Greed Kills November 21, 2009
Posted by Dave in Christian Business, Success, The Bible.Tags: Covetousness, Greed, Money
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Have you ever wondered about why there is so much debt in America these days? Have you ever considered the shear magnitude of what debt does and the true horrors is produces in our society? Have you ever thought about who might be behind such a diabolical plan to enslave the vast majority of this countries people to the place where there is little or no room for God in their lives? As Christians, these questions must have answers and we must be settled in those answers if we are going to be living testimonies for the glory of God.
Thoughts about money, debt, and greed have been the focus of my thinking over the past couple years. I have come to some firm conclusions about these thoughts and am going to make them available to you here. There is literally too much to say in one post, so I will divide things up into several articles. I hope you will enjoy them, be challenged by them, and really consider the real battle underway through the methods of greed, covetousness, and debt.
Let me start out by saying that having money and possessions is not a sin. However, coveting money and possessions is! Covetousness and greed are among the biggest problems in America today and their ramifications reach into every one’s view of God. The poor who are covetous blame God for their lack and the wealthy who are covetous see themselves as always deserving more “blessings.” They both have wrong views of God based on their covetous and its evil twin, greed.
As Christian business owners, we certainly want to be successful. We want to honor God in this part of our lives as well as any. We know that God blesses those that work hard and we certainly are willing to work hard. However, we sometimes forget that God does not keep score by how much, but by faithful and that he distributes life’s blessings as it pleases him. Even David, the king whose heart was after God’s own heart, knew times of luxury in the palace and times of living in caves.
The Apostle Paul said, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. ” Philippians 4:12-14
His primary concern was not how much that he had but that he had it from the Lord. He was content knowing he was serving the Lord, and he trusted God for his wealth. Paul continued this teaching when, writing to Timothy, speaking about false teachers said, “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” (1 Timothy 6:3-11)
Now I know that this passage does say that the LOVE of money is the root of all evil, but how many times have you asked someone, “What do you do?” and had them answer in some other way than how they make money? How many business owners, when asked that question, say, “Well, I run my business so that I can be a blessing my church, strengthen my community, and change the world for the glory of God?”
I will leave you with that thought for now … Remember, Greed Kills!
Gone Too Long June 19, 2009
Posted by Dave in Christian Business, Success, The Bible.Tags: Bible, Business Success, Surrender, Trust
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Sorry for having been gone so long. I have spent the last two months working on and launching a new business. I have finally decided that I don’t work well with bosses! So, now I am my own boss (actually I am now, finally, totally surrendered to God in my business ventures)!
I kept coming across this crazy passage in Romans 12 that taught, right in the middle of a passage on living the Christian life, that we should be “not slothful in business.” As I considered this passage I was guilty and had to confess it and get things right with the Lord. In that time, he reminded me of my calling, both in ministry and business, and set my path clearly before me.
So, here I am again. At the beginning of what is proving to be an incredible journey. I want to chronicle this journey for you and share with you what I learn from it all. I have just begun and so there isn’t much to say today, however as God opens my eyes to new things I will get them out to you right away.
Keep watching (and praying, as I will do for you) and letting God control all the venues of your life. The greatest passage of scripture to come from this experience is Proverbs 3:5-10 which says, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil, It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. Honor the Lord with thy substance and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.”
Business, like all of the believer’s life, is all up to God and when it finally hits us that this is so, we will do greater things than we could otherwise have ever done. To God be the glory!
The Jesus Model – Part 4 January 15, 2009
Posted by Dave in Christian Business, Success, Team Building, The Bible.Tags: Bible, Christian Business Builder, MLM, Network Marketing, Prayer, Team Building
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The Jesus Model – Part 4
In this post we are going to look at the fourth principle that we see in the life and ministry of Jesus. This fourth principle is that: Jesus lived in an environment of prayer.
