Opening Meeting: A Brother's Business

Proverbs 3:5-14 RecVer 

5. Trust in Jehovah with all your heart, And do not rely on your own understanding;

6. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.

7. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear Jehovah, and depart from evil.

8. It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones.

9. Honor Jehovah with your substance And with the firstfruits of all your produce;

10. Then your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will burst open with new wine.

11. My son, do not despise the chastening of Jehovah, Nor be weary of His discipline;

12. For whom Jehovah loves He disciplines, Even as a father, the son in whom he delights.

13. Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding.

14. For her profit is better than the profit of silver, And her income is better than gold.

Today, a brother invited me and another brother for the opening ceremony of his EV Kinetic showroom and workshop. He has been awarded the distribution rights for the entire district. In fact, he mentioned to me a week ago and explained to me the history of how the Lord led him to start such a big business venture. He reminded me of the fellowship he had with me in my last trip to Andhra Pradesh while we were fellowshiping over lunch in Anantapur when he asked for my feeling concerning serving the Lord full-time. 

My reply then was, if the Lord calls a person, one has to obey the Lord’s calling absolutely. However, if there is no definite call or leading from the Lord, though one's heart may be genuinely wanting to serve the Lord full-time, it is better to pray and wait and fellowship with the brothers for a clear cut confirmation before taking any life-time decision. Until such confirmation, one can continue with whatever works or jobs the Lord gave at hand and work faithfully. Meanwhile, with job-keeping, one can still serve the Lord. In fact, this kind is more favorable, unless one is called by the Lord to serve full-time. In that, like Paul, one can be a "tent-maker," and along with the proceeds, serve God by serving the saints and the church. 

1 Corinthians 4:12 RecVer

And we labor, working with our own hands. Reviled we bless; persecuted we endure;

Acts 20:33-35 RecVer

33. I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothing.

34. You yourselves know that these hands have ministered to my needs and to those who are with me.

35. In all things I have shown you by example that toiling in this way we ought to support the weak and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

This fellowship with him last year made such an impact on him that he took it before the Lord. Therefore, with the gift the Lord has bestowed upon him, he ventured into this new business. In fact, he has already been running a successful business of two wheelers workshop, which he expanded further to "buy and sell" used two wheelers. The capacity and the experiences the Lord gave him was channelled for further growth in his already existing business. 

I further fellowshipped: If the Lord so wills, I encouraged him to pay heed to what he has at hand, develop it further, and with the proceeds, take care of his family, especially his chidren's education, the need of the church and the saints. And perhaps, one day, as the Lord provides more, he may offer it for the Lord’s move in the country.

He reminded me last week of what I fellowshipped with him. Now, I realised the importance of faithful speaking of the burden the Lord gave to brothers who came for fellowship. I had no idea then, but God knew it all. As I fellowshipped with him the burden the Lord gave within, it became the Lord’s speaking and confirmation to him. 

As he requested me and another brother to do the honor of prayer, ribbon cuttings for the showroom and service station, and also minister the word of God, the verses in Proverbs 3 was my message. I just repeated the word of God from Proverbs 3:5 to 14 with emphasis on some verses and clarified that the real blessing in God Himself, the giver of all good things and that our heart should only be trusting the Lord and focused on Him only, and not the blessings that the Blesser gave.

Another two brothers followed suit in the sharing. Then, I chose a hymn on 513, "Once it was the blessing, now it is the Lord." Then, he shared his testimony, and we closed the ceremony with prayers from the saints.

May the Lord grace them to experience and enjoy the Lord through this business.