Phil Knight once said, “Business is war without bullets”.

Phil Knight once said, “business is war without bullets”. If you’ve operated a company for more than 30 seconds, I’m sure you can resonate with that. I know I’ve taken a few grenades myself. Some days it feels like I may have a sucking chest wound! So yeah, Phil is right, business is like war. Business requires determination, grit and a lot of strategy. It requires taking territory from the opposition through sacrifice, long hours, solid leadership, and tenacity.

But beyond the physical war we face, the vertically minded business owner knows there’s another battle going on. A spiritual battle. One in which your business can be a strategic, tactical, and powerful weapon. Businesses of all types are on the front lines of peoples lives. People spend more time at work than they do almost anywhere else and in that, you have a huge opportunity to make an impact. Viewing your company as a Kingdom outpost is a great way to get in the fight.   

At this point you might be saying, dude, I can barely keep up with my company as it is.  I don’t have time to tackle one more thing let alone engage in an invisible battle. I get it. I’ve been there. But hang in there with me as we walk this out. Setting your business up as a Kingdom outpost may sound like one more thing to think about but just remember, it’s a marathon not a sprint.  You don’t have to boil the ocean on the first day. Start small. Take baby steps.  The act of committing your business to the Kingdom can happen over weeks, months, and years. One of my dear friends (and pastor) Adam James once said, “small is big and slow is fast”. He’s right. Small, even slow, efforts in God’s economy can have incredible outcomes.  And hear this, what you commit to the Lord (your business, your resources, etc) will never be an investment that returns void. I believe that and I’ve experienced it. Not always in this lifetime, but the bible is full of glorious truths where God promises to provide for those doing His work and you can take that to the bank.

At this point you might be saying, ok I’m interested but where do I start? Maybe you’re not even sure what it looks like to be a Kingdom outpost.

It also might feel challenging because you have some ground to make up for some not-so-good examples you’ve set along the way. That’s ok. I’ve been there. The first time we committed to do business for the Kingdom it was just after giving my life to Jesus and the business was a trainwreck (as was my life). Toxic, poorly focused, and full of bad habits that set the wrong tone. So I get it. The good news is, it’s never too late. Just like your personal life, there is power to restore your business from its current state to a new, redeemed version.  Sure, the best day to start was when you formed the company, the second-best day is today.

There are two tactical angles you can take to become a Kingdom outpost. The first, and maybe the easiest, is focused internally and involves reflecting and emulating the goodness of the Kingdom to the people involved with your company. The second involves adopting a mindset of generosity externally to equip and resource the church and the mission to see the Good News advance.  Both are an important element in committing your business to the Kingdom.  

So let’s start with the internal stuff. Let’s start with culture and reflecting the Kingdom through your values.  Before starting I want to pause and acknowledge that I am not blind to the very real risk sharing your faith at work. 

There are two tactical angles you can take to become a Kingdom outpost.

I get it. You’re thinking, if I share my faith, surely I’ll get sued or someone will accuse me of discrimination at some point. And no lie, that could happen. The climate is vastly different than it was 20 years ago.  So wisdom is critical. Be discerning. Be smart. But, on the flip side, don’t be a coward. Don’t use that as an excuse and back away from what we are called to do. God wants you to use your resources he’s given you to advance His name. It’s your company and you should be in control of culture and values. And your culture and values can go a long way to setting the stage for gospel conversations if and when they arise. 

Ok…back to reflecting the Kingdom. This angle is definitely less direct but nevertheless an effective and important element of any Kingdom outpost. Frankly, all businesses should start here and hold these characteristics as non-negotiable values inside their company walls. These values go a long way to displaying something attractive, something good that make people want to know more. The grace, the generosity, the leadership, the peace, the hope, and the love we experience by being part of the Kingdom that can be tangibly put on display almost overnight in your business. Reflect those things that are true about God and watch how it affects culture.  Watch people change. Watch them start to lean in and want more. The world is dying for something stable, true, and consistent. Since the beginning of creation we have been wired to desire something that we can’t find in the world. We long for restoration and the love of Jesus.  Using your business, you can give people a taste of that when they experience your company. Below are six attributes you can consider emulating. This isn’t an exhaustive list by any means but ensuring these are on display in your company will be a great start.

Be Generous: God is generous…so be generous. This is a big one because it can be so tangible.

Support the Family Unit: Families are often sacrificed at the alter of success. Show your team that family comes first in your company.

Improve the Lives of Those Around You: Life is and will be better in the Kingdom.  Work to see the lives of your team flourish just as God has worked for your flourishing.

Celebrate Wins: There is celebration in the Kingdom. Emulate this. Your culture will thrive when you celebrate wins and people. 

Serve your Customers: Everyone talks about service, but I’m talking about the type that is rooted in humility. It’s a powerful example when people see you put others before yourself.

Be a Listener: Being heard is a powerful emotion and demonstrates patience and love. It’s not lost on your staff when you take the time to listen.

Give Grace: Mistakes happen, but how you respond matters.  Reflect the grace you’ve received in your own life to others and your leadership will stand out.

Model Integrity: Doing what you say is incredibly important. God always does what he says he’ll do. Trust is a huge part of your testimony being impactful. Always opt for integrity over convenience.

So this is step one…creating culture to reflect the Kingdom. Step two takes it up a notch. This is where things get even more exciting. We at Speiro call it “external generosity”. What we mean by that phrase is this. External generosity is being generous with the resources you have inside your company to affect and advance efforts outside your company. Beginning to view you company this way ads a whole new perspective to many facets of your company. It will shape how you see profits, strategy, budgeting and get your mind focused on the great mission happening outside the walls of your business.

For more on this, see Part 2 of Making your Business a Kingdom Outpost. Don’t miss it!