Corona Devo 969

My Papa used to buy boxes of handmade chocolates from a local shop to deliver to his customers at Christmastime.  Face to face, he would thank them for their business partnership and loyalty.  It was a good (and delicious) business practice.

I am often surprised at what I find the Lord teaching us through the Bible, and today in II Chronicles, it was good business practices.  

We all deal/work/connect/partner/cooperate with others in some degree, and we can take some tips on good-business-practices from King Solomon and King Hiram today.  They were two kings in the Old Testament who did business together with respect, manners and humility.  Those virtues combined with hard work, supplies and good employees led to a beautiful working relationship between the two kings and a successful business venture and outcome.  

Let's be a fly-on-the-wall (or a candy-piece-in-the-box) as Solomon and Hiram get down to (good) business.

(1) Solomon decided to build a Temple to honor the name of the Lord, and also a royal palace for himself. (2) He enlisted a force of 70,000 laborers, 80,000 men to quarry stone in the hill country, and 3,600 foremen.   ~II Chronicles 2:1-2

Solomon had a plan, and then he hired the workers to get it done (70,000 laborers, 80,000 men to quarry stone in the hill country, and 3,600 foremen), and then he reached out for some help from his good buddy, King Hiram.  That's a good business practice! 

Watch for Solomon's directness, but also for his honesty with Hiram.  Solomon was also not afraid to bring his faith into his business dealings!  We shouldn't be either!  (These are great business practices!)

(3) Solomon also sent this message to King Hiram at Tyre: “Send me cedar logs as you did for my father, David, when he was building his palace.  (4) I am about to build a Temple to honor the name of the Lord my God. It will be a place set apart to burn fragrant incense before him...to sacrifice burnt offerings each morning and evening... He has commanded Israel to do these things forever.

(5) “This must be a magnificent Temple because our God is greater than all other gods. (6) But who can really build him a worthy home? Not even the highest heavens can contain him! So who am I to consider building a Temple for him, except as a place to burn sacrifices to him?  ~II Chronicles 2:3-6

Solomon had laid out the "why" with Hiram (to honor God), and next he moves into asking for the "how" from Hiram.  

He gets specific about everything from the kind of master craftsman that he desires to the types of trees that he wants the Temple to be constructed from.  Being honest and specific are good business practices!  

 “So send me a master craftsman who can work with gold, silver, bronze, and iron, as well as with purple, scarlet, and blue cloth. He must be a skilled engraver who can work with the craftsmen of Judah and Jerusalem who were selected by my father, David. 

(8) “Also send me cedar, cypress, and red sandalwood logs from Lebanon, for I know that your men are without equal at cutting timber in Lebanon. I will send my men to help them.   ~II Chronicles 2:7-8

Solomon lays out his "asks", but then he moves directly into how he will compensate King Hiram.  This is another great business practice!:  In payment for your woodcutters, I will send 100,000 bushels of crushed wheat, 100,000 bushels of barley, 110,000 gallons of wine, and 110,000 gallons of olive oil.”   ~II Chronicles 2:10

This ends King Solomon's business proposal, and now it comes time for King Hiram's response, which is complementary and gracious, and then specific and confirming.  Good business practices, King Hiram!:

Complementary and gracious: (11) King Hiram sent this letter of reply to Solomon: “It is because the Lord loves his people that he has made you their king! (12) Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who made the heavens and the earth! He has given King David a wise son, gifted with skill and understanding, who will build a Temple for the Lord and a royal palace for himself. 

Specific and confirming: (13) “I am sending you a master craftsman named Huram-abi, who is extremely talented. (14) ...He is skillful at making things from gold, silver, bronze, and iron, and he also works with stone and wood. He can work with purple, blue, and scarlet cloth and fine linen. He is also an engraver and can follow any design given to him. He will work with your craftsmen and those appointed by my lord David, your father.   ~II Chronicles 2:11-14

And finally...lastly...without any desperation or emphasis placed on it--King Hiram acknowledges the terms of his payment from King Solomon, and wraps-up their agreement with his willingness and logistical recommendations.  These are exemplary business practices!:

“Send along the wheat, barley, olive oil, and wine that my lord has mentioned. (16) We will cut whatever timber you need from the Lebanon mountains and will float the logs in rafts down the coast of the Mediterranean Sea to Joppa. From there you can transport the logs up to Jerusalem.”  ~II Chronicles 2:15-16

Good (and great) business partners, dealings and outcomes do not just happen.  They are fostered, developed, and invested in...and they begin with good business practices.  Here's are some tips for us from King Solomon and Hiram and God's Word:

• A developed plan and the funding for workers to complete it
• Directness and honesty with business partners
• Openness in sharing our faith
• Specific requests/expectations
• Clear, fair compensation (payment)
• If/when accepting a business proposal, be complimentary, gracious, specific and confirming
• Agree-on/acknowledge the terms of payment
• Offer up any wisdom/recommendations that we may have to the situation

I am often surprised at what I find the Lord teaching us through the Bible, and today it was good business practices.  

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com