WHO IS A KINGDOM BUILDER?
A Kingdom Builder is any business owner, entrepreneur or enterprise leader who is intentionally pursuing a personal relationship with God by following the principles, covenants and laws revealed in the Bible.
From their lips you might hear them sing these verses from Psalm 119:
I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts, I will speak of your statutes before kings, and will not be put to shame, for I delight in your commands Because I love them.
HOW TO USE THE KINGDOM BUILDER BOX
The Kingdom Builder Box is a simple way to experience the Bible.
Here are some ways I use my cards:
1. Sit with each Scripture verse, one card at a time. Meditate on it throughout the day, all week or for just 5 minutes.
2. Study each verse in the context of the chapter to which it belongs, then, read under the text with a trusted commentary.
3. Write notes on your card with facts associated to the verse. Dates, places and historical facts deepen our understanding of God’s word.
4. Flip through all the cards in The Box in a single sitting. Then try to associate each verse with its respective book.
5. Make your own verse cards with your own style and flavor. I have verse cards in my box that are several years old and some that just arrived. Every one of them is special. No more instructions needed. Enjoy!
KINGDOM BUILDER BOX™
Copyright 2017 by Samuel E. Frowine, III.
A publication by Sam Frowine at www.samfrowine.com.
Scripture quotations are taken from the New International Version of the Bible, except otherwise noted.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means---electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise---without written permission of Sam Frowine.
Kingdom Builder Box logo is a trademark of Sam Frowine.
Copyright 2017 by The Institute for Enterprise Builders, Davidson NC.
All rights reserved.
Kingdom Builder Logo designed by Austin Moses for application, but not limited, to the Kingdom Builder Box ™, cards and stationary.
WORD INDEX:OLD TESTAMENT
Names: Genesis 1:1
Authority: Exodus 3:14a
Fear: Exodus 20:2
Ethics: Leviticus 19:2b
The Blessing: Numbers 6:24-26
Courage: Joshua 1:7
Scriptures: Joshua 1:8
Aged Wisdom: Joshua 13:1
Faithful Followers: Ruth 1:16b
Appearances: 1 Samuel 16:7b
Insights: 1 Kings 4:29
Strength: Nehemiah 6:9
Stronghold: Psalm 18:1-2
First Fruits: Proverbs 3:9-10a
Pillars: Proverbs 9:1
Wisdom: Proverbs 9:10
Cause Missions: Ecclesiastes 1:18
Control: Jeremiah 29:11
Compensation: Amos 2:7a
Promises: Micah 6:8
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
GENESIS 1:1
NAMES
God is the maker of it all. This is the wisest starting point for any owner, faith leader or advisor.
His names say it all: Creator, King, Father, Counselor, Master, Savior, Restorer, Fortress, Teacher, Guarantor, Friend.
His names reflect His intention for how we are to honor Him in our lives and how we are to lead and follow.
He is the designer and master architect of every good enterprise on earth.
God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.”
EXODUS 3:14a
AUTHORITY
God introduces His name to Moses as Yahweh or “I AM,” a name that represents eternal power, unchanging character and master. The primary precept under which the Kingdom Builder operates is the authority of God, the ruler. What follows is order, authority and abundant Fruits of the Spirit.
Kingdom Builders seek to honor God first, not themselves, in all their decisions.
1st Commandment: I am the Lord your God.
EXODUS 20:2
FEAR
It isn't good to live fearfully, but we all do, sometimes. Fear can cripple imagination, stir ugly reactions, hurt people with words. The remedy is clear: detach from the current prize (likely something you’ve put first in your life, an idol of sorts) and put your faith in His promises. Easy to say, but hard to do. It is nonetheless true. God gives us peace, purpose and extraordinary insights when we put Him in the right position of authority in our business.
‘Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.’
LEVITICUS
19:2b
ETHICS
It’s a choice between right and wrong. Do the right thing, every time. It seems simple and obvious, but sometimes, it is hard and inconvenient. The Scripture reminds us we must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean. Our reputations are built on this fundamental truth. It is always right to do the right thing.
