They shall become one flesh

Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh (Genesis 1:24).
If you are married and were to die today, would your mate be able to continue the business? Would they know enough about your business affairs to provide leadership for the next steps?

Unfortunately, too many kingdom business stewards operate their businesses apart from their mates. They see the business as theirs alone and the only contribution that the business makes to their marriage is the financial provision it brings to the family. Business can be a great tool that brings couples together and unity in the marriage. It can also be the source of great stress to a marriage and a wedge that drives couples apart. All married kingdom business stewards operate a family business whether their mate is actively involved or not.

Men have historically committed grievous errors in not involving their mates in their business affairs, and many women entrepreneurs are modeling those same bad behaviors today. These errors cannot be blamed on the world. Rather, the responsibility rests with the church in the way it has traditionally taught about headship and dominion. The dominion mandate in Genesis was not given to males alone but given to both the male and the female. "Then God said, 'Let Us make man in our image, according to our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the seas, over the birds of the air, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.' So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." Gen 1:26-27

When the bible refers to the original man that was made in the image and likeness of God it is not referring to the gender male but rather to the species of man. The species man combines both the male and the female. This is the reason that when God wanted to provide man with a companion, He did not create another being - but rather He did surgery on the man to separate the female gender from the male gender. Notice that after the surgery, Adam rejoiced and affirmed his new companion and declared that together they shall become one flesh. This enabled them to operate in the original order, with two separate bodies but one in soul, mind and spirit. The question is then raised about headship - is the male still not the head? Headship has nothing to do with oneness. Headship has to do with order. Just because the male is the head does not mean he cannot operate as one with the female. As a matter of fact, headship within a marriage cannot be effective without oneness in the marriage. If there is headship without oneness then the marriage will be dysfunctional. Headship without oneness leads to stress and can also lead to eventual divorce.

How do you know if you are not operating as one flesh with your mate in business?

1. It is your business and not yours and your spouse's
2. You do not involve them in the major decisions of the business

3. You never have family business meetings

4. You do not see them as an asset in the business

5. You do not embrace their ideas

6. You intentionally keep them out of the loop

7. If you were to die they would not know how to continue or exit the business

How do you walk in oneness?

1. Declare the business as a family business

2. Establish a family advisory board or board of directors with regular meetings (monthly, quarterly, or biannually)

3. Make sure your mate understands the vision and general goals of the business and how it connects to God's plan for your family

4. Do not make any major decisions without involving your mate and make sure you both are in agreement.

5. Stop referring to it as your business but instead, as our business

6. Pray together about the business

7. Seek a business coach to guide you along if necessary

Marriage is one of the greatest institutions that God created; it can be a place of great fulfillment and reward. A dysfunctional marriage however can be worse than a prison. It is better not to marry than to marry and not be committed to enjoying the best that marriage has to offer. Your business can either be a tool that God uses to enhance fulfillment in your marriage or a weapon used by the enemy to further bring division. You must be committed not to give place to the enemy and seek God's wisdom and guidance as to how to walk in oneness with your mate in business. The rewards will not just be fulfillment in the marriage but can also lead to business growth and success.


Copyright © 2010 Patrice Tsague ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.