Torch, Winter 1979

14 The Times and the Seasons Pat Landers Dixon G od is sending a choice person to our college's Business Department. Sarah Harriman Smith will assume her teaching position in the fall of 1980. She now resides with her husband, Barry, in Roanoke, Virginia. The 1975 Cedarville College alumnae is now a graduate teaching assistant at Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University. She soon will receive her Ph.D. from the university in business administration with an emphasis in accounting. Mrs. Smith shares some beliefs with you readers about the Christian businesswoman. Many Christian women are finding that God has given them abilities in the area of business. These talents are God-given as much as the more widely recognized abilities of music, art, and writing. Those who have these abilities are responsible to be faithful stewards, to develop their abilities, and to use them as the Lord leads. Proper development requires planning and goal setting in this professional area of life. Christian women do not need to rely on the world, other women, or even personal resources to set viable goals. God, through His Word, gives boundaries to aid in focusing a woman's professional plans. With this clear focus comes the abundant, well-rounded life only a Christian woman can experience. The first boundary and her main purpose for existence is to glorify God. She cannot set for herself objectives that do not glorify God. Jn the business world, most objectives appear acceptable: e.g., to become a C.P.A.; to be top salesperson of the year; or to become vice-president or president of the firm . Jn setting and reaching these goals, ITINERARIES President Paul Dixon, January 13 Deer Park Baptist Church, Cincinnati, OH; 20 Franklin Road Baptist Church, Murfreesboro, TN; February 2-3 Independent Baptist Church, Chattanooga, TN; 9-10 Lima Baptist Temple, Lima, OH; 17 Grace Baptist Church, Middletown, OH; March 2 First Baptist Church, Berlin, OH; 9 Graham Road Baptist however, her attitude must be such that glorifies the Lord. The strategies she uses must be pleasing to Him. He must receive the glory in each successful step she takes. A great testimony for a woman today is achieving professional success; not because it was her right, but because in doing so she glorified God. The second boundary concerns family life. God has set definite responsibilities for a wife and mother. She is to be in submission to her husband (Eph. 5:22). She is to care for her household (Prov. 31:15, 27). She, along with her husband, is responsible to train their children (Deut. 6:7; Prov. 22:6; Isa. 54:13). God does not give a married Christian woman the option of choosing between the roles of wife and businesswoman. He does not allow a mother to disregard her role for a career. Consider it from the viewpoint of God's will. Once married, His will for her includes the role of wife as prescribed in Scripture. Once children are bom, His will includes the role ofmother.Any other role a woman undertakes must fit within the boundaries of Christian family life. Other roles are possible. Consider the lives ofDeborah, Lydia, or Dorcas. Read God's description of a successful woman in Proverbs 31. It includes as many references to business type activities as to traditional household activities. A successful Christian woman is one who fulfills her responsibilities to the Lord in every area of her life. How can a woman set and strive for professional goals while operating within God's boundaries? The key is balance. The strategy is to set professional goals which challenge her abilities, follow the guidelines for family life, and reinforce her main purpose of glorifying God. Once the goals are set, time and resources should be systematically allocated according to the balanced goals. The results will be successful if accomplished through the power of God. God will prosper the woman whose professional goals are within the boundaries He has set. MARCH 17 to MARCH 29, 1980 WRITE TO: DR. JAMES T. JEREMIAH CHANCELLOR CEDARVILLE COLLEGE CEDARVILLE, OHIO 45314 (513) 766-2211 Church, Cuyahoga Falls, OH; 23 Grace Baptist Church, Westerville, OH. Chancellor James T_ Jeremiah, January 9-13 Bethesda Baptist Church, Brownsburg, IN; February 8-10 Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, Homeworth, OH; March 1-2 Calvary Baptist Church, Sandusky, OH; 8-12 Baptist Mid-Missions Conference, Calvary Baptist Church, Highland, IN; 17-28 Tour to Israel.