Living out Redemptive Entrepreneurship in Small Business

How can businesses demonstrate redemptive entrepreneurship? Is it as simple as closing the business on Sundays and printing Scripture verses on the wall? Or is there more to it–something that starts in the heart and flows out through the hands? Matthew 5: 15-16 says, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” As Christian businessmen/women, we are called to live out our faith in everything we do. Doing business is not merely a means to an end (getting more opportunities to talk about our faith). Rather, our work is the ministry opportunity itself. 

Over the summer and school breaks, I work at a little ice cream/sandwich shop called Lickity Split. In case you’re wondering…yes, they are closed on Sundays and yes, they do have Bible verses on the walls. But that’s not why working there directed my dreams toward a small hospitality business of my own. It was the Christ-centered love for others, prayer before staff meetings, knowing customers’ names, letting a homeless man sleep in the basement–redemptive entrepreneurship happening right before my eyes and challenging me to continue the work of Christ. Just recently, Lickity Split implemented a new business idea (thought up by a part-time dishwasher) called “Pay It Forward”. Just inside the door of the shop, a long piece of twine is pinned above the hand railing. Small paper triangles are attached to it with clothespins, and each one has a simple phrase on it, like “Tea for Two” or “Happy Birthday sundae”. Each triangle represents a certain amount of money that a previous customer has paid forward for a future customer. People entering the restaurant are allowed to take a card to have it discounted from their bill, but most of the cards are distributed by the servers who see that there may be a need or opportunity to bless a customer. While the restaurant oversees the Pay It Forward plan, it is the staff and customers who bring it to fruition.

This business atmosphere, one which finds ways to bless customers and show evidence of the gospel through the work of one’s hands, is an example of redemptive entrepreneurship in action. By finding ways to bless other people, the small business can not only act out the Gospel toward non-believers, but also spur other Christians on to act in a similar manner.