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Business By The Book: Complete Guide of Biblical Principles for the Workplace
Excellent Book
304 pages, Paperback
First published November 30, 1989
127 people are currently reading
854 people want to read
About the author
Larry Burkett
304 books55 followersLarry Burkett was an American radio personality whose work focused on financial counseling from a Christian point of view.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
June 9, 2025
As business owner, this has some good stories and business advice I can apply to my business.
There are some areas that seem to come vague and wished he went into more detail.
There are some areas that seem to come vague and wished he went into more detail.
April 21, 2009
Excellent book on running a truly godly business.
I once worked for a man who, at the annual Christmas party, said, "This is God's company." Every other business day this man was surly, threatening, deplorable. I don't think anyone liked working for him. What a mockery of what a godly company should be. I once entertained the idea of slipping this book onto his desk. I didn't have the guts to actually do it though... after all he had threatened to cut off my fingers and make me eat them if I misplaced some papers... who knew what he was capable of if I suggested his allegiances may not be as he articulated on that evening...
Anyway, I have digressed a bit. I recommend this book to all believers who own their own business or who are managers of others. Excellent godly counsel lies between it's covers.
I once worked for a man who, at the annual Christmas party, said, "This is God's company." Every other business day this man was surly, threatening, deplorable. I don't think anyone liked working for him. What a mockery of what a godly company should be. I once entertained the idea of slipping this book onto his desk. I didn't have the guts to actually do it though... after all he had threatened to cut off my fingers and make me eat them if I misplaced some papers... who knew what he was capable of if I suggested his allegiances may not be as he articulated on that evening...
Anyway, I have digressed a bit. I recommend this book to all believers who own their own business or who are managers of others. Excellent godly counsel lies between it's covers.
October 19, 2008
Business books are a dime a dozen. This is one that was required reading for my MBA course work, and it delivers on it's promise. Burkett lays out some very simple philosophy: treat people right and good things happen for you.
January 19, 2024
Loved that Burkett has used his extensive knowledge of the scriptures and business to write this - I’m not in business myself, but I think that the principles the book covers would be useful and applicable to any Christian’s life. Definitely will be recommending to any friends considering or currently managing a business!
August 27, 2022
A pleasant read, I enjoyed the analogy of being bitten by a snake. Would you chase the snake or help get the poison out? Then why do we do that with holding onto our own regrets.
July 26, 2012
If you are a Christian and own a business or are considering starting a business, you need to read this book. I consider myself a very conscientious person with high integrity and yet I was challenged and convicted by the stories Burkett tells of Christian business men and women making extremely difficult choices for their businesses to honor God and choose His ways and not the world's. Many of the principles he outlines sound familiar and expected, but when put in context of actual situations, I realized it's not always as easy as it seems to do business the way God calls us to.
He lays out specifics for how to follow scripture in business and fills the chapters with great examples of how people have either succeeded or failed to follow these principles. This combination makes the book both engaging and practical. I highly recommend.
He lays out specifics for how to follow scripture in business and fills the chapters with great examples of how people have either succeeded or failed to follow these principles. This combination makes the book both engaging and practical. I highly recommend.
April 8, 2023
This may not be ground breaking, but I found it interesting nonetheless. It is unfortunate that Burkett speaks primarily to Christians. The majority of advice and instruction could just as easily be construed as "how to be a good human," in business.
September 29, 2008
Excellent book on how businesses should be run.
April 27, 2019
Perfect for business owners, still useful for employees
This is an excellent look into what biblically based business practices SHOULD look like. (Hint: they don't look anything like what you see when you work for a publicly traded company.) I have my doubts that all the stories mentioned are of real people and companies, but that doesn't detract from the lessons taught. And many of them are definitely real. I wish there was more information for people who are not yet at the point where they are capable of running their own business; there are a lot of books about how to keep your head down and be a good obedient employee, and this book is perfect for someone with the talent and resources to run a business and employ others. I was looking for a Christian perspective on how to get from here to there, and I will still be looking. But this book has earned its 5 stars because there is still so much I can use (particularly in relation to dealing with these strange creatures who God made and called human beings, without whom business would not exist).