When in doubt, pray.
THE BLESSING
When you receive the blessing from a person it connects with your soul. If you esteem highly the person who is blessing you, it can shape your identity and fortify your sense of worth. In the Book of Numbers God instructs Moses how to give a blessing.
The more powerful a leader the more important their blessing is to the people of the enterprise. Leaders tend to emulate the business owner. When owners withhold their blessing from employees a void is created that gets filled with doubt and uncertainty. Anyone who has lived in a family where the blessing was withheld knows the achy consequences of this void. The blessing is a gift Kingdom Builders should thoughtfully, earnestly and graciously share.
May God bless you in your pursuits as a Kingdom Builder, keeping your heart tender and your steps steady.
“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.”
JOSHUA 1:7
COURAGE
God repeatedly promises us in Scripture that we will be rewarded when we trust and obey Him. Joshua's story inspires faithful leaders to face our enemies and trust His provisions.
When we discern His calling on our work, we are to pursue it with calculation, determination, strength and vigor.
As faithful leaders, we are to be strong and courageous. The rest is up to Him.
Study this Book of Instruction continually.
Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it.
Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.
SCRIPTURES
When you study and mediate on God's word it changes the way you think and act upon your world. The integration of His thoughts with yours is transformative and powerful. There is a peace and calm that follows when this convergence occurs.
Committing Scripture to memory is a fundamental discipline for leaders who desire to become wise in their ways. It alters your perception filter and interactions with those on your path.
When Joshua had grown old, the Lord said to him,
“You are now very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over.”
JOSHUA 13:1
AGED WISDOM
I imagine Joshua was tired when God informed him that there was...“still very large areas of land to take over.” Joshua was between 85 and 100 years old at the time and had spent the last seven-years of his life fighting to claim the Promised Land for God’s people.
God expects us to labor industriously in our Calling, as long as we are able. There is no excuse to be bored or allow anyone to tell you when to retire or stop your vocation, because the Lord’s work is never done. In fact, it may be quite the contrary. Your latter years may be your best.
Retirement is a foreign concept to the Kingdom Builder; God’s wisdom becomes more valuable with age.
Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.
RUTH 1:16b
FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS
Faithful employees yoke themselves to the vision of their leaders. This is a responsibility that far too many leaders fail to understand. When people understand and believe in a leader’s vision they can align their giftedness and yoke their labor to a purpose. People need purposeful work.
Kingdom Builders are particularly culpable when they fail to serve their faithful employees with a welldiscerned and articulated-vision.
People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
1 SAMUEL 16:7b
APPEARANCES
The best leaders are emotionally, intellectually, physically and spiritually mature, and continuously maturing. Leaders are not born mature. We must intentionally cultivate our minds, our bodies and our souls.
So, if you want to understand the potential of an enterprise, start by looking at the leader in the mirror.
God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore.
1 KINGS 4:29
INSIGHTS
God is the Master Architect of this universe. His handiwork in nature gives us glimpses of how organizations should be designed to release their natural strengths. Enterprise builders are wise to study the natural wonders of this world: its ecosystems, the anatomy of the human body, the celestial skies, the animal and insect kingdoms and the grains of sand on the seashore.
He has given us a treasure chest of organizational insights about the importance of balance, symmetry and order.
They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.”
But I prayed, “Now strengthen my hands.”
STRENGTH
The book of Nehemiah reveals more than 50 God-given leadership principles in a few short chapters. Nehemiah was the ultimate enterprise builder: brilliant organizer, planner and motivator. He rallied the people to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem in 52 days, a feat of miraculous proportion in 445 BC. It takes strong will and determination to build a great business and to succeed it to the next generation. It takes strong hands and solid leadership fundamentals to inspire a team to perform well, year after year. But, Nehemiah’s most potent tool was his reliance upon prayer. His sequence: identify the problem, pray about it and, then, act.
The power of prayer is the truest source of strength.
