What Does The Bible Say About Entrepreneurship?
Estimated reading time: 16 minutes
I’ve been an entrepreneur for almost 10 years. Our first business was a real estate investment company that is still operational today. Our family then ventured into the single-family long-term investment game that lasted all of 3 years. Following that venture, we spent 6 months attempting to build an energy company soon followed by an RV rental business before launching multiple businesses within the land investing world. As you can tell, I like to start things. The problem though is that most ventures fail. Let’s just be honest about that. We’re batting 25% on our ventures. Only 2 of the 8 businesses we’ve started are still going. What I’ve found is that I’m guilty of not even considering what the bible says about entrepreneurship when my head is stuck in the sand in the worst of moments.
Entrepreneurship is very difficult. If you truly want your business to succeed, you will absolutely have to make sacrifices. Early mornings and late nights will be ever present for the first couple of years. Your personal finances most likely will suffer early on. Your family may see less of you. Further, you may fail and fail big. So what does the bible say about all of this? What does the bible say about entrepreneurship?
In this post, I want to present 7 stories of actual entrepreneurs that have faced hardship and financial insecurity, extreme success and wealth creation and everything in between. The word of God is very clear. In order to find the proper balance between business success and life significance, we must learn how to become faith driven entrepreneurs. The works of God are significantly greater than anything we could ever hope or imagine.
Let’s find the freedom that entrepreneurship can offer and truly embrace the adventures that come through starting our own side hustles and businesses. Â We will focus on what the bible says about entrepreneurship because it is on our most difficult of moments that we must rely on the truth of scripture to get us through these times.
What Does The Bible Say About Entrepreneurship: The Stories
Hard Work & Business Success
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” – Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV)
My dad launched his insurance agency in the early 1990’s. By the time I joined in 2010, he had grown his business to provide a healthy income for our family. He had always dreamed of owning his own business. The beautiful thing about the way he started his business was that he never had any desire to prioritize his own wealth. He know that owning a business would open doors to enact his calling of ministering to others through business.
According to the world’s standards, he would have been considered a successful businessman. However, he certainly would not have been considered extremely wealthy by any means. Fortunately, his standard was not what the world believed. His standard was in line with God’s word, particularly Colossians 3:23-24.
When he had appointments, he would discuss the personal lives of his clients. He would get to know them on a personal level. He knew their kids stories and what was going in their life. Further, he prayed for them in his office. My dad was the epitome of a kingdom focused entrepreneur. Before he died, he told me that starting his business was his way of doing what he loved – serving people and showing Jesus to them.Â
Business Planning & Trust in God
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” – Proverbs 16:3 (NIV)
“The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.” – Proverbs 21:5 (ESV)
There’s a local businessman named Will that started quaint little restaurant back in the early 1990’s. He had this amazing vision to go national one day. He’d have restaurants all over the country. He specifically set a goal to have 20 restaurants across the US by the time he turned 30. So he set off to make it happen. He ultimate vision was to have 40 total restaurants operating all over the country. That’s a huge goal!
As he approached his 30th birthday, he had a grand total of 4 restaurants opened. While having 4 successful restaurants is certainly an admirable achievement, he missed his pre-planned, Will-ordained target by a whole 16 stories.
Fortunately, for Will, he had a deep faith in God’s providence. He had fully committed his business to the Lord from day one. He knew through hard work, faith and perseverance, his vision could be fulfilled. But that’s not what Will wanted. He wanted God’s vision for his dream to be what he went after, not his own. So he committed his business fully to the Lord. It would be up to God what happened next.
Over the next 35 years, Will open restaurant after restaurant after restaurant. As of this writing, Will’s company has 116 locations operating in states all over the country with another 9 planning to open over the next 18 months.
Will’s story is one deep faith, commitment to the Lord’s plan and faithful stewards of God’s provision.
God’s Grace in Business
“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” – 1 Corinthians 15:10 (NIV)
As I mentioned earlier, I worked for the family health insurance business for 11 years prior to our transition into the next big adventure. Over the course of my time there, there were numerous times when God’s grace shone bright.
When you’re in the health insurance industry, you have to be perfect. There are no second chances in many instances. One wrong box checked. One incorrect submission. These types of mistakes would be catastrophic to a family’s financial situation.
This was a responsibility I took very seriously. The problem I faced though was that I am a flawed human being that makes mistakes. It is impossible to be perfect.
What I encountered throughout my time was that every time I did make a mistake, God’s grace covered me. When I typed in the wrong health insurance plan on an application, the representative that helped me had a heart to serve people. When I forgot to submit a document before a deadline in 2019, the deadline was extended unbeknownst to me. Every single time I made a mistake, something happened that mitigated the effects of that.
