When it comes to building a business as a Christian, it’s easy to fall into the world’s pattern of measuring success by numbers—profits, followers, and accolades. While these metrics can be useful, God’s design for success looks very different. Embracing His definition allows us to root our businesses in values that last and serve a purpose beyond profits. Here’s how to build a business aligned with God’s reasons, redefining success by biblical principles.
1. Purpose Over Profit
In a typical business mindset, profit reigns supreme. Success is often judged by revenue, growth rates, and your place in the market. But for a business built on biblical principles, purpose is primary. God calls us to use our gifts, talents, experiences, and opportunities to serve others and bring glory to His name.
Biblical Principle: Colossians 3:23 encourages us: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
Our work becomes an act of worship when we focus on glorifying God rather than ourselves. Purpose-driven businesses look beyond profits to ask, How am I serving others and honoring God through this work?
2. People Over Popularity
The world often measures success by visibility and popularity, but God measures it by the depth of our relationships. The health of our business connections—clients, team members, partners, and even competitors—matters to God, as does how we treat others on the journey. Loving others and genuinely caring for their needs is more important than our own self-promotion.
Biblical Principle: In Mark 12:31, Jesus says, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Putting people over popularity means seeking to serve those around us, even when there’s no immediate reward. True success reflects a commitment to relationships, seeing others not as assets or numbers but as valuable individuals.
3. Faithfulness Over Fame
Our culture prizes fame, yet God prizes faithfulness. In God’s eyes, consistency, dedication, and integrity are signs of success. Faithfulness means stewarding our responsibilities well, whether we’re seen by thousands or only a few. It’s a measure of success that grows over time and develops character within us.
Biblical Principle: Luke 16:10 tells us, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.”
Faithfulness in our work—staying true to God’s call, no matter how big or small the task—is what God values most. Instead of striving for fame, we focus on being faithful to our unique calling, trusting that God sees and values our commitment.
4. Integrity Over Immediate Gain
In business, it’s easy to focus on short-term gains and quick results. However, God’s principles emphasize integrity. This means choosing honesty, transparency, and ethical practices, even if it costs us in the short run. Integrity builds a reputation that honors God and creates a solid foundation for our business that’s more valuable than any fast profit.
Biblical Principle: Proverbs 11:3 teaches, “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.”
Success rooted in integrity honors God, reflects His character, and fosters trust with clients and colleagues alike. Godly success may not always be quick, but it is enduring.
5. Stewardship Over Self-Indulgence
Building a business on biblical principles prioritizes stewardship over accumulating wealth for personal gain. God blesses us with resources, opportunities, and skills, not to hoard but to manage well and multiply for His purposes. Stewardship includes wise management of finances, time, and talents, and a heart that’s generous with resources.
Biblical Principle: In the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), Jesus highlights the importance of stewardship.
Success in God’s eyes involves using what He has given us (those values, talents, strengths, experiences, expertise, personality, Spiritual gifts) to produce something good, faithful to our calling. We’re to approach our business resources with gratitude and generosity, ready to invest in others and in God’s kingdom.
How Do We Measure Success vs. How God Measures It?
We’ve seen that:
- World’s Success = Money, popularity, fame, and power.
- God’s Success = Faithfulness, integrity, service, love, stewardship, and purpose.
So what do we do now?
6. Surrender Over Self-Reliance
The key principle of building a business God’s way is surrender. Success in God’s eyes requires that we trust Him with the outcomes and remain open to His direction. Self-reliance is highly valued in the world, but God invites us to depend on Him. Surrendering our business plans to God and allowing Him to guide us transforms how we approach every decision.
Biblical Principle: Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
When we surrender our plans, ambitions, and even our definition of success to God, we align ourselves with His purposes. True success lies in obedience and a heart yielded to His direction.
Building Your Business on Biblical Principles with God’s Reasons
Building a business on Biblical principles is counter-cultural. It calls us to redefine success, focusing on God’s reasons over our own ambitions. We may still experience traditional “success”—financial growth, influence, and expansion—but these should be byproducts, not the primary goals. The most fulfilling business journey is one rooted in God’s values and surrendered to His will.
If you’re ready to know more about how you can have a successful business built on God’s ideas for success, I invite you to join our Free Training, How to build an impactful business that serves God and perfectly aligns with His design of you─ Without first waiting for a ‘sign from God’, developing a brand, or creating a website
By measuring success as God does—with purpose, faithfulness, integrity, and love—we build a business that brings honor to Him and serves the world. When we trust Him to shape our definition of success, we find peace, satisfaction, and joy in the journey, knowing that what we build is eternal.
Let me know what these six principles have sparked for you and how you want to build your business?
Be filled to overflowing,
DeneenTB
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