Aligning Your Business with Your Christian Values
As a Christian financial advisor working in a Christian faith-based financial advising firm, I’m fortunate to have a front-row seat to the world of Christian for-profit business.
And while navigating two potentially competing paradigms (maintaining your Christian values and running a for-profit business) provides unique challenges, the opportunities it affords to make a Kingdom impact are well worth the effort!
So today, I want to share some practical tips you can use to help you further align your business practices with your Christian values.
Is it for the faint of heart? No. But you wouldn’t be in business if you were, right? Right! Let’s jump in!
1. Establish a Kingdom-Minded Mission Statement
In Matthew 5:16, Jesus tells us, "Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."
Laying a proper foundation is important in business. Creating a Kingdom-Minded Mission Statement is a critical step that will help to keep you focused on what’s most important when worldly temptations arise, allowing your light to shine through your business.
For example, at LifeGuide Financial Advisors, our mission statement is: “Helping families achieve financial peace, freedom, and eternal impact.” We want to be clear up front that it’s not just about money—it’s about helping families make a Kingdom impact through Godly stewardship! This mission statement is a constant reminder for our team about the work we do and the daily decisions we make.
Why it matters:
A mission statement grounded in your Christian values serves as the “North Star” for all your business decisions. It guides your business practices and leadership, and communicates what you're all about to your clients, employees, and stakeholders. Furthermore, it helps keep you focused on what’s truly most important when worldly challenges arise.
How to start:
Begin with prayer. Pray for guidance and wisdom to help you articulate your mission.
Your mission statement should articulate your “why” and “what.” It should outline what you seek to do every day. While it can feel challenging to boil this down to one or two sentences, spend time to get it as short and memorable as possible.
Once you have your mission statement, keep it front and center! Hang it in your office and display it prominently on your website.
2. Prioritize Generosity and Service
Luke 16:10 teaches, "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.”
It's easy to fall into the mindset that says, “When I achieve _____, then I can be more generous,” or “If I just had $X in reserve, I’d be comfortable giving more.” But the reality is that generosity is fostered, not achieved.
Start right where you are, in the middle of whatever challenges and setbacks you may be facing. Prayerfully commit to taking a step of faith, serving well, and being generous with what you have.
Why it matters:
Generous giving and selfless service directly reflect Christ’s call to love others. Implementing these practices intentionally within your business and team can bless the community around you and place even greater meaning behind the work you do.
How to start:
Consider allocating a specific percentage of profits to local charities or faith-based initiatives. If you’re unsure where to start, my encouragement is to start wherever you feel comfortable and then add “one step further” to that—whatever that may look like for you!
Organize volunteer days for employees and customers/clients to serve in the community.
Choose ministry/charity partners that align with your specific mission, values, and passions to create a coherent approach to your giving.
3. Foster a Christ-Centered Workplace Culture
Colossians 3:23-24 tells us, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward."
Just as relationships require time and intentionality to grow, so does developing a Christ-centered workplace culture. Encouraging a workplace culture that reflects biblical teachings can help employees view their work as a form of worship and service to God, ultimately transforming otherwise ordinary tasks into extraordinary service.
Why it matters:
Cultivating a workplace that reflects Christian values honors God and provides a space where team members can thrive in all aspects of their lives. In other words, it’s a win on all fronts!
How to start:
Set an example by leading your team with compassion, patience, and humility. Address conflicts and challenges through a Christian lens, emphasizing reconciliation and forgiveness.
Start meetings with prayer or a brief devotional, where appropriate.
Reflect on your mission statement and hold discussions about why the work your team does truly matters.
Hold a book study where different team members lead discussions each week.
4. Prioritize Humility, Transparency, and Accountability
I've found that this point can be particularly challenging! After all, entrepreneurs and business leaders tend to be independent and “self-reliant” by nature.
Yet Galatians 6:2 reminds us that we must “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
As leaders, we’re not required to have it figured out. We are commanded, though, to help carry each other's burdens. By prioritizing humility, transparency, and accountability with those we serve, we build trust and reflect the integrity expected of us as followers of Christ!
Why it matters:
Humility, transparency, and accountability are key aspects of Godly stewardship and critical in maintaining trust within your business and with external stakeholders.
How to start:
Implement “open book management” where feasible to keep team members informed about business health.
Regularly update stakeholders about business progress, initiatives, and challenges.
Engage in honest communications with your team, especially in difficult circumstances, trusting that maintaining long-term integrity is more important than short-term gains.
Wrapping it up
By now, I hope you have a few tangible tools in your toolbelt to help you envision the kind of impact a missional for-profit business can have!
As a Christian, incorporating biblical values into your day-to-day business practices is a profound way to live out your faith and lead by example. Each step, rooted in Scripture and implemented with intention, can help you leverage your business as a powerful platform for ministry and service.
Yet intertwining these spiritual aspirations with practical business operations can be complex. And this is where having a Christian financial advisor to walk alongside you can be extremely helpful.
By partnering with a Christian advisor who shares your values and understands the ins and outs of business finance, you’re free to focus more on the impact you want to create with your business and less on the “math” to make it happen!
