Finding My Calling in Business: Part 1 – A Crisis Solved
Updated: Dec 28, 2020
I think my greatest fear is that my business will not make a difference. I fear I’m not in the right industry, pursuing the wrong niche, or speaking to the wrong tribe.
And I know I’m not alone in thinking this way. After working with entrepreneur’s brands for over a decade, I’ve had many conversations about purpose and calling. Some know exactly what they’re going after, most of them have no idea.
Rest assured:
Godpreneurs have been created by God in his image.
Godpreneurs have great worth.
Godpreneurs have been given gifts, gifts are meant to contribute something to the family, the community, and the world.
In spite of these truths, my clients still fear to live a life of insignificance. Why?
Many entrepreneurs don’t see themselves as significant. They do not have a vision for how God wants them to make a difference in the business world through their unique gifts. We have a crisis in calling.
The Bible teaches us that we are called out of our own selfishness to love and serve God and others in specific ways, responsible to an audience of One. In 1 Corinthians 10:31, God calls us to glorify him in all we do – which includes our current business and future entrepreneurial ventures. However, many believers miss this concept because there’s an underlying separation of business and God. We see this in a few ways.
The evangelical church tends to focus on salvation, evangelism, or basic discipleship – all of which are important. But there is a little or non-specific teaching for entrepreneurs who are working 20-80 hours a week on their visions. While many excellent evangelical churches exist, most of them do not address:
Ethical issues in business ;
Public affirmation of ministry in and through entrepreneurship;
Discernment of the gifts of all church members and how to use those gifts wisely in the church and in the marketplace.
People are being equipped for personal faith, but not business life.
Further, entrepreneurship is often seen as an antithesis of family life. Working overtime or on the weekend is seen as a threat to the fabric of the family. On the contrary, like Jeremiah’s response to the Babylonian exile, God has called his people to seek the flourishing of the city so it may prosper, and to do so with humility, patience, love, and grace (Jeremiah 29:11, Ephesians 4:1-3).
Many idealistic young entrepreneurs set about starting a business with unrealistic expectations about money and success in a future career. Now the “mid-life crisis” is coming earlier. People are starting to discuss the “quarter-life crisis.” People who have been the best and brightest all their lives are feeling bogged down and unfulfilled. Their high expectations of entrepreneurship are dashed. Success has not come as quickly as they had hoped.
The central reason for these various problems is a failure to develop a biblical basis for entrepreneurship.
The bible says:
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord , “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
This being true, then the good news is that we all have a calling. Some have uncovered and recovered it, while others haven’t discovered it yet.
In this series, we will explore how to discover God’s call in your business life.
Do you fear living an insignificant life? Why or why not?