Blog Posts – Bible and Business

Justice is Never Enough

In an effort to gain justice while ignoring forgiveness, family members in family businesses suing each other is not uncommon. In the last couple of years, I’ve run across several situations in which family members sue each other to find justice. Nevermind that justice is never enough. Forgiveness needs to be part of the picture if a family business is going to survive with the family intact....

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October 3, 2020Family BusinessLawsuits, Love

Executive Insights

Getting Out of Balance

One way the forces who oppose God can neutralize us as Christian business owners is by getting us off-balance.[1] For example, you become overly focused on following God’s laws at the expense of loving others, or you become too cavalier in following his laws and nearly all sin becomes acceptable. You become overly focused on truth and justice, or you become too careless in guarding truth and...

July 5, 2024Executive InsightsImbalance

Current Events

The Divisive Mix of Politics and Religion

Because we all tend to associate with those like us, we will also tend to select media sources that give opinions with which we agree. When we allow ourselves to be discipled by these external forces by consuming too much of their content, we necessarily disallow the discipline influence of the Holy Spirit. When those media sources are primarily political, we may overlay our political philosophies onto...

July 5, 2024Current EventsDanger, Politics, Unity

Executive Insights Theology and Business

Protecting Another’s Reputation

Reputational damage is type of division that is long-lasting, quiet, and ambient yet difficult to repair. People say things about each other in a church or business setting that may appear benign but in reality can be highly damaging to others. Managing Your Reputation I have seen the visceral, adverse effects a Christian business owner experiences when their reputation is wrongly damaged. As Christian business owners, we...

July 5, 2024Executive Insights, Theology and BusinessReputation

Executive Insights Governance, Risk, Compliance Theology and Business

A Primer on Risk

The definition of risk varies from source to source. Steinberg (2011:75) defines risk as “uncertainty surrounding a potential event. It is the possibility that something will happen—that is, an event will occur—with a negative outcome.” Lupton (2013:3) describes risk as “deviation from the norm, misfortune, and frightening events. This concept assumes human responsibility and that ‘something can be done’ to prevent misfortune.” Stern and Fineberg (1996:214) define...

December 2, 2023Executive Insights, Governance, Risk, Compliance, Theology and BusinessAssuming Risk, Risk, risk management

Executive Insights

Christian Business Reference Architecture Explained

A reference architecture is a document or set of documents an interested party can refer to as a blueprint for developing a new entity based on the architecture (Muller, 2020:4). An ‘architecture’ is “…the fundamental organisation of a system embodied in its components, their relationships to each other and to the environment and the principles guiding its design and evolution” (Hilliard, 2000:10). Reference architectures can be used...

November 15, 2023Executive InsightsChristian Business Ownership, Christian Stewardship

Christian Stewardship Ethics Executive Insights Theology and Business

The Center of a Biblical Worldview of Christian Business Ownership

What is the center of a biblical worldview of business ownership? How should a Chrisitian business owner view the owner's role as a steward before God? This is how I define this center, in one sentence: Christian business owners live with an eternal perspective derived from their covenantal relationship with God and is lived out through biblical stewardship. There are several questions that can always be asked...

November 1, 2023Christian Stewardship, Ethics, Executive Insights, Theology and BusinessChristian Business Ownership, Christian Stewardship

Christian Stewardship Ethics Executive Insights

Common Types of Ethical Decisions Christian Business Owners Face

This post is part of the Bible and Business series on Christian ethics for Christian Business Owners. Schwartz (2017:234-235) suggests there are different ethical situations that a business owner may face: Moral temptation: the owner can benefit or avoid loss. Moral temptations require moral willpower. Stand up for ethics: the owner will suffer if the correct ethical decision is made. Standing up for ethics requires moral courage....

October 30, 2023Christian Stewardship, Ethics, Executive InsightsChristian Business Ownership, Decisions

Ethics Executive Insights Theology and Business

What Should Christian Business Owners Value?

This post is part of the Bible and Business series on Christian ethics for Christian Business Owners. What values does the Bible prescribe for a Christian business owner to adopt and bake into his business? Happily, comparisons in the Bible teach us what to value. These values are presented as valuing one thing over another. The following table outlines that which all Christians - including Christian business...

October 21, 2023Ethics, Executive Insights, Theology and BusinessCore Values, Values

Christian Stewardship Executive Insights

Should Corporations Tithe? Not Necessarily.

Some strongly believe that a business owned by a Christian has its responsibility to tithe in addition to the owner’s tithing. Since the corporation is considered a separate legal entity, some believe it has a spiritual responsibility to tithe. In addition, it is not uncommon for ministries with whom this researcher has been associated to tithe 10 per cent of their donations to other Christian organisations. It...

