Jesus was the most influential Christian Leader who ever lived. Jesus was also the very best Christian Entrepreneur the world has ever seen, even though you’ve never sat in a chair made by the human hands of that local carpenter.
Allow me to explain the significance of this wonderful reality to you.
Without question, Jesus Christ was the best Entrepreneur the world has ever known.”
Jesus: The Christian Leader
There has never been a time when Jesus wasn’t a leader. Even in his youth he obeyed the parenting instructions offered by his human parents, Joseph and Mary. He made his bed, picked up his clothes, and did his chores without a word of contradiction.
He was a perfect leader in his obedience, even if he was “out ranked” positionally under his own roof.
Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father, was a carpenter. Joseph made chairs, tables, and other wooden crafts. He was a business owner, likely a solopreneuer.
As the eldest Son in the house, when Joseph died it was Jesus’ responsibility to provide financially for the family. Although we don’t know how old Jesus was when Joseph passed away, we do know that Jesus was thirty years old when he began his ministry, and the Bible suggests that Joseph had already died by that time.
Thirty years old. Just 30.
What did Jesus do before he turned thirty?
Jesus: The Christian Entrepreneur
In that day, teenage boys were given great responsibility at an early age. For example, Joseph probably married Mary when he himself was around fifteen or sixteen, and Mary could have been only fourteen or so when she gave birth to the King of kings.
So what did Jesus do from the time he was a mature teenager until he turned thirty to begin his public ministry?
He wasn’t a Pharisee or a Sadducee. He wasn’t the mayor of Nazareth. He wasn’t the local priest or synagogue leader.
No, he was more than likely just a carpenter. He would have learned the trade of carpentry as an apprentice to his dad, Joseph, the local carpenter in the then despised city of Nazareth.
Jesus made chairs.
Don’t miss that!
JESUS MADE CHAIRS.
Jesus made tables. Jesus made house calls to pick up broken stuff from his neighbor’s homes, brought it back to Joseph’s work shop, and fixed it to the best of his human ability.
Jesus worked. Jesus worked hard. Jesus worked long hours. Jesus used his hands.
Jesus built stuff!
Jesus Charged His Customers Money
Jesus was an honest entrepreneur. He never “fudged” the numbers, always paid his taxes on time, and provided an honest product to his customers for an honest day’s work.
Did you ever think about that? That Jesus would have charged people money for his carpentry skills?
I wonder what his hourly labor fee was? Did he charge by the piece or by the hour? One shekel for a chair, two shekels for a table, perhaps?
Could he have charged more for his services?
Here’s a bigger question, potentially: Could he have charged his customers LESS for his services?
Jesus was a hard-working entrepreneur. He was diligent, trustworthy, honest, skilled, and a financial numbers-cruncher. He never filed Chapter 11, never over-charged his customers, and never cut corners on his carpentry.
BUT NOTICE THIS. He also never made it as a “super star” in the world of carpentry.
Jesus Had No Grand Reputation as a Carpenter
As far as we know, Jesus created no new household fashions or seating inventions. He never achieved the status of becoming “rich” (as in lots of money) and it seems his reputation as a master carpentry never made it beyond the city gates of small-town-Nazareth.
In short, people weren’t clamoring for his latest designs in footstools, and there’s a reason why.
Jesus knew what his greater PURPOSE was, and he was willing to wait for it.
Maybe his longterm “earthly passion” wasn’t carpentry, per se, but he practiced his carpentry without complaint. He knew what his greater “purpose” was in life, but he practiced carpentry until the time came for his ministry to begin.
Oh my!
What Can You Learn From Jesus the Entrepreneur?
There is a wealth of knowledge to be reaped from this truth! Here’s just a few…
- Do what you need to do today until God opens up another door tomorrow.
- Be honest and hard-working in your labor, even if you haven’t achieved riches yet.
- Be the best carpenter in Nazareth–where you’re at today–rather than dreaming about making Jerusalem’s “Who’s Who of Carpentry.”
- Do your work diligently without complaining, and without thinking “I was made for more than this!”
I’m telling you, books could and should and ought to be written in the Christian workplace about this subject, but little has been penned to date. Maybe that could be the next book I write? Or maybe I’ll just leave that topic for you to bleed onto the page.
Oh, I know what you’re saying: “But that’s Jesus, not me.”
You: The Christian Entrepreneur
Okay. How about the following for something a little easier to relate to.
