You’ve heard the statement “It takes more faith to be an atheist…”

I’ve concluded that when you’re conversing with a non-believer, that’s not a strategic contribution to the dialogue. In a way you’re implying that there’s a more noble effort being put forth by eliminating God from the human experience than there is by revering His Presence and Activity.

Faith in God isn’t always logical in that you’re operating according to a perspective that exceeds the boundaries of human intellect. It’s because of the way it sometimes flies in the face of what’s empirical, that critics sneer at anything that strikes them as supernatural and therefore nonsensical. The problem with their platform, however, is that in an effort to explain the created order or to establish a sound philosophical base for morals and a sense of purpose, they’re obligated to adhere to imaginary numbers and concepts that exist in theory more so than practice. It’s not faith they deploy in those moments, rather it’s a resolve to maintain the illusion of control over themselves and their environment. While they insist theirs is a more rational perspective, in the light of Truth, it’s nothing more than an alluring fiction.

On the other hand, faith in Christ is based on a historical reality. The Person Jesus Christ did exist and the circumstances surrounding His birth, life, death and resurrection are documented in Scripture and corroborated by other extra-biblical accounts. It’s neither illogical nor unreasonable to accept and trust Christ as the One He claimed to be. And when you’re subscribing to a Resource that can be trusted, it is no longer illogical to embrace whatever content comes from that Resource, regardless of how it may or may not resonate with the obvious.

In business, you’re inevitably confronted with things you can neither control nor anticipate. The best product, the best marketing strategy, the best business plan can be dismantled in an instant by an unexpected occurrence. Look at what it says in James:

¹³ Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” ¹⁴ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. ¹⁵ Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” ¹⁶ As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. (Jas 4:13-16 [see also Prov 27:1])

What this verse is pointing out is that in light of the fact that we can never know what awaits us just around the corner, it’s not smart to brag about anything that has yet to happen. Regardless of how you’ve prepared and schemed, the outcome is totally in the Hands of God. That’s why, following the directions of your Heavenly Father in terms of a business strategy, while it may not look as though you’re operating in a sensible manner, it is very sensible to navigate your vessel from the Perspective of One Who both knows and sees everything whereas you and I are limited to that which is right in front of us (see Luke 5:4-6).

When you’re being truly faithful, you’re being genuinely wise. There’s nothing ludicrous in handing over the day to day operations of your shop to One Who is in a position to guide and direct based on unlimited Strength and a Perspective not restrained by the limitations of a human perspective.

So keep the faith and be assured that you’re being smart in doing so. “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. ⁵ Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: ⁶ He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your indication like the noonday sun.” (Ps 37:4-6)