Business for the Glory of God: The Bible’s Teaching on the Moral Goodness of Business portends a concept of holistic entrepreneurial by emphasizing on the perception of the business as a calling. The implication of this understanding promotes the view that business people must engage in activities that represent the will of God. Grudem demonstrates the extent to which the business activities fall into the widespread Christian paradigm that are pegged on the opportunity to enhance the glory of God. Accordingly, the profit spectrum, private ownership, competition, employment as well as commercial transactions must portray the sovereignty of God. The attention of the author is focused on the scriptural guidance on business practice to embody how the entrepreneur spirit must be anchored on the Biblical foundation for the unique design to glorify God.
The organization of the Evangelical theologians reflects the business trajectory on which the basis for business practice, processes, and excellences in shaped. Grudem reveals an understanding that the business aspects and entrepreneur activities characterized by competition, profit making, ownership structure and the process of borrowing and lending must glorify the name of God. The foundation of this perspectives reinforces the theological basis that the providence role of God is manifested in the nature of God. According to Grudem (2003, p20), it emerges that the relational principles of business and God promotes the manipulation of entrepreneurial activities to portend the inherent practice, as well as nature of God given blessing to human beings. Grudem characteristically argues that all business people must seize the opportunity to imitate God’s attributes such as knowledge, creativity, wisdom, love, fairness as well as the freedom to exercise the free will in their operations and dealings.
Grudem draws the attention of the audience by ascertaining the implication of Genesis 2:15 on the foundation of subdue characterize the good of human productivity. The essence of such entrepreneurial understanding denotes Wiersbe (2007) indication that the intention of God for human efforts is anchored on the development of the welfare of the society and extensively promote the glory of God. In view of this, it is plausible to note that the manufactured products “give us the opportunity to praise God for anything we look at in the world around us” (Grudem, 2003, 26). Accordingly, the process of entrepreneurship must enhance the discovery of God’s wonders in His creation and allows the usefulness of the resources to humanity.
Grudem acknowledges the underlying sense that few business people appreciate the inherent moral good in their activities (2003, p11). The call to serve God in human life presents an opportunity that can be found in business. In light of this, it is imperative that the manipulation and misuse of business opportunities fall short of Grudem’s perspective that “Many aspects of business activity are morally good in themselves, and that in themselves they bring glory to God—though they also have great potential for misuse and wrongdoing” (p12).
Business for the Glory of God: The Bible’s Teaching on the Moral Goodness of Business rejects the principles of Marxism by maintaining the biblical perspective that it is evident to gain from making others suffer. The teachings of the Bible on this dimension reinforce the call for the moral relationship between employer and employee as established in 1 Timothy 6:1 and Luke 3: 14. From this understanding, it emerges that the relationship between employees and employers in the context of business practice must offer a mutual context of understanding, dignity as well as concern for others. This is a critical call that entrepreneurs must seek the good of the employees by doing what is expected of them with utmost dedication and commitment. Similarly, employers must also serve the interests of their employees by paying them fairly for the job done. Johnson (2011) supports this argument by enhance the need for truth and faithful in entrepreneurial activities as a normal response to the needs of the human society. The liberal views of this state of affairs contradict the theoretical representation of Marxism that allows competition to promote the inequality in possession. According to Johnson (2011), Grudem facilitates an anti-competitive attitude in business operation to enhance the biblical teachings on stewardship that God has entrusted on Christian entrepreneurs.
The use of money and the question of profit characterize the focus of Business for the Glory of God: The Bible’s Teaching on the Moral Goodness of Business on the basis of useful exchange of goods and services. With regard to this, it emerges the business indication for efficient use of the resources provided by God constructs the Christian dimension of profit as pictured in Mathews 25:14-30. According to Stewart (2014), the foundation of business operations and processes is money and plays a strategic role in the exchange of goods and services as well as the increasing transactions. This implies that profits making initiatives, tactics and strategies must provide an opportunity for the entrepreneur to glorify God as an attempt to expand the stewardship roles while at the same time meeting the needs of themselves as well those of others. Arguably, it becomes imperative that as Christian entrepreneurs, a certain percentage of the proceeds must be channeled to charitable events in a bid to promote the apostolic and missionary work of the church.
