A Proper Foundation for a Successful Business and Personal Life - Part 3
by Ed Becker
Profile on: Ed Becker, co-founder of Econotech Ltd., providing technical support for pulp and paper companies.
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A New Foundation Takes Shape
About three weeks later, on July 3, 1977, I asked Jesus to take charge of my life. I really didn't know that much about Jesus. I was like the thief on the cross who asked Jesus to remember him (Luke 23:42, 43). I just asked him to be my Lord and Savior. I knew He could do a much better job of directing my life than I had been doing. Norma and I went into the hospital and told Alan that Jesus was now my Lord and Savior. Alan was so happy! This meant so much to him since he had always wanted his father to know Jesus.
About a month later, Alan went into a coma and the doctor told us that his brain was no longer functioning because of all the pressure and infection. Norma and I spent a lot of time at Alan's bedside for the next few days until he died. We both had expected Alan to live and were deeply saddened by his death. This was quite a shock to me as a one-month-old believer. I had so looked forward to sharing my Christian life with him.
We were very sad that he had died, but since Jesus was our Lord and Savior we knew Alan was happy with his Lord and Savior and was getting all of his questions answered. We had the complete assurance that we would see him again in heaven for eternity. This gave Norma and me tremendous peace and hope, as is promised in Philippians 4:7,
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
A New Life With New Priorities
The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:l7 that, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” This certainly was true for me; my life changed 180 degrees! My conversion gave me a new foundation for my personal, family and business life. It changed from the shifting sands based on my own self to the solid rock of God. This dramatically changed my life and my priorities. Like the apostle Paul, I considered most of my past rubbish that I may gain Christ (Phil 3:7–11). Now my priorities are:
1. my relationship with God
2. my relationship with my wife and family
3. serving God
4. my business
There was an immediate change in my life in 1977, and there has been an ongoing change ever since. As I have read the Bible and experienced God’s faithfulness, I have grown in my Christian walk and strengthened my priorities. My relationship with God is based on a personal relationship with Jesus and is not based on a religion or a particular church. The Bible is my reference book for both my business and my personal life. It is the only true, unchanging basis for life.
My Relationship with God
Since I asked Jesus to be my Lord and Savior, my relationship with God has strengthened year by year. The first few years, I couldn't get enough of reading the Bible, attending Bible studies, and going to church. I learned how the Old Testament points to the coming of Jesus and to the salvation to be provided by Him on the cross. This was all prophesied many times in the Old Testament. A description of the crucifixion was written in Psalm 22 many years before crucifixion was even known. I learned that we are all born with a broken relationship with God and the only way we can be right in God's eyes is through Jesus taking the punishment for us on the cross. I still cannot understand the depth of the love of God shown by the cross. Jesus knew when He came to earth that He would be crucified. Though He dreaded the physical and emotional agony of the cross, He still willingly went to take our punishment (John 3:16).
My relationship with God is based on time spent in prayer and Bible study, and thanking God for what he has done in my life. I have learned that the most important thing to God is our love relationship to Him, and this is more important than what we do for Him. The work we do in the church and in traveling around the world sharing our story is to say thank you to God and not to try to earn our salvation. Jesus earned it on the cross. The Bible commands us to tell others about Jesus and God’s love for them (Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:19–20, 2 Corinthians 5:18–21).
My Relationship with Norma and the Family
Priority number two in my life is my relationship with Norma and the children. As I said before, I neglected them for many years. I was 47 years old when I asked Christ into my life and had been married for 26 years. Those were 26 difficult years for Norma. Now I give very high priority to spending time with her and doing Christian activities together. We also spend time with our two children and four grandchildren when they are available. Most older people look back on their lives and wish they had spent more time with their family and less time at work. I’m taking that to heart.
The change in my life took place about ten years after Norma had turned her own life over to Christ. This brought me to the point of becoming a believer, and it also strengthened Norma’s faith. We became totally aware of the sovereignty of God. Because of God’s grace, we never became angry with God when Alan died. We never asked, “Why Alan or why us?” We knew God’s purpose was being worked out. Norma truly learned that,
“In all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose,” just as the Bible says (Rom 8:28).
We didn’t know what good would come from it, but God did. Now we have a totally different focus and purpose for our lives. Norma is now free to be involved in our local church and lead Bible studies as well as attend them. She realizes we should never stop learning from God’s Word. Since we have the same goals for our lives, our desire is to serve God and to serve each other. She can now look to me as head of the family. Since I now desire to follow God's commands, she no longer has the fear that I will leave her. In her old age, if she should become incapacitated in any way, she knows I will always be there to encourage and care for her. Norma also has the total assurance that we will be together for eternity. Now, it's a wonderful life.
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