Now, more than ever, Christian CEOs and business owners are navigating the path of creating a business with purpose. But the spiritual stewardship of a purposeful enterprise involves more than strategic planning; it needs a whole new mindset. In this article, we will explore how a “stewardship mindset” helps leaders cultivate a business that not only thrives economically but also serves a higher purpose.
1. Spiritual Stewardship Catalyzes Business With Purpose
Though we often think of stewardship as solely a financial term, its biblical definition is inclusive of a much broader spectrum. At its core, stewardship in business transcends the mere management of financial assets to encompass every facet of our lives and business, mirroring the biblical view that all we have is entrusted to us by God. This broader perspective causes us to consider how we manage our resources—people, time, and talent—with a sense of divine accountability. One day we hope to give a faithful accounting for that which has been placed into our care (Matthew 25:14-30).
In other words, how we manage our resources, reflects the motivations and values of our hearts. In Genesis 1:26-27, mankind is given our first commission, and this mandate displays the heart of stewardship. Stewardship is the particular way each of us uniquely reflects God’s nature and character as we care for, maintain, and protect His creation.
When we realize that all of the activities within our businesses are part of a larger mission of God to reflect, redeem, and recapture what is broken in this world, we begin to understand the grand opportunity our Creator has invited us to participate in. This is at the very heart of God’s purpose for our lives! We are invited to participate with Him so the question before us becomes, “Do we recognize our companies are more than just a mechanism for cash generation?”
2. Business With Purpose Influences Corporate Culture
When we can walk with a holy sense of our commission in business, we are able to center our strategic planning around the immovable foundations of identity and purpose rather than the shifting tide of revenue. Our mission, vision, and core values become the hub from which all other activities flow. Such alignment ensures that strategic decisions are not only driven by financial considerations but are deeply rooted in our core beliefs and personal culture. Stewards know the importance of their core values and do not shift or compromise. For the follower of Jesus, His values matter and should inform how we view and live out these values through the operations of our businesses. Hypothetically, if Jesus showed up in the lobby of your business and requested a tour of His company, what values would He find being lived out in sales, operations, etc.?
3. Business With Purpose Maximizes a New Kind of Economy
When, as leaders, we can approach our businesses with a “stewardship mindset,” it unlocks a whole different economy of growth. Aaron Hurst, global entrepreneur and CEO of Imperative, explains it as “the purpose economy”—an emerging economic era in which people seek more meaning and impact in their lives through work. In fact, there is a strong preference, among younger workers especially, to engage a business with purpose.
As such, stewarding our most critical resource, the people we employ, must involve setting clear, measurable goals that encourage personal and professional development within the context of the organization’s mission. Having SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound goals) will empower growth and traction towards established objectives in high-performance teams.
The Future of Spiritual Stewardship in Cultivating a Business With Purpose
As the business landscape evolves, companies grounded in purpose are poised for success, demonstrating higher growth rates, market share gains, and satisfaction levels among employees and customers. This trend underscores the importance of equipping Christian business leaders to navigate the challenges and opportunities of building a business with purpose. How we integrate spiritual stewardship and purpose into our business practices offers CEOs and business owners a path for personal and corporate transformation.
Explore how C12 Northern NJ empowers Christian CEOs and business owners to build a great business for a greater purpose, or contact us for more insights and resources.
Charles Eapen
Principal Chair
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