Whenever I speak at Christian business conferences and seminars, anywhere in the world, the one consistent message I try to leave with people is a very simple one—whatever else you do, read the Word of God faithfully and consistently. Read it on a daily basis, like "daily bread" and give it the time and priority it deserves.

I have written in the past that we should give the "first and best" part of our day to God. It is worth getting up earlier in the morning, so that we can hear God through His Word, and be guided and instructed in our daily living.

And for kingdom business professionals—or "marketplace ministers"—I believe it is especially important. We need to be guided continually (Ps. 32:8), and we need to be "washed" daily by the water of the Word, so the dirt we rub up against in the marketplace doesn't stick to us (Eph. 5:26).

Within the grand sweep of God's Word, there is one book that I dare to suggest is mandatory for marketplace ministers, and that of course is the Book of Proverbs. There are 31 chapters, so that works out nicely at a chapter a day in most months, and if you read a chapter a day, you will go through it 12 times each year.

The Book of Wisdom

Proverbs is God's "how to succeed" book for us, His business ethics manual, and His ultimate source of wisdom. We need knowledge—taking God's Word in, but we also need wisdom—applying God's Word in our daily lives. And that is the very stuff of the Book of Proverbs.

Business and professional people spend huge sums of money on "self-improvement" and motivational books, written by all sorts of pseudo-experts and psychobabble gurus. There is always the latest "how to" fad and the newest gimmick.

Proverbs might be an ancient book, but it has been proven over time. It is practical and down-to-earth, and it was written by one of the wisest men who ever lived, an ancestor of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, King Solomon.

King Solomon was wise, yet he was also practical. There are many spiritual principles in the Book of Proverbs, but there is also a lot of very pragmatic advice on how to go about your daily business successfully and efficiently.

As Bob Yandian says in his book "Proverbs: Principles of Wisdom," many Christians today seem full of spiritual truth, yet often seem to be "totally foolish and unlearned" when it comes to the natural, everyday things of life.

He says, "As Christians, we live in two worlds: natural and supernatural. Even with all our great spiritual knowledge, we still have to live out our daily lives on this earth. We still have to make a living, for example.

"The 'righteousness of God' still has to sweep the floor, carry out the garbage and change the oil in the car. The 'joint-heir with Christ' still has to fix meals and mow the lawn. All these marvelous prosperity and protection truths we are learning about today are a reality. But as true as they are, we still need to have wisdom in the natural, everyday things of life.

"That's where the Book of Proverbs comes in. It is a prime reference source for wisdom in the practical, 'nitty-gritty' details of daily existence. It's prime human author is Solomon, the greatest man of wisdom recorded in the Word of God, apart from Jesus Christ Himself. That's why a study of his writings is so well worth our time and attention.

"Just reading it once is not enough. You need to dwell on it, meditate on it, memorize it, digest it, and pound it in until it becomes a part of you, until you not only remember it, you can't forget it!

"When that happens, you will never forget that in Wisdom's left hand are riches and honour, and in her right hand length of days."

Truths and teachings in Proverbs are brought out in various ways, sometimes being compared as similar, and sometimes being contrasted as completely different. Sometimes the second line of a Proverb completes the thought begun in the first, and sometimes one line is a practical application of the truth set out in the other. Some are obvious and easy to understand, while some are complex and difficult.

Whatever the style, they contain essential truth and wisdom, and are there for us to learn and apply—with the help of the Holy Spirit. It is a good thing to pray before reading the Word of God, so that the Holy Sprit can open our eyes and minds to deeper meanings and revelations. King David himself prays in Psalm 119:18 "Open my eyes, that I may see wonderful things in Your law."

Godly Wisdom: The Key to Success

Kingdom business professionals can expect prosperity and success, and should carry out their daily activities with godly integrity. Both integrity and prosperity are taught and expounded in the Book of Proverbs, so that we can not just do it well, but do it right, first time and every time.

One of the most successful leaders in the entire Bible is Joshua, who came up under Moses. Nothing really negative is said about him, and he is one of the few people in biblical history who succeeds at almost everything he does.

God Himself taught key principles to Joshua, telling him, "as I was with Moses, so I will be with you." After admonitions to be strong and courageous, and to obey the commandments, God zeroes in on the key success principle for Joshua—to read and meditate constantly on the Word of God.

God promises Joshua that if he meditates on the Word of God and obeys it, then he will be "prosperous and successful" and that "the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go" (Josh. 1:6-9).

If it's good enough for Joshua, then it should be good enough for us, as kingdom business professionals. Let us put the effort in—do what it takes, even get up earlier or turn the TV off, so that we too can "meditate on it day and night" and be "prosperous and successful" in everything we do.