This is an excellent look into what biblically based business practices SHOULD look like. (Hint: they don't look anything like what you see when you work for a publicly traded company.) I have my doubts that all the stories mentioned are of real people and companies, but that doesn't detract from the lessons taught. And many of them are definitely real. I wish there was more information for people who are not yet at the point where they are capable of running their own business; there are a lot of books about how to keep your head down and be a good obedient employee, and this book is perfect for someone with the talent and resources to run a business and employ others. I was looking for a Christian perspective on how to get from here to there, and I will still be looking. But this book has earned its 5 stars because there is still so much I can use (particularly in relation to dealing with these strange creatures who God made and called human beings, without whom business would not exist).
December 27, 2017
Must read for all business owners and managers
Yes, the Bible is relevant for our lives today - our Monday through Saturday lives as well as our Sunday ones. Larry Burkette has studied this extensively and is able to relate this in a manner that even new Christians can grasp. God is our Lord 7 days a week. And His ways are better than ours, especially in business. But it isn't just for grins, it's for our own good as well as that for our brothers and sisters in Christ. it's an easy read and still applicable this many years following Larry Burkette's journey Home.
Yes, the Bible is relevant for our lives today - our Monday through Saturday lives as well as our Sunday ones. Larry Burkette has studied this extensively and is able to relate this in a manner that even new Christians can grasp. God is our Lord 7 days a week. And His ways are better than ours, especially in business. But it isn't just for grins, it's for our own good as well as that for our brothers and sisters in Christ. it's an easy read and still applicable this many years following Larry Burkette's journey Home.
January 9, 2018
I'd recommend this book for ANYONE who is considering starting and growing a business. Overall great information, however the content is mostly for later in a business startup, it's a great resources to reading it before you get to a certain stage of your business. Consider it for future growth.
December 23, 2018
A clear direction from a somewhat out of touch author. Though I agree with his guidance on how to follow God's word, his interpretation especially around women's roles is a bit archaic. If you can look past that there is still a lot to be learned
December 13, 2019
Very practical approach to business throught biblical worldview
February 4, 2017
This book tells how to run your business by biblical principles. It covers many topics of interest to Christian business owners, including keeping vows, hiring, borrowing, pricing, lawsuits, and tithing. It advocates a different approach to running a business: "one more concerned with eternity than profits." I'm not sure I agree with Burkett 100% on all points, but even so, his book is a worthwhile guide to what the Bible says on these topics.
Burkett seems to cherry-pick verses a bit; I wish he referenced more verses when possible to give a fuller biblical perspective. The anecdotes are more numerous and longer than necessary to make the point.
Burkett seems to hold a double standard in that he says your counselors should be Christian so they share your Christian worldview, but that you should not consider religion when hiring (so that you can evangelize unbelieving employees). Perhaps the standards are different because counselors can change the course of your business, but employees generally can't.
Personal Lifestyle Goals
Luke 12:22 "is not an invitation to ignore the future but, rather, to avoid being consumed by fear of the future." Luke 14:28 uses pre-construction planning as an example of proper planning. Prov 6:6-9 uses the ant as a model of saving for the future. Ants don't hoard; they store only what they need. Luke 22:35-36 "seems to indicate that the problem is not so much with retaining resources as with depending on them more than on God." Scripture recommends retaining only modest surpluses to avoid dangers of materialism.
Jesus didn't teach believers to sell everything and be paupers, but He did warn against dangers of wealth (Lk 18:24). The proper desire is between poverty and riches (Prov 30:7-9).
Biblical Business Goals
"Just as a thermometer doesn't make a room hot or cold but measures the temperature, so money doesn't make us spiritual or carnal; it reflects who we are."
The Benefits of Counsel
Don't use unbelievers as your primary counselors (those who advise you day by day) (Ps 1:1-3). "The difficulty isn't in the advice they give; it's the advice they don't give, specifically, the lack of spiritual insight."
Hiring Decisions
Hiring only Christians stifles one of the greatest ministries available to Christian employers: evangelization of employees. 2 Cor 6:14 (don't be unequally yoked) doesn't apply to employer-employee relationship, which is unequal. In 1 Cor 5:9-10 Paul tells the church they don't need to separate from all unbelievers.
Firing Decisions
Before considering firing someone, communicate expectations clearly, communicate dissatisfactions clearly and quickly, in writing, and have a trial correction period. Never let sun go down on a problem without making a promise to handle it.
Borrowing Decisions
Borrowing was allowed in OT; that's why year of remission and year of Jubilee were necessary. Rom 13:8 doesn't forbid borrowing; if it did, Paul would've been clear that he was changing OT doctrine. Rom 13:8 is in context of paying taxes and tells Christians to not be left owing anything, even Roman taxes.
