Entrepreneurship ... a Biblical Perspective

(Excerpt from my book "Her Hustle is Holy: How to Start a Business God's Way and Live Your Best Life!). Click here to purchase your copy!

The Bible has a lot to say about business! While several factors determine the success of a business, wouldn’t it be great to do all that you possibly can to ensure your business’ success? Wouldn’t it be helpful if you could start your business based on biblical principles to help improve your chances of success?

That’s exactly what being a biblicalpreneur is about – looking to the Word of God to guide you along your entrepreneurial journey. It’s about putting God at the center of every aspect of your business and receiving your instructions directly from Him. It’s about using your business to honor and glorify God. It’s about using your business to serve others. It’s about using your business to spread The Good News of The Gospel and win souls to Christ. It’s about recognizing that God is the BEST. BUSINESS. PARTNER. EVERRRRRR!

In Chapter 4, we talked about entrepreneurship from a world view, but let’s look specifically at entrepreneurship from a biblical perspective that will be helpful in starting a business--God’s way! Let’s start by examining 5 biblical foundations:

1. We were given dominion.

• Dominion means to be in charge or have rule over something.
• Man was created to fill the earth and have dominion over it (Genesis 1:26-28).

In these verses, God entrusted us with a LOT! Having dominion is about using your spiritual authority to accomplish God’s agenda and the assignment God has for you. Dominion is a God-given gift to you. You are called to be the head and not the tail (Deuteronomy 28:13); above and not beneath (Deuteronomy 28:13); the lender and not the borrower (Deuteronomy 15:6). Through His anointing and by His authority, you are empowered to take dominion over and excel in every area of your life - financially, physically, spiritually, and relationally. This includes entrepreneurship.

2. Wealth comes from God.

• Wealth is defined as having an abundance or profusion of anything, a plentiful amount, be it money, resources, or valuable possessions.
• God gives us the power to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18)!

God can bless what you put your hands to, anoint your skills and abilities, and bless you and your business with financial abundance. This passage emphasizes the importance of obedience and reliance on God to generate wealth, create a successful business, accomplish God’s agenda, and provide for your everyday needs. He is the source of your supply.

3. Business is God’s idea.

• Business is defined as making one’s living by engaging in commerce, the purchase and sale of goods (or providing services), in an attempt to make a profit.
• The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it (Psalm 24:1)!

The earth is the Lord’s, and He is the Creator of all things, including business! You can look to Genesis 2:15, where God purposed Adam to tend to and take care of the Garden of Eden, essentially to handle His (and his) business. There are many examples of business owners and business transactions throughout the Bible, discussed later in this chapter.

4. God’s Word must be our foundation.

• Foundation is something that gives rise to or supports something else. It is the basis on which something is grounded or on which something stands.
• Joshua 1:8 reminds us to make the Word of God our foundation and our roadmap by meditating on it day and night, doing as it says, and then we will be prosperous and successful!

Business principles and practices must be based on the Word of God. It must be your foundation. However, you must not just be hearers of the Word but also be doers! (James 1:22). In other words, you must do what it says by putting biblical principles into practice in your business!

One such principle is found in Matthew 7:24, where Jesus says that “everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock,” meaning on a firm foundation. That rock is Jesus! Like the hymn says, “On Christ the solid rock I stand…all other ground is seeking sand.” Protect your business. Be doers of the Word by implementing biblical teachings and following biblical instructions for your success.

5. God’s way is the only way.

• Way is defined as a course of action (or sequence of events) leading in a direction or toward an objective.
• Jesus tells us, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

You must learn to walk in God’s ways. The Bible says that God’s ways and thoughts are not our ways and thoughts and that He is true to His Word (Isaiah 55:8-11). He emphatically states that His Word will accomplish all that is desired when spoken and achieve its intended purpose. His ways are designed specifically so that you can fulfill His purposes and plans for your life.

To walk in God’s way requires that you: 1) Submit yourself to and trust in Him (Proverbs 3:5-6); Prioritize Him in your life (Matthew 6:33); Spend time before God in prayer and petition (Philippians 4:6); Read and meditate on His Word (Joshua 1:8); and Listen to and obey the revelations from the Holy Spirit (John 14:23-26).

DOING BUSINESS IN THE BIBLE

Throughout the bible, there are many examples of entrepreneurship, trade, and commerce. Click here for a few examples of doing business in the bible and the associated scriptures. You’ll see that business was God’s idea, and it has been happening since the beginning of time!

BIBLICALPRENEURS IN THE BIBLE

Let’s go a step further and examine a few examples of entrepreneurs in the bible to draw inspiration from.

Abraham - (Genesis 13)

Jacob - (Genesis 30)

King Solomon - (1 Kings 10, 2 Chronicles 9)

Proverbs 31 Woman - (Proverbs 31)

The Disciples - (Matthew 4:18-22, Matthew 9:9-13, John 21:2-3)

Mary, Joanna, Susanna, and Others - (Luke 8:1-3)

Apostle Paul - Acts 18:1-3)

Lydia of Thyatira - Acts -16:14-15, 40)

Luke - (Colossians 4:14)

If God can use them, He can use YOU!

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To read more in-depth about the experiences of each of these biblicalpreneurs and the lessons to be learned for your entrepreneurial journey, click here to purchase your copy of my book "Her Hustle is Holy: How to Start a Business God's Way and Live Your Best Life!"