Christianity and Entrepreneurship

One for Easter by Rana Tarakji Freelance Writer & Digital Marketer FB / IG / Snapchat: @ranatarakji ranatarakji@gmail.com

The idea of worshiping God via a successful business venture may be met with palatable retorts of dismissal. The idea of wanting to prosper and be bountiful has been spun may times over, even immortalized in popular religious art. The desire for riches has been made to equate with not wanting to live in Heaven, or being too worldly and most of all, “…For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”. If the real belief is that all things come from God, why then should a drive for excellence in business be any different?

Any Christian believer doing business has a great duality to contend with:

1. The primary goal for the business is to make a profit, therefore, hard decisions which impact lives must be made.
2. On the other hand, there is the question of being led by God and making a logical vs faith-based decision to save the business.

In resolving this internal conflict there are a few principles the Christian Entrepreneur should base all of his/her actions on.

Lay Solid Groundwork

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” Using a quote from 2^nd Timothy, hard and honest work and by extension, hard workers are to be held in high regard. A person must never be afraid to totally commit to an idea and do the needed research to ensure maximum success in the marketplace.

Do onto Others

In war, every battle has a political end, in the same manner when maneuvering the minefield that can be employee relations every person has their own goal. Many times, these goals will not align with the direction of the business. This can escalate quite quickly when an owner is being pressured for time off requests, wage and benefit concerns among other huge life impacting decisions that will need an answer. The bible is quite clear in these matters:

“You shall not abuse a needy and destitute laborer, whether a fellow countryman or a stranger” (Deuteronomy, 24:14). Also “The wages of a worker shall not remain with you all night until the morning” Leviticus 19:13.

Once a fair wage and benefit package has been developed based on market research, apply it firmly and ensure that it is given out in a timely manner. Treating employees, customers and business partners fairly is the same as treating God justly.

Operate Above Board

“‘Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the LORD.” Leviticus 19:14. Even when the other party cannot see the results or the consequences of an action, it is unbecoming of a Christian Entrepreneur to deliberately profit at their expense. Businesses have been known to take advantage of trusting customers and never taking any steps to atone for the misstep. In looking to grow a business known for its integrity, it is essential for steps to be taken to ensure all parties are always treated fairly.

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