Is it important to live your Christian faith in your business life? First, we need to know what the difference is for a secular businessperson and a Christian businessperson. Then we can ask ourselves this hard question how we are living our 9-5pm (some of us work different or longer hours).
What sets a Christian business apart can be analyzed by rudimentary uses of a compass. A compass being a navigational instrument which determines direction. God designed the earth with a magnetic field. Interesting, hey, I wonder – if He knew we would use the compass to find our geographical way, so he made the earth magnetic. Okay, back to our analogy before I get more off track!
Businesses owners or at least good business owners look outside them self for guidance. We all have talents and gifts fit for our business, but we can’t carry all the necessary tools to run an everyday business. So much like a compass we need to find out where we are and then what steps it will take to move us in the right direction. If we are a Christian in business, we will use the Bible to direct our steps on this issue. In Romans 12:4-5: “For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” This is not just a scripture for the church it is also for Christians in business.
One of the fundamental differences for a Christian business owner is that his wisdom must come from God’s Word. You can have all the degrees that have taught you the practical steps on how to do what you are doing but with out Scripture they are all but useless. Christian leaders are called to lead according to biblical principles, while secular leaders may or may not have any moral compass.
As Christian business leaders we are called to be more servant-minded, focused on meeting the needs of others rather than on our own personal gain. Most secular businesses (not all of course) want their staff to serve them and their business. They will have no regard for the person; they only want them to follow the system and accomplish the task so they can fulfill the financial bottom line. Yes, all businesses must make a profit, but it should never be at the expense of their staff’s wellbeing. Your kindness and love for your staff will build your wealth enough to care for your people and make a fair profit, but most of all you will be building wealth where it counts. Matthew 19 20-21Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Anyone who is leading in business knows it’s a very lonely place to be. As Christians in business we know we are never alone, we have our Heavenly Father who cares for us even in our day-to-day trails of being a Christian business leader. We can talk one on one with God, we can cry out our troubles, and He will listen and give us comfort. We can celebrate with God when we have achieved our goals. What I appreciate so much is that when no one else sees my hard work, He does and He is proud of me.
The most secure place to be in your business is in Christ and Christ alone.
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