1 I love you, Lord, my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
PSALM 18:1-2
STRONGHOLD
The Wall Street Journal brings insights on the marketplace every day, plus a weekend addition, in case you missed something. Its perspective on time, worry, and money is often quite the opposite of the Scriptures. The stories often make me thankful for where my faith is placed. Faithful leaders feed their minds carefully by discerning the sources of authority they contemplate.
It's good to be curious about the heart of any author we study, asking ourselves: Is that a wise perspective or just a smart one? And, remember your stronghold.
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing.
FIRST FRUITS
Money provokes us to think about what really matters to us. That’s why God wants the first share of our crops. He wants the first share of our minds and our hearts. How we treat our money reflects our priorities and He wants to be first.
God promises us that when we honor Him with the first fruits of our harvest, we will be blessed to overflowing. But, what does overflowing look like? How will I know if this law of stewardship really works? Is this a guideline or a law?
This is what I know: when we are obedient and generous, abundance follows. Abundance takes many forms. I can’t explain how or why it happens; it just happens. Just ask the givers.
Wisdom has built her house; she has set up its seven pillars.
PROVERBS 9:1
PILLARS
In the Bible, seven represents completeness and perfection. The house of wisdom is built on 7 pillars. In my laboratory of life, I have observed 7 Laws of Great Enterprise:
The law of trust
The law of clients/customers
The law of profit
The law of optimization
The law of focus
The law of harvest
The law of balance
These business laws were derived from the Bible, the best business book in the world.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
PROVERBS 9:10
WISDOM
Wisdom is not a separate entity; it is the mind of God. The mind of God is good and pure and wholesome. Fear and humility go hand in hand. Respectful fear is closer to awe than knee-knocking timidity. God gives us a spirit of courage and power, not one of timidity, but only when He is first.
Kingdom Builders know that big decisions need prayer, study and advice from trustworthy counsel. And, the best place to start is at the top.
For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.
CAUSE MISSIONS
Break the heart and you will find a cause. When a business claims a cause, it becomes instantly more purposeful to its employees. It’s like the Spirit flows.
Here are a few heartbreakers:
Childrenwithouthomes
PhysiCalandmentalhardshiPs
addiCtionsofanysort
abusedandvulnerablewomenandChildren
bigotryandhatredofanykind
disPlaCementandrefugeeCamPs
anxioushearts
Find a cause for your enterprise, claim it and watch God work.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
JEREMIAH 29:11
CONTROL
Owners like to be in control of everything: the plans, the problems, the money, the people, the outcomes, the choices. Maybe that’s why so many are exhausted and preoccupied.
Freedom is the driving motive for owning a business. This ‘Control vs Freedom’ tension can create chronic discontent. Kingdom Builders have discovered God has an answer: lighten our grip on the business, and seek God’s lead. When we let go of control, a new freedom enters; one that allows us to relax and watch God’s plan go to work.
They trample on the heads of the poor as on the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed.
COMPENSATION
Employees depend on responsible, fair-minded owners and the top-tier executives. When the gap is too wide between what people make and what they actually contribute to the health of the business, trust is shaken.
Compensation is the cornerstone upon which fairness rests. People know whether the leaders treat compensation justly or if greediness is fed at the expense of the meek and powerless.
No subject is more forbidden to discuss than an owner’s income. Fair and right compensation is best achieved by submitting to a healthy governance process that includes owner compensation, stockholder returns, key executive compensation, merit bonuses and profit sharing.
This is the best way to protect the owner’s equity health, preserve fairness and create a performance-based enterprise that rewards best practices.
Kingdom Builders are accountable to create fair-minded cultures.
Oh people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
MICAH 6:8 NLT
PROMISES
When enterprise leaders follow God's instructions for their lives, His blessings follow.
When we choose to live inside His purpose for our lives as enterprise leaders, we receive a quiet confidence that is attractive to faithful, high-quality employees. Great companies are built with such people.
