Review of Proverbs 11

by Pastor Temilolu Olasijuwomi

YOUR CHRISTIANITY AND YOUR CITY

Pro. 11:10-11 When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth:… By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked._

If righteous people are really prospering in our city, people are supposed to be glad. If people in our cities are not glad, if there are no smiles on the faces of our neighbors, it may mean that there are no righteous people prospering or the people prospering are not righteous?

One of the proofs of a prospering church is the gladness in the faces of people in the surrounding and city. Our Christianity should affect our surrounding. The plight of the people in our surrounding must matter to us. When Jesus saw the multitude, the bible says he had compassion on them to the point of providing a solution to their hunger problem. The Church is a solution provider to societal ills. Our Christianity must touch lives in the most profound way.

When God prospers people, it should reflect on their cities, not necessary in their church building. v.10 – 11

Based on the focus of the first verse, I have decided to draw out business lessons from the chapter, amidst other lessons. I hope it blesses you.

1. FAIRNESS IN BUSINESS DEALINGS – JUST WEIGHS. VERSE 1

– What the preacher alludes to in verse 1 is purely from a business standpoint. A false balance here refers to all manner of unjust and fraudulent practices in dealing with any person.

– I run a school for instance. Exam malpractice is a fraudulent activity and is totally stamped out of the school system, both for internal and external exams.

– As believers, we must not be associated with any business that clearly defrauds people, except we were not aware in the first place.

– I once traveled with a fellow who vehemently asserted that it wasn’t possible to successfully do business without lying. 

– Should the way we conduct our businesses reflect our Christian faith, or should business and faith be separated?

2. CUSTOMER SERVICE – HOW WE TREAT PEOPLE VERSE 2 

– We should be friendly and humble in the way we do our business and treat others.

– Have value for people more than money. If you have to choose between money and a customer’s satisfaction, choose the customers satisfaction. Verse 4

– The profit that should be recorded is the customer satisfaction over immediate profit.

– Value people/lives above money. Verse 28

3. DELIVERING ON PROMISES – INTEGRITY VERSE 3

– Let your product or service do what you say it can do. 

4. SUPPORT THE GROWTH OF OTHERS, AVOID UNHEALTHY COMPETITION. VERSES 11, 12

– Somebody else’s business doesn’t have to be destroyed for ours to improve. The sky is big enough for everyone to fly.

– Don’t compare yourself with others.

5. FEEDBACK MECHANISM. VERSE 14

– You are most likely not always right, be open to feedbacks from all stakeholders in the business or establishment. Clients/customers, co-workers, etc.

– Everyone should have a voice. Be attentive to the needs and counsel of others regardless of their position.

6. ON RECRUITMENT. VERSE 15

– Being a surety is more or less like putting your reputation and finances on the line for someone. Hence, when people are recruited, it is more or less like you are putting the fate of your business in their hand.

– Sufficient information must be gathered and verified about them. A level of familiarity should be established before employing the person.

– No matter how nice a stranger his, subject them to test before vouching for them or putting them in your business.

7. GIVE GENEROUSLY TO THE COMMUNITY VERSES 25, 26.

– Giving definitely brings blessings, not the one done out of coercion or compulsion, but the one you did from your heart.

– One does not have to be guilt tripped into giving. 

– Identified a cause or people in need around you and bless them from your heart. not necessarily because you are very rich, but because you care.

8. DO ADVERTS VERSE 30

– Don’t be quiet about what you do. Blow your own trumpet because nobody will blow it for you. Use every opportunity to tell people about what you do.

– Do your due diligence to have more friends than rivals.

– Build bridges that will make it easy for you to open conversations about your faith or businesses.

9. MAKE PROFIT VERSE 31

God in our businesses not only ends when we have a group prayer in our offices or when we trust God for a contract but doing our businesses in such a way that God is glorified and the city is blessed.