God told Joshua, Moses’ apprentice, to lead the people into the promised land. God gave Joshua a pattern to follow and some encouraging words for entrepreneurial success that still ring true today.
Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:6-9)
Here are nine points to chew on as you pursue your place in this world as a Christian leader or a Christian entrepreneur.
1. God wants you to be an encouraged person of strength.
2. God wants you to serve other people in your land.
3. God will often remind you time and time again of your immense need to be strong and very courageous.
4. God will remind you to observe (obey) what he has given in the Bible.
5. God will remind you NOT to focus on the world’s ingenuity (the right hand or to the left), but to remain consistently focused on him and his Word.
6. Speak God’s truth in all that you do.
7. Meditate (think, speak, and apply) on God’s truth night and day.
8. Once these first seven points are the pattern of your life, your way will be made prosperous and you’ll enjoy good success (as God alone defines prosperity and success).
9. When these are the pattern of your daily practice, God will be walking with you daily in all that you do.
Without question, Jesus Christ was the best Entrepreneur the world has ever known.”
Luna Darcy says
Hi Charles,
Love these thoughts about Jesus and entrepreneurship. If there’s one thing I learned from Him, it is to be humble and to just focus in serving others and the rest will follow.
Great post!
Luna
Charles Specht says
Hi Luna! Thanks for stopping by. Hope you’re doing awesome!
Serving others will never cause you to go wrong. It’s the very reason we’re all still inhaling and exhaling.
What have you been working on lately? What is the one main area you’ve been serving others?
Olugbenga says
First, I’d like to point out that Jesus was not a Christian! Hence, he cannot be the greatest “Christian Leader”.
I also think Jews are considered men when they are 20 years old (Lev 27). There is no account in the Bible of any man marrying below 20 (Except Josiah and Joash, which are extremely exceptional).
I appreciate the fact that Jesus did business and sincerely he might not have been exceptional in his business. As a Jew, he would have charged correctly and moderately for his jobs following the teachings of Moses for business dealings. He wouldn’t have started a business on charity but definitely there would be room for compassionate services. If He did not do well in apprenticeship and carpentry business God would not hand the Kingdom business of saving the world to him. That is the Kingdom rule that He also taught us. Of course, he must have also learnt honesty, so to say, from Joseph whom the Bible referred to as being righteous in Matt 1:19.
All Jesus’ parables about money make it clear that one should profit with money and losers or sloths would receive negative rewards.
But I think the entrepreneurship aspect of Jesus’ life is over-stretched in your article. He inherited a family business which is the common thing back then in Israel.
Alison Reid says
Thank you for sharing. What you have written is from God’s word and has further confirmed what he has been instructing me to do. May God continue to reveal His heart to you
Charles Specht says
Thanks for that encouraging note, Alison!
I pray that God guides your hands in all that you do. Keep focused on him and his timing.
PS: What has God been instructing you to do?
Alison says
He has been instructing me to do a number of things. One of them is to start my businesses. This is the season.
Charles Specht says
That’s great news! I plan to write a lot more articles about Christian Entrepreneurship, as the Bible gives us the information.
I pray that your business explodes in growth. Take care!
Starla says
What you’ve written is atrocious. It is not found in the Bible anywhere. Instead of trying to make Jesus/the Bible relevant to today, you might focus on Biblical Truths. Christ came, lived a perfect life, taught the disciples, was killed as a sacrifice for the SINS of us all, Rose from death to live eternally – and will return to judge all humanity – not based on any entrepreneurship or how well we lived, but by our belief in Him as our Savior.
Thank you.
Charles Specht says
Yes, you’re correct about his life, death, resurrection, and exaltation. But I’m sorry you feel that way on entrepreneurship.
In fact, Jesus spoke about money more than anyone else in the New Testament. The book of Proverbs, also, is filled with holy wisdom about work, running a business, and handling money.
I believe your opinion about entrepreneurship is mostly incorrect, but you’re free to express it. I do hope the best for you in all you do. God bless.
Starks says
The Bible is all about Jesus and His Atoning Sacrifice on the Cross for US! We don’t need to (and cannot) do anything more. I tell others of the Salvific work of Christ, and how believing in your heart (where only God can look), the Holy Spirit works change in our nature. Our we still sinful? YES of course but we’re freed of the crushing guilt of the Law and we rejoice at God’s forgiveness. We are all beggars; we look to Christ; we confess the one TRUE FAITH given once to the saints – why would you, Bill Woolsey, Rick Warren, Joel Osteen, and countless others push new ideas on what Christ’s Church needs to do and to be ?