In Matthew 14:22-25 Jesus had spent a day laboring in a dessert place. He had taught and then fed a large crowd of people and when he sent them away, he headed into the mountain alone for a time of prayer with his Father. It was after this time alone with God the Father that he taught the disciples the lesson of faith by walking to them on the water.
Jesus prayed before he named the twelve, he prayed to the Father for blessings on his disciples and those who would get saved throughout the ages to come, and he prayed for God’s will to be done in the garden before he went to the cross.
How about us? Do we bath our businesses in prayer? Do we seek God’s guidance in who we bring on to our teams? Do we pray about the needs and direction of our businesses? Is prayer a principle element of our business growth?
I know for me it has not always been so. I got into network marketing without much prayer and worked to grow my business through the counsel of my upline leaders. (Again without much time with the Lord.) When I was the most successful I was praying much more and when I struggled I was “doing everything I was told to do” by my upline.
This principle ought to cause us all to think a bit, and maybe even to reevaluate our current business practices. Without clear guidence from the Lord we are just really throwing darts in the dark.
Following the principles of The Jesus Model will always place us in the best place possible to give God the greatest glory in our bodies and our spirits, which are his!
Just my thoughts ….
The Jesus Model – Part 3 January 14, 2009
Posted by Dave in Uncategorized.add a comment
This is the third post in a five part series entitled The Jesus Model. In this post we are going to look at the third principle in The Jesus Model:
Jesus Penetrated the Culture of His Day
In Matthew 9:10-13 Jesus is questioned about the time he was spending eating with the Publicans and Sinners. Jesus declares to his detractors that those who are whole don’t need a physician, but those who are sick do! While I understand and agree that Jesus is speaking primarily about the salvation of those he dined with, I also think that a principle is evident here as well.
I recently heard a preacher on the radio say that the most amazing thing was not that Jesus ate with sinners, but that sinners wanted to eat with Jesus. Throughout his life Jesus made himself available to everyone who wanted to spend time with him. He never condoned the sinners sin, but he always treated them with respect. His very presence caused sinners to look up and to pay attention. While not all of those he ate with accepted him as their Saviour, it is apparent that his life and words effected them all!
As Christian networkers the question is can we penentrate the “ultra-hype rich” network marketing industry and have a positive effect on it without being tainted by it? Can we be “in it but not of it?” I for one believe we can!
If we are going to follow this principle lived out in the life and ministry of Jesus we are going to have to do three things:
1. We are going to have to be sure why we are in this industry. If you go back to the beginnings of the network marketing industry, it was designed to allow compassionate people the opportunity to reach out and help others build successful businesses from the comfort of their own homes. The key ingredient to this kind of compassion should be our love for God and the desire to express that love to those he puts us in contact with. Jesus did not find the sin that permeated the life of those he dined with pleasant, but he loved them just the same. His love for the sinners allowed him to fulfill God’s will among them.
2. We are going to have to avoid the temptation to isolate ourselves. By eating with these sinner Jesus taught us that while he did not agree with the life-style of the sinner, he still understood that they needed what he had to offer. He maintained his personal testimony and integrity while making sure the sinners understood his love for them. Jesus insulated himself from the sin around him while not isolating himself from the sinner.
3. We are going to have to endure the rebuke that may come our way. Jesus was rebuked by the religious crowd of his day. He quickly and without a doubt let them know that he was here for anyone who recognized their need and sought him. Many Christians in this industry want to work only with other believers (I like working with like-minded believers as well). However, Jesus was willing to go where the doors were opened to him and deal with those he found with both love and respect. In doing so, lost people were saved and those who rejected were made to be “without excuse.”
I would love for my organization to be filled with Christian people who were so committed in their service t the Lord Jesus that they would work with everyone God brought their way. That they would show the same commitment to thoe who don’t know Christ as they do to those who do. With this kind of organization we would see lost people come to Christ and God glorified in all that we do.
Just a thought ….
