Challenges Christians Face In Business

Adapted from Biblical Principles & Business: The Practice by Richard C. Chewning

A Christian executive operates in a world with very different reference points and cultural norms from those of the standard executive.  Our faith may provide us with a strong core of values, but it does not provide us with an unambiguous blueprint for life.  Thus, as Christians in the marketplace, we face challenges, particularly in the area of knowing the right thing to do in our business day to day.  

·        We must recognize the difference between activities that are genuinely serving and helping others versus activities that are exploiting and impoverishing them.  Many times business can overlook human values when weighing economic decisions.  Christians must focus on what truly brings benefit to consumers and not treat “money in the bank” as all that matters.

·        Goal setting can become misaligned with God’s intentions for our businesses.  I am a steward of the company that God has given to me.  My business enterprise goals must reflect that.

·        How do you and I motivate employees without being manipulative?  There is no doubt that your employees who have much to gain via incentives when the company is profitable may be put off by your unwillingness to maximize profit at the expense of others’ well-being.

·        Having power over others is a real problem.  J.I. Packer states it this way: “Managing power in such a way that one neither idolizes oneself or one’s firm or one’s role or one’s economic security nor abuses those whom one hires, directs, and fires, but remains a humble steward of the power one has been given, using it responsibly and discerningly for the benefit of others and to the glory of God, is difficult, while taking advantage of one’s possession of power to play God to those under one is fatally easy.”  No one is "free" from the temptation to use power for personal gain, and to use power in ways that destroy relationships.  One of the many reasons that prayer and meditation on Scripture is so important for Christians in the workplace is that it will act as a "guard" against our natural temptation to use power for personal gain, or to use power without regard to its impact on those around us.

·        There is the problem of establishing sufficient accountability.  It is very easy to create a Board of Advisors (or a Corporate Board) that is passive and rarely challenges your thinking.

·        Strategic myopia can set in.  Once this dreaded malady has invaded your executive suite, unrealism takes over.  Bad news is not allowed to flow, necessary adjustments are not made and “the way we’ve always done it” becomes the company mantra.  Or as Dr. Packer phrases it, “Sober faithfulness is exchanged for irrational foolhardiness.” 

Being a Christian in business is a demanding vocation.  We must pray for a close, humble, faithful, hopeful and self-distrustful walk with God.  Dr. Packer recommends “…honest fellowship with other Christians in accountability relationships of full frankness, and constant reflection before God on what is best, according to Bible standards of righteousness, love, and wisdom.”   

Now here’s the question of the week: Do you believe this can be done? 

Years ago Stanley Tam answered that question with a resounding “Yes!”

In 1936 Tam felt called to make God his senior partner (owner of 51 percent of his company’s stock).  It seemed crazy for a struggling entrepreneur to cede most of company’s profits in this way. Yet God grew Tam’s business. Not only has Tam held his executive salary at $72,000 since the early 1970s, but he also has far exceeded his lifetime prayer goal of giving $100 million toward the kingdom. Multiple demonstrations of God’s faithfulness led Tam to conclude, “Expect a lot of miracles when you are connected to God.” 

Being connected to God allows us to meet the challenges that Christians face in business.   This connection also provides us with wonderful opportunities to serve God and our fellow man.  The key to success herein is simple, but not easy.  You and I must make our relationship to Jesus Christ the focus of our lives.  Only He can help us maintain our balance in a world that strives to throw us off balance through materialism and our own business accomplishments.   

As a Christian business owner, I sometimes cringe at Luke 12:48 (to whom much is given, much is required).  I also must remind myself of Deuteronomy 8:17-18: 

You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.”  But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who hives you the ability to produce wealth…” 

Whatever you and I have—our talents, resources, abilities, skills, relationships—everything has come from the hand of God.  And as we use these gifts to create wealth, may we stay focused on keeping the MAIN THING the MAIN THING. 

Keith

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