Make All You Can, Give All You Can: Ten Principles to Activate God's Power in Your Business

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INTRODUCTION

I’ve long been a high-level negotiator. Anyone who has ever negotiated with me knows I come prepared, I have the facts, and I don’t give up.

But I’ve learned God does not negotiate.

There was a time in my life when I was well on my way to becoming the number-one life insurance agent in the world, the first of many such business accomplishments. I was certain I would make it. It wasn’t just an empty dream. I was young, but I was driven.

In 1969, while still in my twenties, I was the top volume producer nationwide for the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company. Even then, MassMutual was an industry leader and had more Million Dollar Round Table members than all other life insurance companies but one. It was the first time anyone under the age of forty-five, and anyone in a small town like St. Petersburg, Florida, had led the company.

I had goals. I had worldly principles. I saw myself as the ultimate self-made man.

But even after years of enjoying exceptional success and finding great security in it, I felt something wasn’t right. A real challenge was missing from my life.

That’s how I found myself approximately fifteen years later, driving in my car, listening to a sermon, and praying about giving up the security to which I had become accustomed. God was undeniably directing me to another career in a completely different industry.

I was a new Christian, and my type A personality led me to pursue my faith like I had pursued insurance, my other business interests, and any task that had been put before me—with full force. In my arrogance, I had determined I would be the best Christian ever for God, but a much older and very wise Christian confronted me. He told me the security I enjoyed and depended upon would inhibit my spiritual growth; he discerned I was a young, immature Christian. He said what I needed was real faith, but I couldn’t have the kind of faith God desired while still believing I could make things happen with only my experience and knowledge. When you have financial security, the perception is often that you don’t need God.

The insurance business had given me solid financial security. I had a large number of wealthy clients and they continued to purchase more insurance as their businesses and estates grew. Additionally, the renewal commissions on previously sold policies were substantial and were future dollars in the bank. I had worked extremely hard to build my insurance business and to reach the top of my industry, and I was very proud of what I had accomplished. God, however, doesn’t love pride; He loves obedience.

I knew clearly what He was calling me to do: give up my security, and replace it with trust. It wasn’t a simple thing to just walk away. Actually, it was really, really tough.

But that day in my car, I surrendered and I made a promise.

Immediately, I broke out in a rash from my neck to my ankles. I went directly home and asked my wife if she had changed soap, detergent, or anything else that could have caused it. She hadn’t, and she said I should go straight to the doctor, which I did. I was told it was stress-related. I received a shot, and the rash cleared up within minutes. I was ashamed for being a wimp after making such a serious commitment to God, and I determined it would never happen again. I had no idea what would happen next. But I trusted God knew. Then this scripture came to mind:

Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. (Dan. 10:12 AMP)

Many have told me they consider my business career miraculous. It’s not a word I use very often, because I don’t want to dilute its meaning. But I will say this: I believe God’s hand and favor have been on me since long before I recognized who He was. He has never wavered. I’ve seen the unexplainable happen time and time again. Things fall into place. Victories that should have been impossible occurred. Needed resources and supernatural wisdom showed up at exactly the moment they were required. As much as I once had faith in my own abilities, that faith pales in comparison to what I now know God has done and will continue to do through me.

Having made the decision to give up my security and follow God with total trust and faith, it was as though His wisdom and power were activated in my life. I accepted that His plan was for me to be a Christian business owner and an entrepreneur in the secular marketplace who strives to model God’s principles in every aspect of life. I knew He had called me to a position of influence so He could use me to impact the lives of many others. This would include funneling large sums of money to ministries He would direct me to through prayer.

For some, this may sound far-out or foolish. I know there are many people who don’t believe God exists, much less that He can and will guide us as we seek Him. I used to be one of them.

I know there are business leaders who are outspoken about their faith, following and promoting biblical principles. I also know there are many young Christian business owners and leaders who are struggling with decisions and making many mistakes; I have been there. I believe God has much He wants to accomplish in this world through Christian business leaders, and that is what compelled me to write this book.

The timing is more important than ever. The Wall Street Journal recently published an eye-opening piece about the ethical challenges facing entrepreneurs. Questions abound about the ownership of intellectual property and data; lies told to garner funding, bring in revenue, or hit desired numbers; and a company’s broader responsibility to its community. All of this combines to make those maintaining the moral high ground the exception rather than the rule. In this secular environment, a business run on the foundation of God’s principles stands out. Timeless truth always wins over situational ethics in the long run.

