The Bible and Business
A 7 step biblical principles for business success plan
Statistics show that 45% of most businesses fail within a 5 year period or less. That’s almost a 50% failure rate for all businesses that start.
One of the greatest challenges to success in business is to find the right pathway to follow that generates the greatest return and decreases to a minimum the mistakes made along the way.
A business plan is the standard tool that is taught in business schools and the business industry to create such a pathway.
One of the best business plans is contained within the Bible. The Bible and business are a good combination for success when biblical principles are applied to any business.
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of business plan concepts offered by thousands of experts and so-called “business gurus” laced with promises of success. Their pitch is a promise to guide a business to prosperity if you buy their program and follow their platform.
They offer step-by-step systems that may or may not work. Often, they are a shot in the dark because the plan sold is a rip-off, and the person selling it has never been successful in business.
They are just selling a system that was created for selling on the internet to anybody who is looking for a quick and easy way to get into business and make the promise of millions.
These are often “get rich quick” systems that never work and lead to the buyer becoming frustrated with a failed business and loss of money.
Don’t get me wrong, there are some very good business plans created by some very good business experts who have walked what they talk and their systems can be very helpful in building a business. However, no man-made business plan can guarantee success.
Wouldn’t it be great if there was a business blueprint that anyone or any business could use to follow and generate as much success as they want?
Wouldn’t it be even better if such a system exists and provides a guarantee of success along the way?
Well, that’s what the Bible does. It provides biblical principles for business success and combining the Bible and business provides some guarantees as well.
In fact, they are backed by God. He has established a business system for mankind and outlines the steps to take for ensuring success.
Biblical principles for business success are powerful, productive, and prosperous.
Here Is a 7 Step Biblical Principles for Business Success Plan
Use this graph as a reference and guide to some of the scriptures that provide God’s Word and guidance when it comes to business planning and success.
These scriptures are a small sample of the unsearchable riches that the Lord has provided for those who study and learn His system for business success.
I have personally used these biblical principles and applied them in my professional and business enterprises.
They have been a tremendous blessing and guidance for my success. But, like any business plan, they must be applied diligently before they produce results.
1. Understand and know that God established work and business
In Genesis 2:15–17, God established work. He assigned man to take care of the growth within the Garden of Eden. Man was to be industrious and put his mind and intellect to good productivity.
In Genesis 4:20, God’s Word describes men who were the “father of those who live in tents and raise livestock.” Father, in this sense means, the ancestor or lineage of people whose main focus was on a specific thing. In this scripture livestock has to be tended to and cared for. This was not only a job but a profession or trade. It was a business because people traded goods and products between themselves as a means of money to get what they needed. It was a “barter system”
This barter system was a type of business itself with similarities to the current banking system that handles transactions between persons and businesses except it did not have a middle man.
The Bible is replete with examples of businesses and their activities and God’s approval of them in an orderly social environment. These are clearly identified in Exodus 28:5, 35:26, and other scriptures.
Women were regarded as savvy business people as well. Reference to their making and selling of linen garments in Proverbs 31:24 confirms this.
Nowhere in the Bible is there a condemnation that women should not have a business and be successful. On the contrary, the scriptures support it.
Clearly, work and business were and are part of God’s plan for mankind to be productive and prosperous.
2. Business planning
Having established the industry of business, God’s Word also sets forth a simple way to achieve business success. He declares in His Word that one should sit down and count up the cost before starting a project or business. (Luke 14:28).
This is the prudent thing to do. The Lord is directing that a business plan should be put in place to follow like a blueprint when building a building.
3. Financing and debt management
Financing and debt management are very important in business. Most businesses always have a need for more capital and they seek to borrower it from financial institutions or other lenders and sometimes through investors or from family and friends.
God gives guidance through the scriptures on how financing and debt should be handled.
4. Government regulations and compliance
The Lord makes it very clear that those who follow him must obey the government under which they live because He has allowed for it to be formed. (Romans 13:1–14) Businesses should comply with government regulations, especially Christian businesses.
There is only one exception to this rule. If a government rule or regulation is in direct conflict with what God says one should do in life or in business then God’s Word champions over all others.
5. Marketing and sales
There has never been a greater marketer and salesperson than Jesus Christ. He used stories (parables) to teach his disciples powerful marketing and sales techniques. One parable is the story about sowing and reaping. (Matthew 13:1–8)
A certain man had some seeds and he went about sowing them. As he sowed the seeds the birds ate some so they were prevented from growth. Some seeds fell on stony ground and could not get nourishment enough to grow.
Some seeds took to growth but thorns and thistles choked the life from them and they could not grow.
However, some of the seeds fell on fertile ground and produced a 30%, some 60%, and some 100% return.
The point of the story is that the sower started out with good seeds and had a mindset that he would keep sowing no matter what until he found fertile ground that would grow crops and provide a return on his investment of time and work.
Likewise, a business must have a good product or service offering and must market to the right target audience (fertile) ground and not give up.
Some will ignore the marketing and sales message. Others will listen but not apply the benefits of the message.
Some will buy and be dissatisfied and want a refund, and then there will be some who will become loyal and faithful customers who buy 30% of what you sell, some 60%, and some will buy everything you offer.
The clear point is you must keep sowing. You must keep delivering your marketing message to the target audience you’ve identified.
This is a powerful biblical principle that works whether you believe in Jesus Christ and His spoken Word or not.
6. Business and corporate social responsibility
Businesses would do well to heed God’s Word about the duty and responsibility of businesses to people, employees, and the society in which it operates.
Businesses are always concerned about their brand and reputation. They should be because once a reputation has been destroyed or tainted it’s hard to get it back. Trust will have been eroded and it takes time -if ever- to get trust back.
God’s Word speaks to this issue about business because He says “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.” Proverbs 22:1
One of the issues that businesses struggle with now is the lack of diversity, equity, and inclusion of ethnic groups other than white people within the workplace.
Those that have a reputation for making strong efforts to include more ethnic people and women in every level of their organizations make more money and people desire to work more for them than those businesses that don’t make the effort.
Following this biblical principle works for small, medium, and large businesses. God’s business plan works.
7. Administration and human resource development
God created the heavens and the earth in six days and on the seventh day He rested. He has instructed mankind to work only six days and then to rest on the seventh day. (Exodus 23:12).
This is a very important principle that every business should follow. Rest is vitally important to replenish the human body and refresh the mind. It is a fundamental part of success.
If God set the example surely mankind should follow His lead.
God guarantees success if you follow His plan
God’s Word contains promises to those that diligently follow Him. It applies to business activity as well. Here are some of His promises given through His scriptures:
- But remember the Lord, your God for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth… (Deuteronomy 8:18)
- Commit to the Lord what you do, and your plans will succeed. (Proverbs 16:3)
- Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. (James 4:10)
There are numerous other promises that God makes about the rewards of following Him and obeying His Word. He does not force it on anyone but the rewards are overwhelmingly great.
God cannot lie so when he makes a promise it is a guarantee if we do our part. In fact, His Word is the only thing that He places above himself.
Conclusion
Businesses are always challenged to find the best way to succeed. A good business plan with a strategy followed consistently is the best way to achieve success.
God established work and business in the beginning and in his Word has laid out specific steps to follow to obtain business success.
7 Biblical principles for business success are outlined in this article. Study the scriptures contained within the graph and apply them and watch your business grow over time.
