Your Faith is a Strength in Business, Not a Hindrance
In today’s culture, a business leader’s Christian faith may not be viewed as a strength. In fact, some people believe you’ll never succeed in business unless you’re ruthless and cutthroat. Our culture places tremendous focus on ourselves and values self-dependence, self-reliance, self-determination, self-confidence, and self-motivation. I believe that our trust in and dependence upon the Lord is exactly what can help us navigate the greatest hurdles in business, and can help us make the greatest difference in the lives of the people we work with and lead.
When we accept Jesus as our Savior and choose to walk with Him daily, the Holy Spirit dwells in us and we operate through a Christ-centered lens. This perspective will develop four unique strengths in us that prove our faith is anything but a hindrance.
Humility: This characteristic can be hard to find sometimes for all of us, especially in a business setting. Humility is the ability to be without pride or arrogance and it is a principal strength that should be seen in those who follow Jesus Christ. Somone who is humble is teachable/coachable and has a keen desire to listen and learn from different points of view and experiences. An attitude of humility can also help us view criticism as an opportunity for growth.
In James 4:6, we learn that “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” A few verses later, we read, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.” There are many scriptures about how God values humility, and Jesus was the ultimate example of it.
Honesty: Speaking the truth is not always convenient or easy, but it is always best. Proverbs 12:22 tells us that “The Lord detests lying lips, but He delights in people who are trustworthy.” Being open and real with clients and colleagues will build trust in these relationships. When people know they can trust you, they’re more likely to want to follow you and work with you.
Honesty also sets the tone of the workplace culture, encourages consistency in workplace behavior and builds loyalty and trust with your entire team, customers, and clients.
Integrity: Doing what is right, whether it’s going the extra mile, doing the right thing for a customer even though it will hurt your profit in the short-term, or taking an ethical stand, is a breath of fresh air in today’s business world. As a business leader, people are always watching what you do. Acting with integrity is a great way to show you are a different type of leader, and it doesn’t go unnoticed. It will lead to long-lasting and trusting relationships with colleagues, clients, and customers.
Luke 16:10 tells us, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” Once you get a chink in your integrity by cutting corners or acting unethically, you will never be viewed the same by your colleagues, clients, and customers. They will never be able to trust you the way they did before.
Perseverance: As a person of faith, scripture tells us to expect trials and difficulties, and to persevere when obstacles and challenges arise in life. We are to press on, steadfastly, with purpose and conviction, trusting that the Holy Spirit is dwelling inside of us, usually trying to teach us something through the present difficulty. The key to perseverance is patience, another virtue that God values. You might not see the rewards of your labor today or tomorrow, but if you place your trust in Him and His plan (rather than being self-dependent on your own strength and your own plan), you will see them one day. God is always at work, and will always use our trials and difficulties to help us grow and mature in our faith, if we will just let Him, and run the race that He has set before us.
Hebrews 12:1-2 tells us, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”
Our faith in the Lord strengthens us for hard work in both our personal and business lives. If we focus on trusting God, and allowing the Holy Spirit to work in and through us to help us live the life God designed for us, rather than upon our own strength and our own efforts, God will be able to increase and multiply the fruit of our efforts and build His Kingdom.
Your Christian business leadership is anything but a weakness. Your beliefs and values will be evident by the way that you lead, and God will be able to work in and through you. Try taking the first step by just saying “Lord, I am a mess, and know I am selfish, self-absorbed, and self-focused, but I am willing to be made willing to put my full trust in You. Please help me and change me!”