Right now I’m in a dopamine detox, but when I used to watch videos while I ate, my favorite videos to put on in the background were apologetics.

It was usually a light discussion my brain could process in the background while I ate my oatmeal or whatever. Plus, I might also hear an argument for a certain part of my faith that I could use in a discussion in the future.

Win-Win in my books.

Also, as a side note, regardless of if you’re of faith or not, I think it’s fair to agree that one of the most courageous things you can do today, especially in the “Digital” age we live in, is publically sharing and standing up for the values and ideas that you hold true to - in person.

The whole reason I set out to make my goals about business and making money was specifically for a sense of purpose that I was lacking in my life beforehand.

In other words, the business I was building and the money I chased as a result of it - those two things became my “gods”.

Ever since I became serious about my faith, being public about it, telling my friends about it, making it part of who I am, etc - one thing I’ve decided not to change was business.

I didn’t drop it.

I held onto business. Since then, I’ve wrestled with that idea; Should I, as a Chrisitan, be a business person/Content creator?

I think I’ve always deep down known the answer, but until now I haven’t necessarily thought it out, piece by piece. Here’s a couple things I’ve realized regarding this issue:

Accepting that money has to be made

No matter what country or governed state you live in, contributing to the economy is a mandatory task.

In return for the value you give? You get financial compensation. This is how society functions. People give and then get. Transactions.

As you probably already know, some contributions are compensated more generously. The reason is that some skill sets provided to the community are more valuable than others. - Take doctors for example. They built a skillset that has a lot of demand from society. Hence, they are compensated more than a guy that stacks boxes in a warehouse. Again, because one skillset is more valuable than the other.

Regardless of what we want or how we feel, the economy is a game we have to play and be a part of in order to live financially secure. Don’t get me wrong, the economy isn’t a bad thing either - without it, I don’t know where we’d be as a collective.

Whether or not that contribution comes in the form of owning a business, or counting change at a register, it was to come.

The choice of which vehicle you choose to do that, is yours to be made.

Understanding what “business” actually means

Overall, I think the majority of people misunderstand what “business” is.

“Business” isn’t a weird gated niche where hustle nerds read books, gamble away the opportunity college gives them, in order to invent a shark-tank product and become rich overnight.

No - that’s not business.

Understand, that business, in most simple terms, literally means just providing value to the economy.

Remember that “economy” thing I was talking about earlier in that section above? Yeah, that is what “business” is actively contributing to.

Another thing you have to realize too is that - Business isn’t a choice. Everyone is doing “business” and they don’t even realize it.

Some choose to become an entrepreneur, scale up a company, and make decisions that change the world.

Others choose to hand in a resume, stand behind a cash register for 8 hours, clock out, and go home.

Both, in some way or another, on a larger scale or on a smaller scale, are providing some sort of value to the economy.

That is something critical you have to accept. If one chooses to do business, they aren’t rebelliously choosing a niche path that rewards money - no, rather, they are deciding to actively take control of HOW they provide value to the economy.

Everyone is doing “business”. How they’re doing business is the question you have to answer.

Take your mind (and heart) off of money.

Even from a non-theological perspective, doing business for the sole purpose of money itself is a very unwise thing to do. Don’t believe me? Ask literally any successful business owner. (they will agree with me)

I think Jesus himself said it the best:

I think it’s important, as a creator, and as somebody who contributes to the economy to take the focus off of the financial benefits.

Here are three intangible assets you also build when doing business:

1. A skillset

Not only for the purpose of offering to others, you have devoted your life to learning skillset.

The reward? it’s yours. The skillset is yours to bear and nothing can take it away. It is now a gift from God you have for as long as you’re alive.

Your competence at the thing you’ve been practicing is something you can be confident about.

2. Wisdom and lessons you learn along the way

The pursuit of entrepreneurship puts you through daily adversity. The majority of the craft itself IS the act of accepting adversity, pushing through it, finding a way around it, or eradicating it from your path.

You will learn life lessons you never thought existed.

Again, something that can’t be taken away from you.

3. A platform to spread a message

Being at the top of something big gives you a voice.

Whatever you choose to do with it, is up to you. Earning this platform to spread your message comes with a lot of power and responsibility.

For example, in this newsletter, I am given a chance to spread the Word and tell people about Christ. That is my choice, but building a big and successful business gives you the choice to spread whatever message you want and hold true to yourself.

Regardless, it is something that you earn from succeeding in business, and it will never be taken from you.

More than money

As I’ve matured, I’ve naturally come to realize that those 3 things are far more valuable than money. Understanding that “riches” or being “rich” doesn’t necessarily come from financial stability is such a comforting idea.

Hopefully the same goes for you.

Final verdict

I think that quote pretty much sums up my conclusion.

Whether that means business or not, and whether you’re of Faith or not, we are all given the choice to create and contribute, in fact, we are called to do so.

As I’ve said, creating value, whether that’s in the form of business, art, or media — That is a mandatory part of being a human that’s part of society.

To all the Christians reading this - we don’t need to be inefficient about spreading the message. Yes, not all people are called to spread the word on a massive platform, and God does give individual jobs to everybody in the Body, but apologetics don’t have to be one-by-one on the street.

Think about serving God in the way he called you to. For me, that’s via the gift he’s given me - the ability to write on a platform.

That’s all for this week,

Peace

Nathan K.

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