Godly Businesswoman

Godly Businesswoman

Lydia

Read: Acts 16:13-15; Proverbs 31:16-18

Stephanie groaned at the e-mail from her boss: It was time for another out-of-town business meeting. The professional side of the trip would be worthwhile, but her new supervisor’s idea of fun clashed with Stephanie’s ideas of right and wrong. Last time, she came up with an excuse to avoid going to the club that featured male strippers. Now she wondered how standing up for her beliefs would affect her career. Would she be respected for them or labeled a fanatic?

Lydia was a successful businesswoman who sold purple cloth. Her native Thyatira was known for the purple dye obtained from shellfish. Since the dye and the cloth were expensive, only the rich and noble dressed in purple. Lydia herself had become wealthy through her business and probably employed others. She must have felt great pride in her accomplishments and her business reputation, but something else was even more important to her.

A large number of Lydia’s customers were involved in pagan worship. Some people would be hesitant to adopt a new religion that might affect their business, but not Lydia. She opened her heart to the gospel and immediately began using her resources to serve the Lord. Lydia’s joy in her newfound faith gave her the courage to put God ahead of business. Her home eventually became the meeting place for the new church.

The ideal woman described in Proverbs 31 takes care of her family’s needs and is also a successful businesswoman. Business skills can be used for great good in God’s Kingdom if we keep our priorities in line. We can’t use outside employment as an excuse to neglect our families or our personal relationship with God. We must always conduct our business dealings in a way that honors God and his principles. Like Lydia and Stephanie, our first business is to please our Lord.

Our purpose is to please God, not people.

1 Thessalonians 2:4