bythemethod.com blog

We are constantly being encouraged to think in a more spiritual way but then we also like to make money. Is it possible to do both at the same time or is one opposed to the other? I think the answer might be surprising.

I’m going to tackle things from a Christian perspective for two reasons. The first is that I am a Christian and the second is that I think Christianity is the one religion that appears to be opposed to business and making money.

Christianity and spirituality is not opposed to business.

It is wrong to say that Jesus didn’t like rich people or that he had a thing about rich people becomming poor. It is true that some passages in the Bible tell us that Jesus thought money could be a barrier to a relationship with God. So what. Isn’t this so obviously right that even if Jesus didn’t say it others would. It seems to me that Jesus knew that being rich often means taking your focus of what is important and when you do it gets hard to be truly spiritual.

If you read through the Bible properly you will see three important things.

The first is that sometimes God made people wealthy e.g. Abraham, Job, David etc. So God is not against wealth, in fact God sees wealth as a tool.

The second is that God sees wealth as a tool. It is not wrong to be wealthy but it is wrong to hoard that wealth for yourself. When Jesus said if you have a second coat give it away he didn’t mean make yourself poor (in fact he only ever said that to one person) he meant don’t use wealth for your own comfort use it to help others. There is a great deal of spirituality in this simple thing alone.

I’m a fan of the secret millionaire T.V. program here in the UK. In it a millionaire goes under cover to find people to help. Without exception those who do it find enormous personal benefit in helping others. The giving away of their wealth means more to them that the making of the wealth in the first place. Of course it took Channel 4 viewers 2000 years to pick up on this simple Jesus truth but at least they got there in the end.

The third is that God does have a special care for the poor. God is on the side of the poor. This doesn’t mean that God has no time for the rich but just that God will make it His business to look after the poor.

So God – it turns out is very much in favour of business.

Spirituality at the heart of business

Too many business people are beginning to see spirituality as a way to get more money – this is wrong. Spirituality is not a mystic force that will somehow attract more money to you if you wish for it enough. Money is made by hard work and dedication. How the money you make is used is very important indeed.

It is hard for a rich person to give money away. If you have worked hard to make money then you want to enjoy it. However the way to really enjoy money is not with another big car or new gold taps. The way to enjoy money is to use it to help other people.

Business can be very spiritual and spirituality should be at the heart of any business; not to attract more money in, but to use it for the benefit of others.