In everything that we do, we are to commit it to the LORD. We should never leave God out of the picture in anything we do, whether it is our career, plans, family, etc. That also includes our business, if we are businessmen. In Proverbs 16:3, it is written that we are to commit our work to the LORD, and He will establish our plans. Whatever plan we have or business venture that we plan to get into, God establishes our plan in the end. Apart from God and His grace, our business would never succeed or prosper. The Bible teaches us of God’s common grace, the kind of grace that God shows to both the wicked and righteous (not the same kind of grace found in Christ). Those unbelievers who have their companies prosper, like the Fortune 500 companies, are only prospering because of God’s common grace to them. If not for God, they wouldn’t have achieved what they wanted. If you are a Christian, it is a different story. Yes, you need to make a living, which is why you are starting or running your own business, but more than that, there is a godly purpose as to why you are running your business. As you plan and work out the details of your business, remember to commit everything to God.

Proverbs 16:3

Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.

What does the Bible say about business and money?

While the Bible does not teach us that being a Christian automatically means being rich, the Bible also does not teach us that it is a sin to desire to be rich or for one’s business to prosper. 3 John 1:2 teaches us that we can pray for a business venture to go well for us. If you are planning to start a company or venture into business, by all means, pray for your endeavor to go well. Pray that the business is stable, profitable, sustainable, and that it will succeed. 

3 John 1:2

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

Praying for one’s business is always tied with praying for money, since more money is tied up with a business’s perceived success. It is not just money, but also fame if your business hits it big. Those are the things we have to watch out for. Money is a great tool, and you can use it to advance God’s kingdom in many ways. You can fund mission trips, help churches build their buildings, bless the poor, demonstrate the Gospel, etc. However, money can be a terrible master. When we start loving money and chasing it, the effort becomes a sin. Also, if you’re good at handling your business and your company becomes prominent, you will become well known. You can even use your influence to preach the Gospel because many people will listen to you. However, seeking fame and resting your identity and security in it is when the situation becomes a sin.

1 Timothy 6:10

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

1 John 2:15-16

15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

How do I dedicate my business to God?

Knowing the warnings that the Bible gives us about desiring money, and possibly even fame, we may stray as we do business. It is essential that we always incline our hearts to God and set our minds on the things above as we start or run our businesses. We must always make sure that we guard our hearts, fear God, and pray to God that the meditation of our hearts shall also be acceptable in His sight. If we are rooted in the fear of the LORD, the beginning of wisdom, then we shall always do what is right in the sight of God and consistently turn our feet away from evil, specifically away from the sins that involve money. 

Psalm 19:14

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

Proverbs 4:23

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Proverbs 4:27

Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

Proverbs 9:10

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

We also have to constantly set our minds on the things above. If we set our minds on temporary things, then we will surely chase after riches, fame, and other worldly things. However, if we set our minds on the things above, we will do business differently. We run our business in line with enjoying the eternity that we will have with God in the future and the heavenly rewards waiting for us as we serve Him. 

Colossians 3:2

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Revelation 22:12

And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

As we remember these truths, we should dedicate our business to God because it is right. We will glorify God in our business by using it not just to make a living, but also to be the salt and light to the world. That is what it means to dedicate one’s business to God. We glorify Him, knowing that it is Him whom we are heartily working for in service of Christ.

1 Corinthians 10:31

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Colossians 3:23-24

23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

How do I pray for success?

We pray for our business’s success in line with the biblical truths mentioned above. Given that we must dedicate our business to God, we pray for the success in our business to be used more by God to advance His kingdom. In other words, when we pray for the expansion of our business, we are praying for the provision of more jobs, which helps families that are going through financial difficulties and have the opportunity to preach the Gospel to the people who are going to be hired. There is always a kingdom mindset behind every prayer for success. That varies from business to business, depending on each owner’s vision.

Proverbs 14:4

Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

Another thing you can include as you pray for the success of your business is a prayer that includes you and the people working in the business. The Bible teaches in Proverbs that success or riches come to those who are diligent. You can’t just pray to God for success in your business while being lazy. You and your company must also work hard, be smart, and be diligent as you work. Praying for the grace to be diligent is also a way of praying for a business’s success.

Lastly, remember that, as mentioned, the success of a business is only thanks to God’s grace. Without it, the business wouldn’t have prospered. One may claim that it is because of their intellect, but the intellect and ability to run a business comes from the LORD. In other words, as you pray for success in your business, pray that you are committing every plan and work that you do to God, not just by doing that which is right in His eyes, but also by relying on Him. We come before God in humility because, in the end, we cannot do it without God, as everything comes from Him.

Here is an example of how you can pray to God for the success of your business:

Heavenly Father, everything comes from You alone. I pray for my business, that You would cause it to prosper and succeed. I pray that You will cause fruition regarding our plans as a company. I pray for my business to grow, not so that I can acquire more wealth, but to bless more people with my business and use it to be the salt and light to the world and preach Christ. Help us always glorify You in the way we run the company, knowing that we are ultimately working for You. Give us the grace in the company to always work diligently. Only You alone, Father, can bring success to my business. Apart from Your mercy, we are nothing. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

The world of business is a mission field in itself. You get to reach out to other businesses whom you might do business with or the unbelievers whom your company might employ. In the end, the Gospel is still our ultimate end goal and solution to everything. Our companies may benefit humanity and provide many jobs that will help the economy, but only the Gospel of Christ can give the solution to man’s greatest problem, which is sin.