WORKING 'ON' MY BUSINESS

A Biblical View of Ownership & Debt

■Don't become yoked in partnership/ownership with non-believers

■God owns the business; we're to be wise and fruitful stewards

■Serve others with transparency, excellence, and mutual win/win accountability

■Avoid using the public courts for conflict resolution, especially with believers

■Don't presume on the Lord by making extravagant or needlessly risky plan

■Be cautious regarding debt and avoid borrowing unnecessarily

■Avoid personal guarantees in collateralizing loans for yourself and others

■Honor contracts and agreements, paying others what you owe before yourself

God Owns it All

"The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it..." Ps 24:1

"...for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills." Ps 50:10

"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." Mt 28:18

We are His Stewards

"Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it..." Gn 1:28

"...God took the man and put him in the Garden to work it and take care of it." Gn 2:15

"If a man will not work, he shall not eat." 2Th 3:10

See also Eph 2:10, Jn 9:4, Eccl 3:12-13, Lk 12:48b, and Mt 25:21,23.

He Calls Us to Operate According to His Principles

■Compatible with "one flesh" marital relationship (Mt 19:5, Eph 5:31)

■Don't become "yoked" in partnership/ownership with non-believers (2Co 6:14-15)

■Transparently (Mt 5:37, 1Jn 1:7), serving others (Mt 22:37-39, Lk 22:26), "as unto the Lord" (Col 3:23-24), while we still     have time (Jn 9:4)

■In a manner that respects "You shall not steal" (Ex 20:15) or "covet" (Ex 20:17)

■Without presuming on the Lord regarding our future plans (See Pr 16:3, 16:9, 19:21, 21:5; Ja 4:13-15; Mt 4:7, 1Co 10:9)

■Our preemptive action can deprive us of fully experiencing God's plan (Gn 16:1-2)

■As His steward, conduct sensitivity analysis around a prayerfully and diligently conceived plan, to prepare for upside or downside deviations that may occur

■In God's economy we all have opportunity and accountability (Lk 19:11-27)

■Avoid taking disputes to court, especially with believers (Lk 12:58-59, Mt 18:15-17)

Specific Debt Considerations

■Debt isn't prohibited in Scripture, but it's portrayed negatively and we're urged to be cautious and not borrow needlessly (Ps 37:21; Pr 20:16, 22:7; Hab 2:7; Ro 13:8)

■Avoid "surety" pledges (personal guarantees) in collateralizing loans for yourself and others (Pr 6:1-5, 11:15, 22:26-27)

■Avoid long-term debt (Deut 15:1) to minimize risk of future liquidity problems

■Honor agreements/contracts "even when it hurts"(Ps 15:4b) and always pay what you owe (Ps 37:21, Mt 5:25-26, Ro 13:6-8)

■Creditors are given equal claims on money generated as are the employees, and both come before the Owner/CEO (Ps 37:21, Pr 3:27-28)

If you have questions about these Eight Principles or would like to discuss how the C12 Group can benefit you and your business, contact C12 East Carolina

Taken from March 2011 Board Agenda

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