As a Christian in business (see my previous article) I talked about the need for congruency between life outside of the office and the way in which we as Christians should do business.

How do you then be in the world but not of the world?

How do you not bow to the idols of the world and keep strong in your resolve that that the relationship with God is honoured through all that you do in and out of the business life you lead?

“Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.” 1 John 2:15-17 (The Message (MSG) Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson)

When you first made that life commitment before the Lord to follow Him and trust Him for all things, the ‘first love’ led you to go after Him with all you had.

Many Christians, not all, loose this ‘first love’ mentality when they get secure in their own life, family, home, church, the same seats each Sunday, attending the same small group week in week out… and if they are not careful it becomes tradition and even religion.

Each day we should try to remind ourselves of our first love encounter with Jesus and how this changed our lives for the better. This should motivate us to continually ask the Holy Spirit to guide us in the decisions we make in business., moving forward with the want for this same joy every day.

This message from John tells us that if we love the way of the world and rely on it and it’s ways, the the love of the Father will be squeezed out – do you want Him ‘squeezed’ out of your life or your business?

Every area of your business should be aligned with the values you hold and this need for God to be in it all.

Think about your finances – how you manage them, how you give back into the Church from this income, where you bank it, how you steward this well and don’t waste this provision.

Think about the way that you treat staff – Jesus came as a servant King, do strive to be like Christ in all you do, do you serve your staff well?

Think about suppliers – do your printers use environmentally friendly processes, do they only use FSC paper, what is their recycling policy, is the correct stewardship of the Earth and creation important to them and it should be for you? …the list could be endless.

Acting this way and ensuring that every decision you make is in-line with biblical principles will ensure that you are putting God first in your business. Putting His ways above the ways of the world “is set for eternity” – are you set for eternity?

Suggested Reading:

Just Business

Alexander Hill. IVP Academic 2008, Paperback, 276 pages, $10.00

About My Father’s Business

Regi Campbell. Multnomah Books 2009, Paperback, 240 pages, $7.43

Many business owners and entrepreneurs, like you, find that their business revolves around them and that it just would not be the same without them at the helm. True. As a start up business it is normally the owner of the business that does all the sales, marketing, project work, administration, finance and so on. The light soon comes on upstairs when they realize that they can’t do everything on their own and they need to employ staff or outsource to do the many jobs needed. After all if you were good at making widgets before you started your business and now focus on marketing or human resources more than making widgets – is this right? You went in to business because you were good at making widgets, and widgets you should make!

The only real way to succeed in business is to treat the business as if it is an entity in its own right – let it become a business that you are serving in rather than a business all about you! As a Christian I firmly believe in the Bible as the true Word of God and feel that acting in this way, giving the business over to God has led to our success in Creative Rush “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” Prov 16:3 (NIV).

In doing this, handing the business over to the Lord, then not telling anyone – are we are hiding the answer from the world? If Christ can beat sin and death – a recession, credit crunch or downturn is relative small fry!

Keeping our life as Christians hidden from our business life it just not cricket! We should be seeking to build our business on biblical foundations just as we do for the rest our lives. Then in turn should we not live this out in the public domain, showing others how and why we do what we do?

Should we not display the fact that we have built our business, and continue to run our business, on the Word of God and act in many circumstances with faith more than human action or decision first?

In the fast-paced modern-world of business, it is especially important to realize that God’s Word should be, and remain, the cornerstone of your personal life and that of business. God’s Word gives all the insight into how we should run our businesses and with that comes wisdom. (Prov. 2:6).

Christians in business – ensure your life values and business values are entwined with each other and the practices of both mirror these values. Hand your business over today in your prayers and see that the ultimate provider and creator is near at hand.