Will Christian Entrepreneurs Be Able to Squeeze Through?

Should Christian entrepreneurs be concerned with making a profit and generating wealth?

That’s the question we left unanswered in Christian Entrepreneurs: I Said Prophets, Not Profits! – GOD.

In that post, the “big guns” were brought out; those passages in the Bible that appear to be the most negative on this subject.

If you are still standing – that’s good.   Hopefully, that means that you understand and appreciate the warnings in those passages and still have a desire in your heart to be an entrepreneur.  Okay, but why?  Why are you willing to risk it all?

It’s a Tight Squeeze Christian Entrepreneur

Do you really understand what is at risk?  Christ illustrates the dangers of wealth in this passage.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.  Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” – Matthew 19:23-24 (NIV)

Now that’s a tight squeeze!  I would hate to be that camel!  So is this it?  Become wealthy and you can’t enter heaven?   Notice that Christ did not say it was impossible, but that it is hard.

A Needle By Another Name?

This is why some believe that the needle He was referring to was a night entrance gate into the city called “the needle.”  It was much smaller than the normal gates and a camel would need to be unburdened of its load to fit through this gate.

Imagine it.  Your caravan pulls up to the city during the night after a long journey and the main gates are closed.  If you want to enter you will have to unload your camels, lead the camels through the gate, unpack the cargo, carry the cargo through the gate, repack the cargo, and then reload the camels.

This could easily take hours, and by then it would be daylight and the main gates would be open.  Rather than enter in at the small gate, wouldn’t you just camp outside and wait?

Critics point out that there is no evidence for the smaller gate being called “the needle,” and that the disciples would not have reacted surprised had it simply been a gate nor would Christ have said that “with men this is impossible.”

Christian Entrepreneurs Must Be Willing to Lose It All

Backing up just a little, Christ had been talking with a rich young man answering his question on what he needed to do to gain eternal life.  Interestingly, Christ did not refute the man’s claim that he had kept all the commandments, but He went straight to the heart of the matter.

Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” – Matthew 19:21 (NIV)

Sadly, the young man turned and walked away.  Why, “Because he had great wealth.”  He had laid up his treasure here on earth along with his heart.  He was not willing to unburden his camel so that it could fit through the small gate and he could enter in.

Perhaps, it is this “perfect” young man turning away that caused the disciples’ reaction.  Christ did not say that the rich man entering the kingdom of God was impossible for man, but that salvation is impossible for man to earn.  It is through God that all things are possible – especially salvation.

Christian Entrepreneurs Receive a Higher ROI

Peter asked Christ, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”   Christ told him that he “will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.”  Wow, what a return!

God never asks you to give up something that He is not willing to pay back to you many times over.  We must be willing to make that investment though when He calls for it.

The distinction of being a Christian entrepreneur is that we accept our roles as mere stewards of what God has put us over, and because of this, we act in accordance with His will as we operate our business.

Being a Christian Entrepreneur is a Calling

Paul taught us that we are all members of one body.  It makes sense, therefore, that part of this body is comprised of Christian business men and women who generate wealth that is used for His purposes.

The Bible is filled with Christian entrepreneurs who used their wealth for God.  They are instrumental in God’s plans and yet their roles in fulfilling His will are all too often glossed over while their faults are highlighted like front page news.

Where would they have put Christ’s body if it weren’t for a wealthy merchant named Joseph?  Where would the church at Philippi be with Lydia, the seller of purple?   Where would Christ have had the last supper had it not been for the unnamed man who lent his home and prepared the dinner?

In fact, I challenge you to list both the poor and the rich in the Bible and see how many more wealthy people there are on your list and what their contributions were.

The Few, the Proud, the Christian Entrepreneurs

This calling is not for everyone.  It is more than just having good intentions.   It is more than just tithing or helping the poor.

It takes special people to be able to risk walking down the road to wealth without succumbing to it.  To have at your disposal resources that could bless you or bless someone else and be able to discern their appropriate use.

So my answer is yes, Christian entrepreneurs should be concerned with making profits and generating wealth if that is their calling.  But first, and always first, they must seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness knowing that:

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.  Luke 12:48b (NIV)

Did you miss the first part of this post?

You can read it at

Christian Entrepreneurs: I Said Prophets, Not Profits! – GOD

Related posts:

1. Christian Entrepreneurs: I Said Prophets, Not Profits! – GOD
2. What is a Christian Entrepreneur?
3. Was Christ Forced into the Family Business?
4. Going Dutch – Moses, James Bond, and the Christian Entrepreneur
5. Have You Been Recommended by God?