Loyalty

Reset and Rise: Recognizing When It’s Time to “Re-boot” Certain Areas of Business

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Periodically assessing and recalibrating your Christian business isn’t just good practice—it’s essential for maintaining spiritual alignment and operational effectiveness. Just as we reboot our computers to restore functionality, Christian businesses need strategic resets to ensure they’re fulfilling their dual purpose of providing valuable goods or services while glorifying God.

Recognizing when your business needs a reboot requires attentiveness to several key indicators. The first warning sign often manifests as spiritual or leadership fatigue—that feeling where passion wanes, joy diminishes, and connection to your original calling grows distant. This spiritual exhaustion frequently coincides with operational challenges like declining sales, increased employee turnover, or productivity decreases. Sometimes, personal life factors such as health issues or family crises can further exacerbate these conditions, creating a perfect storm that necessitates comprehensive renewal.

The mission and vision of your business serve as its spiritual and operational compass. When these foundational elements become unclear, outdated, or misaligned with biblical values, your entire organization can drift off course. Rebooting this area requires gathering key stakeholders for earnest prayer, thoroughly assessing whether your mission reflects biblical values like service and integrity, and then revising your statements to clearly integrate faith and business goals. As Colossians 3:23-24 reminds us, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for human masters”—a principle that should permeate your company’s purpose.

Leadership sets the tone for your entire organization, making leadership renewal particularly critical. Christian leaders are called to model servant leadership as exemplified by Jesus in Mark 10:42-45, where He establishes that greatness comes through service. When leaders begin prioritizing personal gain over organizational wellbeing or making decisions without biblical grounding, it’s time for leadership retraining, spiritual renewal, and possibly structural changes. Creating accountability systems and mentorship opportunities can help leaders realign with Christ’s example.

Employee culture represents another crucial area for periodic renewal. A Christian business should foster an environment of respect, unity, and spiritual growth—when high turnover, low morale, or workplace conflicts become prevalent, cultural intervention is necessary. This might involve integrating faith into work through optional Bible studies or prayer groups, promoting positive communication, addressing conflicts scripturally according to Matthew 18:15-17, and investing in employee development. As Stephen Covey wisely observed, “Always treat your employees exactly as you want them to treat your best customers.”

Customer relations deserve equal attention during your business reboot. Poor customer service not only harms company performance but damages your Christian witness. Training staff in Christian service principles, aligning marketing with godly values, building trust, and addressing complaints promptly are all vital steps in renewing your approach to customers. Matthew 5:16 reminds us to “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven”—a principle particularly applicable to customer interactions.

Personal spiritual practices require regular renewal as well. Leaders must maintain consistent prayer, Scripture study, worship, and accountability. Similarly, your leadership mindset and thinking patterns may need recalibration—shifting from small thinking to God-sized vision, from negativity to positive expectation. As Brian Tracy notes, “Just as your car runs more smoothly when the wheels are in perfect alignment, you perform better when your thoughts, feelings, emotions, goals, and values are all in balance.”

The reboot process offers Christian business leaders a precious opportunity to realign with God’s purpose, renew commitment to biblical values, and strengthen their kingdom impact. When approached with humility, prayer, and openness to change, this renewal process positions your business to thrive not just financially but as a witness to Christ’s love and truth in the marketplace.

The Biblical Art of Being an Exceptional Second-in-Command

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The Biblical Art of Being an Exceptional Second-in-Command

In today’s leadership-obsessed culture, we often celebrate those at the top while overlooking the critical role of those who stand beside them. Yet throughout scripture and business history, we find that behind every successful leader is an exceptional “number two” who amplifies vision, ensures execution, and brings stability to the organization.

The concept of being a great second-in-command is deeply rooted in biblical principles. As Harold Milby explains in his podcast, many of the Bible’s most influential figures served faithfully as number twos before stepping into more prominent leadership roles. Consider Timothy, who traveled with Paul, delivered his letters, and pastored churches under his guidance. Paul mentored Timothy closely, even calling him “my true son in the faith” (1 Timothy 1:2). What made Timothy exceptional was his teachability, loyalty, and courage to lead despite his youth and natural timidity.

Joshua provides another powerful example. Before leading Israel into the Promised Land, he spent years as Moses’ aide, accompanying him on Mount Sinai, leading armies against enemies, and serving faithfully in preparation for future leadership. His loyalty, humility, and faithfulness to the vision given to Moses prepared him for his own leadership journey. Rather than seeking recognition or attempting to overshadow Moses, Joshua remained devoted to supporting the mission God had established.

Similarly, we see this pattern with Elisha serving Elijah, Joseph serving as Pharaoh’s second-in-command during Egypt’s great famine, and Jonathan supporting David even though it meant relinquishing his own claim to the throne. Jonathan’s selfless support of David demonstrates the covenant nature of a true number two relationship—he risked his life to protect David and embraced a supportive role rather than grasping for power that could have been his by birthright.

Modern business provides equally compelling examples of exceptional second-in-command leaders. Gwen Shotwell as President and COO of SpaceX has translated Elon Musk’s ambitious vision into operational reality, driving 60% of the global commercial launch market and securing multi-billion dollar contracts. Similarly, Sheryl Sandberg joined Facebook in 2008 and helped scale revenue from $150 million to billions while growing the team from 1,000 to over 70,000 employees.

So what makes someone an exceptional number two? According to biblical principles, it starts with cultivating a servant’s heart. Jesus himself taught that “whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant” (Matthew 20:26). This servant leadership approach strengthens the primary leader, advances the organization’s mission, builds trust and unity, prepares for future leadership, and ultimately brings glory to God.

To excel as a second-in-command, Christian business leaders must blend spiritual maturity with practical skills. This includes cultivating that servant’s heart by praying for humility, listening actively to understand the leader’s vision, and stepping in to lighten their load when needed. Aligning completely with the vision means regular communication with the primary leader, asking clarifying questions, and then consistently reinforcing that vision with the broader team.

Providing wise counsel is another crucial aspect of the role. This requires thoroughly understanding the organization’s operations, market trends, and challenges, then offering feedback privately and respectfully. Using discernment about when to speak and when to listen demonstrates maturity, as does complementing the primary leader’s strengths by taking ownership of areas where they may need support.

Perhaps most crucially, a great number two builds the bridge from strategy to execution. While many leaders excel at casting vision, they may struggle with operational details. An exceptional second-in-command translates vision into actionable plans, manages projects, and ensures deadlines are met. This creates a powerful partnership where both leaders function in their areas of strength.

The position of second-in-command carries unique challenges. Feeling undervalued is common, as is the tension between maintaining loyalty while providing honest feedback. Managing relationships both up and down the organizational chart requires wisdom and emotional intelligence. Despite these challenges, serving as a number two is a high calling that combines humility, competence, and faithfulness.

Being a great number two isn’t about being second-best—it’s about faithfully stewarding the responsibilities entrusted to you while reflecting Christ’s character. As you excel in this role, you not only strengthen your organization but prepare yourself for future leadership opportunities in God’s perfect timing.