When we show kindness, walk humbly and do the right things, success follows. This is not abundance theology; it is just the truth.
God never fails to fulfill His promises.
WORD INDEX: NEW TESTAMENT
Worry: Matthew 10:30
Possessions: Matthew 25:14
Final Days: Matthew 25:21
Soul Work: Mark 12:30-31
Unity: Luke 11:17
Decisions: Luke 12:48
Peace: John 14:27
Power: Acts 1:8
Inclusion: Acts 17:26
All Good: Romans 8:28
Malignancy: 1 Corinthians 5:6
Fruit of the Spirit: Galatians 5:22-23b
Accountability: Galatians 6:7-8
Calling: Ephesians 4:1b
Word Power: Ephesians 4:29
Prayers: Philippians 4:6-7
Gratitude: Colossians 3:16
God-Breathed: 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Trouble: James 1:2-3
Idols: 1 John 5:21
And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.
MATTHEW 10:30 NLT
WORRY
So many business owners worry all the time; maybe because business ownership is hard and the exposure is so great. Faithful leaders don't need to worry. Instead, we are to lay our worries at the feet of our sovereign Lord. He allows our troubles because they make us depend upon His strength and not ours. Our job is to steward the assets under our charge, not control them. When we acknowledge this law of faithful leadership, our burdens lighten. This contrarian view of business is a blind leap for most high-control business owners. But, it is how God's economy works.
It will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them.
MATTHEW 25:14
POSSESSIONS
Kingdom Builders believe they are stewards of God’s possessions; one day we will be accountable for the decisions we have made with the business under our authority.
Making a business possession more valuable requires consistent concentration on the right questions:
Where is our business heading? (Vision)
What must we do to get there? (Goals)
How will we win our game? (strateGy)
How do we make money? (execution)
Are we investing our resources wisely? (lifeblood)
Every 90 days I ask my company leaders these questions.
His master replied,
‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.
Come and share your master’s happiness!’
MATTHEW 25:21
FINAL DAYS
Final conversations on this side of eternity often yield beautiful insights on what a life well lived looks like. I had one of those conversations with Mr. Hamilton, my dear friend and humble business owner. I asked him: “What lessons have you concluded about living well?” After only a moment of pause, he shared these reflections:
Love your family and friends more.
Worry less about money and stuff.
Be kind to more people, more often.
Mr. Hamilton left this earth a few weeks later. His legacy was that of a kind and gentle Kingdom Builder who led by his example. Well done, good and faithful servant!
30
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.
31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
There is no commandment greater than these.”
MARK 12:30-31
SOUL WORK
Every enterprise has a soul; just like every living being. The soul of a human is where the will, mind, body and interpersonal relationships integrate, so say some theologians.
An enterprise's soul originates with the heart of the owner or the executive in charge. Leaders in the inner circle of an enterprise often mirror the soul of the one in charge. If the soul is unhealthy it is impossible to optimize an enterprise’s full potential. Kingdom Builders realize if you take care of the hearts in your enterprise, the fruit will follow.
Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them:
“Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall.”
LUKE 11:17
UNITY
Unity of purpose, principles and vision is the glue that holds every organization together. It is the secret sauce in businesses that survive and thrive generationally. Without unity, an organization’s trust is compromised, resulting in less effective problem solving and collaboration.
Behind countless organizational failures are conflicts of interest, where one person’s interests are served at the expense of another or the whole. Conflicts of interest are the root cause of every organization whose house is divided. The Apostle Paul was a master at facing competing agendas in the early church as he heeded Jesus’ warning on divided houses.
Leaders must fiercely protect unity. With unity, enterprise teams can move mountains.
When someone has been given much, much will be required in return.
DECISIONS
An enterprise impacts the lives of everyone who interacts with its ecosystem: employees, customers, suppliers, stockholders, bankers. Each is a stakeholder who is investing in our business and we owe them a return. That means wise decisions must be made at every turn. Effective decision making is serious business and owners are accountable to execute this well. The secret is to keep the team aligned on the enterprise’s specific priorities.
