Would Jesus do business with you?

“The virtue of a man ought to be measured, not by his extra-ordinary exertions, but by his everyday conduct.”  Blaise Pascal 

  Recently, I had a friend ask me and several other friends for input on a dilemma she was facing. My friend owns her own business (a music studio) and deals with both regenerate and unregenerate people in her business. But this is her dilemma…while the majority of her business is with unbelievers, the majority of her issues are with those who claim to be believers. The problems range from “not paying on time, wanting exceptions to the policies and being unreliable overall.” She said, “The facts are this: for me as a business owner the perceived ‘good’ parents are harder to work with and less respectful to me.”

  Unfortunately, her experience didn’t surprise any of us who responded. All of us are believers, yet many of us have had similar experiences…or worse with Christians. Why? Why would business or work experiences with Christians be worse than working with those who don’t know Jesus?

  First, lost people realize that the money is the glue of the relationship. If you don’t pay them, they bail. If you don’t do the work, they fire you. It’s not to say lost people are more ethical. Yet, when it comes to understanding what holds a relationship together, they’re frequently wiser than “children of light” (Luke 16:8).

  Second, perhaps we notice it more with believers because we expect more…and we should. Some four decades later I still remember being in a Menard’s as a Bible college student writing a check. This was back in the Dark Ages, when before they’d accept your check, they checked the “list” of bad check writers. I happened to glance at the list and was shocked to see the name of a pastor I knew from an area church. There were many other names on the list but his was the only one I noticed. Why was I shocked? I expected more.

  Third, they don’t understand God has called us to the Christian “life,” not just a Christian hour or two on Sundays. Scripture commands us to be wholistic and not compartmentalize, divorcing sacred from secular. Jesus is to be in control of my life Monday through Friday, as much as on Sunday.

  Over and over again Scripture reminds us that regenerate employees don’t work for their employer but for the Lord Jesus. Regenerate bosses have a boss they will ultimately give account to, Jesus Christ. Though it uses the slave/master terminology of the 1^st century, the principles found in Ephesians 6:5-9 (and many other places in Scripture), clearly apply to contemporary work circumstances.

  Recently, a missionary colleague was forced to leave the field. It came out he’d been involved in sinful behavior which hurt his testimony and ministry. None of us would question the decision by his board. What we often fail to realize is that as believers, you and I too are missionaries. We’re ambassadors for Christ, even in how we make our money or use it.

  So how you handle your finances, how you pay your bills, your work ethic, how you treat fellow employees, how you treat your boss, how you treat your employees either helps or hinders the Gospel. A lost world is watching. The “preaching” they hear from your life speaks louder than what’s heard from the pulpit on Sundays.  

  For many, this seems so obvious…pay your bills. If you have the funds available, pay it right away, particularly when you owe money to a small business. You’d be shocked how much your initiative will mean to them. They’re not some large corporation like WE Energies with deep pockets.

  If you somehow get behind financially, communicate quickly with your creditors. Sometimes emergencies or the unexpected happens. Everyone knows that. But never make those who you owe money to have to seek you out. Initiate the conversation. Let them know what’s happening and when they can expect to be paid.

  A friend of mine was laid off and going to miss a house payment. He called his bank up, explained the situation and when he’d have the money. They were so appreciative that he was upfront and took the initiative. It never became a problem because he was proactive. While it doesn’t always work out that way, if you’re up front, it frequently does.

  What about business dealings with other Christians? If you follow this advice, it can potentially save you lots of heartache and even prevent a broken relationship. If you enter into a business arrangement with another believer, have everything in writing. A poor memory ruins far too many friendships. It doesn’t have to be formal. It can be as simple as sending an email, outlining your understanding of what the two of you have agreed on.

  And problem-solve, problem-solve, problem-solve. If there is a problem, first pray about the situation. Too many of us talk with all of our other friends and share how we perceive we’ve been mistreated. Instead, graciously appeal to the other person. Perhaps it’s an oversight or even just a poor memory. Too many of us assume the worst, only to find we have a lot of egg on our face later. This would fit the pattern of problem-solving outlined by Jesus for us in Matthew 18:15-20.

  If the two of you can’t resolve it, ask a godly friend to mediate between you. Choose someone who’s mature spiritually and can be objective, not someone who will be your ally. The goal is to problem-solve, not to be right. Don’t allow your ego to cause you to hurt the Body of Christ or jeopardize a relationship with a brother or sister in Christ.

  Our money says, “In God we trust.” Yet, when it comes to money for too many Christians, it’s only our money that says it but not our lives. What does the way you handle money, the way you pay your bills, the way you treat your employer or employers, the way you treat your customers or even the way you tip at a restaurant say about your Christianity? 

  "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). 

Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address.