Unshakable Values: Guardrails

08.09.10

Unshakable Values: Guardrails

No matter what you feel called to start/do/engage in… you need to know where your boundaries are.

Certainly, I’m not advocating a legalistic viewpoint that denies “thinking outside of the box” and promotes living a perfectly preplanned script.

Innovation is key to survival in the 21st Century.

What I AM saying is any entrepreneur needs to establish guardrails, upfront, to prevent the inspiration of the moment to sweep him/her off to some far away danger.

Think of driving down the freeway… The GUARDRAILS are their to prevent you from a potentially life threatening situation! By hitting the guardrails, it doesn’t automatically mean you die… but it does mean you need to correct your course!

Guardrails protect an entrepreneur from potential disaster.

Entrepreneurs should set guardrails as far away from danger as they feel God asking them to. (implied: ASK GOD WHERE TO SET THEM)

Psalm 127:1

“Unless the LORD (Yah-Weh) builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.”

Now, I’m not a general contractor… but I do believe the first step in building a house is pouring the foundation.

Scripture based values also serve as the foundation to the house that God is about to build. His inspired ideas would never contradict His written Word.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

With all that said, it is vitally important for an entrepreneur to establish firm foundational values that can serve as his guardrails through the journey.

In times of decision, they are there to remind him what he felt God called him to do.

In times of challenge, they can provide clarity and comfort.

In times of celebration, they can maintain humility and appreciation.

In times of explanation, they can infuse God’s truth and light into everything.

Guardrails expose an entrepreneur’s allegiance. (In ME I trust, or In GOD WE TRUST???)

Innovation and thrust-energy can only exist in it’s unbridled state when God-centered guardrails are established. (according to Psalm 127:1)

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal God-centered guardrails to you, for your life, business, team, organization, family, health, etc.

They exist.

In terms of business, here are God’s guardrails for me:

We acknowledge God as the true owner of all we have, do, and become. (Psalm 50:12b)

We will lead from a God-given vision. (Proverbs 29:18)

We will seek God’s Will in every strategic decision made. (Psalm 127:1)

We will serve God’s company in our area of giftedness. (1 Corinthians 12:7)

We will give all the glory and honor to God for any future business lessons and successes. (John 17:4)

We will regularly review our progress and check its alignment to our vision. (Matthew 7:18)

We will give God room to change the plan, in accordance with His Will. (Proverbs 16:9)

We will not borrow money to grow our business. (Proverbs 22:7)