Now, I know some of these instances were purely circumstantial. However, when you have the lives of others in your hands, God’s grace is sufficient in every situation.
Desires of Your Heart
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” – Psalm 37:4 (ESV)
About 2 years before we left the family business, Celeste and I had been praying fervently for God’s direction. Throughout our time in the unknown, we simply wanted a direction to go. We just wanted clarity. The whole world was at our fingertips. Yet, our feet were in quicksand it felt. We were immobilized by our inability to understand His voice.
As we began our big, crazy family adventure across the west, we felt the Lord impress upon us one simple question.Â
“What do you want?”
That was it. He simply asked us what we wanted. So we made it known. We wanted to move to Colorado and start our own business. We wanted to experience life to its fullest in every aspect of life. Moreover, we wanted to blaze our own trails and pioneer a new way of living.
So what happened? We moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado in January 2022. We started our own real estate business, and we adopted a way of living in true freedom and adventure in a community built around authenticity and experiences.
God gave us everything we desired. Now, the other part of that is discussed here. It doesn’t always work out the way you envision it to. Yes, God still gives us the desires of our hearts when we delight ourselves in Him.
**I want to add that there was much pain, heartache and misery during this time as well. It did not go as planned. We’ve learned that God uses our own desires to refine us. Yes, he may grant us exactly what we want. However, He also can use them for our good when we need further wisdom, growth and maturity.**
Lazy Hands & Poverty
“A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.” – Proverbs 10:4 (ESV)
We live in cotton country. In fact, where I live, more cotton is produced than in any other county in the country. Cotton is king here in the Texas Panhandle. While Texas Tech university seems to get all of our attention, it’s the farmers that make our economy run.
​Farmers are some of the hardest working people on the planet. They spend long hours, well into the night, during harvest system gathering their crop from the earlier month’s planting. Sometimes they produce a fantastic crop. Other times, they may get hailed out.
What never fluctuates is the amount of work that the farmers put in to see their harvest. it’s their livelihood. There is no such thing as a lazy farmer. Farmers are some of the most diligent people because they realize if they do not consistently do the work required to plant, tend to and care for their crop, the harvest will not be experienced.
Be like the farmers. Work hard. Work diligently.
​A Lot Vs. A Little
“Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it.” – Proverbs 15:16 (ESV)
Wes Stafford, the former president of Compassion International, once said, “The opposite of poor isn’t rich. The opposite of poor is enough.” This simple, yet profound statement speaks to the heart of what it means to live in contentment with God. In a world where success is often defined by wealth, status, or power, Wes offers a different perspective—one rooted in the sufficiency of God’s provision.
Growing up, I was surrounded by people who equated success with financial gain. It seemed as though the more money someone made, the more respected and admired they became. But over the years, I learned that this kind of success can come at a cost. Many of those individuals were burdened by stress, strained relationships, and a never-ending chase for more. They had great treasure, but also great trouble.
Wes’s words have been a powerful reminder that having enough, rather than constantly seeking more, is a far more peaceful and fulfilling way to live. True success isn’t about the accumulation of wealth, but about trusting that God’s provision is enough. When our lives are focused on fearing and honoring the Lord, we experience a richness that cannot be measured by worldly standards.
It’s in this “enough” that we find freedom. We are freed from the anxiety of striving for more, and we are invited into a life of contentment, gratitude, and purpose. This is the true treasure that surpasses any material wealth.
Principles of Biblical Entrepreneurship – God’s Purpose
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28 (NIV)
About a decade ago, I had a mentor named Doug who had built a thriving construction business from the ground up. He was a man who loved the Lord and was committed to living out his faith in every area of his life, especially in his work. As his business grew, so did the challenges—financial pressures, competition, and the weight of providing for his employees and his family. But Doug always had a calm confidence that God was in control, even when things weren’t going as planned. I couldn’t quite understand this at the time.
One year, Doug’s business faced an unexpected downturn. A major contract fell through, and several projects were delayed indefinitely. The financial strain hit hard, and it seemed like everything he had worked for was unraveling. Despite the setbacks, Doug remained steadfast in his faith. I remember asking him how he stayed so calm during such a difficult time, and he pointed me to Romans 8:28. He told me that he had surrendered his business to God from day one, and he trusted that God had a purpose for everything that was happening, even if he couldn’t see it in the moment.
Doug believed that every challenge was an opportunity for growth, both in business and in faith. Instead of panicking, he prayed for wisdom and sought God’s direction for the next steps. In the midst of the struggle, he began to see new doors open—partnerships he hadn’t anticipated, opportunities for diversification, and a deeper reliance on God’s provision. Over time, the downturn became a turning point, allowing his business to grow in ways he hadn’t imagined.
