Tuesday, May 12, 2026
A case for Enterprise
“The LORD will send rain at the proper time from his rich treasury in the heavens and will bless all the work you do. You will lend to many nations, but you will never need to borrow from them.” — Deuteronomy 28:12 (NIV)
In some Christian circles, running businesses or pursuing enterprise is sometimes viewed as being too worldly. Yet Scripture presents a very different picture. Enterprise is one of the avenues God has given believers to create resources for their well-being, support their families, and advance the Gospel.
The Bible is filled with enterprising men and women whom God used mightily. Abraham was a successful livestock farmer who “had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold” (Genesis 13:2). Job was also greatly blessed, owning thousands of animals and many servants, making him “the greatest man among all the people of the East” (Job 1:3). It was this prosperity and favor that Satan sought to attack.
Jesus Himself was raised in the home of Joseph the carpenter (Matthew 13:55). Carpentry was not merely a hobby; it was a skilled trade and sustainable enterprise. The Apostle Paul also benefited from the support of enterprising believers. Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth, used her resources and hospitality to support the ministry after the Lord opened her heart to the Gospel (Acts 16:14-15). In Corinth, Paul worked alongside Priscilla and Aquila because they shared the same trade of tentmaking (Acts 18:3). Their business not only sustained them financially but also enabled them to contribute to mission work and ministry.
Perhaps one of the finest biblical examples of enterprise is the virtuous woman described in Proverbs 31. She works diligently, trades profitably, purchases land wisely, and sells her goods in the marketplace. Scripture praises her industriousness, wisdom, and initiative. Far from being condemned, her enterprise is celebrated as honorable and godly.
As believers, we should never despise honest work, creativity, or enterprise. When guided by integrity and stewardship, enterprise becomes a channel through which God blesses us and enables us to bless others.
Prayer for Today:
Lord God Almighty, thank You for the gifts, talents, and opportunities You have placed in our hands. Teach me to be diligent, creative, and faithful in all the work I do. Bless the work of my hands so that through it, I may glorify You, provide for others, and contribute to the advancement of Your kingdom. In Jesus’s name, I pray!
