Transcript: Christian Business Leadership | GC Talks

Christian Business Leadership | GC Talks

 

Video Transcript: Game Changer Podcast- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViiPq0HMzDE

 

Hey, this is David Villa. Welcome to Season Two of GC Talks. This is Episode One—check it out.

Hey guys, so today we're going to talk about business leaders. Specifically, we're going to talk about Christian business leaders, faith-based entrepreneurs, Kingdom Business. It's a big deal.

Look, I have been in business for going on three decades, and I'll tell you this: as a Christian who's been in business for three decades, it is important for us to realize that we are in Kingdom Business. And look, as business leaders, it's easy to get caught up in our own accomplishments. I mean, listen—we drink our own Kool-Aid, and you know, we think a little higher of ourselves than maybe we should. The reality is, that may work for the world, but as a believer—as someone who looks at Jesus as the CEO of their business (and if you're not, you need to)—that doesn't work.

We can't get caught up in our own accomplishments and our own successes. It's important to remember that our impact goes beyond ourselves. I mean, that's really the whole gospel in show. When you link the gospel outside of the church—the four walls of the Sunday church service, which is very important, by the way—with what you do in the marketplace, you can really see the purpose that God has on your life as an entrepreneur, a business leader, or a marketplace leader come to life.

Let me just say this: the fruit of a leader grows on other people's trees. In John 15:5, Jesus says, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." As leaders, we must remain connected to Jesus, who is the ultimate source of our fruitfulness.

So look, the reason it's important for us to understand as believers that God cares about our business—I mean, He really cares about it—is not just a cliché. It's not something that is just good content for a post. It is an actual caring. He really cares about how we succeed and how effective we are as business marketplace leaders. Why? Because that's where we're going to be spending most of our time, and we're going to impact not only our family, but our employees. Then it's going to go out to our clients, to our vendors, and even spill over into our competitors and those that we influence.

Our success as leaders is not just about what we achieve personally, but about the impact we have on everyone around us. So we must invest in the growth and development of our team members. We must support them in their own endeavors and create an environment where they can flourish. Because the reality is, your mission statement should be centered around the people that work for you. Those that come to work for you—or the vision that God's given you for your business or your endeavor, or your clients that come on board—every one of them cares about what God's doing in their life. So don't forget that.

Proverbs 11:25—I want to read this: "A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed." So if you're generous, that's great. You need to be, because you're going to prosper, the Bible says. But if you refresh others—if you move beyond, not in place of, but beyond generosity—and you begin to refresh others, then you will be refreshed as well.

It says as we refresh and invest in others, we will also prosper. The fruit of our leadership will multiply as we empower others to grow and succeed. So let us follow the example of who? Jesus. Right? That's how we do this thing. He invested in His disciples. He empowered them to change the world. So we have to invest in those around us so that our impact will continue to grow and we'll bear fruit for generations to come.

As entrepreneurs, as CEOs, as business leaders, we're often focused on achieving goals that drive our companies forward. But here's the thing: it's important to remember that leadership is not just about individual accomplishment, but it's about inspiring and guiding others to achieve their potential as well.

If you want to turn God on when it comes to business—okay, if you want to get Him excited, you want to get Him behind your agenda—then make it about other people. Because Jesus came to die, to lay His life down, His agenda down, to make His agenda our agenda, to make His agenda God's agenda. He laid His life down for everyone else.

And you know, I was reminded in Luke when the enemy took Jesus—or He was led into the wilderness by the Spirit—but the enemy took Him in multiple areas and showed Him the kingdom and said, "Hey, I can give you this. Look at everything your eye sees. That can be yours if you'll just worship me." I mean, Jesus was tempted to have it all for Himself. Even thinking about the cross—I mean, the Bible says He could have called ten thousand angels to get Him off that thing, right? And you know, don't tell me He wasn't tempted to do that. But He did it looking ahead into the realm of time to come at you and I and said, "I'm going to do it for that person's business. I'm going to do it for that family member, for that person's family, and for that purpose."

So in the Bible, Jesus is the ultimate example of a leader who embodied this principle. He did not simply pursue His own agenda, but rather He invested in the lives of His followers and empowered them to carry on His mission even after He was gone.