There is nothing new under the sun.
Charles Specht says
I guess I don’t understand your point. How is this article taking away from the Bible’s message?
cliff says
Well what do you reckon on this? When my wife and I moved to a different area in England and attended (for the first time!!) a new Church where we knew nobody (over 100 miles from where we had previously lived!!) a talk “A Church Jesus Would Go To ” (also down for the weekend was my mother in law!!!) I got a word of knowledge regarding a gift of extreme creative entrepreneur thinking that had been given me and it should be harnessed. Now the Church (the same Church we attended for the talk) to this day we are still members of and my wife regularly attends is an Anglican Church, holy spirit lead and filled with level headed, sensible followers of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I had the option to believe this or reject it. I have chosen to believe it and hope this can encourage other christain entrepreneurs “to stick in there”. Pray about your new venture , about if it aligns with God’s purpose for your life OR do reject it (your choice !!!)…… OR be obedient and be lead by God and forge ahead with God leading. In my heart of hearts I believe Jesus uses us in all ways to spread his word and being in business is just another way we should embrace
Charles Specht says
Thank you, Cliff! God bless you in all that you do!
John Hatchell says
Great perspective thinking Charles. Our King certainly was the image and model of humilit!! Humble and Meek in a Mighty way through his Servant Leadership. Thank you for reminding me today what really is most important in this Life.
Charles Specht says
Thank you, John. I appreciate your kind words. God bless!
leonard mwema muthui says
You have opened my mind I never thought Jesus charging something for a service or goods. may be before he attained 30years he made and sold coffins. Great teaching
Chileshe Mwape Charles says
Great outlook on the flip side of Christ s life, He is our role model , it is a fact that we need to survive even as we follow this great man Jesus, therefore, it is important for us to know how we can survive while living according to His standards.
Amalia says
Business seems so connected to the world sometimes as good intending Christians we try to forsake the world and money in fear of losing focus of God’s kingdom…but we forget God’s kingdom is intended to be on Earth. “God’s kingdom come and his will be on Earth as it is in Heaven.”
How do we balance the two while trying to start up a business? Do we lead out and forge our business plans or pray and wait for God to open the doors and bring the customers?
I’ve seen God actually do the later for me but when it doesn’t just come to me should I go out and bring them in? God is good and faithful…but does God want me to take the wheel at times and run the business along side him? Soo many questions.
Rob @ Money Nomad says
Thanks Charles! Sometimes running your own business can be tiring and stressful – especially at the beginning. It’s awesome to consider how Christ worked. Very inspirational – thanks for sharing!
chi chi says
was blessed by this article. quite interesting!
augusto says
Great sharing Charles
wisdom and focus come from the Lord, wait your time and focus in God’s plans for you.
#lacushub
Kent says
How blessed are those
who reject the advice of the wicked,
don’t stand on the way of sinners
or sit where scoffers sit!
2
Their delight
is in Adonai’s Torah;
on his Torah they meditate
day and night.
3
They are like trees planted by streams —
they bear their fruit in season,
their leaves never wither,
everything they do succeeds.
Thank you for sharing…this part of the word is seldom meditated…
Jesus bless you and your family..,
TravisOi says
the Hound. Sansa had done nothing to make the commons hate her, no more than
http://etozapretnoe.ru/page_17920.html
“The boy,” agreed the queen.
Gibson kosgey says
Thank you Charles. God bless you
Neiha says
Greetings Charles,
I came across your site by chance or better yet by God’s will today. I started a business sometime ago but haven’t been able to really put my all and all into it to date because I still work full-time for someone else. Your encouraging points about our Lord being an Entrepreneur gave me food for thought, especially the one that said “Do what you need to do today until God opens up another door tomorrow.”
Thanks
Lydia says
Loved this. So relevant to me and my walk. So thanks for sharing. All my best!
Isaac says
Great post Charles. Thank you.
Keep looking up!
Gabe says
Thanks for this post! To be honest I have been struggling with my start up Christian Apparel business. This post gave me motivation and inspiration to keep going and look to God in ALL of my decisions . God Bless ! Gabe http://www.rupwear.com