January 1, 2026

Business by the Book

Genesis 2:15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

Years ago I was standing on a tee box with one of my best friends. As we were waiting for our turn to lose our golf balls a large commercial airplane flew directly over us as it was landing at DFW airport. I said to my friend, who was a commercial pilot for a major airline, “For the life of me I do not understand what keeps that plane in the sky.”  He responded, “God keeps it in the air through His laws of thermodynamics.”  I replied, “Thinking like that must make you popular with your unbelieving counterparts.”  He looked at me and said, “Just because they don’t believe in God does not mean His laws do not benefit them.” I have been thinking about that conversation since that day. 

Before accepting God’s call into full time ministry I was in business. For fourteen years I worked for a major global medical supply company. During this time I held various titles in the sales and marketing arena. If not for God’s call to special service, I like to think that I would still be working for that fine organization. It was my privilege to meet some wonderful, highly motivated, successful, and hardworking individuals. They all taught me something. As a well renowned preacher once said, “Every man is my teacher.” One thing that I have learned is that successful people, whether they know it or not, are successful because they harness and put to work God’s laws of business. 

This year the theme of these devotions is “Business by the Book.” Monday through Friday a principle of God’s Word will be examined as it relates to business. In years past we have dealt with one verse every day, this format will be altered somewhat this year.  We may spend several days exploring one verse, perhaps weeks on a passage.  We have all year so there is no hurry. 

The purpose of these devotions is twofold. The first purpose is to let individuals know that their success comes directly or indirectly from Almighty God.  The laws of God are effective regardless if those employing them even know they are laws of God. For example, the law of gravity existed and worked prior to Isaac Newton’s discovery in the late 1600’s. Every successful person I have ever known has become successful by utilizing one or more of God’s laws, whether they knew it or not.

The second purpose is to help those who have not yet achieved success to do so. By learning the principles that God’s Word teaches, anyone can earn success. Success though is defined in as many different ways as there are people. Once upon a time I thought my success was making a certain amount of money, which I did. However, today I define success for me as being a faithful pastor, preacher, and Christian which I am still striving to do.

By the way, in today’s verse we are reminded that God always has, and always will have a work for His people to do. Adam was to dress the Garden of Eden and keep it. The Lord also has a work for us to do.  Let’s endeavor together to carry out our Business by the Book.

Dr. William Howe