The Spiritual Potential of Business
“As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).
Almost every Christian business owner or professional has a firm grasp on the idea of stewardship—that everything in this world, including their business or career, belongs to God, and they are just a temporary steward of it. “Everything,” of course, means everything—our family, our gifts and abilities, the position or job that we hold, the influence we have, and the people in our lives.
A Deeper Purpose
Once we understand the idea of stewardship, we are naturally led to these questions:
If that’s the case, am I making everything of my business or career that God wants me to?
Is there a greater good—a bigger impact on God’s kingdom—that I’m not seeing or not yet realizing?
These questions are pretty important. What if we spent the rest of our working life just to realize, in the end, that we missed “it”? That there was a larger dimension—a bigger purpose—and we missed it? That would be a sad day.
I have always had a sense that I have a spiritual purpose that I am called to. At times, that idea rose to the surface and was a part of my career decisions. At other times, it receded into the depths from which it came. But it has always been and continues to be there. It was one of the things that sustained me and gave me hope in some very difficult situations.
I don’t think I’m unique in this feeling. Could it be that God has prepared a “good work” for each of us—uniquely and personally—to do?
If so, then could it be that there is a deeper, more spirit-led purpose for your business or career than you currently see? Instead of only a means of making an income, could it be that your business or your career has a significant role to play in God’s plan?
What prevents us from seeing that role is often the blinders that we have put on ourselves—the ideas and paradigms that tell us that our business and career are purely secular and have no spiritual impact. As long as we believe those ideas, we will be oblivious to the greater spiritual potential that lies in what we do for a living. As a result, we will spend our entire life pursuing goals that are not in alignment with our spiritual purpose.
God’s Purpose in Your Career
Consider when Jesus asked Peter if he could use his fishing boat. Peter said, “Of course!”, so Jesus sat in Peter’s boat and taught. When he concluded his teaching, he told Peter to throw the fishing net over the right side of the boat. Peter hesitated, telling the Lord that he had been fishing there all night and had not caught anything. Then, however, he did what Jesus told him. Scripture says that the nets became so full of fish that they began to tear (Luke 5:1-11).
Peter let Jesus use his fishing boat for ministry. When Peter did what he had been doing naturally, the supernatural was released, and Peter was abundantly blessed as a result.
For the Christian professional, the question should not be “if” Jesus calls you like he called Peter—but “how.” How can you answer his call? How can you commit to acknowledging and serving God? Here are some practical ways to help answer these questions:
Build a Business or Career That Aims to Achieve the Specific Purpose God Has Given You
As you mold your business or your career, strive to discern where God wants you to be. For me, sharing my stories, experiences, and perspectives here at Catholic Women in Business is one of the ways I believe I am achieving God’s purpose and plan for me.
Let Your Work Be a Conduit for God’s Blessings
Fellowship, community, a sense of purpose, security, personal growth … These blessings can come through your work.
Provide a Venue for Exercising Your Spiritual Gifts
When you create a climate that nurtures your spiritual gifts, the results can be supernatural and spectacular. You and your business (as well as the people you serve) will be the beneficiaries.
Embed Prayer Disciplines
St. Paul writes, “Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God” (Philippians 4:6). There is no limitation to that passage and, therefore, no exceptions for your work. On the contrary, your career can present itself with a continuous, daily stream of things that can make you anxious, including decisions and risks that carry significant consequences and rewards.
Are we hiring the right person? Should we invest in this relationship? Should we pursue this business development opportunity?
Reducing this anxiety and uncertainty begins with you. Start with a daily time of prayer in which you lift up that day’s challenges, interactions, and opportunities. Then, invite other key people in your organization to pray with you. My current workplace recently introduced this practice in a much-welcomed initiative begun by a senior spirit-led executive following his calling by ministering in the workplace.
The resources we use and the clients we serve are gifts from God, entrusted to our temporary stewardship. Our work is a ministry, and we should always be seeking ways to bring it to spiritual life and use it for God’s glory.
Shivonne Sant-Solomon is a wife and mother of two, blessed with the responsibility of raising them in this dynamic world! In all of her work, and in her most important roles as mother and wife, her relationship with God has been and continues to be central, as she is first and foremost a child of God. Over the past 19 years, Shivonne has had the opportunity to work in a variety of commercial roles within the energy industry, as well as assuming the role of a stay-at-home mother to her then-younger kids for three years—a transformational experience indeed, and one where the challenges and due respect are saluted and applauded. As Shivonne continues along her spiritual and professional growth and development paths, she seeks out opportunities to share her faith and contribute and support the achievement of the world’s energy transition goals in caring for God’s creation.