My family and I have been reviewing the Book of Acts and it has been very inspiring to learn from the earliest believers and see how they did things. It has created a yearning for simpler times and ways of doing things. Imagine a community of faithful people who took care of each other so there was no lack for any of them?
Another thing I've noticed is how the evidence of God's power through the disciples in that age acted as the best proof of who they were and what they could do. For instance, in Acts 2 when the Holy Spirit descended on the believers, they were able to speak in tongues. Non-believers heard them and wondered how these people from Galilee could speak in other languages that they never learned (Acts 2:7, 11). That experience, plus the preaching of the Gospel by Peter, led to 3000 people becoming believers in Jesus (Acts 2:41).
I had no idea the Lord was going to use such examples from Acts as a lesson on running a business but so He did. Essentially, He taught me that the proof of what we or our businesses can do is in the proverbial pudding. Evidence of how good you are will come from what you've done and the testimonies of others. This is why in Acts 3 and 4 when Peter healed the lame beggar and people saw that the man could now walk and jump for joy, another two thousand people believed in Christ.
The 'works of our hands' will always be the best advertising that money can never buy. Remember God's word in Proverbs 18:16 - A man’s gift makes room for him And leads him into the presence of great men (LSB). The gift here isn't just a nice present that is given to someone. In fact, a man's gifts are the skills and capacity that God has planted in them. These gifts have likely been honed and improved over the years whereby they enable a person to do great work in their business and build a wonderful reputation. A reputation with backing which acts as a call card that brings them business and puts them before important people.
Let us allow God to plant the spirit of excellence in us so that the things we do in our business will speak loudly not just about us but also about He who gave us the gifts we use to earn an income as well. IJMN, Amen.