opportunities to giving?
1. It is a sign that you recognize God's ownership of the business and sovereignty over your life.
2. It demonstrates that you are not attached to money.
3. It shows that you understand the purpose of profit which, among other things, must be used to advance the kingdom of God.
Giving will not only open windows of opportunity for your business but God will also rebuke the devourer. Devourers are things that eat up your production or keep opportunities from fully materializing. It could be high interest rates, bad weather, market instability or employee theft. Giving protects what you have from being destroyed, as well as enabling God to protect your production and market opportunities from being materialized prematurely or before you are prepared to take advantage of them.
All of this is so because God wants to fund His work. He wants to supply His Church with ample resources. However, in order to do so he needs productive, profitable kingdom businesses that understand the purpose for which God called them into business.
How is your business doing? Are you experiencing the kind of growth you desire? Commit to tithing from your personal income, from your business profits and give generously as the Lord blesses you. Not only will windows of opportunity open for you, but your production and market opportunities will be protected from destruction and premature conception.
Copyright © 2009 Patrice Tsague ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.
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