Is there such a thing as a Christian business? Not really since a business is an entity, not a person. However, there are Christians who own or lead businesses. Below are the markers of a Christian business leader. While some people who are not yet Christian may manifest some of these and some Christians may not, a person who desires to lead his or her business as a Christian will take seriously each of these 11 markers.
1. Stewardship not ownership.
They regularly remind themselves, “It’s on loan from God.”
2. Wise counsel.
They are humble enough to seek out wisdom from others.
3. Other-centered.
They look out for others’ interests, not just their own.
4. Sober judgment.
They have an accurate view of themselves including their sin and talents.
5. Outward impact.
They have a vision of impacting their community, not just their employees.
6. Reputation matters.
They guard their reputation like they guard their money – carefully.
7. Modest consumption.
They do not live up to their earnings but rather below them.
8. Pursuit of excellence.
They take excellence seriously in how they lead and what they produce.
9. Hire the best.
They don’t build their business by only hiring Christians.
10. Courage.
They don’t shy away from making hard decisions that some may label as “un-Christian.”
11. No Spiritualizing!
They avoid using God, prayer, and the Bible to manipulate or coerce others.
Jay Desko is the CEO of The Center Consulting Group and brings experience in the areas of organizational assessment, leadership coaching, decision-making, and strategic questioning. Jay’s degrees include an M.Ed. in Instructional Systems Design from Pennsylvania State University and a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior and Leadership from The Union Institute.
