以上帝的方式創業(第一篇)──STARTING A BUSINESS GOD’S WAY (PART 1)
(編輯備註: 這是「以上帝的方式創業」二篇文章中的第一篇)
如果不算小時候賣的賀卡、小冰鏟或報紙，我第一次創業的公司是一家汽車租賃公司。在我結束了那家公司後，我跟自己承諾，永遠不會再重新開始新的公司了。這時我開始了解到，如果你想讓上帝大笑，就告訴祂你的想法，因為祂的計劃會和你的大不相同。從那天起，我至少參與了七次創業！
那些注意市場趨勢的人說，自從新冠疫情開始以來，有超過 100 萬家新企業開始營運，因此用「週一嗎哪」來看看聖經中關於「以上帝的方式創業」的教導，似乎是合適的。
創業時要記住的第一個原則是：跟隨上帝的呼召和引導，而不是你自己的計劃，然後配合相應的行動。正如箴言 19 章 21 節所教導的：「人心多有計謀；惟有耶和華的籌算才能立定。」
25 歲時，我離開了公營會計領域，並奮力想決定下一步自己該做什麼。我讀到了一個叫「出租破車」(Rent-a-Wreck)的新概念，聽起來像是一個特殊的想法，所以我創辦了自己的二手車租賃公司。但我從來沒有想過要尋求上帝的帶領，尋求祂是否認為這是一個好主意。
回想起來，我唯一真正的目標是想賺很多錢。我對租車事業一無所知，也沒有熱情，對於第二個原則問題「為什麼這項事業應該存在？」也沒有合理的答案。箴言 20 章 5 節教導說：「人心懷藏謀略，好像深水，惟明哲人才能汲引出來。」如果你正在考慮創業，請思考「為什麼這項事業應該存在？」如果你唯一的答案是賺錢，那就為你的事業尋找個更好的意義吧 !
在我兒子被診斷出患有自閉症後，我和一群家長決定為有特殊需要的孩子開辦一所學校。一些專業人士建議我們可以為有學習障礙的或者是自閉症的兒童建立一所學校，但不能兩者兼得。
作為父母，我們對接受這個結論，感到猶豫不決。但經過了幾個月的時間，我們終於得出結論－專業人士是對的，我們不能同時有效率的照顧到兩者。也因此，我們發現了第三個原則：創業時，決定你要為誰服務。因此，我們創辦了一所針對有學習障礙孩子的學校，儘管我們自己的幾個孩子無法在這上學，但這所學校已經幫助了上千名兒童。
馬太福音 6 章 24 節教導說：「一個人不能事奉兩個主；不是惡這個、愛那個，就是重這個、輕那個。你們不能又事奉 神，又事奉瑪門（瑪門：財利的意思）。」你的企業需要有一個專注的服務對象。缺乏清楚思考後的事業專注點，可能會導致太多不同方向的發展，無法為你的任何目標客戶提供適當的服務。
我們將在下週介紹另外三個基於聖經的創業原則。
版權所有 @2022，非常規商業網絡。經“UBN Integrity Moments”許可改編，這是一篇關於工作中信仰問題的評論。 UBN 是一個為國際小企業社區服務的信仰事工。
備註：如果你手上有聖經，想要閱讀更多相關的內容，請參考下列經文：
詩篇 37篇3-6節
37:3 你當倚靠耶和華而行善，住在地上，以他的信實為糧；
37:4 又要以耶和華為樂，他就將你心裏所求的賜給你。
37:5 當將你的事交託耶和華，並倚靠他，他就必成全。
37:6 他要使你的公義如光發出，使你的公平明如正午。
箴言 3章5-6節
3:5 你要專心仰賴耶和華，不可倚靠自己的聰明，
3:6 在你一切所行的事上都要認定他，他必指引你的路。
以弗所書 2章10節
2:10 我們原是他的工作，在基督耶穌裏造成的，為要叫我們行善，就是 神所預備叫我們行的。
歌羅西書 3章17、 23-24節
3:17 無論做甚麼，或說話或行事，都要奉主耶穌的名，藉著他感謝父 神。
3:23 無論做甚麼，都要從心裏做，像是給主做的，不是給人做的，
3:24 因你們知道從主那裏必得著基業為賞賜；你們所事奉的乃是主基督。
反省與問題討論
- 你自己創業過嗎？或者你在別人創業的時候幫助過他們嗎？如果有，對你來說那是怎樣的經驗呢？
- 當你想建議別人，選擇並跟隨上帝的帶領去創業，或者做出重大的職涯轉變時，你會如何建議呢？
- 對「為什麼這項事業應該存在？」這個問題你會如何回應呢？ 你認為很多人在嘗試創業時，會優先考慮這個問題的答案嗎？
- 為什麼你認為公司有必要清楚地了解他們的目標客戶是誰，也就是本質上，他們打算服務哪些人呢？
STARTING A BUSINESS GOD’S WAY (PART 1)
By Rick Boxx
(Editor’s Note: This is the first of two articles on how to start a business God’s way.)