The call for interpersonal growth is a significant theme in the Business for the Glory of God: The Bible’s Teaching on the Moral Goodness of Business. Grudem highlights that every entrepreneur should aim at interpersonal growth from the business transaction (Grudem, 2003). This realization establishes the foundation of Johnson (2011) that the value of interpersonal nature in business practice and the transaction is a manifestation of the significant stability influence on the wider society. As a result, the mechanics of business management, strategic formulation, and profit dynamics must benefit the stakeholders as well as shareholders in the business enterprise. The evidence that the grace of God is manifested in the entrepreneurial activities must be felt if the mechanism of buying and selling allow the mankind to achieve encouragement to love the less fortunate and pursue actions that advance the welfare of both the entrepreneur and the society at large.
The Christian perspective espoused in Grudem’s book captures an impactful trajectory based on the effect of business activities in an environment littered with poverty. The assertion that business practitioners must engage in long-term solutions to the social problem of poverty. The underlying reason, according to Grudem (2003) paints a picture that since business has proceeds that offer employment opportunities, the continued environment of business practice must structure sustainable solutions to poverty levels.
The concept of competition in the capitalist marketplace decreases the value of welfare. The biblical discussion of loans and way of life enhances the spectrum of establishing a rationale for engaging in risky activities on lending money and charging exorbitant interest rates. The reflection of Grudem on the necessity of morality and biblical goodness should influence the economic dynamics and allow just operations of business activities (Wiersbe, 2007). Stewart (2014) further outlines that the moral formation of entrepreneurs, customers, employees and all stakeholders must lead to the overall respect and service to human dignity. As a result, it is plausible to not that the ever increasing entrepreneurial and Marxist desire to achieve the maximum good and returns on investment must not harm the society but rather bring a simultaneous effect of glorifying God.
Business for the Glory of God: The Bible’s Teaching on the Moral Goodness of Business attributes to the government intervention and regulation to entrepreneurial activities as a measure that effectively destroys the power line of economic growth. Johnson (2011) shares the belief that while many governmental systems have instituted programs and formulated policies that promote the growth of entrepreneurial activities, the systemic failure stifle Christian enterprise thus hindering the Christian fraternity the opportunity to realize the God-given talents and work. Grudem critics that “evil governments that confiscate a country’s wealth and thus prevent business from helping people overcome poverty. Yet another [obstacle] is repressive governments that hinder and destroy businesses in order to enhance their own power” (Grudem, 2003, 81).
However, the underlying shortcoming in the book is the lack of theoretical representation to ground the views and findings in a scholarly and research framework. This deprives the author the need for in-depth understanding of the perspective of God, entrepreneurship, and self-disclosure. It therefore emerges that Business for the Glory of God: The Bible’s Teaching on the Moral Goodness of Business misses out on the significant discussion on the interference consequences of business activities by a third party (Stewart, 2014). Evidently, Grudem fails to capture the biblical foundation of what happens when a third party interferes with the entrepreneur activities. This underscores the need to ground the beliefs of Christianity in the business environment characterized by competition, loss, as well as the strategic influence for returns on investments.
The principles, perspectives, views and opinions captured in Business for the Glory of God: The Bible’s Teaching on the Moral Goodness of Business builds on the primary value of scripture and biblical tenets that hold the view that all resources, capabilities, achievements, and initiatives are provided for by God. As a result, it is evident that it is the responsibility of entrepreneurs to appreciate the gifts of God and create the environment where system of law are reasonable enough to promote the intended goal of God and misuse the misuse as well as abuse of human race and the hitherto resources. The author call upon entrepreneur and all stakeholders in business transactions to take the pleasure and joy of celebrating the gifts of God given to humanity. The promise of Grudem on the interplay between economic values and biblical principles highlights a balanced scriptural synthesis covering the economic, political theories and theological foundations to summarize the consequence of wrongdoings in business practice as well that the importance of glorifying God through business activities.
Reference List
Grudem, W. (2003). Business for the glory of God: The Bible’s teaching on the Moral Goodness of Business. Wheaton: IL: Crossway. ISBN: 9781581345179.
Johnson, N (2011). Business as Mission: A Comprehensive Guide to Theory and Practice. New York: InterVarsity Press. ISBN 0830869476, 9780830869473
Stewart, P (2014) Beyond Belief. New York: Xlibris Corporation. ISBN: 1499073216, 9781499073218
Wiersbe, W (2007). On Being a Servant of God. New York: Baker Books
