You understand how you can look at a scripture forever right? And then suddenly the light comes on when you receive insight.
All my life I've read the King James Version of Ec. 11:1 "Cast thy bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days" So what does that really mean? Does it even make sense? and to what purpose.
I just religiously flowed with what I had always heard and been taught. And that is, 'if you give, if you're charitable, and especially if you give things to the Kingdom of God, then it will all come back to you with interest.
Of course too, if you feed the nations it brings good will and is the “international equalizer and neutralizer.
A pretty good concept unless you're looking at it through the eyes of a business person and then you have to scratch your head and try to discover the deeper truth.
Not even all that long ago, I was praying with my Bible in front of me. This time it just happened to be the New Living Translation. I randomly opened it and an explosion went off right out of the pages into my heart and spirit. Now everything opened up to perfect clarity.
Ec 11:1 “Send your grain across the seas, and in time profits will flow back to you." NLT
I want to challenge you businessman and business woman to consider doing international business! Why? Because God needs your voice and influence in the international markets and trade. He needs you doing business in the earth as Heaven does business in the earth. Now that is an augmented subject I will talk with you about later. Alright?
We all understand sending your seed across the Ocean and around the world so you may do good with your money by helping the needy and reaching souls with the Gospel of Christ. But there is more.
As a business owner or leader you can get in doors that no one else can. Commerce will open the door to you and while you're there you can transact some business for our Heavenly Father as well. Your business is your 'letter of introduction'. You are called to business, you're anointed and gifted in business. You are divinely connected to people of similar interest so you can team up and be more effective than you ever imagined.
I'm going to be even more bold now! God wants you in international business and you need to be looking a way to transition your companies to a global scale if at all possible. Because you're going to sit at the tables of elite business people around the world and you're going to be a change agent in their lives.
You will have opportunities to build relationships beyond the signing of the contract. And your relationship, especially as a Christian business leader, should go beyond the 'deal'! You will be given a door into lives on a personal level when you develop relationship. Now you can talk with them about their struggles on a personal level: their finances, their kids, their dreams and hopes. And you can lead them into partnering with God even as you partner with God and give Him first place in your lives.
OK, now for the proof that is in the pudding! Solomon certainly understood international commerce and profited astronomically from it. He knew how to leverage goods and services to import all he needed for his nation. He knew how to leverage his influence to create win, win scenarios with everyone he did business with.
This is what God wants from us. It isn't about greed, manipulation, but being a living example of the heavenly template that God has designed for business.
So let's take a look at some of Solomon's success and business prowess.
2 Chronicles 9:13 "Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and threescore and six talents of gold;"
"BESIDES what the traveling merchants and traders brought..." V.4 SF Just keep on reading this chapter!
- He made 300 hundred shield of beaten gold.
- He crafted himself a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with gold.
Verse 21 "For the king's ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram: every three years once came the ships of Tarshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.
Verse 22 "and King Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches AND WISDOM.
There is your secret. Wisdom! Asking the counsel of God how to run your business. Solomon understood something about the value of not only geographical, local trade but international.
As a business leader, you're called to influence society. Why not on a world wide scale?