Article December 21, 1987 Issue

Bringing the spirit of Christ to business

Elbowing and cutthroat practices seem the norm. How can we bring the spirit of Christ to business affairs?

Edward W. Gutelius

An artist's depiction of Christ Jesus in a three-piece suit with a button-down shirt and tie would contrast strikingly with the pictures of Jesus we associate with Biblical texts. But isn't the spirit of Christ, working in business affairs, greatly needed today? We often hear in business that the end justifies the means, but don't we learn from Jesus the means that bless everyone and result in progress in every field of endeavor? What are those means?

All too often today's business world seems to be an arena for pushing, pulling, elbowing, and cutthroat business practices. What are our means for coping? As Christians we know our means should begin with prayer and watching, even as Jesus taught. Christian Science helps us bring to this prayer the understanding of man's oneness with God as His expression, embodying His attributes. This prayer spiritualizes our thinking. It helps us see and use the means God gives us, such as truth, vitality, love, patience, humility, intelligence, which inspire us and ensure productivity and useful activity.

These spiritual means contrast sharply with what we often find used in the business world, which is why we must watch consistently our means and motives. If our means are spiteful, temperamental, selfish, willful, and strained, then egotism and materialism are guiding us. The result: fear, inharmony, injustice, loss of self-respect, and ultimately failure.

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