by Dave Kahle

 

Most cultures think of business as simply a vehicle to make money. That is the message the world sends out, and most people accept. That view of business, however, ranks high on the list of Satan’s deceits, especially when it is the only perspective our churches have about business.

As businesspeople, we often define our success by the increase in sales and profits. While there is nothing wrong with that, if we focus exclusively on that, we limit the potential of the business. It is like trying to grow an apple tree in a pot inside your home. There is just not enough light and air to produce an abundant harvest of apples.

When we limit our concept of business to just making money—even when we intend to be generous with that money—we severely limit its potential to be a force for good in the world.

The Bible notes at least 10 purposes, or benefits, of business:

1.  A business can be a vehicle for the multiplication of wealth

There is nothing wrong, per se, with multiplying resources or accumulating wealth. Note the parable of the bags of gold, where the worthy servant was rewarded for increasing the master’s wealth. The servant didn’t give it away, nor did he squander it on a richer lifestyle. Instead, he focused on increasing the master’s wealth. The master rewarded him with a larger area of responsibility and a closer relationship with him.

Think of Abraham, who is regarded as the epitome of faith and obedience. His business was large enough that he was able to assemble “318 trained men born in his household.” (Gen 14:14) . His business probably consisted of hundreds, if not thousands, of employees/servants.

It’s our attitude to that wealth that God is concerned with.

2.  A business provides economic security to the employees and stakeholders

While God is the ultimate provider, He does so through natural means. And a business is one of those means. A successful business provides the means of economic sustenance for the employees and stakeholders and thereby is a conduit for God’s providence and blessings.

The business woman in Proverbs 31 is described as a model provider, bring economic security to her family, her household and servants. She is able to help the poor and influence her community through her hard work and business activities.

3. A business shapes the next generation of leaders

Many major characters in the Bible were raised in a business environment, and had their characters shaped by that experience. Think of Isaac and Jacob, who were raised in their fathers’ households. Or Saul, who was on a business project when he was called to be Israel’s first king. Or David, who was employed in his father’s business when he was called. Or, even Jesus, who spent his formative years in his father’s carpentry business.

A business, with its tasks, hierarchy and accountability, provides valuable lessons for the next generation of leaders.

4. A business can develop character among its employees

Not only does a business act as a fertile training ground for future leaders, but everyone can grow sound characters by being guided by the values and goals of a good business and held accountable for adherence to them.

The Bible has much to say about honest business practices and doing work with integrity, a few examples in Proverbs 12:22 and 20:10, 2 Corinthians 8:21, James 5:4.

5.  A business can provide a unifying bond for families

While much is said these days about work-like balance, the scriptures present a different perspective. A business in the Bible wasn’t something separate from the family, it was the families’ occupation. As we have seen already, in children grew up in the family business, added their energy to it, and reaped the benefits of that. While it may be difficult in today’s corporate age to duplicate that level of engagement, the opportunities still exist to integrate family members into the business and so, instead of balancing between work and family, bring the family into the work.

Visualize family meals where the topic of conversation is the business, as opposed to the latest social media trends. Imagine kids who watch the family’s provider at work and learn from him/her.

6.  A business can provide the venue for the application of spiritual gifts

In one of Bible’s first recorded instance of supernatural gifts being used, Joseph used the gift of interpreting dreams to vault to the top of what may have been the largest business enterprise in the world, Pharaoh’s grain distribution business (Genesis 37-41).

The first description in the Bible of someone being filled with the Holy Spirit is a craftsman, Bezalel, in the context of him using his craftsmanship. These are skills—working with gold, silver and bronze—are ones he likely honed in a business setting before being selected by God to make the decorations for the Tabernacle (Exodus 31 and 35).

The constant interaction with customers and vendors as well as the close relationships that typically develop in a business provide a fertile field for spiritual gifts to touch people.

7.  A business can impact the community for good

All the way back to the days of the Egyptian captivity, it was a couple of midwives who impacted the community and were rewarded with growing businesses.

In our age, Christian companies can, and have, made an impact beyond their customer base. Among other things, a business has power to create and manage larger giving and serving projects. As an individual, we can work at a soup kitchen. A business can create and organize the soup kitchen, or community clean up operation, or English language lessons. By virtue of its potential to assemble money and people it can create a more powerful impact than an individual can.

This website is full of stories of companies providing benefits for the community at large, as well as the customers and vendors it serves.

8.  A business is a God-given way to steward the earth’s natural resources

When the Israelites were about to enter the promised land in Deuteronomy 8, God showed them that they would be running agricultural and mining operations: “For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land… a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills… Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God.” (Deut. 8: 7-11)

A key principle in being good a steward is not forgetting the Lord, and “walking in obedience to him and revering him” (v6).

9.  A business can provide a community to facilitate the gospel

The New Testament contains several examples of the head of a business committing to follow Christ and the entire household—employees, family, servants and slaves, followed that lead.

Businesses are built on relationships, and relationships are how the gospel of Jesus is shared. We can be witnesses to the Good News in the context of daily work. Businesses can even became one of the contexts for people to start to gather to grow in faith, to birth small group Christian meetings and ongoing discipleship.

10. A business can grow the faith of the owners and key employees

I have often said “If you want to grow closer to God, start a business”  There is something  about the constant press of decisions, the impact of those decisions, and the accountability that attaches to them that leads a business owner, and those employees who are invested in the success of the business, to go to God for guidance  and assistance when things don’t go well.

Indeed, one of the key pillars of a Kingdom-focused business operator is to work at staying close to God and allow Him to be the general manager and chief consultant to the business.

 

Those business owners and key employees who embrace the functions of a business above, beyond just making money, will unleash their companies to fulfil their potential to grow, succeed and make a mark on the world.

 

Written by Dave Kahle, adapted for The BAM Review by Jo Plummer.

 

BAM Global Summit 2026

Thursday 7 May

The BAM Global Summit 2026 theme Flourish reflects that God loves flourishing! 

Flourishing businesses help people, communities and nations to flourish. 

Join us at this annual gathering of the global BAM community and hear more about God’s purposes for business. Come and be equipped to flourish in your own BAM journey—to help you build flourishing companies and communities.

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash