The Original Entrepreneur (and why he matters)
When you close your eyes hear the word entrepreneur, what do you see? What do think about? Did you picture someone like Richard Branson the founder of Virgin, Elon Musk the founder of Tesla, Melanie Perkins from Canva? Or perhaps you thought about these words:
Hustle, hustle, hustle.
Millionaire success.
Working anywhere and anytime while travelling the world.
Most people probably think about these words before thinking about the words service, effort, risk, sacrifice, failure. Our hustle-culture seems to glorify ‘successful entrepreneurs’ with hero status through the news, social media, and even our peers around us. Misguided by the incomplete overemphasised stories portrayed of Elon Musk’s and Steve Job’s of the world. With many journalists focusing more on money raised than lives changed. But yet the impact and good that entrepreneurs do through companies for-profits, NFPs, and social enterprises is undeniable and shouldn't be too harshly discounted.
God the Original Entrepreneur
It’s helpful to take a step back to understand to truly understand what entrepreneurship is really about. By looking at the original entrepreneur — God we discover what it means to be an entrepreneur and what it is really about.
In the beginning, God created heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light — Genesis 1:1–3
We see that in the beginning, God created something from nothing, he created order from chaos. Not only did God create something new (i.e. the universe), it was also original. But risked his son Jesus dying on the cross so that we could experience an abundant life where we flourish in our whole being. It's astounding that God created in 6 days, but what is more remarkable is what he didn't do on the 7th day — when He left the earth uncultivated and underdeveloped. Then He instructs us to fill the earth, subdue it and have domain over it.
The thief comes not but to steal and to kill and to destroy. I come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly. — John 10:10
God displayed his love to us through his life of service. To love entails inherent risk. Jesus showed us that “God so loved the world” that He would sacrifice His only Son so that we can spend eternity with him. Because to really love someone is seeking their well-being and best interests so that they can thrive and find freedom even if there is a risk they reject you.
See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: and I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship. — Exodus 31:1–5
From this, we can see that it is God’s desire for us to create, design, and work to make things that serve other people and also honour’s him. While Jesus was on earth he spent a significant portion of his life as a carpenter. Jesus revealed the character of His father. When He fed the five thousand. He revealed that the nature of a father is to provide.
God is creator, designer, and risk-taker. We follow in suit.
So when you and I create. When we launch a new venture, write a book, create a video, compose a new song, or build new things, create a piece of art with a service mindset — we are not doing something “secular.” In fact, we are emulating God’s entrepreneurial and creative character, and fulfilling His desire for us to create, work (though in an imperfect way) like The First Original Entrepreneur. So creativity is not a peripheral thing. It is central to God’s nature, and who we are as image-bearers of Him.
Why it Matters — Redefining Entrepreneurship and what Success Is
It is imperative for us to have an accurate view of what it means to be a Christian entrepreneur and what entrepreneurial success actually means. By redefining Entrepreneurship to what it is actually supposed to mean we can find meaning, purpose, and freedom.
God has called you and me to partner with Him and co-create. Your work as a creator is not “secular” or “less than” the work of a “full-time missionary” or pastor. Rather you get to do God-like work for His Glory and the flourishing of others.
This matters because it means in the marketplace we can:
- Be courageous to step out and take risks even though we might fail.
- Be faithful to look after and steward what God has given us
- Acknowledge that to be an entrepreneur is both a privilege and a responsibility
- Pursue change with the posture of service-oriented leadership and love that is others regarding
- Seek to add value for the good of others
- See success as faithfully stepping to help human flourishing and people experience freedom in spite of the risk involved. Yielding a sustainable exchange in value (monetary or otherwise).
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