Here’s how to assure wise decisions:
1. Set clear priorities with the leaders in 90 day scripts.
2. Align every player with an active personal scorecard that includes decision-making authority and responsibility.
3. Measure, celebrate and reward wise decisions, every day!
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.
JOHN 14:27
PEACE
These were Jesus’ words to his disciples in his final days of teaching while on earth. Our fears often stop us from living in God’s promises. God does not intend for us to live in fear but in peace.
Kingdom Builders are to be bold. But we all have certain fears: fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of exposure, fear of the unknown, fear of loss, fear of death. Know your fears and the bondage they cause you.
Ask God to bind your fears and give you peace.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
POWER
The Holy Spirit puts the power in the sails of the Kingdom Builder. It is the X factor that explains the unexplainable and gives us courage in situations where others might quake.
The powers that believers receive from the Holy Spirit include:
c oura G e a bility
b oldness a uthority i nsi G ht
When we receive Jesus Christ as our Lord, we receive the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit elevates our effectiveness as business leaders and Kingdom Builders.
From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.
ACTS 17:26
INCLUSION
We live in an age of networked intelligence: collaboration, information sharing and interdependence around the globe. Boundaries and cultural understandings have been pushed to new edges. Trust is under constant pressure as we come face to face with radically different worldviews.
God calls His people to 'love our neighbors' by honoring and serving others and generously giving to the marginalized and less fortunate. Embracing diversity as a core value is like breathing to a Kingdom Builder. God loves all of His sheep; including us.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
ROMANS 8:28
ALL GOOD
If God is loving and just, then why do bad things happen to good people (like me)? How could this much pain and suffering be good?
Faithful leaders know these are the wrong spiritual questions to ask when we are hurting, but we are still human. God promises us He uses everything. Here’s a test:
Look in the rearview mirror at your business life. Meditate on it for a few minutes. Can you find one failure or setback that God did not use for good?
My guess is that God has moved in your life, like He has in mine, to shape you into the person He has intended. Some of the lessons were excruciating, but transforming.
He uses everything for our good; we may not see it at the time we are suffering, but we will.
Don’t you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough?
1 CORINTHIANS 5:6
MALIGNANCY
It only takes a slight infection in a small area of the body to disrupt the equilibrium of the whole human system. If you have ever had an infected toe or an abscessed tooth you know what I mean.
Equity is the substance from which every organ is made in any living enterprise. It is a critical measurement of the economic worth of a business and the health of its ownership. It defines the power of decision making. If you have it, you have power and are called a shareholder. Majority owners control and minority owners weigh in. When parties who hold shares are unequally yoked in their values, the organization becomes vulnerable to malignancy.
Malignancy of the equity poisons decision making and pollutes living conditions for employees. Equity health should be protected by disciplined governance executed by trusted, knowledgeable people.
FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
It's the little things that say the big things about the spirit of an enterprise: how people treat each other in the parking lot, in the lobby or in difficult conversations. These fruits reflect the health of the soul of an enterprise.
In our personal faith walk, the Fruit of the Spirit reveals the intimacy of our current relationship with the Lord. When we listen to God’s nudging and sync with our spiritual disciplines, the fruit seems to overflow. When we neglect our disciplines, the fruit seems scarce or even rotten.
In the book of Galatians, Paul challenges the early church to pursue actively these character traits: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-control.
Healthy relationships are the backbone to any Great Enterprise. These character traits produce fertile soil for deep relationships to root.
7 Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.
8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.
ACCOUNTABILITY
Every successful business owner understands that right actions drive right results. Accountability holds people to deliver on what they say they will do. Most owners expect their employees to be accountable for specific results and impose consequences when the results fall short. Merit-based enterprises are grounded on this edict, known in the business roundtables as The Law of Consequences.
To achieve a merit based culture, every person in every position in the enterprise, from top to bottom, must be accountable for their contribution. The standard of accountability is always set by the owner. If owners make choices at the expense of the business, the rest of the people will emulate this standard. Double standards are double trouble. When owners are respectful, prudent, and judicious in their resource decisions, the culture follows. Accountability starts with ownership!
Lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.
CALLING
God has placed an appointment on you as a faithful leader. It is an amazing gift that should be opened with awe and gratitude. Every time I meditate on these verses my grip loosens, my spirit calms and I start asking God to show me where I need to attend better.
God desires great things for you, for those under your charge, for those on your board. His hand is upon your work.
The awe that emanates from the privilege that God has chosen us to be Christ's representative at home and in the market place is humbling. It melts away the entitlements that come with privilege and inspires us to return His gift with acts of goodness for the Kingdom.
Make this verse your focus for a week and see how God works with you.
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
WORD POWER
Investing in people with your words is an inexpensive way to create value every day. Our words impact those around us, even when they are not intended for the ears of the hearers. Our words yield salve, insight, hope and encouragement--or the exact opposite.
When a leader is respected, trusted and in a position of high influence, one’s words are even more potent. It is good to treat your chosen words like they matter. In work circumstances, your words are either building up or tearing down, investing or depleting.
The world is hungry for Kingdom Builders with clean hearts and thoughtful tongues.
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7
PRAYERS
This is God's promise: If you give Him your troubles He will give you peace. All we have to do is thank Him along the way. It's a great deal!
Here are a few themes that show up in my prayers:
trust: How to trust more in God's plans
anxiety: How to have less
time: How to invest it wisely
humility: How to achieve excellence without arrogance
loVe: How to live without prejudice
hardships: How to be thankful in all circumstances
balance: How to juggle all of the balls of life
Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives.
Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom He gives.
Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.
COLOSSIANS 3:16 NLT
GRATITUDE
I have led many mountaintop retreats with teams of leaders over the years. The first strategic exercise I always begin with is The Harvest of Gold in which the assets and accomplishments of the year are named.
The assets might be called successes, golden nuggets, celebrations, or opportunities. In the end, they are just blessings; blessings for which, I humbly advise, we should be grateful to God. Because, He is the Provider of it all.
When a leadership team has a collective heart of gratitude and a clear strategic plan, amazing work happens!
16All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness,
17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17
GOD-BREATHED
Think about this proclamation from Paul to Timothy, “All scripture is God-breathed.” Wow!
If you want to become wise, then you must read and study His words through the writers who scribed the 66 books of the Bible. Sip the words. Pray the Psalms. Meditate on the verses. Dig deep on specific chapters or entire books. Just engage!
Faithful leaders never stop learning and growing in the Word. Each of us must learn a way to build a personal relationship with the Bible. When we do, the miracle of His breath takes ours away.
2 When troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.
3
For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
TROUBLE
Crises can break you; shatter your dreams and leave you bitter and detached on the other side of your pain. Or, they can melt you down and allow you to experience intimacy with God as He redirects the path of your journey.
Owners are rich with crises: money worries, betrayals by partners or customers, unexpected litigations, product failures and more. Gut-wrenching doubt can creep in and discourage us in these flash points. Kingdom Builders realize that crisis moments are thin places where God is waiting to give His direction, show His mercy and lend His strength. Always He is at work with our troubles. This is a promise we can claim. It is countercultural, but nonetheless, true. Kingdom Builders will be blessed in our brokenness, when we listen.
Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.
1 JOHN 5:21
IDOLS
Ownership selfishness is the biggest obstacle to true prosperity and equity health in America’s free enterprise system. Greed, power and control are the forces behind the idols we worship. Idols look like big buildings, fancy toys and special owner privileges. Idols are enticing, even intoxicating, but completely counterproductive to lasting wealth and generational legacy. The actual objects we turn into idols are not the issue, it is the meaning we assign to those objects.
The worldview of owners that separates Kingdom Builders from kings pivots on this issue of idols and possessions. What matters most to you: what you can do for yourself or what difference you can make while on this earth?
God promises His prosperity to those who worship Him.