Is it Practical to Let the Holy Spirit Lead You in Business?

If I were your partner and I told you that we should start pocketing all the cash from our cash paying customers and not pay taxes on it, you might sense the Holy Spirit in your heart say that you cannot do that because it violates the Word of God and your conscience.

But let’s say I suggest we raise our prices and invest in more marketing so we can really grow this year. How would you determine the Holy Spirit’s council with that proposal?

On any given day, you may get several proposals like these. Perhaps the first suggestion is easy given it violates your conscience (aka, the Spirit in you), but the second proposal might appeal to you because you naturally want to grow this year as well. You may know there is room to increase your prices and you already have a fully developed marketing plan on your desk. Sounds like an easy decision. Should you even seek the Holy Spirit’s council, or do you simply make a calculated business decision?

A relevant first question to consider is does the Holy Spirit even care about what decision you make or how you make it?

I’ve had Christian business owners confidently take both sides of this issue. 

For me, it is hard to imagine that the same God that numbers the hairs on your head (Matthew 10:30) and that searches us and fully knows us, knows when we sit and when we rise, who perceives our unspoken thoughts and watches our going out and our lying down and who knows every word we will speak before we speak it (Psalms 139:1-5) is also a God who turns of blind eye, or does not care which business decisions we make or if we include him in them. 

The Bible says that in a multitude of counsel there is wisdom (Proverbs 11:14), but there is no time in business to seek out a multitude of counsel for every decision we make. Some decisions need to be made immediately while others can wait. Is it possible to have the same Spirit-led confidence in both decisions?

Business is about investment and return. An investment the Lord always blesses is described in Acts 2:42:

1. Being in the Bible
2. Being in prayer
3. Being in fellowship with those who are doing the same.

Due to this investment by the early believers, the Lord poured his presence onto the people and they saw many signs and wonders, generosity abounded and the church grew rapidly.

Wherever this Acts 2:42 lifestyle is adopted, God always shows up. And when his presence manifests, you and your team will see many amazing things as well as growing confident that you are hearing from him and being led down the path that he has for you.

Isaiah prophesied of our day when he said the Lord would be intimately involved in the decisions we would make and the directions we would go. Isaiah said, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’” Isaiah 30:21

Scripture clearly indicates that the Lord wants to be in the center of your heart, your life and of your decisions – big and small. He does not want to be pushed to the periphery where he is seldom considered relevant or desirable to be involved in your decisions. Nor does he want you to ever be insecure or fearful about decisions, actions or which direction you should go. He wants his voice to be clear and compelling and to make your paths straight.