Business Practices, Biblical Promises

Author: Larry Scanlan
Genre: Christian Living

​The Bible is not silent on the pressures and decisions required to build a career and be part of, or lead a successful business enterprise. The most significant portion of our day is consumed in the work place. The decisions we make about work impact our company, customers, family and all areas of our lives. They reflect the reality, or lack of reality, of our faith. Our decisions even impact people we don’t know or may never meet. Business decisions indeed have consequences. The purpose of this book is to inspire and encourage you to live out your faith in the business world, leaving an impact that counts beyond meeting company quotas or bringing home a paycheck. It is a practical guide that combines contemporary workplace and Biblical business stories with reflections and action steps to help you define your vision and purpose, make wise decisions, set priorities, overcome failures, find balance in your life, do God's will, and ultimately, make a difference.

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Reviewer: Tiffany Crosby

This entire book is based on this premise “the business decisions we make reveal our spiritual orientation and ultimately define our 
effectiveness within the profession.” Larry expounds upon this premise in twelve chapters that challenge us to confront conventional wisdom and live counter-culturally within the marketplace. You’re challenged to assess your definition of success and failure, and to reconsider the true purpose of business for those who profess to be Christians. I like that Larry doesn’t feel the need to explain the importance of living out faith in the marketplace but gets right into the heart of how to do so. 

Early on, Larry zeroes in a critical question that all Christians need to ask of themselves as it relates to their faith walk – “is our 
authority God or is it ourselves.” How you answer that question will indeed change how you conduct yourself and how you go about making decisions in every sphere of live, including the marketplace.

Larry doesn’t pull back or sugarcoat our responsibilities or the difficult but non-compromising decisions we have to make. The questions peppered throughout the book will challenge you as a Christian business leader. In this book, Larry provides one of the clearest statements of vision and mission I’ve read in quite some time by succinctly addressing what they are, the biblical basis for having them, and their strategic significance. He also advises through summarizations of the historical accounts of biblical characters, interpreting and applying key scriptural passages (always within context), and sharing his personal stories and the life experiences of others. There are many lessons to be learned and applications to be applied to our life, including these three that really resonated with me in this day and age:

• It is most helpful in the decision-making process to determine if you are dealing with facts versus fiction (think fake news).
• Remember in your decision-making, opposition especially in areas of essential Biblical principles, often means it’s time to take a stand!
• If you want to change the world, you must be your very best in the darkest moments.

If you’re looking for solid advice on how to lead as a Christian in the marketplace, this book is a great resource for you. Read it, share it, and discuss it with our Christian business leaders.

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