October 19, 2023Christian Stewardship, Executive InsightsGenerosity

Christian Stewardship Ethics Executive Insights

Taking Too Much Compensation as the Owner of a Business

This post is part of the Bible and Business series on Christian ethics for Christian Business Owners. Description of the Problem: Most business owners take cash out of the business as compensation without any link to the business’s success (Mikaloniené, 2020:919). Cash is often taken because the inherent power structure of a closely held business allows the owner to set a compensation level without justification to another...

October 19, 2023Christian Stewardship, Ethics, Executive InsightsCEO Salary, Overcompensation

Christian Stewardship Executive Insights Theology and Business

Business Formation and Christian Theology: Partnerships

A three-part Bible and Business series on what the Bible says about the legal formation of a business. This post on partnerships will be abnormally long when compared to Sole Proprietors or Corporation. The reason for this is simple: many partnerships do not work well and seem to be the structure in which many ownership problems prevail. The harmony and trust the partners have at the beginning...

October 17, 2023Christian Stewardship, Executive Insights, Theology and BusinessPartnerships

Christian Stewardship Executive Insights Theology and Business

Business Formation and Christian Theology: Sole Proprietor

A three-part Bible and Business series on what the Bible says about the legal formation of a business. A sole proprietor is an individual who is engaged in business activities. A sole proprietor does not register a business entity with government authorities. A sole proprietorship is the easiest business type to form because there is no legal structure. However, under current American law, a sole proprietor can...

October 10, 2023Christian Stewardship, Executive Insights, Theology and Business

Christian Stewardship Ethics Executive Insights

Hearing the Voice of God in Ethical Decision Making

This post is part of the Bible and Business series on Christian ethics for Christian Business Owners. Ethical decision-making is not merely an intellectual exercise for the Christian business owner. It is also a dynamic spiritual activity. Coupled with filtering the situation’s details through the two great commands (love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and love your neighbor as yourself) as the starting...

October 7, 2023Christian Stewardship, Ethics, Executive InsightsChristian Ethics, Ethics, Hearing the Voice of God

Christian Stewardship Ethics Executive Insights

Overworking Your Staff to Save on Payroll Expenses

This post is part of the Bible and Business series on Christian ethics for Christian Business Owners. In this scenario, an owner expects the employees to work sixty, seventy, or even eighty hours each week without additional compensation, such as bonuses or stock options, for working longer hours. Description of the Problem: Some owners naturally work sixty or seventy hours weekly. They enjoy their work, and they...

October 7, 2023Christian Stewardship, Ethics, Executive InsightsChristian Ethics, Contentment, Employees, Profits, Stewardship, Work Life Balance

Christian Stewardship Ethics Executive Insights

Right-sizing a company to save it from bankruptcy

This post is part of the Bible and Business series on Christian ethics for Christian Business Owners. Nearly every company will need to be right-sized[1] at some point in its lifecycle. No business ever has sustained growth. There are always downturns which owners face. Description of the Problem: Owners get caught in a downward spiral when they believe revenue growth is the answer to a sustained deficit....

October 6, 2023Christian Stewardship, Ethics, Executive InsightsChristian Stewardship, Ethics, Turnaround

Christian Stewardship Ethics Executive Insights

Manipulating Accounting Entries to Save on Taxes

This post is part of the Bible and Business series on Christian ethics for Christian Business Owners. This ethical situation is created when the owner commingles business and personal expenses. As a result, expenses that would normally be personal expenses, such as leasing an automobile, become business expenses that reduce taxable income because the owner owns a business through which the owner can create tax write-offs. Description...

October 3, 2023Christian Stewardship, Ethics, Executive InsightsChristian Ethics, Ethics, Taxes

Christian Stewardship Ethics Executive Insights

Tolerating Boorish Behavior Because of the Benefits an Employee Brings to the Company.

This post is part of the Bible and Business series on Christian ethics for Christian Business Owners. Description of the problem: Some organisations, including Christian ministries, make conscious tradeoff decisions to accept a level of egocentricity, arrogance, callousness, or insensitivity in key employees because of the talents, skills, and positive outcomes these employees bring to the organization. Their destructive tendencies can be mistaken as leadership qualities: “Taking...

October 2, 2023Christian Stewardship, Ethics, Executive InsightsChristian Ethics, Christian Stewardship, Ethics

Christian Stewardship Ethics Executive Insights

Generating fake online reviews for the owner’s products or service

This post is part of the Bible and Business series on Christian ethics for Christian Business Owners. Word-of-mouth advertising has always been considered the best kind of advertising because it costs nothing and is one of the most trusted forms of marketing (Tan, 2015:Online). Description of the problem: In this scenario, the owner hires a firm to write positive but fake reviews of the owner’s products or...

