Can you be a Christian and an entrepreneur? What sets you apart from other business owners?
Being an entrepreneur is the same in many regard whether you are a Christian or not, but the key difference is how you approach entrepreneurship.
What I mean is, how do you run your business? What are your values?
How you approach and run your business is what separates a Christian entrepreneur from non-Christians.
So how do you know if you are a Christian entrepreneur or not?
First, a Christian business owner is someone who believes in God and has come to faith. A Christian is someone who has accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior, believes the Bible is the word of God and is guided by biblical principles whether or not they make sense to the world.
As Christian entrepreneurs, you have to possess certain traits and habits that set you apart. In this post, we are going to look at five habits of a Christian entrepreneur and why they are so important in the marketplace.
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5 HABITS OF CHRISTIAN ENTREPRENEURS
1. THEY ARE DILIGENT
A Christian entrepreneur is diligent in her work.
According to Merriam-Webster, diligence means “steady, earnest, and energetic effort.”
As a business owner, you have to be earnest and energetic. It’s imperative you understand that building a successful business requires focus, hardwork and dedication.
In today’s world, we spend so much time looking for hacks, tips and tricks to make our work and lives faster and easier. While there’s nothing wrong with learning how to work smarter and faster, there is a tendency for us to ignore the value of working hard, which in turn creates an unrealistic expectation of success while doing the barest minimum.
But, diligent entrepreneurs aren’t looking for shortcuts or a fast lane to business success. They understand the importance of hardwork and perseverance. They see work as a good thing and are thankful for the privilege.
The Bible has a lot to say about diligence and I encourage you to pay attention to these words because they are important if you want to keep your Christian testimony and be a light in the marketplace.
Some of my favorite Bible verses about diligence are: Proverbs 13:4: “The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing , while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.”
Ecclesiates 9:10: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with might…”
Proverbs 14:23: “In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.”
There are many more Bible verses that talk about diligence and you can find some more in the post below.
As Christian entrepreneurs, there’s a tendency for us to spiritualize everything. While prayer and faith should play a big role in your life, they can’t replace diligence or working on your business.
So many times I have to remind myself of this truth because it’s easy to hide under prayer and faith when I should be working.
There was a time in my life when I had to read Proverbs 14:23 every day to remind myself that work comes before profit and merely believing wasn’t going to make a difference in my life, business or finances.
So let me encourage you to be diligent and steadfast in your business.
Work hard to grow your business. Invest the time and resources you need into your business and in time you will see the reward.
Diligence is the first habit every Christian entrepreneur needs to succeed.
2. THEY HAVE SELF-DISCIPLINE & SELF-CONTROL
As Christians, we are commanded to exercise self control. This admonition is even more important as a business owner.
So what does it mean to have self-discipline and self-control?
When you own a business (especially if you’re a small business owner), you’re responsible for the success or failure of your business. You are responsible for making decisions for your business and growing it.
Unfortunately, many Christian entrepreneurs lack self control and discipline that’s why they struggle so much to grow their business.
Self-discipline means you show up to work because you know it won’t get done otherwise. When you’re self-disciplined, you’re not ruled by your feelings or emotions.
Now let me explain what I mean.
When you run a business, you’re going to have good days and bad days, it’s just the way things are.
A disciplined entrepreneur knows she has to work through the bad days. You don’t allow hiccups and challenges derail you or stop you from moving forward.
You don’t sit around looking for any excuse to justify your laziness.
Disciplined entrepreneurs are critical thinkers, make decisions thoughtfully and are willing to endure discomforts to achieve their goal.
When you have self-control, it’s easier to make the right choices for yourself and your business so you can achieve your goals.
A Christian entrepreneur should exercise self control to avoid making bad choices or decisions that could land you in trouble.
So what other ways can you display self control and discipline in your business?
Managing your time well so you can achieve your goals, making wise financial decisions for your business (like borrowing money, where and what to invest in, business practices to adopt etc). These are some ways you can exercise self-control and self-discipline.
When you have self-control, you don’t chase after everything or jump from one idea to the other because it looks or feels good. You are wary of debt because you understand borrowing too much money could hurt you in the long run.
Self-control means you don’t embrace everything that comes your way no matter how appealing it looks or sounds. It means you’re not motivated by greed or other vain pursuits, but everything you do should be to honor and glorify God.
In my experience, I have discovered that, more than any other quality, self-discipline is what decides whether you’ll be successful in your business (and life in general) or not. This also applies to your Christian walk.
Many Christians struggle because they lack self-discipline and self-control. If you carry these habits into your business, you’re going to have a hard time growing your business.
If you struggle in this area, please know it’s possible to develop these habits if you’re willing to change.
Yes, it requires some praactice, but it’s something anyone can develop.
Check out the Bible verses below to see how important self-discipline and self-control are to your faith and business life.
1 Timothy 4:6-10, Galatians 5:23
And here are some excellent articles about discipline and self-control for you to also check out.
Self-Control: One of The Biggest Indicators of Christian Character
3. CHRISTIAN ENTREPRENEURS ARE HONEST AND TRUSTWORTHY
“Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.” 1 Corinthians 4:2
We live in a world where people believe that the end justifies the means. A world where anything goes as long as it increases your bottom line.
