In our 4-part series on the “Business Women of the Bible,” we will be uncovering 4 inspiring women from scripture that we can look to for business insights and wisdom. Each of these articles will feature a different business woman of the Bible and will share 3 practical ways we can learn from her to grow our businesses better with Christ at the center! To learn which business woman of the Bible you are most like, take our fun and fast quiz at: www.christianwomenbusinessbuilders.com/quiz
The Mary and Martha Sisters
Our first business woman of the Bible is actually 2 women. We will be kicking off this series with the famous Mary and Martha sisters and dear friends of Jesus. These women are inspirations for us all with their heart for service and desire to serve their loved ones well. They were committed to creating a home and (possibly) a business that brought them closer to the Lord.
While we are not told specifically in scripture whether or not the sisters Mary and Martha had a business or entrepreneurial venture, we do know from history and records of that time that it was quite normal and even expected for young women in that age to have a role in bringing in income from the household. Whether it was learning a trade, assisting others with home care, selling goods in the marketplace, or providing services for wealthier community members, many women had small businesses that brought value to their homes.
Mary and Martha were dear friends of Jesus and had the blessed opportunity to open their homes to spend time with him. The work of their hands served the Lord and furthered his work in a very real way.
Business as a Blessing
Your business has the opportunity to serve the Lord and your family in a very real way as well. Whether you are just getting started, a few months or years in, or even just in the dreaming/planning stages, don’t discount your small beginnings. We are told in Zechariah 4:10 to not despise small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin. He rejoices in it!
Here’s the catch. When you are in the early stages of growing your business, it can be easy to get caught up in all the things to do and lose sight of the bigger picture. Like Martha, we can ALL struggle with wanting to get the work done without taking the time to sit at the feet of our Lord and friend, Jesus, to soak in the lessons and wisdom He has for us. We must make time with the Lord our main priority and everything else will fall into alignment.
“Martha, Martha” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed-or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42 NIV
Read on for your personalized Wisdom in Business playbook gleaned from the Mary and Martha sisters!
1. Seek the Lord first. Does your current schedule align with your goals? Maybe you see yourself serving with energy and excitement, but are doing too much and more often than not feel tired and overwhelmed. Making time with the Lord our first priority helps everything else get accomplished in His perfect time.
2. Get real with your numbers. It’s homework time, friend. Breakdown what you can afford to spend (money and time wise) on building your business. The goal of your business is to provide time and money freedom, not divert more of that from your family. If you are not seeing steady returns on your time and financial investments, seeking wise counsel may be a good next-step.
3. Check your habits. Some daily rituals are more equitable than others. When you get so used to scrolling Facebook every morning that you don’t think twice before grabbing for your phone, the wasted time and focus adds up. I’m not saying don’t ever take a break—Just make sure the cost is worth the gain!
Moving forward with the Martha and Mary sisters:
As we wrap us this article on doing business with the wisdom gleaned from these inspiring sisters, I invite you to take the next step in saying yes to growing a business that honors the Lord and blesses your home. Come and join us for a FREE 5-Day Challenge on “How to Fast-Track Your Way to Your 1st (or next) 5K” by registering at http://christianwomenbusinessbuilders.com/challenge!
Blessings on you and your business!
