Success in business using the Bible as a road map

Many people view business as a secular activity, especially if it doesn’t involve ministry. However, embracing the business principles laid out in the Holy Bible can help any business prosper in today’s global marketplace.

In Oklahoma, the mission statement of a long distance service provider was taken from the Bible. Many scriptures found in the Bible discuss how businessmen should govern themselves and their companies. Most organizations probably use some biblical guidelines, but don’t really understand how to maximize their effectiveness by keeping the physical and spiritual parts of their business plan aligned so they can get the best possible results.

Business Management Skills from the Scriptures.

I would like to share some insights from the Bible that every entrepreneur can use to succeed and prosper as the Lord intended. First of all, you must recognize that the Earth belongs to the Lord and everything that is in it belongs to him, paraphrasing a scripture. We are stewards, stewards, and caretakers of God’s possessions, so becoming a good steward of your car lot, cleaning service, or whatever you’ve been entrusted with must be important to you.

The New Testament records a parable (Luke 16) that Jesus told about a businessman who had been accused of abusing his master’s property. If he is not familiar with the story, he should read it sometime and glean some of the additional spiritual insights. The manager in the story found out he was going to be fired and called some of his biggest clients and started deducting the amounts they owed on his accounts, hoping to create future opportunities for him. The owner was told about this practice and called the manager and praised him for being smart.

We can learn from this dishonest and cunning man if we look a little deeper at the situation. What he tried to do at the end of his job is something he should have been doing all along, helping his clients. When I worked as a salesperson for yellow pages advertising, I always offered my skills in designing effective ads to my clients, whether they were preparing flyers or ads for other print media, because I cared about the success of their business and not simply selling them advertising.

Customer service that gives and receives (The Rebecca Principle)

The Bible can also be used as a resource to build stronger relationships with vendors and customers. Are you familiar with the story of Rebecca, found in the Old Testament book of Genesis? A rich man sent his chief servant, bringing all kinds of presents, to find a wife for his son. One day, as night approached, the servant stopped his caravan at a well outside a town. A young woman came to the well and he asked her for a drink of water.

After having given him a drink, she replied: “I will also draw water for your camels.” When she finished, he took out silver, gold, and clothing jewelry and gave them to Rebekah and her family, then asked her to accompany him back to meet Abraham, the Hebrew patriarch, his teacher, who had sent him on his journey to find a wife for his son Isaac.

One of the discernible spiritual nuggets of this story centers on how this young woman provided more service than expected and unknowingly opened a door of opportunity so great that her entire family was blessed and thousands of years later, her story it is still counted. . Every entrepreneur knows that providing reliable customer service makes good business sense, but how many recognize that by giving to others, they are sowing seeds and those seeds will produce a far greater harvest of fruit than the few seeds that were planted.

Marketing and management according to the gospels

The aforementioned long distance provider was based on the Biblical principle of “Seek first the kingdom of God”. They believe that “seeking the Kingdom” means spreading and living the Gospel. So they give back 10 percent of their gross income to the ministries that have supported them. Over the years, they have donated millions to feed the hungry and help ministries that are doing God’s will.

The company, owned by more than 800 Christian shareholders, has grown from an idea to an organization whose gross revenue exceeds $100 million a year. The real challenge for every business owner is to recognize that, like every other aspect of life, business has both a spiritual and physical component and that God’s Word is a guide for administration, marketing and ministries. even in the 21st century.