If you are called to be a Christian business leader, He is calling you to a life lived on a higher plane. That life likely is more than you presently experience. Ephesians 3:20 reminds us that He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. He has plans for you, for your influence, and for your finances. It’s a serious undertaking, and will require total commitment to God and to His principles.

If you are called, if you accept His challenge, and if you are in the center of God’s will, your life will be blessed with peace, contentment, and success. Notice, I did not state ease, no stress, and no major obstacles. However, if you are not certain it is God’s will for you to be a Christian business owner or leader, you will make a serious mistake if you move forward relying solely on your own knowledge and wisdom.

PART ONE

Meeting

THE

CHAIRMAN

Chapter One

A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE

Be honest. Have you ever looked at successful people and thought that they had things easy?

I’ll bet, if you asked, you’d find that the path to that easy street was a pretty hard road—and may still be.

I don’t just mean hard work. Any business leader, Christian or not, will tell you that success is the result of persistent and steadfast effort. In my own case, it also has been the result of some hard times. As much as success has been woven into the tapestry of my life, so, too, has adversity.

I want to start the story here, but just so there are no misconceptions, understand that this is no get-rich-quick strategy or list of simple secrets to success. This book is about personal responsibility—with the result of boundless possibility.

The Bible tells us in Romans 2:11, God does not show favoritism. He is not partial to one over another. Yes, He gives us unique skills and abilities to enable us to do His will, but the choice to hone those skills and abilities, and to keep going when times are tough, is up to us.

Have you noticed that some seem to have more of an ability to persevere than others? The ones who persevere recognize the price they have to pay, and make a conscious decision that they are willing to pay that price. They choose to do whatever it takes to complete the challenge that faces them. Those who are willing to pay the price are guided by a set of principles and a strong foundation, and are determined not to waver from them. They are committed people.

But there are many who, for one reason or another, are not willing to pay the price. I have observed that many of these people are guided by mood and convenience, and the difference between them and those controlled by priorities is distinct. When we allow moods or feelings to control the way we respond to adversity, we pay a different kind of price, and sometimes it’s not immediately apparent. We pay with lower self-esteem and, as a result, less confidence that we can succeed in the future. Feelings usually lead us to take the easiest and fastest escape route from a problem. That route often means giving up, and a pattern of quitting and failure quickly begins to emerge in our lives.

But just as there’s a heavy penalty for running from adversity, there’s an awesome reward for facing it head-on, and then holding on until completion. We do that by shifting our thinking from, When I feel good, then I will tackle the task to, When I persevere and complete the task, then I will feel good.

Following our feelings isn’t obedience. If we felt like doing it, we wouldn’t need to obey and we would do it anyway. It may be that the idea of obedience rubs you the wrong way, especially if you are or have any thoughts of being an entrepreneur. But it’s only in being obedient to God’s Word and to His guidance that true success is found. The bare truth of it is this: you have to do your part before God will do His. Then you have to let go and understand that whatever happens, He has allowed it. And if He allows it, He has a reason for it.

Will it be tough? Absolutely. Will there be adversity? Certainly. Will it be worth it?

You bet.

God’s Role in Your Business

In Christian circles, it’s not uncommon to hear people refer to God as a copilot. In business, some might also consider Him their partner.

I take a different view, one honed from years of study, prayer, and experience in the business world. For me, God as partner doesn’t cut it. It sounds almost arrogant to say He would partner with me.

In business, the chairman is typically the ultimate authority and, in an executive role, influences the operations and success of the company and its leadership in seen and unseen ways. The chairman is more than senior advisor; this person is responsible for the vision and the future of the company and typically has made a personal investment toward the organization.

As I see God, when we invite Him to the table as chairman rather than just a trusted consultant or, worse yet, as solely a yes man, He begins to mind the business in a much different way than we would mind it ourselves. He is invested in our success.

His first personal investment, the costliest of all, was to sacrifice His Son, Jesus Christ, for the good of mankind. His second investment, though, is in us, rather than for us; He empowers us to do His