Angel Botswana dedication message - 1 May

Message delivered on 1 May at the Angel dedication ceremony in Gabs.

Scripture:
Ecclesiastes 2:22-26

T.D. Jakes, a well known TV personality talks often about the 80%/20% principle. Jakes explains that we are often chasing after the 20% we don’t have, instead of maintaining and being thankful for the 80% we do have. Our life often becomes one big rush, whilst we never have time to really get down and relax. And even when we are doing nothing, we often worry.
But this is surely not a new phenomenon. If we carefully read Ecclesiastes 2, it becomes clear that the author of this book was a very wealthy man, but also a very empty man. He often had to confess that all his efforts to find happiness and peace in this world were meaningless. In the verses concerned, especially verse 22, he refers to the “toil and anxious striving” with which man labours in this world as being in vain.
In the networking business the temptation is often to go flat-out for the outstanding 20% of clients, and the remaining 20% of stock we need to get special discounts. Often we must just sit down and see everything in perspective.
1. In the first instance we must realise that everything comes from God’s hand. What you have achieved up to now, is something that you owe only to Him. Also what may happen in future, is solely dependant on him.
2. In the second instance it is important that man must find satisfaction in his work. Work must not be the means to an end alone, but we must also find satisfaction in doing our work and our business.
3. Thirdly we must know that the earnings from our work and our business will not be enjoyed, unless we view it to be from the hand of God. Someone who views all his profit as result of his own labour, has many sleepless nights about his belongings not being safe enough.
It is evident from the above that it is so important to dedicate our business and everything we do to the Lord. But what does that mean to hand everything over to the Lord. We can find some direction in this regard from a well known philosopher-psychologist Abraham Maslow. Maslow reckoned that mans needs are divided in material needs, the need for security, for social acceptability, and for acknowledgement. Maslow’s theory posed that only a person who saturated these needs in his own life, has the possibility to make a difference to others.
As Christians we need to know that we have to really hand all our worries and sleepless nights concerning our needs over to our one and only Saviour, Jesus Christ. God the Father is the one who will care for us. And we can also know in this time of Pentecost that the Holy Spirit is there to motivate us and comfort us in the difficult times, and to give us wisdom.
Last, but not the least, is the importance of the right employees in your business. King David makes a categorical choice in Psalm 101, stating that he does not want a house full of deceit. David is prepared to keep corruption and falsehood from his city by not accepting evildoers in his council. He chose his consultants and associates very wisely.
It is therefore important that in dedicating this business today to the Lord, that one must know that all must work together towards the integrity and the good name of Angel Jewels, but above all towards our integrity as children of God before others in the society we live in.
AMEN!