The Jesus Model – Part 2 January 1, 2009
Posted by Dave in Christian Business Success, The Bible.Tags: Business, Christian Business Builder, Leadership, MLM, Network Marketing, Success
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In this post we are going to be looking at the second principle in The Jesus Model.
The second principle is:
Jesus presented himself in service to God the Father.
What this means to our business practices is that we need to build our businesses as a part of our service to God the Father.
When Jesus prayed to God the Father in the garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-45) he said, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”
In that statement Jesus presented himself in the ultimate way in service to God the Father. Remember that God was going to pour out his wrath on Christ while he hung on the cross. He was also going to forsake God the Son while he became sin for us who knew no sin.
Knowing all of what lay before him, Jesus still presented himself for service.
God had not asked the same level of service from anyone before nor has he since. That being so, he still wants us to be living sacrifices for him in this world (Romans 12:1-2).
This level of service is not just about us being “spiritual.” It is about our overall testimony in life. This includes our business model and philosophy.
Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)
Again to the Corinthians Paul says, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 6:20)
Our business is a part of our relationship with the Lord. Since it is, we need to yield it to him and follow after him as he leads. Just like Jesus was willing to follow God’s lead even if it meant he would suffer greatly for his service, we should be willing to “look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” (Hebrews 12)
When the great God of the universe is in full charge of all our lives (our business included) and we serve him with his glory in mind, he will provide us with the wisdom and understanding necessary to be successful.
Does your business function as a method of your service to the Lord?
Just a thought ….
Dave
The Jesus Model – Part 1 December 29, 2008
Posted by Dave in Christian Business Success, Team Building, The Bible.Tags: Business Success, Christian Business Builder, Leadership, MLM, Network Marketing, Team Building
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Jesus Model – Part One
Building a Business with Purpose
Hebrews 12:1-2
While considering the coming of the new year, I was struck by the need to evaluate again the business that I believe that God has burdened me to start. I began this evaluation by looking at the different business models that I could find both on and offline.
However, it seemed that the more I looked at what was out there and what other people were doing, I was drawn to the conclusion that I was not right for any of the models I had discovered. So, I began to prayerfully consider what God wanted me to do. After all, if he had really called me to build a successful business then he would surely have a model in mind for my doing it.
I was looking through some sermon outlines that I had prepared over the years and came across one entitled, “The Jesus Model.” When I read through the outline, it was as God himself was shouting from the portal of heaven, “This is how you should build your business!”
As I read through the outline again and studied the key texts, He was right (like that’s any big suprise!) This meant that I would have to start over (remember my “Hard Rest” post) and that I would have to build a whole new team. However, I now have a plan in mind and a direction to travel. What a wonderful feeling.
In these articles I would like to share the basics of that plan with you. Not so that you would necessarily join me (I am leaving the “who” of my team up to God!) Rather, I hope that, as you plan your 2009, the basics of this plan spark as much hope, excitement, and confidence in you as it has in me. May God bless us all as we work to honor him in this very important aspect of our lives and service to Him.
The first aspect of the Jesus Model is seen in the fact that Jesus lived every day of his life in a purposeful way. What I mean by this is that Jesus saw each day of his life as an expression of his relationship with God the Father.
In John 4:31 – 38 Jesus teaches his disciples a great lesson:
“In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours. “
Notice the phrase: “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.” First of all we need to understand the old english word meat. It literally means that which sustains life.
Jesus was telling his disciples (who were trying to get him to eat) that his life was not sustained by what he had to eat but rather by two more important things: 1. To do the will of he who had sent him, and 2. To finish his God’s (the one who sent him) work.
The disciples didn’t understand what Jesus was talking about, because their minds were almost always on temporal things. They nearly always saw things through the eyes of their flesh rather than from an eternal view.
Christian network marketers can be the same way. We listen to the conference calls and the annual convention speaches and get all fired up about what a successful business can do for us. We often times forget to consider why God has us in the business in the first place. What does God want to accomplish by our being in network marketing to begin with?
