Welcome back to the God is Not Boxable Podcast and Blog. My name is Shaniece M. Wise, and I am your Business Expansion Coach and Strategist, and host of God is Not Boxable. This week's episode is about prosperity in business, and we will examine lessons from King Solomon.
The Bible offers profound insights into prosperity and business, particularly through the story of King Solomon. Solomon's life and reign powerfully illustrate how divine wisdom and understanding can lead to unparalleled prosperity and success, deeply relevant to modern business practices.
The Bible doesn't shy away from discussing prosperity, but it places a strong emphasis on the source and purpose of this prosperity. It suggests that prosperity, when aligned with God's purposes, can be a force for good, enabling individuals to fulfill their God-given missions and to bless others.
So, let's dive into the story of King Solomon asking for wisdom. Go to 1 Kings in the Bible, chapter 3 in the New International Version.
1 Kings 3:1-15 NIV
(1) Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt and married his daughter. He brought her to the City of David until he finished building his palace and the temple of the Lord, and the wall around Jerusalem.
(2) The people, however, were still sacrificing at the high places, because a temple had not yet been built for the Name of the Lord.
(3) Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the instructions given him by his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.
(4) The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.
(5) At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”
(6) Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.
(7) “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties.
(8) Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number.
(9) So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
(10) The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this.
(11) So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice,
(12) I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.
(13) Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings.
(14) And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.”
(15) Then Solomon awoke - and he realized it had been a dream.
When God appeared to Solomon in a dream and offered to give him anything he asked for, Solomon chose wisdom and understanding to govern God's people over wealth, longevity, or the life of his enemies. This request pleased God, who granted Solomon unmatched wisdom, wealth, and honor beyond any of his peers.
God granted Solomon prosperity because his heart desired to effectively steward the people of Israel and build God's temple. Solomon's priorities were aligned with God's purposes, demonstrating a profound understanding of his role and responsibilities. It wasn't wealth for wealth's sake that Solomon sought but the wisdom to lead well, which, in turn, led to material prosperity.
Solomon's story is highly relevant to entrepreneurs and business owners for several reasons:
Priority of Wisdom: In business, as in Solomon's reign, wisdom is foundational. It's about making discerning choices, understanding the broader impact of our decisions, and navigating challenges with insight. Entrepreneurs can learn from Solomon the importance of valuing wisdom and understanding above mere profit, recognizing that these are the keys to true success and prosperity. When you have wisdom, you go to God, lay before his feet, and understand what he wants for you. You wake up in your Word, God; show me how you want me to lead my team today. Lord, show me how you want me to run my business today. Show me how you want me to help my clients today effectively. When you pray, pray for God's wisdom; it's unmatched.
Purpose-Driven Prosperity: Solomon's wealth wasn't his ultimate goal; it was a byproduct of his desire to serve God and his people well. For business owners, this underscores the importance of aligning business goals with a higher purpose. Prosperity with a purpose can lead to greater fulfillment and a lasting legacy.
Stewardship of Resources: The prosperity granted to Solomon came with the responsibility to build the temple and govern the nation wisely. Similarly, entrepreneurs are stewards of their resources, called to invest in their communities, nurture their employees, and operate their businesses ethically and responsibly. So, with the resources you get as the CEO, you must invest wisely, take care of your employees and customers, and run your business effectively and properly. That's why I teach from the book Profit First by Mike Michalowicz. I believe that is one of the best ways to set up your business financially because it shows you how to have different pockets. Like other bank accounts, where you have a bank account for your expenses, you have a bank account for your income, taxes, and profit sharing, like your owners pay all these different accounts, and it shows you how to set up your business. Finances wisely. Being a good steward of what the Lord gives you. If you want God to bless you with a lot, my friends, you have to be a good steward over the little, and as you are a good steward over the little, God will increase. He will increase, he will increase, but he wants to see how much of a good steward you are over the little that he gives you. Do you tithe? Do you sow seeds? Do you bless others? Being a good steward over little can, oh my gosh, take you to another level.
King Solomon's story teaches us that true prosperity in business comes from prioritizing wisdom and aligning our entrepreneurial endeavors with God's purposes. By seeking wisdom and understanding in our decisions, we can navigate the complexities of business with integrity and insight. Furthermore, by viewing our prosperity as a tool for serving others and glorifying God, we can ensure that our business practices contribute to a legacy of positive impact and enduring success.
His life reminds business owners that the path to prosperity begins with a heart attuned to God's wisdom and purpose. This heart transforms our businesses into platforms for meaningful success and service.
Whoa, isn't that great? Isn't that amazing? Isn't it great to know that when you ask God for the right things, He will give you an overflow of so many more things? And so this week, I challenge you to write down what you're seeking from God.
What do you need help with as a business owner? Do you need better systems and strategies? Do you need better organization or time management? What do you want from God? Ask him for it. Back it up with Scripture. Go back and read 1 Kings Chapter 3, read it, and understand it. Study King Solomon's life and allow it to bless you in a mighty, mighty way.
And so again today's title, this week's title is Prosperity and Business - Lessons from King Solomon. The Bible says that God is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all that you could ask or think, Ephesians 3:20.
What are you praying for? What do you desire? Do you want your clients to get what they need? Do you want them to walk away from you fully blessed by what you help them with?
The Bible says in Luke 6:36 KJV, okay, “Give, and it shall be given unto you. good measure pressed down and shaken together and running over, shall men give into your bosom for what the same measure that you meet, it shall be measured”.
Let me say Luke 6:36 to you in the New International Version, which is the NIV, “Give and it will be given to you a good measure price that pressed down, shaken together and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you”. So, King Solomon asked for wisdom and discernment.
That's the measure he used, but what was given to him was so much more. Thank you for joining me on this episode of God is Not Boxable Podcast and Blog - Prosperity and Business Lessons from King Solomon and for subscribing to this podcast and blog.
I want this Podcast and Blog to help bless you and take you to another level spiritually in in business.
If you want to learn more about me, visit my website. I would love to connect with you. As a Business Expansion Coach and Strategist, I teach business owners to grow their visibility, increase profitability, and improve their systems and strategies. My focus is teaching business owners how to simplify their business while multiplying their revenue.
I can't wait to connect with you on next week's episode. Be blessed. And Remember, God loves you, and so do I.
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