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Cedarville Magazine
The idea of biblical leadership in the marketplace sounds attractive.
I am visualizing someone with the Midas touch who has the heart of
Jesus, competitive and goal-oriented while caring deeply about others.
Does that describe you?
Sure it does — in my dreams. But I wake up every morning to the
reality of my human frailty and to facing the competition of a free
market economy where my competitors are generally unconcerned
about leading biblically.
Biblical leadership is not something I have all figured out. I
regularly fail to live up to my own understanding of the biblical
standard. My deepest desire, however, is to grow daily in living out
my faith and trying to learn from my mistakes.
Leading biblically comes out of living biblically— incorporating
the truths of God’s Word into our daily activities in such a way that
others are attracted to become followers of Christ themselves.
How do you live out your faith at work?
By being a James Christian in a Missouri world.
What does that mean?
Missouri is the “Show Me” state, and James was the “Show You”
Christian. He wrote, “I will show you my faith by my works” (James
2:18). My deepest desire is to show my faith by what I do and how
I lead.
People want to see reality. How we live and lead makes the
difference. Faith not demonstrated by actions is a sham. What we
do in business every day and howwe treat others in the marketplace
is the primary measure of our faith.
But isn’t the marketplace about making money and the survival of
the fittest?
It is. I want to survive and prosper. I am in business to make money.
I make no apology for that. If you’re in the marketplace and not
making money, you won’t survive. And you will fail those who
depend on you.
Making money is a market reality, which I believe is morally
acceptable and biblically mandated. And it is also fraught with
danger. The Apostle Paul writes, “Those who want to get rich fall
into temptation and a trap” (1 Tim. 6:9).
How do you succeed in a competitive marketplace while still maintaining
Christian character? How do you live out your faith while keeping an eye on
the “bottom line”? How do you motivate employees to succeed while letting
them know you care? For Daryle Doden, CEO of Ambassador Enterprises,
the answer lies in a commitment to living out God’s Word and a call to
loving people.
For biblical leaders, however, making
money should be neither the sole emphasis
nor the ultimate goal, lest they gain
the whole world, yet forfeit their soul
(Matt. 16:26).
How do you compete for money without
losing your soul?
Very carefully — with a clear calling,
rock-solid values, and a greater purpose
than making money. That purpose is
what Jesus affirmed as the two greatest
commandments: love God and love others
(Mark 12:30–31).
Living out what the Bible teaches is
about increasingly knowing and loving
God and relating better to others. As we
integrate God’s ways into our daily walk and
work, it should bring us closer to Him and
result in loving others as ourselves. That’s
our higher purpose.
An interview with Daryle Doden by Steve Gardner
Biblical Leadership
in the Marketplace