When we don’t approach our business as an expression of our relationship with God the Father, we are opening ourselves up (like the disciples did here) to only seeing things from a temporal view.
God would have us understand three things if our businesses are really going to have an eternal perspective and are going to be built with purpose:
1. Everything we do in life should be about God the Father. This relationship with the Father is what sustained Jesus’ life and ministry.
2. Every attempt we make to build and grow our business should also have an eternal purpose. This is why it is important who we sponsor and why we sponsor them.
3. Every moment we spend in our business will testify of our relationship with God the Father. People who work with us will either see a wonderful relationship between us and the Father or they will see that what we may speak and what we do indicate a disconnect between us and God the Father.
So … how are you going to build this year? Who are you going to build with? How are you going to conduct yourself in the world of your business? With purpose? As a witness of your relationship with God the Father (through Jesus Christ)? Will Eternity matter as you build this year?
Just a thought …. we’ll talk again soon!
Dave
Make Money by Building People December 26, 2008
Posted by Dave in Christian Business Success, Sponsoring, Success, Team Building.Tags: Bible, Christian Business Builder, Christian Business Success, MLM, Network Marketing, Team Building
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As we look forward to the coming of a new year, what are you planning for your business?
I have been watching (and commenting) on a forum discussion. The discussion is about who should be recruited and how many at one time.
Unfortunately the majority of the responses are about Network Marketing being a numbers game and that we should recruit as many as possible (as long as they have a pulse) and then let the leaders just rise to the top.
There have been many though that have responded by saying that care should be taken in recruiting the right people at the right time. (My opinion by the way.)
I think that God’s word makes our treatment of others more important than our ability to make money. We are commanded to love those that God loves. When recruiting people we ought to love our prospective team members with the love of God.
Contrary to the popular notion that “anyone can build this business,” the truth is that only 10-12% will make it 10 years and only 25% will be around in 5 years. What that means is that many will be recruited with virtually no chance to be successful.
Another misrepresentation that is often perpetrated on the potential recruit is that there are no real skills or talents that you need to be successful in this industry. So, we bring people in who think that just because they got in that they are supposed to be making money. The truth is that, like any business owner knows, you have to either have or develop a set of unique skills that are necessary for business success.
I think that there are five basics that you have to know in order to be successful in Network Marketing:
1. You need to understand the basics of money.
2. You need to understand the principles of leadership.
3. You need to understand the basics of marketing.
4. You need to understand what it means to be an entrepreneur.
5. You need to continue to improve in the area of personal growth.
If you do not sense that a prospective team member can learn and grow in these areas, you should not recruit them.
In an upcoming video I am going to deal with the difference between building a team and recruiting a group. In this video I will be talking about the fact that a team mentality results in success for all whereas a group mentality results in success for the leaders.
I believe that as we look to the new year and the success we are praying for, that we remember that we and our teams will be best served if we make money by building people rather than by “playing the numbers game!”
Just my thought ….
When People Don’t Believe December 20, 2008
Posted by Dave in Christian Business, Christian Business Success, Success, Team Building, The Bible.Tags: Business Success, Christian Business Builder, MLM, Network Marketing, Team Building
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One of the most difficult things that can plague a Network Marketer is when people you know and love don’t believe in your vision of business success. As a matter of fact, I personally believe that this lack of belief is the number one killer of success in our industry.
When you run into this in your own business, what do you do?
First of all, remember that they people in Jesus’ own hometown didn’t believe in him either. In Matthew 13, Jesus found himself being questioned by those in his own country.
And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief. (Matthew 13:54-58)
If Jesus could be doubted with all that he had to offer, then I should expect that there will be people who know me and love me who will do the same thing!
Next, we need to understand that Jesus didn’t stay and try to prove his point to those who did not believe. Instead he continued to present his message to those who would hear. By the way, he didn’t speak badly (or think badly) about the unbelievers, he just left them to their own choices.
