A Biblical Perspective of My Struggle as an Entrepreneur

It Is Kind Of Like Becoming A Tree

I became an entrepreneur officially in 2014 and having some trying times getting off the ground. I was staring at a coconut tree, day-dreaming and kind of worrying about how long it was taking me to get answers to prayers  about the success of my business and then it suddenly hit me that…..

Psalm 1:1-3

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night.

That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.

Since I have been diligently trying not to “walk in the step of the wicked,” and it seems to be making my answers to prayer take even longer.

I have been earnestly trying to do things the right way, knowing full well that by cutting a few corners or compromising my values I could make the answers appear faster.

The major difference being that I can get mediocre answers doing it my way or the fruit God promises by doing it His way.

The prerequisite for our fruit bearing from Psalm 1 is that we:

  • Do things God’s way
  • Stay in the Word

If we do these two things, we have the promise that whatever we do will prosper and that we WILL bear fruit IN OUR SEASON.

Trees Grow Slowly

I did some research on the coconut tree and realize that it took about five (5) to six (6) years after planting to produce. However fruit production does not really flourish until the tree is about twelve (12) to thirteen (13) years old.

Grass Grows Fast

Grass and even some other plants, on the other hand, grow a lot faster. They sprout up quickly and sometimes you can’t even notice their growth day by day.

Then it dawned on me that God wants to make my business “like the coconut tree.” He isn’t interested in seeing rapid growth that will not make it to the next season and is ultimately unsustainable.

A tree, though it grows slowly, becomes a lot sturdier and is able to withstand challenges that grass and other plants can’t.

Psalm 92:7

“That when the wicked sprouted up like grass and all who did iniquity flourished, it was only that they might be destroyed forevermore.”

Psalm 92:12

“The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree, he will grow like a cedar in Lebanon.”

Coconut Trees Yield More Fruit

The downside, of course, is that the coconut trees don’t bear fruit 3 months to two years after you plant them like many vegetable plants will. It takes a few years or even longer to bear fruit.

Patience seems to be a rare virtue in our society these days, but it is one that we ought to develop. God seems to like taking the long road with a lot of things and as I begin to see the reason behind it, it causes me to say, “huh, God really is smarter than I am.”

Becoming A Coconut Tree

It’s tough watching the grass sprout up all around you and seeing others bearing fruit when you have been faithfully doing what is right, but we must not be short-sighted. We need to try to look at these things the way God sees them.

Though the tomato plants around us may be popping out some fruit, while we seem to wonder what is taking so long, our day will come.

God is doing a work and creating something in us that will be around long after the grass has come and gone.

Galatians 6:9 

“And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.”

 Let Us Keep The Faith Brothers and Sisters!


Inspired by Why God’s Way Takes Longer Published by Bob for the christianpf.com