Principles (not commandments) of borrowing: Don't borrow needlessly. Don't sign surety. Don't take on long-term debt. Prov 22:7, 6:1-3, 20:16; Deut 15:1
We are commanded to repay what we owe (Ps 37:21; Matt 5:25-26).
"Debt is not a problem; it is a symptom. The problem is the consistent and systematic disregard for biblical principles. Debt is the result."
Lending Decisions
"It isn't the use of credit that is unscriptural; it's the misuse."
Don't sue Christians (1 Cor 6:7).
Bible doesn't directly teach that you can't sue non-Christians, but don't sue out of anger, revenge, greed. Consider Lk 6:30.
It's not unscriptural to sue a corporation, even one owned by a Christian, because it's a legal entity that has chosen to abide by the laws of corporations. Paul appealed to Roman law (Acts 16, 25) and we can appeal to laws of our lands. For same reason, it's not wrong to defend yourself or your business in court.
Corporations and Partnerships
Stock ownership isn't a yoke relationship.
Business Tithing
Tithing was never a commandment, because no punishment was prescribed for failing to tithe. Tithing was voluntary (2 Cor 9:7), though there was a consequence for not tithing (Mal 3:9).
NT didn't change principle of tithing.
Business owners should tithe from gross, not net. OT farmers tithed on harvest, which was before expenses associated with harvest (Prov 3:9).
Retirement Decisions
Only 1 verse refers to retirement: Num 8:25, which refers to priests retiring from service to perform other duties (not to be idle).
It's biblical to slow down with age, but not stop (Prov 6:6-8). It's prudent to plan, but not to hoard (Lk 12:16-21).
Burkett seems to cherry-pick verses a bit; I wish he referenced more verses when possible to give a fuller biblical perspective. The anecdotes are more numerous and longer than necessary to make the point.
Burkett seems to hold a double standard in that he says your counselors should be Christian so they share your Christian worldview, but that you should not consider religion when hiring (so that you can evangelize unbelieving employees). Perhaps the standards are different because counselors can change the course of your business, but employees generally can't.
Personal Lifestyle Goals
Luke 12:22 "is not an invitation to ignore the future but, rather, to avoid being consumed by fear of the future." Luke 14:28 uses pre-construction planning as an example of proper planning. Prov 6:6-9 uses the ant as a model of saving for the future. Ants don't hoard; they store only what they need. Luke 22:35-36 "seems to indicate that the problem is not so much with retaining resources as with depending on them more than on God." Scripture recommends retaining only modest surpluses to avoid dangers of materialism.
Jesus didn't teach believers to sell everything and be paupers, but He did warn against dangers of wealth (Lk 18:24). The proper desire is between poverty and riches (Prov 30:7-9).
Biblical Business Goals
"Just as a thermometer doesn't make a room hot or cold but measures the temperature, so money doesn't make us spiritual or carnal; it reflects who we are."
The Benefits of Counsel
Don't use unbelievers as your primary counselors (those who advise you day by day) (Ps 1:1-3). "The difficulty isn't in the advice they give; it's the advice they don't give, specifically, the lack of spiritual insight."
Hiring Decisions
Hiring only Christians stifles one of the greatest ministries available to Christian employers: evangelization of employees. 2 Cor 6:14 (don't be unequally yoked) doesn't apply to employer-employee relationship, which is unequal. In 1 Cor 5:9-10 Paul tells the church they don't need to separate from all unbelievers.
Firing Decisions
Before considering firing someone, communicate expectations clearly, communicate dissatisfactions clearly and quickly, in writing, and have a trial correction period. Never let sun go down on a problem without making a promise to handle it.
Borrowing Decisions
Borrowing was allowed in OT; that's why year of remission and year of Jubilee were necessary. Rom 13:8 doesn't forbid borrowing; if it did, Paul would've been clear that he was changing OT doctrine. Rom 13:8 is in context of paying taxes and tells Christians to not be left owing anything, even Roman taxes.
Principles (not commandments) of borrowing: Don't borrow needlessly. Don't sign surety. Don't take on long-term debt. Prov 22:7, 6:1-3, 20:16; Deut 15:1
We are commanded to repay what we owe (Ps 37:21; Matt 5:25-26).
"Debt is not a problem; it is a symptom. The problem is the consistent and systematic disregard for biblical principles. Debt is the result."
Lending Decisions
"It isn't the use of credit that is unscriptural; it's the misuse."
