Avoiding the Titanic Mistake

Devotional
Written By Dr. Paul Miantona

"Give me an undivided heart that I may fear your name." — Psalm 86:11 

The story of the Titanic offers a powerful lesson for Christian business owners (CBOs) like me. Built with watertight compartments, the ship was considered unsinkable. The thinking was simple: if one section was damaged, the rest would remain secure. But when water spilled from one compartment into another, the entire ship sank.  

As a Christian business owner (CBO), I face the same danger in my own life. It is easy to compartmentalize: to keep my faith in one box, my business in another, my family in a third, and my private struggles hidden away. I may tell myself that what happens in one area won't affect the others. But eventually, it does. 

The truth is that leadership flows from the heart. What I tolerate in private will eventually influence how I lead in public. My spiritual health affects my business decisions, my relationships, and my ability to steward what God has entrusted to me. 

David understood this when he prayed, "Give me an undivided heart." He knew that God desires a fully surrendered heart, not compartmentalization. He wants every part of my life to be submitted to His lordship: my ambitions, finances, relationships, decisions, and business. 

As Christian entrepreneurs, we often ask God to bless our businesses, but do we invite Him to shape how we run them?  

Below are probing questions I sometimes ask myself:   

  • Are my business practices consistent with my Christian values? 

  • Have I allowed success to become more important than obedience? 

  • Is there an area of my finances, leadership, or personal life that I have kept from God's influence? 

  • Is there a hidden compromise that could become tomorrow's iceberg? 

Jesus modeled complete commitment and discipline. His public life and private life were perfectly intertwined. As Christian business owners, we pursue that standard. Avoiding the Titanic mistake begins with surrender. I must invite God into every compartment of my life and business, allowing His Spirit to expose, correct, and redirect whatever is out of place.  

The greatest threat to my business is not the economy, competition, or uncertainty. It is a divided heart. What area of my life or business needs to be fully surrendered to God? A heart connected to God is far more secure than a life built on carefully separated compartments.

Dr. Paul Miantona

Dr. Paul D. Miantona is a seasoned business professional, real estate agent, and investor based in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems, a Master of Business Administration (MBA), a Master’s degree in Accounting and Financial Management (MAFM), and a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) with an emphasis in Strategic Management. After obtaining his doctoral degree, Dr. Miantona served as an adjunct professor at Saint Mary’s University, his alma mater, where he contributed to the academic and professional development of students. From 2004 to 2010, he was a co-owner of Real Estate Investment and Management Services (RIMS), a company widely recognized within the Liberian community in Minnesota. Through RIMS, he and his partners helped many African immigrants, especially Liberians, transition into homeownership and build long-term financial stability. You can reach Dr. Miantona at paul@bibleandbusiness.onmicrosoft.com.

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Cabins and Family Conflict