I wanted to ask you if you have any questions/concerns about running a business that honors and pleases God. I have been doing a series here on my blog about Bible verses for business. I have thoroughly enjoyed the series as it has caused me to dig into Scripture and solidify in my own mind how I should be running my business.
But now I want to ask you. What questions or concerns do you have about running your business in a way that lines up with God’s word?
Please share them with us so we can look at them together. Thank you!
Just to update you: I released an eBook, “Run Your Business God’s Way” – check it out!
I have often thought of how much we should give away for free. I tend to give a great deal away but then found that folks were not interested in buying because they were able to get so much for free. Then on the opposite side of the spectrum, I had a newsletter subscriber unsubscribe because she said I NEVER offered anything for free but always ask subscribers to buy. Not sure how she got that impression since in the last few months alone, I have given away two free eBooks, several articles on conflict that I will eventually release as an eBook for sale. I also gave away lots of other information which I notified subscribers about in the newsletters. I was spending so much time working on the free information that I didn’t have any time in 2009 to write new product or market older product. So…how much is too much to give away for free? Do you find that internet customers want everything for free and how can we best convey that on our website and newsletters?
Dear Laurie,
Thanks for continuing this discussion on Finances from the Word of God in our Businesses. There are more scriptures on money than most any other subject in God’s Word. Isn’t it funny how God cared so much for the Widow…he made it so the Deacons and Elders were to care for her?
And Jesus honored her when he wrote that when she gave her “mite” into the offering she had given more than the rich because she gave all she had. Do we give all we have to God?
I think that means ( at least to me) we should honor him in all we have been given. Men will say, ” well, I worked and earned my money and bought this or that, God didn’t give it to me!” But what they don’t realize is God is allowing them to breathe, exist, work and have a body which can be mobile to work with, & earn that money to pay for life’s needs. Remarkable isn’t it, how we take God for granted or don’t even realize it’s He who is the real Giver of Life.
I thank you for allowing me this opportunity to Thank God here for all HE has given to us. We are so blessed in all things. Even in hard times, God is here with us helping us to learn His ways of giving are not always our ways!
JoJo,
Thanks for your comment. I totally understand what you mean. Sometimes I have spent so much time on a freebie or have run into challenges getting it all set up, and I hope it’s all worth it because I”m giving it away for free.
I can’t believe you had someone unsubscribe because you don’t offer anything for free. Oh my – you do so much of that!
I have been told we need to train our subscribers to “act.” Make them go to another link, click a button to purchase, something to get them involved. In other words, we shouldn’t always hand them something for free without some action on their part. I”m going to be trying that more this year.
Joyce,
Great comment. I know for some it is difficult to see it as God who is helping them to earn money,etc. but you are so right. Without Him, we wouldn’t be able to do anything.
Blessings.
Oh thanks Laurie. Good advice. I am currently writing articles for my newsletter subscribers but they can only read part of the article on the newsletter. They have to click to a page on my site to read the rest. keeps the newsletter shorter and I guess has them take some action too. Hmm…