Don't sue Christians (1 Cor 6:7).
Bible doesn't directly teach that you can't sue non-Christians, but don't sue out of anger, revenge, greed. Consider Lk 6:30.
It's not unscriptural to sue a corporation, even one owned by a Christian, because it's a legal entity that has chosen to abide by the laws of corporations. Paul appealed to Roman law (Acts 16, 25) and we can appeal to laws of our lands. For same reason, it's not wrong to defend yourself or your business in court.
Corporations and Partnerships
Stock ownership isn't a yoke relationship.
Business Tithing
Tithing was never a commandment, because no punishment was prescribed for failing to tithe. Tithing was voluntary (2 Cor 9:7), though there was a consequence for not tithing (Mal 3:9).
NT didn't change principle of tithing.
Business owners should tithe from gross, not net. OT farmers tithed on harvest, which was before expenses associated with harvest (Prov 3:9).
Retirement Decisions
Only 1 verse refers to retirement: Num 8:25, which refers to priests retiring from service to perform other duties (not to be idle).
It's biblical to slow down with age, but not stop (Prov 6:6-8). It's prudent to plan, but not to hoard (Lk 12:16-21).
Read
April 24, 2016Larry Burkett spells out principles based on The Word that would assist business people.
It promises "a radical approach to business management" if implemented. It is indeed radical. The prescriptions are sensible in most cases, and outlandish in others.
Most people would identify with the five instances of "business bondage" the book identifies, including in particular overwork and disorganisation. Most entrepreneurs fall into this trap.
I often go back to the "Basic Biblical Minimums" the book outlines. The maxim to "reflect Christ in your business practices" sums up the message of both that chapter and the entire book. It is a tough call, but one that promises many rewards.
I rate this book highly as a guide to which one returns often.
It promises "a radical approach to business management" if implemented. It is indeed radical. The prescriptions are sensible in most cases, and outlandish in others.
Most people would identify with the five instances of "business bondage" the book identifies, including in particular overwork and disorganisation. Most entrepreneurs fall into this trap.
I often go back to the "Basic Biblical Minimums" the book outlines. The maxim to "reflect Christ in your business practices" sums up the message of both that chapter and the entire book. It is a tough call, but one that promises many rewards.
I rate this book highly as a guide to which one returns often.
June 24, 2008
This book was much better than I anticipated. A thorough, easy-to-read book on all aspects of running a fair, ethical, business with many real-life examples of both good and poor choices. This book truly demonstrates how to run a business God's way, putting people first, and with biblical principles about honesty, debt, paying your vendors, and investment and expansion. Mr. Burkett has got me to focus more on investing in and treating right my co-workers, not just my clients.
May 10, 2012
I read this with a small group in my church and it provoked some interesting conversations about what it means to be a Christian as a business owner, employer, employee, partner. It was especially helpful since I work in the political arena where "the end justifies the means" becomes a common occurrence.
July 7, 2016
Sometimes we take the expediant instead of the right track - Business By The Book helps to refocus and redirect to the path less taken. In today's marketplace this is an excellent lesson in proper course corrections.
March 19, 2016
Glory to God for Larry Burkett's life and writtings
I love this book. Mr. Burkett experience and wisdom will allow you will make you understand God's desire for our everyday finance decisions.
I love this book. Mr. Burkett experience and wisdom will allow you will make you understand God's desire for our everyday finance decisions.
December 16, 2007
Rated: C
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April 27, 2010This book contains an excellent discussion on applying th Bible to your business.
April 1, 2013
Very thought provoking.
August 17, 2012
simply marvelous.
February 23, 2013
One of the first on the subject. One of the best on the subject.
March 13, 2013
Excellent guide of Christian principles for the workplace. Especially the chapter on Business Goals (long term and short term).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 15, 2013
Are a Christian in business? The this is a must have book for you.
Challenging and thought-provoking, and will make you think differently about how and why you do business.
Challenging and thought-provoking, and will make you think differently about how and why you do business.
March 9, 2016
Great book that teaches business ethics. I recommend this to any business leader out there who would like to work with a lot of transparency and dignity.
Read
June 4, 2016Foundational stuff
November 11, 2016
I found this quite helpful.
Lots of ethical suggestions on how to manage finances, business and commerce with integrity.
Lots of ethical suggestions on how to manage finances, business and commerce with integrity.
November 21, 2019
Read it before you start a business!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews