Spiritual Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship is ordinarily viewed as material. Doing business is basically done for the sake of gaining financial profit and satisfying human needs. Often, entrepreneurs and businessmen set the material and spiritual in opposition to each other. In doing so, they reduce themselves to mere economic sphere, while excluding spiritual values.

One then forgets that God calls us to do all things in life for Him. That includes entrepreneurship or doing one's own business. "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men" (Colossians 3:23). One cannot therefore do business in a proper and lasting way by taking God out of the picture.

Yesterday, I was talking to a friend, Frank, and a doctor-friend, Vic. They are both "spiritual entrepreneurs." They're equally involved in promoting a breakthrough Filipino medical invention to the world that has already cured numerous diseases. But there is a difference. They hear not only their own or people's material, financial, or health demands, but hearken to the universal longing of the human soul for God.

A "spiritual entrepreneur," therefore, is committed to spiritual and not just material well being. He sees an economic or market need and seeks to fill it by injecting a free gift of divine grace and self. The "spiritual entrepreneur" is first and foremost in business for and with God. He goes to places where materialistically-driven "angels of the business world" fear to tread!

Today, we have marketplace ministries all over the world that connect Christian entrepreneurs and ministry. Some of the most helpful sites that can tell you more about these and real life testimonies include http://www.releasing-kings.com/; http://www.marketplaceleaders.org/ ; and http://www.opportunity.org/
Indeed, entrepreneurship and business are being reclaimed for God where they rightfully belong.

Friend, if you're a Christian entrepreneur or business person, you hold the key to balance the equation in the business world. What you do in your business is not just a job or a means of livelihood and gaining wealth. It's a true, God-assigned ministry.