Mark E asked:


Is it possible to be a successful business person and practice the principles Jesus outlines?

5 Responses to “Is it possible to be a successful business person and practice the principles Jesus outlines?”

1. mobileminiatures on January 21st, 2008 8:06 pm

   Only if all your customers feel just like you, and it is not .likely…

2. super psych on January 24th, 2008 7:36 pm

   just don’t be a banker. he had a thing against them.
   oh, and give stuff away- pro bono work is good!

3. Joy on January 26th, 2008 5:37 am

   I think it is possible. Jesus has summed all commandments into “love”. Even if you did follow everything but did it without love, it is still nothing to Him. When you do business keep in mind “love”. Paying an employee below minimum wage which only leads his family to starvation is not loving at all. Or being lenient to a mischievous employee can pull the business down and everybody depending on it will starve. Paying the right taxes is sharing your blessings to others (even if it sometimes goes to the pockets of the corrupt – it’s their call). It is possible but difficult but if this is the kind of road that takes us to heaven then it’s worth a try.

4. duhanlorian on January 26th, 2008 6:38 am

   Yes.
   We live in a world full of unethical business people and dishonest people in general.
   The system we currently operate within works but only tenatively and on a limited basis as it relates to integrity and honesty; and this because of dishonest and power hungry people.
   I believe God understands this and will make it possible to overcome the temptation to make decisions that go against the principles our Savior taught.
   If you believe in Jesus and have faith in God to guide you in the decisions you make then you may be successful in business if it is God’s will you should be.
   Just remember: where much is given much is required. I also believe every one of us, at judgement day, after making an accounting of our relationship with our wife and our children and any other associations we have had in this life, God will hold us accountable for the material possesions he blessed us with during our lifetime. Business success can be a cursing or a blessing depending upon our use of that success.
   I’ll leave the interpretation of this to your own conscience.
   Thank you for the question.

5. geotom on January 26th, 2008 8:02 pm

   WELL, YOU GOT A COUPLE OF PRETTY STUPID ANSWERS: OBVIOUSLY NOT CHRISTIANS OR UNDERSTAND HIS TEACHINGS,MOST LIKELY NOT SUCCESSFUL EITHER.
   IN ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION: LOOK AT SOME OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES IN AMERICA; SAM WALTON-WALMART, ECKERDS DRUGS, DAVE THOMAS-WENDY’S, CHIC FILLET, J. C. PENNEY’S AND MANY OTHERS.

   BY USING THE TEACHINGS OF THE BIBLE YOU MUST TREAT OTHERS AS YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED, WHAT SOME CALL THE GOLDEN RULE IF YOU USE THIS RULE YOU WILL RECIEVE AN ABUNDANCE, BECAUSE IN BUSINESS WHEN YOU GIVE SERVICE BEYOND WHAT PEOPLE EXPECT YOU WILL STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD AND IN SO DOING THEY WILL BE TELLING THEIR FRIENDS HOW PLEASED THE WERE WITH YOUR SERVICE.

   ONE THING THAT I LEARNED FROM JOE GIRARD( I THINK HIS NAME IS) THE MOST SUCCESSFUL CAR SALESMAN IN THE COUNTRY FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. HE CREATED WHAT HE CALLED THE RULE OF 250, IT GOES SOMETHING LIKE THIS: WHEN YOU HAVE A SATISFIED CUSTOMER HE OR SHE MAY TELL ONE PERSON, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A DIS-SATISFIED CUSTOMER HE WILL TELL EVERYONE THAT HE KNOWS HOW BAD YOUR ARE, AND ON AVERAGE WE EACH KNOW 250 PEOPLE.
   INTEGRITY IS IN SHORT SUPPLY IN THE BUSNESS WORLD, IT’S NOT TAUGHT IN COLLEGE. WIN-WIN IN BUSINESS IS THE WAY OF JESUS.
   I DO NOT HOWEVER BELIEVE THAT IT IS PROPER NOR ADVANTAGIOUS TO PREACH TO YOUR CLIENTS OR CUSTOMERS, BETTER TO LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE, THAN YOUR MOUTH RUN ON AND ON.
   NOW GO OUT THERE AND WORK TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND BELIEVE ME HE WILL LEAD YOU DOWN THE RIGHT PATHS. BUT REMEMBER LET HIM LEAD DON’T GET OUT IN FRONT OR HE WILL LET YOU TRIP AND STUMBLE UNTIL YOU GET BACK ON THE PATH.