Running head: BUSINESS FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
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Business for the Glory of God Book Review
Chantal Dayhuff
BUSI 301-B27
23 September 2019
Liberty University
BUSINESS FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
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Business for the Glory of God Book Review
Wayne Grudem wrote this book to guide fellow Christians how to glorify God as they live
and work in the business field. Throughout this thoughtful and well written book, he discusses
the various ways we can be imitators of God in all aspects of business and all the various
interactions. The basis of the book is that God’s nature can be seen throughout many aspects of
business and that is why Wayne Grudem makes the premise that business in itself is good and
can glorify God, it is all dependent on how the eleven different aspects of business are
conducted. This review will discuss in depth chapter two on Productivity, one of the aspects of
business Grudem covers.
Productivity
Grudem’s first major point is that productivity and the production of goods and services in
and of itself is fundamentally good because it is part of the purpose God put us on the earth
(Grudem, W., 2003). There are several instances in scripture to support this standpoint. The first
one is Genesis 1:28 where God gives Adam and Eve the responsibility of subduing the earth and
all the materials available to them. Through this passage it makes sense that God would want us
to use the resources He provided us on earth to be productive and produce products using the
other attributes He endowed in us such as knowledge, wisdom, creativity, and discipline. When
He gave them this responsibility it was based off His own work ethic and image, God Himself
was productive, a disciplined worker, yet He rested and kept focused. According to the article,
The Nature and Purpose of Work and Productivity, “God is depicted in Genesis l and 2 first as a
white-collar worker and [then] as a blue-collar worker” (Smith, G. P. & Wheeler, B. G., 1999).
This is an interesting and new way to explain God and His attributes, but it is true, God works
managing and planning like a white-collar position and designing and forming as a blue-collar
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worker would. “The Reformers picked up on this concept when they considered one’s work as
worship and occupation as constituting a ‘calling of God’” (Smith, G. P. & Wheeler, B. G.,
1999). Work and the productivity of work is an expression of a Christians worship to God,
therefore productivity in work and business is fundamentally good and glorifying to God.
Manufactured Products
Another point Grudem emphasizes is “Manufactured products give us opportunity to praise
God for anything we look at in the world around us” (Business for the Glory of God, 2003). This
is one topic he covers that it not fully supported. In the world of business productivity is a
manner for humans to use to glorify God. Manufactured products are a result of the productivity
we are called to in life and business. However, manufactured products are not always something
we can look to for an opportunity to praise God. There are many manufactured products in this
sin filled world that do not glorify God as well as there being an excess of manufactured
products.
This is a disagreement from Grudem’s statement that humans can find an opportunity to
praise God for anything they see. As discussed by Whiting, S. E., Grudem does not contemplate
sustainability or the necessity to not overproduce products (Bethel University, 2011). Whiting
makes a good point that while manufactured products are a good way in business for people to
create products to help and serve others and as an opportunity to praise God for products like
water systems, refrigerators, and cars. The Bible says in Luke 12:15, “Then he said to them,
‘“Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance
of possessions”’ (NIV). Grudem mentions the good opportunities of increasing the amount of
manufactured goods for business however he does not support it with scripture. Luke 12:15
supports the opposite of the Grudem’s statement, God asks us to be content with what we have
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and not to get focused on the greed of the world and materials in it. Manufactured products are a
great representation of the work people accomplish through productivity in business however, we
will no longer be imitators of God when we become too focused on materials and increasing
manufactured products at the cost of what’s good for others, the earth, and contentment.
Temptations
The last major point Grudem makes in the chapter on productivity that is supported is that
even though God gave it to us as an attribute of Him, because of the sinful nature within the
world and us we may misuse it. This is a temptation people are all faced with in both the
business world and outside it. People all have God’s attribute of productivity because as stated in
Genesis 1: 27 and 2:7, we were created in His image by His breath (NIV). Since we are created
in His image, we should view others and our productivity in everything including business
through His lenses. According to the article Imago Dei and Human Resource Management as
images of God we should perform in the business setting in such a way that we are just, truthful,
caring for those around us, and making decisions with the right intentions that draw others to
Christ (George Busuttil, L. R. & Van Weelden, S. J., 2018). Temptations in business are
especially difficult because one must still complete all the work to a necessary place financially,
but the trick is one’s intentions in the business choices. One instance is not losing focus of the
heart or giving into pride, because these can lead you to selling products made by children in
factories just to cut costs or selling pornographic materials because of the higher amount of
money made available.
Grudem rightly focuses on the importance of remembering we are made in Christs image, so
each business decision made is based on your Biblical worldview. Colossians 3 :23-24 is a great
reminder verse for this topic, to stay focused on God when interacting with others as you manage
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or do any type of business activity. Satan is constantly going to try to cause you to slip into the
many temptations of the world and the business industry has plenty of lucrative but sinful
directions to fall into. But that is why Grudem encourages the reader to stay focused and to
remember they are made in the image of God. The business world is not evil, it is fundamentally
good, but it can quickly become sinful if one is not building their foundation on Christ.
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References
George Busuttil, L. R. & Van Weelden, S. J. (2018). Imago dei and human resource management:
how our understanding of the breath of god’s spirit shapes the way we manage people.
The Journal of Biblical Integration in Business. Vol. 21. 1. Redeemer University College.
Grudem, W. (2003). Business for the glory of God: The bible's teaching on the moral goodness
of business. Retrieved from https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.ezproxy.liberty.edu
Smith, G. P. & Wheeler, B. G. (1999). The nature and purpose of work and productivity. The
Journal of Biblical Integration in Business. Vol. 5. 1. Cedarville College.
Whiting, S. E. (2011). Review of business for the glory of God. The Journal of Biblical
Integration in Business. Vol. 14. 1. Bethel University.
