Darren Robert Haagman

Business By The Book: Part 1 - A Radical Approach to Biblical Business Management

Nov 3, 2025 drhaagman

Introduction

Imagine running a thriving manufacturing company, only to realize that your success feels hollow because it's built on practices that compromise your core values. This is the dilemma faced by Will, the fictional business owner in Larry Burkett's Business By the Book, who grapples with the tension between worldly ambition and biblical integrity. In today's cutthroat corporate landscape—where scandals like Enron's collapse in 2001 or more recent ethical lapses at companies like FTX highlight the cost of moral shortcuts—Burkett's message resonates more than ever. This first post in our 9-post series explores Burkett's radical call to realign business with God's principles, shifting from secular metrics of profit-at-all-costs to a foundation of honesty, accountability, and fair treatment. We'll unpack how this approach isn't just ethical—it's transformative for long-term sustainability and personal fulfillment. Drawing from Burkett's insights, biblical truths, and real-world examples, we'll see why integrating faith into management isn't optional for Christian entrepreneurs; it's essential.

Biblical Foundation

At the heart of Burkett's philosophy is the scriptural mandate for integrity in all dealings, exemplified in Proverbs 11:1. In the New King James Version (NKJV), it states: "Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord, But a just weight is His delight." Similarly, the Complete Jewish Bible (CJB) states: "False scales are an abomination to Adonai, but accurate weights please him." This verse isn't merely about literal marketplace fairness; it symbolizes the broader call to ethical conduct in business. God detests deception because it erodes trust, the bedrock of any relationship—be it with customers, employees, or suppliers ... or Him. Historically, ancient markets relied on honest measures to prevent exploitation, and this principle translates to modern contexts like transparent pricing or accurate financial reporting.

Complementing this is Matthew 22:39, which NKJV renders as: "And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’" Jesus identifies this as the second greatest commandment, directly following love and commitment for God. In business, "neighbours" include stakeholders beyond ourselves: employees deserving fair wages, customers expecting quality without manipulation, and competitors treated with respect rather than sabotage. These verses form a dual pillar—integrity toward God and love toward others—that Burkett uses to challenge the self-centered paradigms dominating secular management. By prioritizing these, businesses become vehicles for kingdom impact, fostering environments where people thrive rather than merely survive.

Burkett’s Key Insights

In the opening chapter of Business By the Book, titled "A Radical Approach to Business Management," Burkett traces the historical drift of American businesses from biblical roots to secular pragmatism. He notes how early U.S. enterprises, influenced by Puritan ethics, viewed work as a divine calling, but industrialization and the rise of Darwinian "survival of the fittest" philosophies shifted focus to profit maximization, often at the expense of morality. Burkett argues that this abandonment led to widespread issues like employee burnout, fraudulent practices, and societal distrust of corporations.

Through the story of Will, a plant manager facing pressure to cut corners—such as falsifying quality reports to meet quotas—Burkett illustrates the "minimums" of biblical business: honesty, accountability, and fair treatment. Honesty means no deceptive advertising or hidden fees; accountability involves transparent decision-making and owning mistakes; fair treatment extends to equitable pay and humane working conditions. Burkett emphasizes that these aren't add-ons but foundational, warning that ignoring them invites "bondage"—financial, emotional, or spiritual traps that hinder true success.

Burkett draws on his experience as a financial counselor, having advised thousands through Christian Financial Concepts (now Crown Financial Ministries), to show how biblical management yields freedom. For instance, he recounts real (anonymized) anecdotes of business owners who adopted these principles and saw turnover drop and loyalty soar. He critiques common excuses like "everyone does it" or "it's just business," asserting that God's standards are absolute. This radical shift requires viewing business as stewardship: owners manage God's resources, not their own empire. Burkett's insights are practical yet profound, urging readers to audit their operations against scripture, starting with small changes like honest vendor negotiations.

Worldly Application

Burkett's principles find echoes in contemporary business literature and successful companies. For example, ethical leadership, as discussed in Forbes, involves setting examples of integrity that inspire teams and build resilience. In "The Rise Of Ethical Leadership In Modern Business Enterprises," author Jonathan H. Westover highlights how leaders who prioritize authenticity foster innovation and loyalty, reducing risks like legal scandals. This aligns with Burkett's call for honesty, as seen in practices like transparent supply chains.

Faith-based companies provide compelling case studies. Chick-fil-A, founded by S. Truett Cathy on Christian values, exemplifies fair treatment through policies like closing on Sundays for employee rest and offering scholarships. This has contributed to its status as a top fast-food chain, with lower turnover and high customer satisfaction. Similarly, Hobby Lobby's commitment to ethical sourcing and generous wages reflects loving one's neighbour, leading to sustained growth despite controversies. Tyson Foods employs chaplains for employee well-being, blending spiritual care with business operations, which has enhanced morale and productivity.  In broader applications, Harvard Business Review studies show that ethically led firms outperform peers in long-term returns, as trust builds stakeholder alliances. Burkett's radical approach thus isn't anti-business; it's pro-sustainability, proving that biblical ethics can drive profitability in a post-2008 financial crisis world where consumers demand corporate responsibility.

Practical Takeaways + Reflection To implement Burkett's insights:

  • Conduct an Integrity Audit: Review your business practices—contracts, marketing, HR—for alignment with Proverbs 11:1. Ask: Are we using "just weights" in all dealings?
  • Foster Accountability Structures: Establish regular check-ins or advisory boards to ensure decisions reflect Matthew 22:39's love ethic.
  • Prioritize Fair Treatment: Implement policies like flexible hours or fair pay scales to treat employees as neighbours, not resources.
  • Start Small: Begin with one area, like honest vendor relations, and track outcomes.

 

Reflection Questions:

  1. Where in my business have I compromised integrity for short-term gain?
  2. How can loving my "neighbour" reshape my leadership style?
  3. What historical shifts in my industry mirror Burkett's critique, and how can I counter them?

 

This radical approach promises not just survival but flourishing—personally, professionally, and eternally.

References

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