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Nicodemus had a choice. He could choose Jesus, or he could choose earthly comforts. That same choice sits in front of every one of us today, and it lands especially hard on business owners.
Are you working 80 hours a week for that extra car? The weekend house? Or are you putting in those hours for God's purpose? I get it. We all need to put food on the table and shoes on our kids' feet. But the real question is this: is it needed, or is it wanted? Is it in excess? And most of all, is this something that aligns with God's will?
This is something you have to know for yourself. Remember the warning in Scripture: "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it." (Matthew 7:13-14). The easy road is crowded for a reason. This post will help you examine your own path, and bring your business in line with a higher purpose.
Theologians broadly categorize God's purpose into two pillars: glorifying God our Father, and living out a daily life of faithful obedience and love for others. Everything else; how you run your company, how you treat your customers, how you spend your time, flows from these two ideas.
Let's break each one down and see how it applies to the way you do business.
"In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success." (Proverbs 3:6). The keyword here is everything.
So ask yourself honestly: are there times you do, or even just consider doing, something that isn't aligned with this?
Here's a hard truth. Just because a person wears a cross doesn't mean they're a good person. Growing up Catholic, I saw this firsthand. And to be honest, I've fallen short here myself. We go to church and confession, asking forgiveness for what we did the past week. Then we go tearing out of the parking lot, flipping people off as they leave. Is that glorifying God? Absolutely not.
That's the kind of behavior that gives "Bible thumper" its negative meaning. Having God in your life does not mean you get to act however you please. As a Christian, one of the most powerful ways to glorify God is simply by not being a hypocrite. Your actions need to match your words; ,in the pew and in the parking lot, in the boardroom and on the job site.
You glorify God by following the Golden Rule: treat your neighbor as yourself. Ask yourself, "What would Jesus do?"
This isn't a cliché for bumper stickers and bracelets that once announced to everyone that you were a believer. It's a raw and truthful question. Jesus came to earth to literally teach us how to live a Godly life. His teachings and actions glorified his Father, God. When we ask "What would Jesus do?", those are the words and actions we're reflecting on.
So how does this connect to business?
A meaningful way to measure your business against God's purpose is to ask whether it does one of four things:
"But Bryan, this doesn't fit my business model. We're a for-profit company. I do remodeling. We run a car wash."
I hear you. So let me be clear about what this does not require.
No, and no. You don't need a Scripture-inspired company name. You don't need a cross mounted on your storefront. Those things aren't the point.
Instead, ask yourself these questions:
The number one thing is to provide a superior service and product, offered with grace and understanding. That's where your witness begins.
Chick-fil-A is a great example. The only tangible Christian image you'll see is a Bible verse printed on their cups. There's no preaching at the counter. Yet everyone knows Chick-fil-A is a Christian company, and it's visited by believers and non-believers alike, because the product is superior. Just look at the lines.
Here's the beauty of it. Non-believers walk away both fed and quietly handed a Bible verse. That's how you glorify God and carry out his will through your business: by serving people so well that your values speak for themselves.
Come back to where we started. Wide is the gate that leads to destruction, and the road is crowded with people chasing more; more hours, more cars, more square footage. The narrow gate asks something different.
It asks you to weigh every long week against a single question: needed or wanted? It asks whether your profit serves a purpose beyond yourself. It asks you to balance your work with God and family, rather than sacrificing them for things you may not even need.
You don't have to abandon your business to walk through that gate. You have to align it. Provide an excellent product. Treat people the way Jesus taught. Support causes that feed, clothe, heal, or minister. Let your work itself become an act of worship.
So I'll leave you with the question we opened with: What defines you? Take an honest look at your calendar, your bank account, and your priorities this week. Then ask whether they reflect your wants—or God's will. That answer is yours alone to find.
Yes. Running a for-profit business is not in conflict with Christian faith. What matters is how you run it; whether you provide a superior product with grace and integrity, treat people by the Golden Rule, and use your success to support a purpose beyond yourself. Profit isn't the problem; misplaced priorities are.
Ask a simple question about what you're chasing: is it needed or wanted? Are you working 80-hour weeks to provide for your family and serve God's purpose, or to fund excess you don't truly need? When work consistently crowds out God and family, that's a strong sign your priorities have drifted toward the "wide gate."
No. You don't need a cross on your building or a faith-themed company name. Chick-fil-A is a leading example; its only visible Christian element is a Bible verse on its cups, yet it's known as a faith-driven company because of its superior service. Your values can speak through the quality and grace of your work.
A faith-driven business can minister, feed, clothe, or heal. Practical steps include supporting Christian-based charities that meet those needs, blogging to share your faith, providing an excellent product, and treating customers and employees with grace and understanding.
Matthew 7:13-14 contrasts the wide, crowded road that leads to destruction with the narrow gate that leads to life. For business owners, the narrow gate means resisting the constant pull toward; more hours, more possessions, and instead aligning your work, profit, and time with God's will and your family.
