There are over 300,000 business-related podcasts and countless business-focused blogs and books. That’s not including the number of seminars, webinars, and online courses available on the subject as well. The reality is, there are many places to go for business advice, but who better to look to than Jesus Himself?

As the creator all things, Jesus has an innate understanding of business that no course, podcast, or book can ever have.

He is fully God and fully man, giving him heavenly and experiential insight into the situations we face in all aspects of life – including business.

Based on these factors, we’ve taken 5 lessons from his life that can be applied to business and leadership.

1. Prioritize prayer

In the gospel of Mark, Jesus’ ministry is marked by a sense of urgency. There was always somewhere to go, someone to meet, and something to do. Sound familiar?

Despite all this, Mark 1:35 says, “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”

In the midst of the hustle and bustle, when stress levels were high and energy low, Jesus prayed.

He spent time with the Father before attempting to accomplish anything for the day.

As a business leader, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed with the daily struggles of life and work. Prayer allows us to come before the Lord and seek His guidance in everything we do, while reminding us of who really matters.

Jesus prayed, and He invites us to do so too.

2. Lead With Humility

In Matthew 20:26, a well-meaning mother comes to Jesus hoping to secure esteemed positions for her two sons. His response is not what we’d imagine it to be. Instead of telling them to take a course, or get an MA in organizational leadership, He says, “…whoever wants to become great amongst you must be your servant.”

At its core, business is about service.

From small businesses to large, multimillion-dollar corporations, many businesses are created in response to an unmet need and a desire to serve the community. A heart of service drives good leaders to become great as they constantly seek to improve the ways their business serves their audience.

We live in an influencer and celebrity-driven culture, where it’s easy to think good leaders are defined by how much money they make, or how many people they have under them. But according to Jesus, great leaders don’t lead from the top, they lead by humbling themselves.

No one exemplified this more than Jesus. From washing his disciples’ feet to ministering to those in need, His was a life of servanthood. He served those he loved, and he served those who hated him. Then, he taught his disciples to do the same.

3. Make Disciples

The Gospels are full of parables and sermons where Jesus explains the principles of the Kingdom to his disciples and onlookers, teaching them what he did, why he did it, and training them to do the same.

As a business leader, you have the unique privilege of influencing those you work closely with and those you serve through your business. In many ways, your employees do life with you and experience the hope of Jesus in you through big and small moments. The rest of your stakeholders can also be impacted by your faith through your services, conduct, and values in your everyday interactions with them.

In both instances, you can make disciples by living for God, seeking His Kingdom and teaching others to do the same.

4. Live on Mission

Jesus sums up his life motto in John 4:34 when he says, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work.”

The will of God is to establish His Kingdom here on earth, that all people would hear the message of salvation, turn from their ways, and be reconciled to him through Jesus. Just as Jesus lived out this message, we can too.

Your whole life, including your business, can be used to serve God and those around you. When we love God and our neighbours, like Jesus did, we can help lead others into reconciliation with God and those around them.

5. Be Disruptive

Disruptive isn’t usually the first word we typically associate with Jesus, but that’s exactly what He was.

Unfortunately for those in power, Jesus had a reputation for elevating those at the bottom of the social chain. Instead of following the culture’s example of greed and selfishness for personal gain, he introduced a new way: sacrificial generosity for the glory of the Father.

He didn’t just maintain the status quo - he completely reinvented it.

You can do the same thing in and through business. At BAM Canada, we believe in disrupting the status quo in business by reinventing the traditional bottom line. Instead of focusing on profit alone, missional businesses focus on four areas of success: people, planet, purpose, and profit.

In this way, we show others that God cares about our whole lives, not just parts of it. As you faithfully steward the people and resources around you, a new status quo is created; one that elevates those often forgotten and points to the true Way.

Walk in His Way

As you study Jesus, you’ll see that His life offers many principles that can be applied to the world of business. Seeking God’s wisdom through prayer, leading with a heart of service, discipling others, and disrupting the status quo all lead us in walking the way of Jesus.

His example is worth following.

For more practical faith and business insights, check out our podcast where we amplify the stories of Canadian Christians in missional business: Listen Here.

5 Business Lessons from the Life of Jesus