God's Provision For The Christian Business

By Ola Aroyehun

You might be one of the many Christians who need to find finance for your business proposition. While some people are able to pray and believe God till the finances come through, others are comfortable asking for a loan or asking their friends and families for assistance. It depends on your level of faith.

However, when we are in need of financial provision, our starting point should be to ask the Lord. When we ask, He has promised to answer and provide but we need to be prepared for Him to do it in any number of ways. He delights to bless and provide for his people. We need to ask for His guidance before we move. Having asked, we must expect Him to provide.

We must realise that the Christian who is seeking financial provision from Him should also be walking according to His ways. Below are some of the ways that God uses to provide for us.

Ask those in authority
God could direct us to those who are in authority with the means to be a financial blessing. When we are led this way, we can be assured of God’s favour. This is what happened to Nehemiah. The King asked him what he needed when he wanted to go and repair the wall of Jerusalem. We read “And the king granted them to me according to the good hand of my God upon me” (Nehemiah. 1:8). When we are being led to receive this way, it is important that we make a detailed assessment of all that we need and make the request accordingly.

From covenant people
It is not unusual for people to contribute financially to the vision that God has given you. When God told Moses to build a tabernacle, each person gave a freewill offering towards the financing of the project. The idea of brethren helping each other is common in the New Testament where interdependence is strongly encouraged. “Therefore, as we have the opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those of the household of faith” (Gal. 6:10). Make sure that you are also looking for the opportunity to be a blessing to your brothers and sisters.

Through a financial deliverer
God could send people to assist you financially, especially when things are not going well with your business. God sent a prophet to the widow whose husband had died and left her in debt. Boaz also acted as a financial deliverer to Ruth and Naomi.

Financial deliverers do not demand anything in return but have been sent to bring glory to the name of the Lord through their obedience. May God cause us to recognise the financial deliverer that He has sent into our lives.

Through generational blessing
Sometimes God will provide through wealth that has been passed down through our forefathers. We need to recognise the importance of the blessing that has been passed down to us, so that we are able to use the resources to fulfil His purposes and extend His kingdom. Everything that God places in our hands has a purpose. David was able to provide the resources for the building of the temple and Solomon had the wisdom to build it.
God wants to multiply and increase what is already in our hands for His glory.

Through our faithfulness
One of the keys to increase is the ability to be faithful in another man’s business. As we serve others faithfully, God will increase us and we will be able to fulfil the plan that He has for us. This principle is clearly demonstrated in the parable of the unjust steward. After Jesus narrates the parable, He instructs them by saying “And if you have not been faithful in another man’s business, who will give you what is your own”. Examine your faithfulness in other people’s businesses and where necessary repent so that God can provide for you.

Through circumstances
God can provide through circumstances, especially the ones that seem adverse. When Joseph was sold into slavery, it hardly seemed the avenue through which God could provide for him. Even in the midst of a famine he prospered a hundredfold. This is God in action. His ways are clearly above our ways. You need to be open to the Lord’s provision even when the situation appears adverse.

Through unusual exploits God can cause you to be at the right place at the right time and do unusual exploits that will bring about a financial reward. This happened to David when he fought Goliath. In 1 Samuel 17:26, David asked what would be done for the man who kills Goliath. The reply: “The king will enrich him with great riches, give him his daughter, and give his father’s house exemption from taxes in Israel”. Be prepared for God to provide for you and your family.

Through gifting
God endowed Solomon with wisdom. He exercised that gift and his fame spread far and wide. When the Queen of Sheba heard about it, she came to Israel to find out for herself.
However, she did not come empty handed. She brought gifts for Solomon that obviously added to his wealth. Expect your gift to make provision for you.

Through plundering the enemy Sometimes, we need to command the enemy to give up what belongs to us as children of God. God might instruct us to plunder the enemy as He instructed the children of Israel when they left Egypt. In fact, they were able to give towards the building of the tabernacle out of the abundance that God had provided for them. As we desire to help build the kingdom through the financial success of our businesses, the enemy will try to stop us, for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood (Eph. 6:12). We need to enter the enemy’s camp and take back all that belongs to us through spiritual warfare. We are destined to win and succeed.

God has promised to provide when we ask Him. Expect Him to do so and have a wonderful adventure as He does it.

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Ola Aroyehun is the editor of The Christian Business Magazine, a magazine dedicated to applying biblical principles to business.