Business and Faith Integration 1
Integration of Faith & Business
BUSI 530
Whitney Byers
Liberty University
October 10, 2021
Business and Faith Integration 2
Abstract
The integration of faith and business is an obligation that is established during the onset of
building a business. Faith and business should work hand in hand. Faith should be initiated at the
foundation of building a business. When faith is the standard for how a business will operate
shareholders and employees will express and stay committed to the same values. Having
unwavering faith will keep the business from losing integrity and, faith will always be at the
forefront of every decision. The goal of this paper is to discuss the balance of integrating faith
into a business’s code of ethics, finances, and goals. Businesses may face trials during many
phases of establishing and keeping the morality of their business pure. Keeping the balance of
faith and business can be difficult but depending on and standing firm on God’s word will keep
help the business endure during every trial.
Business and Faith Integration 3
Corporation, Goals, and Governance
The goal of corporations is to maximize the profits and performance of a business.
According to Brealey et al., 2019, “Maximizing or at least maintaining value is necessary for the
long-run survival of the corporation” (Brealey et al., 2019, pg. 13). Maximizing and maintaining
a business’s profits should be at the forefront of how businesses establish their policies, ethics,
and goals. Profits are an essential element of how businesses keep their shareholders content,
employees paid, and business afloat. Faith-based businesses will understand the concept that
although maximizing and maintaining profits is important that God is the one who gives the
power to create and get wealth. Deuteronomy 8:10 states, “You shall remember the Lord your
God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he
swore to your fathers, as it is this day” (Deuteronomy 8:10, English Standard Version).
Corporate governance is a guidance that all companies operate under. Corporate
governance establishes rules that firms will operate under. Corporate governance can be utilized
or described as the measures of the behaviors that shareholders will measure the employees and
established company under. Some of those measures include efficiency, financials, and
operations. According to L’Huillier, “Corporate governance’s solitary role is “ensuring that
corporate actions, assets, and agents are directed at achieving the corporate objectives established
by the corporation’s shareholders'” (L’Huillier, 2014, pg. 306). When corporate goals and
governance are established this gives the employees a sure place to operate from. Goals and
governance also will establish order within a business. When employees are aware of where they
are and the goals that need to be achieved this creates a smooth flow and confidence within the
business goals that are established. Without governances and goals, there is disorder and
calamity within a business.
Business and Faith Integration 4
Accounting Finance and Performance
A corporation’s financial performance is another topic that is widely discussed in
business finance. A firm’s financial performance is used to establish the revenue and potential
revenue that a firm can make. According to Le Thi Kim et al. “Firm financial performance is
used as a tool measuring an organization current development and potential growth” (Le Thi
Kim et al., 2021, pg. 268). Firms can measure their financial performance through their cash
flows, balance sheets, and income statements. These statements are used as sources to solidify
the financial performance of a business and its revenues. There are other factors to consider
when measuring a corporation’s financial success such as the return of equity, return on assets,
and return on capital. Each of these financial factors is impactful because they are used to
measure a company’s debt ratio and operating performance.
Time Value of Money, Stocks, and Bonds
Additionally, an important concept in business finance is the time value of money, stocks,
and bonds. An important concept of this section is how impactful investments are to a
corporation and its shareholders. According to Brealey et al., “Companies will arrange for their
stocks to be traded on a stock exchange. The stock listings report a company’s stock’s price,
stock price change, volume, dividend yield, and price-earnings (P/E) ratio. To value a stock,
financial analysts often start by identifying similar firms and looking at how much investors in
these companies are prepared to pay for each dollar of earnings or book assets” (Brealey et al.
2019, pg. 229). Stocks are an important component of how businesses are measured and
compared to other businesses. The word of God also gives a parable of investing is pleasing to
God. Maximizing and increasing what you’ve been given is a faith-driven biblical concept that
corporations are using. Matthew 25:20-21 states, “And he who had received the five talents came
Business and Faith Integration 5
forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I
have made five talents more. His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You
have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master”
(Matthew 25:20-21, English Standard Version).
Integration of Faith and Business
Integrating Faith and Business is important when building a business. Basing a business
on biblical principles and constructs is an important foundational principle for a business’s
growth. Faith-based principles such as doing right by others, investing, and establishing
principles within a business that are based on Christian values are imperative in operating a
Christian-based business. From a biblical perspective, there are many risks that a business will
take. Businesses go through ups and downs and must have unwavering faith, especially in the
beginning when the foundation and commitments are placed into the business.
Although times may increasingly become tough when operating a business. Businesses
must follow the biblical principle of giving as well. Malachi 3:10 states, “Bring the full tithe into
the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord
of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until
there is no more need” (Malachi 3:10, English Standard Version). Giving is a biblical concept
that businesses must partake in to remain faithful and consistent with what God expects us to do
as believers.
Business and Faith Integration 6
References
Brealey, Richard A, et al. Fundamentals for Corporate Finance. Dubuque, Ia, Mcgraw-Hill
Education, 2019.
Le Thi Kim, Nhung, et al. “Determinants of Financial Performance of Listed Firms
Manufacturing Food Products in Vietnam: Regression Analysis and Blinder–Oaxaca
Decomposition Analysis.” Journal of Economics and Development, vol. 23, no. 3, 16
Feb. 2021, pp. 267–283, 10.1108/jed-09-2020-0130. Accessed 11 Sept. 2021.
Marie L’Huillier, Barbara. “What Does ‘Corporate Governance’ Actually Mean?” Corporate
Governance: The International Journal of Business in Society, vol. 14, no. 3, 27 May
2014, pp. 300–319, 10.1108/cg-10-2012-0073. Accessed 24 Oct. 2019.
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