When I was a young professional, I was blessed to work for companies that valued training. Whether I worked for a CPA firm or a large bank, I was allowed to participate in various forms of training in business practices. The learning was valuable and needed, but at times it also included business fads – popular, short-term trends within the professions – that were of little value and soon forgotten. Sometimes these gimmicky ideas even ran counter to the wisdom of God.
Why did this matter? Because ideas and philosophies that guide business practices may change with the times as well as with technology. However, the truths and principles the Lord presents in the Scriptures are timeless and not subject to the winds of change. This is especially true in terms of ethics, values, and our relationships with each other – and with God.
In the Bible’s Old Testament, the Lord teaches through the prophet Hosea, “Who is wise? Let them realize these things. Who is discerning? Let them understand. The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them” (Osea 14:9).
Knowledge and experience are beneficial, but they are not the same as wisdom. In the New Testament, we are instructed, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5). The ‘wisdom’ of the marketplace can change from day to day, but the timeless wisdom of God is unchanging and always reliable.
The same holds true for education.
Throughout my career, I have believed education was important for my advancement. I pursued advanced degrees, including enrolling in a graduate school of banking, to do my job better and demonstrate to the executives to whom I reported how committed I was to my work.
After becoming a follower of Jesus Christ, I pursued my faith in the same way, continually reading and studying to build my biblical knowledge. But I soon realized that simply trying to get smarter has its limits. As the apostle James wrote, “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and does not do it, it is sin for them” (Giacomo 4:17).
Learning God’s Word is important, but we cannot stop with acquiring knowledge. It is not merely a matter of accumulating information. We serve God best when we act upon what we know, putting it into practice – and that includes striving to live out our faith every day as we carry out our job responsibilities.
We have the assurance that “Tutta la Scrittura è ispirata da Dio e utile a insegnare, a riprendere, a correggere, a educare alla giustizia, perché l’uomo di Dio sia completo e ben preparato per ogni opera buona” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Knowing and applying truth from the Scriptures enhances our ability to do our jobs well and in the right way.
Practical training and education in your profession, whatever it may be, can be very valuable. However, being trained in the ways of the Lord – as He has revealed them in the Scriptures – will enhance your business career to a far greater extent. As Ephesians 2:10 tells us, “Infatti siamo opera sua, creati in Cristo Gesù per compiere opere buone, che Dio ha predisposto perché le praticassimo.”
© 2026, Unconventional Business Network. Adattato con autorizzazione da "UBN Integrity Moments", un commento sui problemi di fede sul lavoro. Visita www.unconventionalbusiness.orgUBN è un ministero che si occupa di fede sul lavoro e che serve la comunità internazionale delle piccole imprese.
Domande di riflessione/discussione
- When was the last time you participated in a training program related to your work? What were the benefits you received from that, if any?
- Can you think of any training or things you learned that seemed useful at that time but with the passage of time are no longer beneficial? Does that mean the time you spent being trained or studying was wasted? Why or why not?
- If someone were to ask you to give an example of how “the ways of the Lord” apply to the workplace, how would you answer?
- Passages like 2 Timothy 3:16-17 and Ephesians 2:10 assert that teachings from the Bible are intended to equip us for doing good work. Do you believe this? Explain your answer.
NOTA: Se hai una Bibbia e desideri leggere di più, prendi in considerazione i seguenti passaggi: Proverbs 22:29; Ephesians 6:5-9; Colossians 3:17,23-24, 4:5-6; 1 Peter 3:15-17
Sfida per questa settimana
Take some time to consider ways in which you might improve your work skills and capacity. Is there any additional training you could pursue that might be helpful?
In a similar way, consider how you might grow in your understanding of how to apply the truths and principles of the Bible to how you perform your work and interact with your colleagues, supervisors, and customers. Discuss this with a friend who shares your convictions or a small group – perhaps your CBMC team.
