Overcoming mistakes in business dealings

Apostle Steve Lyston, Contributor

Making mistakes in business or business deals or transactions can be some of the most painful decisions an individual can make.

Some make mistakes and use it as a tuition fee in the institution of life to gain knowledge and wisdom. The greater your purpose in life, the greater your mistakes might be. For example, if you are aspiring to be a millionaire, then you will make millionaire-size mistakes that will give you the wisdom and knowledge and experiences with which no university can equip and help you to prevent mistakes.

Mistakes are among some of the best on-the-job training experiences you can get. It will teach you the dos and don'ts when bigger appoint presents itself; sometimes, it will have you crying for a season.

Mistakes also reveal your true business partners, as well as trustworthy friends and family. Many make business mistakes and go penniless only to discover their true purpose; some may give up and want to end their lives.

Mistakes in business cause pain, as well as family break-ups, sickness, divorce, suffering and even death. Very few persons who are business professionals truly walk with integrity; some are very slick and know how to use the law to protect themselves; and even when there is wrongdoing, it will cost you to get justice.

But remember, no mistake is big enough to take your life. Once you have life, then there is hope to revamp and come again - but with greater wisdom, knowledge and understanding.

Someone can make mistakes in business by trusting man. For example, a person can trust a friend, family member or business partner only to find out that the person is a deceiver.

Money is a funny thing! It is not money that is the root of all evil, but the love of it! When a person loves money more than they love God, then he or she better watch out! It is not the currency itself that is evil, but the man behind it - his motives and mindset and whether there is greed, covetousness and jealousy. (1 Timothy 6:10)

Loving money more than God or your spouse or children will result in serious mistakes and sorrow.

Ecclesiastes 10:19 reminds us that "A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes merry; but money answers everything."

While money will assist us as a unit of exchange for many material things, there are things that money cannot buy. Those are things that are important to us.

Never be too quick to close a deal where no favour exists. Look again! For example, if you are being pushed or pressured to make a decision quickly in order to meet a deadline, look again!

If they promise you that you will get millions in a short time (to get rich quick) - look again!

Haste and short cuts will bring sorrow and pain. Gaining and maintaining wealth is a process!

Apostle Steve Lyston is a biblical economics consultant and author of several books, including End Time Finance and The New Millionaire.

To overcoming mistakes

You need to:

Ensure that you get a godly, spiritual foundation first. Seek the Lord first, and He will give you hidden riches.

Count the cost first before you pursue business or wealth.

Seek legal advice and be careful of making vows without thinking it through. Remember a lot of people have Alzheimer's.

Pray that God will reveal the hearts of men; only He can reveal them. (Jeremiah 17:9-10)

When mistakes or deceptions hit you, do not worry, just repent for not seeking Him first. Seek Him and He will restore you.

If you have been deceived, forgive yourself first; forgive those that deceived you. If you fail to do so, then you will get deeper in debt.

Pray and ask the Lord for the right time and season to enter into business transactions.

Look out for and read the fine print. It is easy to enter contracts but very difficult to get out of them.

Once you are in negotiation and there is any form of confusion, then there is deception. Confusion is an indicator that deception exists.