Christian Business Builder

I want to start this post by asking a question: “How do the concepts of Christianity mesh with the ideals of capitalism?” In other words, “Can a faith-filled and serving believer in Christ also effectively own and operate a successful business in an age of rampant greed and corporate corruption?”

Let’s face the facts. A very large number of “home-based” business opportunities are scams designed to make a privileged few a lot of money and the real backbone of the company (the field-force) very little. The intent of most “brick and mortar” businesses is to make the most money for the owners while paying  the employees the least amount possible to keep them at their jobs. Add this to the stress of a bad national economy and what is a Christian to do?

First, let me say without doubt that I believe that a person who is a life-altering servant of the living God can and really should be actively involved in the marketplace. What I think we need to consider though, is not should we run successful businesses, but how should those businesses look and what should those businesses promote and do?

The answer to these questions will not only define our business models but will also testify of the practicality of our faith. Ghandi once said that he would be a Christian except it be for Christians. He said that he had read the Bible and agreed with much of what Jesus taught. However, what had kept him from accepting Jesus’ teachings was the lack of a testimony of the power of those teachings in lives of professed believers.

If we then, as believers, want to build successful businesses while advancing the cause of Christ, what should we do?

1. We should remember that we are Christ-followers before we are business owners. If we would simply treat those in our businesses with the love and wisdom of Christ, we would be well on our way to a successful business model.
2. We should establish biblical principles in every phase of our operations. From the training of our sales-force to the way we pay our debtors, we should use biblical principles as our sole guide for success.
3. As our business grows and gains profitability we ought to look for ways to reach out to our communities and their needs. Christian business owners ought to be out front in looking for real solutions in our troubled neighborhoods. We ought to be the ones who will look at every possibility to provide opportunity for hard working and willing people to get ahead and make their own way in this world. So much talent is lost in the cracks of society when people are left to themselves. We, as Christians who also own businesses, ought to work with those in the cracks (and churches that are willing to get out into the communities) to teach a new generation the benefits and blessings of a Godly worldview.

Just a week or so ago we were all saddened (and hopefully righteously indignant) over the video of the honor student who was beaten to death on that street in Chicago. If Christian business owners would band together and re-take these streets, tragedies like this one might well be avoided. We must not just see folks as clients, potential sales, and the like, but as souls bound for eternity. Christ came to give life and when we abandon the streets to Satan, we fail to serve our God. Like Ghandi those who struggle in this life might well say, “I would be a Christian, except it be for Christians.”

Will we choose to establish our businesses with a greater vision in mind? One that includes not only profits for us, but also considering how our companies reflect the testimony of Christ as well.

Proverbs 6:6-11

Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

Have you ever wondered what this ant thought of the sluggard as he looked at him from the anthill?

He must have thought about the waste of potential that the sluggard was born with.

Maybe he worried about the sluggard’s family with winter fast approaching.

He could have been considering all that he could teach the sluggard if he would just take time to listen.

Mostly though, I think the ant was sad. You see, it is sad to think that anyone created by the Author of all that was, is and ever will be would settle in life for what can come to him by just existing. God placed within the ant a desire to do the best he could within the wisdom, power, and resources made available to her.

So, for her to peer out of her anthill and see someone with much greater potential than hers just sitting on the sidelines of life with no amtitions to be all that God made them to be must have indeed been a sad thing.

You might be wondering what such a story as this has to do with Network Marketing as a Christian business builder? Well, in this story, three things come to my mind:

1. If I believe God wants me in this industry, am I serving him to the best of my ability?
2. Am I learning all that I can so that I can be the best coach and mentor that my team can have?
3. Am I inspiring others to take up the cause so that we can multiply our efforts and change our world?

The ant in this story was just doing what came naturally. She was preparing for the winter which would surely come. Are we, who believe that God has given us the desire to build strong and successful network marketing groups, following in the footsteps of the ant or are we just waiting for whatever happens our way?

Just a thought!

When we consider the whole concept business ownership and prosperity, the Bible must be our principle guide. The biggest problem I see among God’s people is that we like the passages that deal with having lots of money and prestiege, but we are not so sure about the passages that deal with how we are to get and/or handle the success and prosperity.

I cannot find anywhere in Scripture where God is opposed to either success or prosperity. However, there are warnings upon warnings about success and prosperity becoming the gods of our lives. If we are going to build a successful business based on the truths of God’s word, we must understand what God says regarding these things.

Psalm 1 is a single passage that deals with all the aspects necessary to produce both success and prosperity. In this short Psalm we see several things:

• Be careful who you take your advice from.  Psa 1:1  “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” There are lots of “gurus” in the Network Marketing arena, but because they built a big business does not in and of itself make them the people you should listen to about building a Christian business.
• Realize that your wisdom and knowledge needs to come from your understanding of the word of God. Psa 1:2  “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” No one knows more about how God wants you to build your business. No one will give you better advice than him. He may use people to help you learn the tactics, but the basics all come from his word!

• Know that if you let God be the your primary teacher and mentor, that he promises you success and prosperity. Psa 1:3  “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” God can confidently make this promise because if you are meditating in his word and making it your primary source of business wisdom, you will always build your business in a way that is pleasing to him. You will also see success and prosperity through God’s eyes not those in the world.

God does not give anyone who is a Christian carte blanc, but he does tell us that we can be successful when we understand his word and follow him in all things. So … will you let God have that place in your business?