Doug’s story is a powerful example of what it means to trust in God’s purpose, even when things don’t go as planned. He understood that God works for the good of those who love Him, not necessarily by giving them worldly success, but by shaping their character, growing their faith, and aligning their work with His greater purpose. In the end, Doug’s business recovered, but more importantly, his faith deepened, and he was able to use his experiences to encourage and mentor others facing similar challenges.
What Does The Bible Say About Entrepreneurship: The Principles
1. Let Your Work Shine for God’s Glory
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“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” – Matthew 5:16 (ESV)
In every business venture, we are called to reflect God’s glory through our work. It’s not just about the results but about the journey—how we serve, how we honor God, and how we treat those around us. True entrepreneurship doesn’t end with profits, but with the lasting impact of your work on others. Freedom in business comes when we stop striving for our own success and start aiming to shine God’s light in every interaction and task.
2. Overcome Fear with a Spirit of Power
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“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” – 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)
Starting and running a business requires courage and boldness. Fear of failure or uncertainty can hold us back from experiencing the adventure God has for us. This verse reminds us that God equips us with the power, love, and wisdom we need to pursue our calling. True adventure in entrepreneurship means stepping into the unknown, trusting that God’s strength will carry us through every challenge.
3. Trust in God’s Guidance
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“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” – Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
Entrepreneurship is often a journey of navigating uncharted territory. There will be moments when things don’t make sense, when you’re unsure of the next step. That’s when this principle comes alive—lean not on your own understanding but seek God’s guidance. In every decision, whether it’s big or small, acknowledge Him, and He will guide you. The community of faith and support around you can serve as a reflection of God’s wisdom, helping you stay grounded and focused on your purpose.
4. Rely on the Holy Spirit for Wisdom
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“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” – John 14:26 (ESV)
One of the most powerful aspects of entrepreneurship is the ongoing learning process. Whether you’re navigating a new market, developing a product, or managing a team, there is always something new to learn. The Holy Spirit is our guide in this journey. He brings clarity when we’re confused, peace when we’re anxious, and wisdom when we’re uncertain. Tap into this divine resource in your daily business life and watch as God opens doors and provides insight in ways you never imagined.
5. Work Hard, Stay Diligent
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“For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you… If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.” – 2 Thessalonians 3:7, 10 (ESV)
Business success doesn’t come without hard work. The Apostle Paul reminds us of the importance of diligence and perseverance. Just as farmers work the land with care and patience, so must entrepreneurs tend to their businesses. The hard work we put into our ventures ultimately produces the experiences and freedom we desire—not just for ourselves but for those we serve.
6. Commit Your Plans to the Lord
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“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.” – Psalm 37:5 (ESV)
It’s easy to get caught up in crafting the perfect business plan or striving for your next big milestone. But the truth is, our best-laid plans mean little if we don’t first commit them to God. The beauty of entrepreneurship comes when we release control and trust that God will act according to His purpose. This is where true freedom and adventure lie—not in controlling every outcome, but in trusting God with the journey.
7. Serve Others Through Your Business
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“The greatest among you shall be your servant.” – Matthew 23:11 (ESV)
Finally, entrepreneurship is an opportunity to serve others. Whether it’s your employees, customers, or community, your business should exist to uplift and enrich the lives of those around you. True significance comes when we build businesses that contribute to the well-being of others, creating meaningful experiences and fostering a sense of community. In this way, our entrepreneurial journey mirrors Jesus’ own life of service.
Conclusion
Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart. It takes a special kind of person to start their own thing. Further, to enjoy life in the midst of the struggle takes a higher power. When we look at what the bible says about entrepreneurship, we can see that God is absolutely for us! He wants to see our businesses succeed. When we choose to serve a purpose greater than ourselves, we can utilize our business to bring God glory rather than ourselves.
There are countless examples of entrepreneurs that tried and failed over and over again. The business world can be brutal. Late nights, little sleep, stress and worry are inevitable. However, when we become business partners with God, we can rest knowing that’s He’s in control.
Being a Christian business owner takes courage, boldness, faith and an immense amount of work. You likely will fail many times. There will be pain. Life will not be pretty. However, when we submit our businesses and our lives to God, He can do abundantly more than we could ever imagine. So let’s go take those risks. Let’s start business ventures for the glory of God. You’ve got this!
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About the Author
John Claborn
Hi! I’m John. Author of the post you just read. I like to write about all things adventure. Mostly things to help people live more adventurous lives and care for their families in a more meaningful way. By day, I’m a COO. By night, I’m a rad dad of 4 kids that I don’t deserve and a husband to a woman I can’t understand how I got. My goal is to show freedom to people through adventure and experiences.
