Starting a business does not always require financial capital; In 2 Kings 4:1-7, you see how the Prophet Elisha provided a solution to a widow in need. When the widow came to him, she feared for her future, but Elisha asked her a critical question: “What do you have in your house?” (verse.2). This shows that the first thing you need to start a business is not necessarily money, it’s about recognizing the resources already in your possession, even if they seem insignificant.
The widow initially overlooked the importance of the pot of oil she had, just as many of us might overlook talents or opportunities because we do not consider them valuable enough. Could it be that you’ve made your God-given talents or passions an exception? Have you neglected the “pot of oil” in your life, thinking it’s too small?
What you possess; your skills, relationships, or even a seemingly small idea, can draw in external resources and opportunities. In the widow’s case, her small jar of oil became the key to her miracle. 2 Corinthians 10:4 reminds us that strongholds like the belief that “I don’t have enough” must be torn down. The solution to your business challenges starts within. You must recalibrate your mindset, much like the widow who shifted her thinking when she believed the prophet’s word. God starts with what you have, no matter how insignificant it may seem.
verse.7 highlights the necessity of action: “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts.” The widow did not have cash to begin, but she had a resource—her pot of oil—and she took action by selling it. You must be offering something in the marketplace, no matter how small it seems, you must be selling something valuable.
In business, one form of capital is relationship capita (social capital). Money can emerge from the relationships you cultivate. In Mark 2:1-5, we read the story of the friends who brought a paralytic man to Jesus. It was their faith that Jesus recognized, showing the power of relationships to bring you into places you couldn’t reach on your own. Just as the paralytic man needed his friends, you need solid relationships with God and man to succeed in business.
The Bible teaches the importance of personal growth and development. In 3 John 1:2, we read, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” To succeed in business, you must invest in yourself through personal capacity building—this could be learning new skills, acquiring knowledge, or developing discipline.
Lastly, the most important step is to start. Taking the first step can be challenging, but it is necessary. Courage to begin is a divine principle—remember, “Do not despise the day of small beginnings” (Zechariah 4:10). Once you take that first step, momentum builds, and it gets easier.
