Biblical Entrepreneurship - a Source of Well-BeingEsimerkki

Meditation

In the book of Revelation, we see that God and Jesus are the founders (Rev. 21:2) and kings (Rev. 22:3) of the new Jerusalem. The glory and the beauty of the city come from God (Rev. 21:11-27) and God’s will is done (Rev. 22:3). The city symbolizes the people that love Jesus and God, have devoted themselves to them, and serve them (Rev. 21:9 and 22:3). In the prayer taught by Jesus (Our Father in heaven...) God’s will has a central place (Matt. 6:10): ‘’Your kingdom come, your will be done.’’

This touches upon the core of Christian entrepreneurship. Who is the boss and whose will is done? I was confronted hard with myself and the topic of authority, ego, and God as boss, when I was in my first year working for CBMC the Netherlands (a missionary movement of and for Christian business leaders). I had in mind an ambitious entrepreneurial agenda. But that year I experienced something I had never encountered before: I was not able to realize my personal goals and ambitions within my job. This felt uncomfortable. I was engulfed by uncertainties and fears: ‘’How am I going to explain this? How will people evaluate me? What will the consequences be?’’ I decided to go on a retreat, to fast, and to listen to God. It turned out to be a wonderful special experience. During the retreat I felt God saying to me, ‘’Who are you actually working for?’’ I said, ‘’For You, of course, I’m working in your kingdom now, as managing director of CBMC, am I not?’’ And God said, ‘’I’m not sure. If you work in my kingdom, sure, I am the King? Then isn’t it my decision to set out a course and determine what we’re going to do? But I get the feeling that you are busy realizing your own plans and your own ambitions and you ask me to help you build your kingdom. Your fear and uncertainty originate in the fact that you feel your reputation is at stake. If it was all about my plans, my reputation would be at stake, but this is not what you’re concerned about right now.’’ It was humiliating how God unravelled me during this retreat, brought my way of thinking to light, and wanted to restore the rightful relations. After this experience may daily prayer changed from, ‘’Lord, bless me today in my business work’’ into ‘‘Lord, what do you want me to do for your business?’’ Or even more practical, ‘’Where do you want me to invest your profit next year? How do you want to solve the argument we have with our suppliers?’’

It is with this attitude that God can use us to build his city and to realize his will. Our company is not an end in itself, but an instrument of God that may contribute to the good life he envisions.

Question for the day

Who is the boss in your company and whose will is being done?