Even though business operations and activities are almost inseparable from the political influence which is at times tainted and dirty, Christianity and religion, in general, is another determining factor for business operations and success. This is principally because every business environment requires or has ethical considerations that determine employee behavior as well as strategic operations such as corporate social responsibility (CSR). In other words, every ethical value adopted by an individual or a business entity is hinged on the Christian faith and more specifically the Bible. Essentially, running a Christian-based business does not necessarily imply that the business aspects have to be reinvented or some repealed. Neither does the concept connote that the business operations have to be phenomenally different from a secular business; instead, this misconception should be debunked in theory and practice.
In lieu, making use of proven techniques or approaches such as effective leadership, diligence, ethics, organizational management, and business savvy are pivotal to the day-to-day operations of a Christian business similar to any other secular business enterprise. It is through this foundation that Biblical labor can better be understood as a divine calling which does not alienate conventional business practices but rather incorporates them as part of the ministry. The only point of departure for Christian business or Biblical labor from the secular business is the focus or purpose. Elaborately, while secular businesses are aimed and focused on making a profit and improving their revenues and margins, a Christian business should be focused on serving God by serving others or consumers through a Christian-like attitude and perseverance. The Bible fundamentally commissions Christians to work diligently with all their hearts in whatever they do and consider it as working for the Lord and not for human masters, (Colossians 3:23).
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On this accord, while the purpose of a business is to provide goods and services and on the same vain create meaningful employment, it resonates with Biblical labor teachings which assert that Christians need to work hard, and by so doing, help the weak because Jesus contended that it is more blessed to give rather than receiving (Acts 20:35). As such, when a business provides goods, services, and creates employment, it fulfills this mandate. Moreover, since a Christian business aims to serve the Lord through giving and helping the needy as Jesus taught; the profits and revenue made by the business should be used to serve God. This can be achieved through helping the needy and the poor in the society in the same manner and spirit as Zacchaeus who gave away half of his property and wealth to the poor and received salvation, (Luke 19:8).
Perhaps for a Christian to competently understand Biblical labor with in-depth, he or she should gaze upon the Lord, the author of creation. In the story of creation, God created the world using not only his words but also hands in molding man in his image, and He saw his work was excellent and perfect. Thus, because we are his reflection and he is a worker, God designed or created humans to work, (Moll, 2011). Nonetheless, the Christian business as hinted previously should glorify God as the author of hard work. Elaborately, the products and services undertaken or transacted by a Christian business should be to the service and glory of the Lord and not in violation of His great and pure mandate. On this accord, businesses that are unethical according to the society’s standards are as well unethical to Christianity and infringe on the Biblical labor teachings.
Therefore, as much as Christian businesses should not coherently be different from secular businesses in terms of operations, they should adhere to the Ten Commandments. To this end, businesses that deal in illicit drugs and stealing or scamming such as money laundering should not be undertaken by a Christian. For the Bible on Biblical labor asserts that anyone who has been stealing should stop and instead, he should labor in honesty and hard work so that he may have something to share with the needy, (Ephesians 4:28).
References
King James Bible . (1973). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers
Moll, R. (2011). The meaning of business. Christianity Today . Retrieved from https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/january/21.24.html
