While owning your own business is an incredibly stressful proposition, especially when that business is in its infancy, it’s also one of the most rewarding things that you can do. However, while we live in a society that teaches everyone, especially business owners, that they should do whatever it takes to get ahead, we know that God doesn’t promote those ideas.
As a business owner and a disciple of Christ, the most important thing that you will ever do is to operate your business according to God’s Word. Not only does this put you in the best position to succeed financially, but it also means that you’re setting yourself up to be a successful disciple.
Today, learn more about four Biblical principles that you can apply to your business.
Your Business Plan and God’s Business Plan
Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV)
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Before you officially opened your business, you likely sat down to write a detailed business plan. This plan included every intricate detail of your business.
Your business plan involved studies about the industry in which you planned on operating, your competitors, your product or service, financial projections, and every other aspect of what it would mean to own your own business.
Many industry experts refer to a detailed business plan as the “Bible of your business.”
While that’s a nice analogy, and you should certainly have a business plan that you follow, disciples understand that our plans pale in comparison to the plans that God has for us.
In Jeremiah 29:11, God told the prophet that He had plans for his life. Those plans were to allow him to prosper, to protect him, and to provide Jeremiah with every good thing in life. If God had those plans for Jeremiah, He has them for you, too! That’s great news for you and your business.
No matter how great your vision for your business is, God’s vision is greater. Paul told the Church at Ephesus that God was able to do more than we could ever ask Him to do. Moreover, God is able to do more than we could ever dream. Rest in the fact that no matter how great your dreams for your business are, God is able to exceed them if you fully put your trust in Him.
Godly Growth in Business
1 Chronicles 4:10 (NIV)
Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.
Whether you own an online boutique, or you’ve launched a multisite business that serves customers and clients across multiple states, you want your business to grow. That’s not a bad thing, and you’re not a selfish person for having those goals. Remember, we’ve already established that God is able to grow your business beyond your wildest dreams.
However, there is a path to Godly growth in business.
First of all, God wants you to ask Him for the help you need to make your business prosper. That may seem like an obvious statement, but many of us struggle with the idea of asking God to bless us. We ask Him to heal us, we ask Him to protect us, but we’re often hesitant about asking Him to prosper us.
We don’t know what Jabez did for a living, but it’s safe to assume that he worked in agriculture of some sort, as that’s what most people did in the Old Testament. Jabez didn’t shy away from the fact that he wanted his livelihood to prosper.
He asked God to expand his borders, and God granted his request.
If you want your business to expand and prosper, ask God to make it happen. While you can launch advertising campaigns and apply practical business knowledge, there is no substitute for prayer. When you ask God to “enlarge your territory,” He will respond.
The Golden Rule of Business
Matthew 7:12 (NIV)
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
The words spoken by Christ in this passage are known as “The Golden Rule.” We teach this concept to children when they are young, as it’s the most concise answer to questions involving how we treat other people.
“The Golden Rule” about how you treat others is The Golden Rule of business.
Depending on the type of business that you own, you may deal with numerous employees and clients. One of the most important aspects of entrepreneurship involves treating others the right way, and Christ told us how to do that.
If you were an employee in your business, would you like the way that you treated yourself? Are you overly critical of your staff? Do you make things harder on them than they need to be? If so, make some adjustments and start treating your team the way that you would like to be treated.
Your customers or clients are the source of income for your business. How do you treat those people? The Golden Rule even applies to customer service! When you’re dealing with the people who spend their money at your business, do you treat them the way you would want a business owner to treat you as a client?
Commit to treating your employees and your client base the way that you want to be treated. Doing so is the easiest way to apply Godly principles to your business.
Finding Favor
Psalm 84:11 (NIV)
For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.
The favor of God is often considered one of the mysterious topics in the Bible, even though it shouldn’t be. In the New International Version of the Bible, the word “favor” occurs 125 times in 124 verses. In most of those verses, the authors of the Bible were referencing God’s favor enabling His people to do things.
The favor of God is powerful, and it’s not something that God tries to withhold from His people.
The key to finding favor is found in the passage we just read from the Book of Psalms. God bestows His favor on those whose walk is blameless.
If you’re reading this, you may have recoiled a bit at that statement. After all, we all struggle with sin and temptation, so are any of us really blameless? According to Colossians 1:22, we have been reconciled to God through Christ, meaning we have been made blameless!
The most effective way to find the favor of God is to be obedient. When you apply the first three steps that we’ve discussed in today’s study, you’re walking in obedience.
Submitting your plan to God’s plans, approaching your business from a position of prayer, and treating others the way you want to be treated are all instances of obedience. Obedience produces favor.
A Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I know that Your plans for my business are greater than anything I could ask or think. Today, I submit my plans to You.
Show me opportunities to treat others according to the teachings of Christ. Father, I’m asking You to bless my business. Expand my borders and enlarge my territory. I know that the ultimate key to success is finding Your favor. In Christ’s name, Amen.