The Power of Purpose: How Incorporating Faith Can Transform Your Business
Explore the benefits of building a business with a higher purpose beyond profit
Once upon a time, there was a young man named John who inherited his father’s business. His father had built a successful business based on strong ethics and integrity, and had instilled in John the importance of running a business with a purpose beyond making a profit.
John wanted to honor his father’s legacy by not only maintaining the high standards of the business, but also by infusing it with his own faith.
John knew that he couldn’t just simply add a Bible verse to the company’s mission statement and call it a day. He understood that building a Christian business required a holistic approach, one that involved every aspect of the business, from the products and services they offered to the way they treated their employees and customers.
One of the most important rules that John learned as he set out to create a Christian business was to strive for excellence in all that he did.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” (Colossians 3:23 NIV)
This meant that John couldn’t just coast by on mediocrity, but instead had to put in the hard work and effort to be the best in his industry.
Another important rule that John learned was to always put others before himself.
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” (Philippians 2:3–4 NIV)
This meant that John couldn’t just focus on maximizing his own profits at the expense of his employees, customers, or community. Instead, he had to constantly consider how his actions would impact those around him.
John also recognized the importance of transparency and honesty in a Christian business.
“The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.” (Proverbs 11:3, NIV)
This meant that John couldn’t cut corners or engage in shady business practices. Instead, he had to be upfront and honest with his customers and employees, even if it meant taking a hit in the short-term.
One of the most challenging aspects of building a Christian business for John was finding the balance between faith and business.
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1:27, NIV)
While John wanted to infuse his business with his faith, he didn’t want it to become a “religious” business that only catered to a certain group of people. Instead, he strived to create a business that reflected his faith through its actions and values, rather than through overt religious symbols.
John also understood the importance of serving his community and giving back.
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” (Matthew 25:40, NIV)
This meant that John couldn’t just focus on making money, but also had to find ways to give back to the community, whether through charitable donations or volunteer work.
Through hard work, dedication, and a commitment to his faith, John was able to build a thriving Christian business. He served as an inspiration to those around him, showing that it was possible to run a business with integrity and a purpose beyond profit.
In conclusion, Building a Christian business is not an easy task, but it is certainly a worthwhile one.
Faith-centered business requires a holistic approach, one that involves every aspect of the business, from the products and services offered to the way employees and customers are treated.
It equires hard work, dedication, and a commitment to excellence, putting others before oneself, being transparent and honest, balancing faith and business, and giving back to the community.
These principles may sound simple, but they are not easy to implement in practice. It takes a lot of self-discipline and a willingness to make sacrifices for the greater good.
John’s story serves as a reminder that it is possible to build a business that is not only successful, but also positively impacts the lives of those around us. It’s a reminder that a business can be a force for good in the world, and that by incorporating our faith into our work, we can truly make a difference.
It’s a challenge to all of us who are in business or planning to start one to infuse our business with our faith and values, to be a light in a sometimes dark and profit-driven world.
