Monday Morning Music Ministry

8-4-25

I have a friend, a very good friend, whose story I briefly will share here. Rather, a snippet of a story, but one with lessons for us all, at least a Godly message and admonition.

A “good background” and a “happy home” during childhood, plus a solid, loving marriage did not prevent financial trials and personal challenges early in that marriage. None of this is out of the ordinary – we recently, here, reminded ourselves that the rain falls on the just and the unjust. That is not a fortune-cookie saying; it is from the Bible. Not a threat, just the truth. My friend’s financial challenges were compounded by health crises in the family.

I am not being mysterious about her identity, because that is irrelevant. What becomes important in the story is her background of strong Christian upbringing, education, and faith. She entered ministry, for a time, and was surrounded by family and friends who prayed not only for her and her crises, but with her. This still is not a remarkable biography, in the sense that this is what Christians do.

We care for one another, we hold each other up, we grieve when grief attends; we rejoice with one another as blessings are experienced. My friend, her whole life, was a pray-er, a shoulder to cry on, an encourager. And her life has come together, starting one, then more, businesses with growing success. Hard times can haunt us, but hard work also benefits us. And hard prayers of those around us – that is to say, effective prayers of righteous believers – are pleas that God hears, and answers.

My friend has reached the level of success that still may be “stations” on the way to even greater fulfillment and worldly attainments. She frequently has been interviewed about her life and her commercial achievements. I sadly have noticed that she consistently refers to how “lucky” she is, how luck explains the good fortunes in her life right now. Otherwise, when recounting the health and financial and life challenges her family have overcome, she legitimately shares the role of determination and hard work: there indeed has been a lot of that.

But – to switch from the individual to the universal –

~~ When someone who knows the Lord forgets to give credit to God, there is a “disconnect.”

~~ When someone who has “prayed without ceasing” for others, and herself, does not encourage others with a testimony, there is a “missing piece.”

~~ When someone knows that people who love her fervently pray for her life and family, and yes, her business too, and attribute her success to “luck,” is showing meager regard for their love.

~~ When someone has been blessed by God and chooses to not acknowledge Him, even in some long list of Thank-Yous, that person offends those who have faithfully prayed… and offends God too.

There might be some sort of concern that “people and customers” might be turned off by a possible “religious nut,” yet as all Christians know, Whoever disowns Me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven (Matt 10:43). Unquote, Jesus. I think that is a greater risk to take than are most business loans.

Successful business people usually have strict plans, budgets, and forecasts. A Christian businessman ought to calculate the “debit” of possibly offending a customer in a certain culture against the “credit” that God will extend – replacing that lost sale (if such would even happen); drawing other secular folks, or believers; and gaining God’s approval.

Ye may serve customers, but ye also serve the Lord. That’s not in the Bible; not in so many words. But it is more reliable than any good-luck charm.

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Give unto the Lord the glory due unto His name (Psalm 96:8).

Click: How Can I Keep From Singing?