| For many centuries devout believers of the Christian | | | | "Yes, plenty." |
| faith have turned to the Bible as a source for their | | | | Third, the Bible has much sound instruction that can be |
| personal faith and practice. They use it to learn how to | | | | applied to all parts of life. |
| live their private lives according to God's revealed will. | | | | Beyond saying so, the Bible has many foundation |
| In as much as so many look to the Judeo-Christian | | | | principles that when practiced will lead to an effective |
| Scriptures as a guide for their private lives, the | | | | life. These foundation tenets can be found throughout |
| question is raised: do they also reference The Holy | | | | the entire volume, especially in the first five books of |
| Book in their public and business lives? Furthermore, | | | | the Bible; the Psalms and Proverbs; the prophetic |
| even if the devout followers of Jesus Christ do use it | | | | literature; the accounts of Jesus' life on earth; and the |
| to direct their business affairs: is the Bible a reliable | | | | letters written and circulated by his disciples. As direct |
| source for learning business best practices. This article | | | | instruction, the Book of Proverbs serves as the best |
| explores a number of reasons why the Bible is a | | | | comprehensive source for how to conduct life in a |
| reliable source for training in contemporary business | | | | successful manner. Most of the wise sayings are |
| management. | | | | attributed to Solomon, the third king of ancient Israel. |
| First, in general, the Judeo-Christian Bible claims to be a | | | | There are golden nuggets tucked within the text |
| reliable source for prosperous living which would | | | | concerning many topics related to everyday problems |
| include all matters of life including business. | | | | and reactions. Most of the nuggets are not specifically |
| Sometime between the 1400 and 1200 B.C.E. a man | | | | addressed to business situations but can be easily |
| named Moses led the Israeli people from captivity in | | | | adapted to the business environment. |
| Egypt to the border of the modern day region of | | | | Fourth, the Bible has many examples of good, |
| Palestine or Israel. At that time, Moses passed away | | | | mediocre and poor management practices. |
| and Joshua his long-time apprentice led the people into | | | | Furthermore, The Bible is more than just a witness of |
| the Promised Land. After the death of his mentor | | | | its own reliability and a book of nice sayings; it is also |
| Moses, Joshua was a bit overwhelmed by the | | | | filled with real live case studies on management |
| upcoming task. In order to comfort Joshua, the Lord | | | | practices. These case studies are found throughout |
| from Heaven gave him a vision and exhorted him not | | | | the entire text and serve as powerful instruction of |
| to be afraid. In that moment God commanded Joshua | | | | how to and how not to lead. Some of the better |
| not to depart from the instruction of the Holy | | | | examples of best practices in management include: |
| Scriptures but to meditate on them day and night. God | | | | Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Samuel, King David, |
| gave the newly selected leader the promise that if he | | | | Nehemiah, Daniel, Jesus, Paul and God Himself. Some |
| would follow the Lord's instructions left by Moses, he | | | | of the worst examples are: Nimrod, Joab, King Saul, |
| would be prosperous and successful in everything he | | | | King Ahab, King Herod Antipas, and Caiaphas the High |
| did. | | | | Priest. The fact that the Biblical text includes both good |
| In the same way, Jesus Christ exhorted his followers. | | | | and bad examples of management practices lends to |
| Jesus told his disciples that following his instructions | | | | its credibility as a guide in business affairs. Real life is |
| was like building a house of a firm foundation. When | | | | sticky. Working with people is hardly black and white. |
| the storms of life rage, the man who lives his life | | | | The Bible reveals the true nature of humans as |
| according to Jesus' teachings would stand firm. | | | | imperfect beings driven by self-preservation and greed. |
| Conversely, Jesus said that not doing things according | | | | We obviously live in an era with similar characteristics |
| to his word was like building a house on top of sand. | | | | as those in Moses' and Jesus' times. Therefore, we |
| When the storms of life rage, their lives would be | | | | can learn much about how to manage in a hostile |
| washed away by the thunderous tides. | | | | business environment and still succeed. |
| Second, the Bible claims to be profitable for teaching | | | | The Bible addresses many of the toughest issues in |
| sound principles to those who study it which includes | | | | the business world today. In just the first five pages, it |
| principles for practicing business. | | | | addresses such issues as: how to set up the optimal |
| Paul was one of Jesus' most famous followers. He | | | | organizational environment; the basic needs of the |
| never met Jesus personally, but Jesus appeared to | | | | average human being; insubordination; outright rebellion; |
| him through a vision sometime after His death and | | | | conflict resolution; and mediation between opposing |
| resurrection. For many years, Paul served as a | | | | parties. Beyond these situations, there are examples |
| powerful example to other believers and he left behind | | | | of: how to use vision; how to set up organizational |
| some letters he wrote to his companions and those he | | | | culture; selecting and mentoring successors, and how |
| mentored along the way. One letter he sent was to a | | | | to approach others for best results. These are only a |
| former apprentice named Timothy. In that letter Paul | | | | few of the many case studies lying within Christian |
| wrote the following: | | | | Holy book. In all these things, the Bible proves itself to |
| "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for | | | | be a very strong guide for business management |
| teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in | | | | practices. |
| righteousness, so that the man of God may be | | | | Before looking to the Bible as a guide for business |
| complete, equipped for every good work." (The Holy | | | | practices, we must determine whether the Bible is a |
| Bible, 2 Timothy 3:16, 17). | | | | sound source for learning management principles and if |
| The phrase "equipped for every good work" must | | | | those principles apply to the current business |
| include business management practices. | | | | environment. A careful read of the entire text will |
| Of course, to quote the Bible as a defense of its own | | | | provide ample evidence that the Judeo-Christian |
| reliability is circular reasoning and begs the question: are | | | | Scriptures are a reliable source best practices in |
| there any examples in its pages that serve as an | | | | business management. |
| example for management practices? The answer is: | | | | |