If you don’t count the greeting cards, ice scrapers or newspapers I sold as a child, my first business startup was a car rental agency. After I liquidated that business, I made a commitment to myself never to launch another startup. This was when I began to learn that if you want to give God a good laugh, tell Him your plans – His plans are very different from yours. Because from that time, I have been part of at least seven startups!
Since those who track marketplace trends report well over one million businesses have been started since the COVID pandemic started, a “Monday Manna” looking at what the Bible teaches about “Starting a Business God’s Way” seems appropriate.
The first principle to remember in starting a new business is: follow God’s call and leading rather than your own plan. Then proceed accordingly. As Proverbs 19:21 teaches, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”
When I was 25 years old, I left the public accounting world and struggled to determine what I wanted to do next. I read about a new concept called Rent-a-Wreck. It sounded like a groundbreaking idea, so I started my own used car rental agency. It never occurred to me to seek God’s leading, asking if He thought this was a good idea.
Looking back, my only real objective was to make lots of money. I had no knowledge or passion for renting cars, and no legitimate answer for the question – the second principle – “Why should this business exist?” Proverbs 20:5 teaches, “The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.” If you’re considering launching a business, consider, “Why should this business exist?” If your only answer is to make money, seek to find a better purpose for your career.
After my son was diagnosed with autism, a group of parents and I decided to start a school for children with special needs. Some professionals advised that we could establish a school for children with learning disabilities or autism, but could not serve both.
As parents, we balked at accepting that conclusion. It took several months, but eventually we concluded the professionals were right, that we could not effectively do both. We discovered the third principle, when starting a business, determine who you will serve. So, we developed a school for learning disabilities, even though several of our children would never be able to attend. That school has since helped over 1,000 children.
Matthew 6:24 teaches, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.” Your business needs to have a focused audience. Lack of a clearly considered business focus can result in going in too many different directions, failing to properly serve any of your intended customers.
We will cover three additional biblically based principles for starting a business next week.
Copyright 2022, Unconventional Business Network. Adapted with permission from “UBN Integrity Moments,” a commentary on faith at work issues. UBN is a faith at work ministry serving the international small business community.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
- Have you ever started a business of your own, or have you given help to someone else as they were starting their own business? If so, what has that experience been like for you?
- How would you suggest that someone go about trying to determine and follow God’s leading for a new business startup, or even for making a major career change?
- What is your reaction to the question, “Why should this business exist?” – do you think many people give the answer to that question a priority when they are trying to start a business?
- Why do you think it is necessary for a company to have a clear understanding of who their customers are – essentially, who are those people (or entities) that they intend to serve?
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages:
Psalm 37:3-6; Proverbs 3:5-6; Ephesians 2:10; Colossians 3:17, 23-24
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