October 1, 2023Christian Stewardship, Ethics, Executive InsightsChristian Ethics, Ethics, Lying, Truth

Christian Stewardship Ethics Executive Insights Theology and Business

The Starting Point for Christian Ethics

This post is part of the Bible and Business series on Christian ethics for Christian Business Owners. Ethics in Business Making correct ethical decisions matters for two reasons. First, when one allows small compromises to encroach into one’s ethics, those compromises will become larger and larger until there are significant moral or legal violations. Second, making correct ethical decisions is tantamount to following God’s commands. Foundation for...

September 29, 2023Christian Stewardship, Ethics, Executive Insights, Theology and BusinessEthics

Christian Stewardship Ethics Executive Insights

Compromising Product Quality

This post is part of the Bible and Business series on Christian Ethics for Christian Business Owners. Product quality refers both to the manufacturing of the product as well as to the marketing of the product. If the marketing suggests that the product is an average quality product, then the consumer can expect an average quality in the manufacturing of the product. But when there is a...

September 29, 2023Christian Stewardship, Ethics, Executive InsightsEthics, Products

Christian Stewardship Theology and Business

Growing New Entrepreneurs for God’s Kingdom

I'll offer several ideas here on what a local church ministry could do to be intentional about growing new stewards who own for-profit businesses. Being a Christian business owner is a much a calling as being a missionary to a foreign land. The macro point is not about the money. It is about God's call on their lives to serve him in the marketplace. All ministry is...

June 8, 2023Christian Stewardship, Theology and Business

Christian Stewardship

Who I am in Christ

This post is a reminder of the truth of who we are in Christ. These truths apply as much to Christian business owners as anyone else. This list is taken from Neil Anderson's book, Victory Over the Darkness (Grand Rapids: Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. 36-37.) John 1:12: I am God's child John 15:15: I am Christ's friend Romans 5:1: I have been justified 1 Corinthians 6:17:...

May 12, 2023Christian StewardshipIdentity

Christian Stewardship Executive Insights Leadership Theology and Business

New Book: Working for a Difficult Boss: Lessons from the Life of Daniel

In the United States, roughly 158 million people go to work daily. Well over half (70%) report working for a bad boss. At some point, 50% will quit their jobs because of a boss who lacks the skills and ability to manage people well. In addition, according to Barna Research, 25% of American adults are practicing Christians. This means that (roughly) 40 million Christians go to work...

May 6, 2023Christian Stewardship, Executive Insights, Leadership, Theology and BusinessDifficult Bosses

Executive Insights

A Story About an Innovative Solution

I got this story from a friend of mine who owns a couple of businesses. It is a great example of an innovative solution to a (seemingly) difficult problem. Just by looking at the problem differently, an obvious solution presented itself. Here is the story. A farmer died leaving his 17 horses to his 3 sons. When his sons opened up the will it read: My eldest...

March 17, 2023Executive InsightsConflict Resolution, Innovation, Stories that Teach

Leadership Theology and Business

Self-Preservation and Losing Our Lives: Lessons from the Life of Daniel

1King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2 He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. 3 So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and...

January 28, 2023Leadership, Theology and BusinessLeadership Lessons from the Life of Daniel

Theology and Business

Calling Dependencies

I will offer, for your consideration, the notion that there are calling dependencies in the Christian life. These dependences form the foundation of our leadership in business and are visceral to our life. I will submit that these dependencies look like this (bottom to top): Call to Service Call to Faithfulness Call to Dependence Call to His Presence Call to Covenant God’s call on our lives is...

November 27, 2022Theology and BusinessCall of God, Knowing God, Leadership

Current Events

Give Me Neither Poverty nor Riches: Lessons from the FTX Debacle

Two things I asked of You, do not refuse me before I die: keep deception and lies far from me, give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is my portion, that I not be full and deny You and say, “Who is the Lord?” or that I not be in want and steal, and profane the name of my God. (Proverbs 30.7-9...

November 16, 2022Current EventsBankruptcy, Debt, Lies, Poverty, Wealth

Leadership

Leadership Lessons from the Life of Daniel: Favor Created by God

9Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, 10but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the King, who has assigned your food and drink.Daniel 1.9-10 NIV A short social media video has remained in my mind for many years. It is from the campaign’s final days between President Obama and Senator John McCain. President Obama was riding in...

October 19, 2022LeadershipLeadership Lessons from the Life of Daniel

Christian Stewardship

When Business Owners are “All About the Money”

I was recently reading Acts 16 and several things about the owners of the slave girl jumped out at me from the page. Here's the passage: 16Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 She followed...

October 10, 2022Christian StewardshipGod's Purposes for Business, Love of Money, Oppression, Selfishness, Wealth