The “Big WHY.” Almost every entrepreneur or businessperson has heard this term.
Our “Big WHY?” is the
question we must continually and thoughtfully ask ourselves. What are our
intentions in business as a partner with God? A writer from The Huffington Post defines the Big WHY as “a compelling purpose that
propels you through your life, forcing you out of bed every day, and fueling
your passion.” To achieve God’s level of success in our businesses, we need to
know what compels us to do the things that we do. Being prayerful about our
motives in business (and in life) becomes the anchor that helps us stick with
our assignment when things become challenging. This sense of resolve will
enable us to “rise up and take [our] journey and…begin to possess [or dominate
our industry mountain(s)]…” (Deuteronomy 2:24
AMPC).
God is very interested in our
intentions. They fuel how we pursue a goal. Intention speaks back to divine purpose.
The Scriptures tell us in Ephesians 3:10 AMP
that “now through the Church (that’s us) the multifaceted (or
shines like a diamond, my emphasis) wisdom
of God [in all its countless aspects]
might now be made known (or demonstrated, my emphasis) [revealing the mystery] to the [angelic] rulers and authorities in the
heavenly places.”
Our intent is our “why,” or the reason or motivation that leads
us to do things. We must regularly hold
ourselves accountable to the Holy Spirit and
ask ourselves, “WHY am I in business?” “WHY am I on this assignment?”
Though my career has been varied,
I’ve seen God intentionally develop my “Big WHY.”
From watching my parents own properties to the opportunity to help launch
and manage three businesses to receiving God’s download for athleticism and coaching,
God has sharpened my entrepreneurial intentions bit by bit. (Deuteronomy 7:22). Today, my wife and I are in business with
God! If we submit to the process, God continues to teach us how to profit and
leads us in the way we should go (Isaiah 48:17).
God sharpened my motives
during this process. In the midst of praying for
the growth and expansion of our businesses, God challenged me to increase our
giving to the ministries we partner with significantly!
Dr. Winston has brilliantly taught us that whenever we have a need, God talks
to us about planting or sowing a seed. Teaching time was on pause, and now it was time for the exam. (No testimony comes without a test!)
It was like Jesus asking the woman
to bring Him water and now bread too! I could feel my “choke-point”
being expanded. If I really trusted God as my business partner, I had to obey
Him implicitly. God instructed me to increase our partnership amount to a level
where He would have to meet our other needs REGULARLY. Boy did the intensity of my prayer life change! I was serious about
the manifestation of God’s Word in our lives now. Of course, God went over and above and poured out blessing after blessing. I
grew more intentional about the truth of His Word! Coincidentally, my heart for
the mission work we supported also
changed. I felt more compelled than ever
to help our ministry partners’ mission outreaches.
Then my “Big WHY” moment
came. I thought of Abraham, the father of faith. I wondered; why did God pick Abraham?
Why was he chosen over everyone else of his day? God showed me:
Reason #1 – Abraham was humble
enough to believe, trust and obey God (Romans 4:3).
Reason #2 – God knew Abraham
would teach his children (Genesis 18:19), another key trait for an
entrepreneur. This habit creates generational wealth so the business would
continue on throughout the ages.
Reason #3 – Abraham made a
quality decision that he would be a blessing. Abraham was committed to GIVING
BACK. No “us four and no more” mentality. What a triple-threat! What a winning
combination!
This was an “ah-ha” moment
for me. My “Big WHY” now became expanding our businesses so that we could help
others in need globally. Everything in my heart shifted. This Big WHY was much
larger than us, compelling us to go past our comfort zones. We had to partner
with God to grow these businesses. God had a plan all along to use my wife
and I to change our neighborhoods
(desolate places) back to the Garden of Eden (Ezekiel
36:35).
We, as business owners who
know (and are intimately acquainted with) our “Big WHY” are actually industry
ministers that can change the moral decay of societies. As millionaire and
billionaire moguls who embrace our “Big WHY,” we can eradicate poverty and
abuse wherever we find it!
Let’s continue to pray about
the “Big WHY” of our businesses because intentionality
and laser focus can bring new godly energy, strength,
and abundance to our enterprises!
Darnell
Williams, Founder/CEO, Elijah Running Club/Elijah Road Racing