As a Catholic business leader, you have likely heard in every homily at every Mass you have attended that you should make God a part of your life. Sounds obvious, but many Catholics never pause long enough to contemplate what “making God a part of your life” means and the impact it makes in our lives.
If God is truly a part of your life, then what part? Is God a big part, a small part or only a part of your life when He is convenient to you? You can get a sense of the importance of God in your life by deeply discerning whether you are the same person on the inside that you profess to be on the outside when you are at Mass. You may be religious, but if you don’t really know God and aren’t in love with Him, it makes a big difference in what’s important and what’s not in your life.
You should feel the tension that exists between heaven and earth. The priorities of our family, work and faith constantly pull us apart. We are constantly challenged to adjust our holy standards set by God downwards to earthly standards to adapt better and fit into the secular culture and expectations in the business world. We often “adjust down” or make compromises while knowing deep down in our souls that doing so is less than what God expects of us. What God asks of us Catholics is clear, including in the workplace. We are called to be distinctly different from the norm. We are set aside to always strive for holiness.
To strive for holiness, God asks Catholic business leaders to do two things: live an integrated life and love Him and acknowledge that everything we have, including our business, is a gift we have received from Him.
An integrated life includes God in every single part of our lives. Living an integrated life requires acknowledging that God oversees every part of our lives, including the business we have built and lead.
Consider the following passages: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) also, “and you shall love the Lord Your God with all your heart, and with all you soul and with all your strength. The second is this, “you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12: 30-31). So not only is God the giver of our gifts, but Jesus also says that we can’t be partially in. God calls us to be all in regarding the use of our gifts.
We too often attribute our success to our efforts, leading us to a false sense of pride. Putting God into the center of our life means we must take pride out of the center and acknowledge that while we did create, build and lead our business, we did so by utilizing our God-given skills and talents. The best we can truthfully claim is that we co-created our business with God.
God asks you daily whether you hear Him or not – “So, what are you doing with the talents I gave you?” There are only two answers; “I use those talents to glorify and please myself.” or “I use those talents to glorify You, My God.” Using your talents pushes you away from God or draws you closer to Him.
St. Augustine succinctly summed up the issue this way. “Change the heart, and the work will be changed.” I believe he was saying that if our work is truly for the Lord, then it’s because our heart has been oriented to the Lord. That orientation compels us to examine and improve the quality of our work – our products, services and the workplace – so there’s alignment and integrity – God, us, our work.
Of course, your business is not the Church, but there is no reason your business should not be run with the same principles. Many doctors of the church, saints and popes have implored us to live lives of sanctity while living our secular duties on earth. They challenge us to excel as business leaders and work toward sainthood.
To paraphrase St. Josemaria Escriva – all those who interact with your business should be sanctified (lifted up) by that interaction. Can you imagine incorporating that statement into your hiring and new employee onboarding materials? When your goal is the sanctification of others through your business, it immediately changes the purpose of your work. When your company’s purpose has changed, the difference it makes between you and the business down the street should be obvious to all who interact with your business. It is obvious because your company will operate with the highest integrity at all levels, treating all as beloved “neighbors” as Christ commands.