Bible on Businessናሙና

A Biblical Role Model

We are called to love God and neighbor – among all peoples. So we should do business for God and the common good. This was also a foundational principle for the Quakers even centuries ago, who started many long-standing businesses, like Cadbury’s chocolate.

Pope John Paul II stated a business firm needs to make a profit and it should be “at the service of the whole of society.”

Thus we should aim at multiple bottom-lines and also serve multiple stakeholders. Business shall serve people, be good stewards of the planet, align with God’s purposes and make a profit.

The Bible portrays a businesswoman as a role model; she shaped her business for God and for good. Let’s look at some verses in Proverbs 31 and translate them into modern day business language:

She considers a field and buys it; 

she does a market assessment and invests.

Out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. 

She makes a profit and reinvests. She sees that her trading is profitable, she keeps books and manages cash flow. 

She makes linen garments and sells them, she is involved in manufacturing and retail and supplies the merchants with sashes. 

She has set up a supply chain.

She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. 

She uses part of profit for charitable work. 

She provides food for her family. 

She is the breadwinner of the family and portions for her staff and provides employment.

Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. 

Her work in business should be recognized and is certainly commendable.

We pray: Lord help us to follow you in the marketplace - to the ends of the earth; loving God and serving people through business!

Mats Tunehag hails from Sweden and is a leader in the Business As Mission movement.