Staff Writer - Audrey Linton
What words or thoughts come to your mind when I mention ‘running a business or being an entrepreneur’ – making money, hard work, being successful or even back-handed deals to name but a few!
In this secular society where materialism has cunningly taken its place on the world stage as the ‘god of the age’ it is hard to connect how business and enterprise can have any spiritual connotations.
But if we look closely to biblical times ‘doing business’ was part of every day life. Sowing, reaping, selling – Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – the spiritual giants of the main religions set the agenda in this area. Now correct me if I am wrong, but as far as I am aware there was no separation between sacred and secular in Hebrew culture – it was all part of everyday life.
So this leads me to one of my favourite biblical stories which illustrates this and that is Proverbs 31 – the story of the entrepreneurial wife (Proverbs 31 verses 10 to 31).
In my view this woman was an entrepreneur of entrepreneurs, a class act when it comes to running an enterprise. Are there any ladies in the house?
Now this woman is either loved or scorned as she epitomises the perfect woman – she is a loving wife, a caring mother, home maker, business focused, charitable and well respected – perhaps not a model that all can or may want to relate to. However, there are some traits and characteristics of an astute businesswoman that we can explore.
Faith in business...
Now I would not class myself as a Biblical scholar so I don’t intend going into any detailed exegesis, but the key word in the Book of Proverbs is ‘wisdom’ – the ability to live life skilfully. The book of Proverbs provides God’s detailed instruction to deal successfully with practical affairs of every day life relating to God, parents, children, neighbours, government and business.
So when we examine the Proverbs 31 woman we see many business skills in action. This woman had the ability to:
- think strategically and globally;
- commitment to her workforce and her worklife balance policies;
- 24 hour customer service care;
- the ability to make astute investments;
- understood and practised corporate social responsibility;
- remunerated and rewarded her staff (and herself) excessively;
- had excellent communication skills;
- Was an inspirational leader.
She acted with integrity in all that she did that even her own children called her ‘blessed ‘ and her husband believed her price was far above rubies.
Is it possible for business people to run their businesses with such integrity and passion in a secular society? As a business and leadership coach, I think so, as many companies and business owners have realised the benefits of integrity, good governance, ‘giving back’ or corporate social responsibility as some would call it; and treating their people with respect and the dignity they deserve.
In my future writings I will explore further the fusion of spiritual and secular within business, but for now I would leave you to ponder on the type of business that you are operating or thinking of starting? Does the business you manage or the organisation you work for go against your core beliefs? Are you there to be an influence of change ? Can your colleagues or employees connect with you as a spiritual leader; is spirituality in the workplace celebrated, frowned upon or something you leave at church?
Selah – think about it!
P31 – www.p31consulting.com
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