Are you a Good Business Owner?

And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.  Mark 10:18

We all want to be good, right?  A good husband, a good father, and for us entrepreneurs… a good business owner too!  But “good” can be a loose term that gets tossed around and can lose its meaning if you’re not careful to set a target to hit and then run towards it.  

This post will lay out 3 measurable targets to being a “good” business owner so you can evaluate how you’re doing and get on the narrow path that will get you there.

Benefits Others

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.  Ephesians 2:10

Does your business produce something good in the marketplace?  In other words, when people buy your goods and services are they helped?  For most business owners this is an easy yes!  Congratulations, this is the first step towards being a good business owner.  If you are helping people flourish in a Biblically positive way, then your goal should be to expand the good that your business does.  If you’re a dentist, how do you care for more patients? If you’re a mechanic, how do you fix more cars? The more you grow your top line, the more good you’ll be doing in the world.  God wants you to excel at doing good, so use your business as a vehicle to expand who God is.

Well Managed

Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.  1 Corinthians 4:2

The second test of a good business owner is, are you managing what God has given you well?  Once the “sale” is made, how do the operations of your business function?  Are they running efficiently and effectively or do you have chaos?  God wants to see that you can be trusted and are faithful with a little, before He brings the increase.  Look at your company structure, training, team, technology, administration, processes and everything else that makes it tick and ask yourself if you’re running a good business.  The better you are, the better the bottom line profit will be.

Generous Overflow

One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.  Proverbs 11:24-25

If you’re growing a business that helps others and it is managed well, then there should be an overflow to be generous with.  Whether with your time, talents, or treasure, if God is providing for you an abundance, this is your opportunity to give in love back to your family, church, team, customers, and community.  In the end, all of us will have to give an account for what we have done with our talents to God and maximizing your finish line should never be an afterthought, but should be a great motivation each day. 

Winning the Race

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  Matthew 6:33

There are three lines that summarize how good of a business owner you are: Top Line, Bottom Line, and Finish Line.  Work diligently with the right heart seeking God first and watch as your three lines grow.