But as Christian entrepreneurs, we are called to a higher standard. We are answerable to God and we must be mindful of that at all times.
God is the real owner of our business, so we must act according to his word at all tmes.
An entrepreneur Christian is honest and trustworthy even if it means making less profit. Being honest means you treat your customers, creditors, employees and everyone you do business with fairly.
You don’t cheat or undercut people because you want to get rich quick. When you give your word or make a promise, you are careful to fulfill it.
A Christian entrepreneur runs her business by the book. She practices good business ethics even if people think she’s being foolish.
As a Christian entrepreneur, you should foster trust and loyalty in your business. Your employees, customers, creditors, vendors and competitors should know they can trust you.
People should feel confident doing business with you because they know you always deliver on your promise and sometimes you go over and beyond.
If people are wary of doing business with you, or if your customers or clients can’t trust you because of the quality of your products or services, then you need to ask yourself if you’re operating with honesty and trust.
While we all want to make money and profit from our business, it shouldn’t come from cheating people, undercutting your competitors, stealing ideas or acting unethically.
Remember God is the owner of your business and he’s able to supply all your needs according to his riches in glory, so you don’t need underhanded practices to succeed.
We must remember what the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 4:2 and keep it front and center of our mind at all times.
Put your trust in the Lord, be faithful, do your part and God will definitely bless your effort.
4. ENTREPRENEUR CHRISTIANS ARE GOOD STEWARDS
In John 3: 25-27, there was a discussion between some of John’s disciples and a Jew and they came to John to report that his convert was baptizing people and were flocking to him. In verse 27, John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.”
So my question to you is, who really owns your business?
Do you run your business like it belongs to God and you’re his steward or do you run your business like you are accountable to no one?
If you truly believe that it’s God who gives us the power to get wealth, and that the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, you must start by acknowledging that your business belongs to God and you’re merely a steward.
And as a steward you’re accountable to God, which means you should run your business like someone who knows they have an overseer to report to.
It’s easy to forget this important fact because many Christians treat their business or work as something separate from their faith. But you can’t separate them.
Your faith in God should permeate every area of your life because you’re a Christian first and an entrepreneur second. You don’t drop your Christian hat when you are at work, you keep it on no matter the activity you’re engaged in.
Being a good steward means you manage the resources that has been entrusted to you by God, and use it for his glory.
While you may no longer have an earthly boss you answer to, you still have someone you’re accountable to. So as a good steward you have to be faithful, diligent, make smart decisions for your business, be resourceful, avoid waste and use the resources and gifts God has given to you to make the world a better place.
That’s one of your responsibility as a Christian entrepreneur.
Here’s a helpful article on what makes a faithful steward if you’re interested in further reading.
5 Characteriestics of a Faithful Steward
5. CONTENTMENT IS THE MARK OF ENTREPRENEUR CHRISTIANS
What does the Bible say about contentment? How do we accomplish contentment in our business while being diligent and not lazy?
As a business owner, it’s quite easy to fall into the trap of pursuing too many worldly goals which can sometimes lead to discontentment when you fall short.
Now don’t get me wrong.
You need goals for your business and also a plan for achieving those goals. Without goals, you can easily go off track and lose focus because you don’t have a target you’re trying to reach.
So having goals is a good thing. The problem is when you start chasing after big and better goals just for the pleasure of it or because you want to conform to the standard of this world.
For example, it’s okay to want to make money in your business, but it becomes a problem when you start desiring to make as much money as someone else does, or wanting all the things your competitors or other people have.
The constant need for more is what causes discontentment and we must be mindful of that.
As Christians, our identity is in Christ and not in our possessions or bank balance.
Desiring more and more money or possessions isn’t going to make you happy, so focus on serving God and seeking his blessing instead of chasing after stuff.
So again, it’s okay to make money. It’s okay to grow your business and desire nice things as long as your desire for things isn’t what drives you.
I used to struggle with this issue a lot because I was a victim of the comparison trap. I was always looking over the fence at what others are doing, monitoring their progress and wondering why I wasn’t making as much progress as them.
Here is the thing.
If you fix your gaze on others and keep comparing yourself to them, you’re going to keep being frustrated, and discontentment usually stems from frustration.
It’s fine to be inspired by other business owners, but you must draw the line at comparing yourself with them or wanting the same things they have to feel happy.
A Christian entrepreneur lives a life of contentment because she knows whose she is and she’s learned to be conent whatever the circumstances.
So remember as a Christian, our only desire is for the glory of God. We mustn’t lose sight of that.
Christian Entrepreneur-Final thoughts
It’s possible to be a Christian and an entrepreneur as long as you remember you can’t separate your Christian witness from your work.
We are called to be the light of the world and we can use our businesses as our platforms to live out our faith and share our testimony.
Which one of these habits do you struggle with as a Christian entrepreneur?
Related Christian business advice posts
7 Daily Practices for the Christian Business Owner
5 Biblical Keys to Success for Christian Entrepreneurs
Habits of Christian entrepreneurs that set them apart