Finally you need to remember who you are here to please. When God created you, he created you to be a testimony of his love, his grace, and his power. Since you have been burdened (by the Holy Spirit I hope) to show God’s love, grace, and power through your business, you need to make that your priority.
If in doing what God has called you to, people don’t believe, your obligation to God’s will should take precedence. God’s word says that if you will humble ourselves before the mighty hand of God that he would exalt you IN DUE TIME!
Then when you have been given your platform by God, you need to look for ways to bless those who didn’t believe. If you can find ways to genuinely bless your current non-believers, they will come back to you. You can then be a testimony to them as well.
Don’t let those who don’t believe steal God’s will from your life!
Just my thoughts ….
Should Christians Market “Wealth”? December 15, 2008
Posted by Dave in Christian Business Success, Sponsoring, Success, Team Building.Tags: Business, Christian Business Success, MLM, Network Marketing, Sponsoring, Team Building
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What should Christians do about the “wealth” marketing that so often surrounds the Network Marketing industry? Unfortuantely, from where I am sitting, we not only buy into this philosophy, but we sell it to others.
Our ads talk about people making “more money in a moth than we used to make in a year.” Our lead capture sites have pictures of houses bigger than all but the most successful networkers own and cars that cost more than most of our houses.
We talk about “living on the beaches” when most of us plan our vacations at relatives houses because that’s all we can afford.
The real truth of the matter is that the average “successful” network marketer makes 4 figures a month not 5 figures. (And what’s wrong with a strong 4 figure income anyway?!)
We tell people that they can get rich “with no specialized skills” when we know that there is a large learning curve for most people.
Now, we do this because it is what we have been taught to do. The industry has become this way because we have rationalized the truth. We have looked at what is possible and have sold the “possibilities” while overlooking the “what is.”
We are told that $1,000/month would change the lives of most people dramatically and then we sell $10,000/month because that kind of money is possible AND it sounds better in our sales pitch.
Within an industry that is corrupted by its own greed and covetousness, what’s a Christian to do?
If you ever saw the recent animated version of Aladdin, you need to follow the Genie’s advice to Aladdin as he wondered about how to win the Sultan’s daughter. The Genie (Robin Williams) says to Aladdin,
“TELL HER THE TRUTH!”
This is exactly the advice we need to take as we market our business opportunity. The truth will sponsor more people who will stay and build than the sizzle of beaches, houses, and cars.
More people will respond to a 4 figure monthly income based of building a small but consisted retail customer base and developing a commited team of business builders than will commit to sponsoring 5-10 per month and getting caught up in the conference calls and webinars and purchasing leads and ad co-ops and so on and so on!
Let me give you five truths that I believe every Christian networker should tells potential team members:
1. Building a business takes time, energy, and money. Nothing in life that is good and lasting just happens. It takes work to be successful.
2. Building a business requires learning new things. You have to acquire skills that are unique to building a network marketing business. Having a “dream” is not enough if you don’t know how to do what it takes to accomplish your dream.
3. Builidng a business requires consistent action. Even if you new team member only has a couple hours a week to dedicate to building their business, they are going to have to be consistent with those hours. I know from experience that hit and miss doesn’t work.
4. Building a business in network marketing requires a heart for your team. We need to teach people that being successful in this business model doesn’t happen if we don’t focus on the success of your team.
5. Builiding a business requires that we manage our expectations and those of our team. Selling the “sizzle” may get people to jump in, but when they don’t get the “sizzle” they will jump out just as quickly.
Now, let me conclude this thought by saying that many people in this industry do acheive high levels of wealth. And that is great! But, we need to start people with all the facts and then let their dreams determine the level of success they choose to acheive.
Remember …. TELL THEM THE TRUTH!
It is the only way we can demonstrate the realistic potential of this industry and to do it in a way that our testimony is not damaged.
Just my thought ……
