Faith-Driven Entrepreneurs: We Will More Than Conquer COVID-19
Faith-driven entrepreneurs: what if we leaned into who the Bible says we already are in Christ when it comes to COVID-19?
Faith-driven entrepreneurs: what if we leaned into who the Bible says we already are in Christ when it comes to COVID-19? Instead of what business journals, entrepreneurial thought leaders, social media influencers, economists, news media, social media, neighbors, experts, friends and neighbors, or even our inner voice tell us? That “we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” — Romans 8:37?
According to Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary, “conquer” means to “overcome by force of arms; to gain mastery over or win by overcoming obstacles or opposition.”
Is it really enough for us entrepreneurs to simply survive COVID-19? Or avoid getting it? Or find a vaccine? Or get tested for the antibodies? Or get our government funding assistance? Or just be more innovative and collaborative? Is that what victory really looks like for followers of Jesus? It’s true that based on the tragic death toll and the way this strain of the flu affects some, it can be a devastating and debilitatingly painful reality — with negative impacts physically, mentally, emotionally, and even spiritually. It’s true that the mental, financial, emotional, and spiritual impacts alone are already taking a toll on the health of our families, relationships, and communities. It’s true that the economic toll to businesses has also been massive — COVID-19 has shut down 3.3 million U.S. businesses, more than one in five! And, it’s also true that the power of business model innovation and community collaboration can help an entrepreneur think outside-the-box and perhaps even pivot their way out of this mess. We can’t just think our way out of every problem — we can’t outsmart every challenge.
We can’t just think our way out of every problem — we can’t outsmart every challenge.
But, what if there was a better way? A truer, freer, more beautiful, more transformational way to suffer well — through, in, and out of this COVID-19 pandemic? At home and at work? On weekends, Sunday, and Monday?
In perhaps the greatest book in the Bible inside the greatest chapter and around some of the greatest promises of hope and love, Romans 8, Paul describes followers of Christ in the context of enduring the worst suffering — “tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? Being killed all day long — as ‘more than conquerors through him who loved us’” (Romans 8:35–37).
Let that sink in for a minute. Inhale. Exhale.
Rediscovering our true identity because of God’s love for us, helps us see and believe who we really are — more than conquerors.
Rediscovering our true identity because of God’s love for us, helps us see and believe who we really are — more than conquerors.
This means that in Christ we can do more than just survive this. We can thrive in the midst of it. We can come out stronger and better and go deeper and farther. Remember, as conquerors, “we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,” — 2 Corinthians 10:3–5.
COVID-19 is not our real enemy. Diseases and pandemics are not who we are fighting. Human leaders trying their best — or worst — to govern and lead us are not the real foe. The news moguls, social media platforms, experts, talking heads, etc. are not our real enemies. Banks, economists, venture capitalists, frightened consumers, etc. are not our real enemies. No. Sin is. And sin leads to death. And praise be to God Jesus Christ has defeated sin, Hell, and the grave once and for all!
The way we entrepreneurs talk about our hope, our despair, our frustrations, and concerns, will preach a certain gospel to those in our business community — team members, coworkers, customers, suppliers, partners, colleagues, government, and education leaders. A fleshly gospel or spiritual gospel. A hopeless gospel or a hopeful gospel. A transient gospel or an eternal one.
We can preach the real gospel with our actions and our words if we start believing and be-living that we are more than conquerors. We can and will gain mastery over this because we serve The Master. We will overcome by force — the force of faith, hope, and love. We will overcome these obstacles and opposition because Jesus has overcome the worst on our behalf. Through the power of the Spirit, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of the Father, our weapons — like prayer, Ephesians 6 spiritual armor, spiritual gifts, fruits of the spirit — and the community of the church, we can and will more than conquer this because we are more than conquerors.
Together, let’s “destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” Let’s change the narrative as a community of faith and entrepreneurs from “we may not make it” to “NO, IN ALL THESE THINGS WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS THROUGH HIM WHO LOVED US.” Let’s lean into who we are now more than ever before. And by doing so we will transform our language, our work, our family, our neighborhood, our city, and our communities together.
Let’s lean into who we are now more than ever before. And by doing so we will transform our language, our work, our family, our neighborhood, our city, and our communities together.
Faith Works is a fluid publication of ongoing discoveries on the journey of faith, work, home, and adventure. Because when we believe in every area of life, faith works.