Let's look at John 15:16 for a second. Jesus said to His disciples, "You didn't choose me. I chose you. I appointed you." Think about that for a second—an appointment. Like a period of time, someone gives you an appointment in business. It's like, "Hey, at this particular time and day, I'm going to sit down with you." Jesus said, "I appointed you that you might go and bear fruit." He has an appointment on His calendar for you to bear fruit—and not only fruit, but fruit that will last.

So as we lead our organizations, we have to remember that a leader without followers is simply taking a walk. Our success is not measured by what we accomplish, but by the impact we have on those around us. So we have to be intentional about investing in the lives of our employees. We have to mentor them, empower them to reach their full potential.

When we do this right, we create a culture of growth—a culture of development—where everyone is working together to achieve a common goal. We become not just leaders, but servant leaders. Remember, we're following Jesus. So in the footsteps of Jesus, you're going to find that He's a servant leader.

In Mark 10:45, He says, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many."

All right, so look—I want to challenge us. Remember that leadership is not just about what we can accomplish on our own, but about the impact we have on those around us. So we have to strive to be servant leaders and invest. When you invest, what happens? There's a return, right? You invest nothing, you get nothing. You invest little, you get little. But when you invest much, you get much. You invest in the lives of followers, you empower them to reach their full potential.

So I'm going to speak to you—entrepreneurs, CEOs, business leaders—right? Listen, it can often feel like you're constantly being chased down by competition, trying to stay ahead of the game. We're in a high-stakes environment. How about the phrase from my first book: Lead or Be Lunch? That can ring all too true. But as Christians, we know that our true source of strength and guidance comes from God.

Proverbs 16:9 says, "In their hearts, humans—you and I—plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps." This verse reminds us that while we have big plans and ideas for our business, ultimately it's God who directs our path. So we have to trust Him to guide us, to provide for us, even in the midst of fierce competition.

I'm going to point you to Proverbs 3:5–6, and it says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He'll make your path straight."

Can I just be honest with you? Sometimes you're worn out and exhausted in the season you're in because you're walking this crooked and crowded path—one with all kinds of bumps and things that are there to hinder, distract, and delay you. And a lot of those things we placed ourselves. But if we submit our ways to Him, He makes our path straight.

So as leaders, it can be tempting to rely solely on our own knowledge and experience, but we must remember to submit to God and trust that He will lead us on the right path.

Ultimately, the phrase lead or be lunch is a reminder, right? We must stay vigilant and adaptable in the face of competition. But as believers, as Christians, we can take comfort in the fact that God is with us every step of the way.

So let us commit to leading with integrity. Let us commit to leading with humility. Commit to leading with faith. And know that with God's help, we can navigate the business world with confidence and purpose.

As we begin to wrap today's episode up, I want to again speak to you—entrepreneurs, business leaders. It can be easy to get bogged down by the current circumstances that challenge you, your team, your organization—those things that we face. However, true leaders do not simply accept their circumstances for what they are. Hear me—instead, they inspire and motivate their team to see the possibilities of what could be.

In the Bible, we see many examples of leaders who faced seemingly insurmountable challenges, and yet they were able to lead their people to victory. One such example is found in the Book of Joshua, where Joshua was tasked with leading the Israelites into the Promised Land. Despite the obstacles and challenges that stood in their way, Joshua remained steadfast in his faith and encouraged his people to do the same.

In Joshua 1:9, God commands Joshua to be strong and courageous, and not to be afraid or discouraged, for He is with him—God is with him wherever he goes.

As a business leader, it's important to remember that God is with you, that He has a plan for your organization. And instead of accepting your current circumstances, look for the possibilities of what could be. Encourage your team to do the same and remain steadfast in their faith. In doing so, you'll lead your organization to success and bring glory to God.

So let's pray here together. I want to pray for this episode.

Dear Heavenly Father,
We thank You for the example of leaders like Joshua. For those who are watching right now—God, all the CEOs and business leaders, the entrepreneurs that are watching—God, I thank You for the leaders like Joshua who remain steadfast in their faith and encourage their people to do the same.

We ask, God, that You would give us the courage and strength to see the possibilities of what could be and inspire our team to do the same. Help us to lead our organizations with integrity, to bring glory to You in all we do.

In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

All right—hey listen, I hope you guys enjoyed this episode, Episode One of GC Talks. I'll see you next time.