“Most business people try to achieve success on their own, failing which then they seek God’s help,” said veteran business leader and coach Dr Lim Kah Hooi.

“But we business owners must seek God from the get-go,” he urged.

As the CEO of The Encubator, a business leader coaching and mentoring organisation based in Malaysia, the 69-year-old knows that doing so is not easy.

In fact, conducting business God’s way can seem foolish to many, noted Dr Lim, who spent close to two decades with Vistage, the world’s largest executive coaching organisation.

But he has seen time and again that when one sticks to God’s Word and His standards, blessings always follow.

Setting a foundation of integrity

Bribery and corruption are often considered inevitable practices in the business world – something Dr Lim knows many Christian business owners struggle with.

“They don’t want to do it, but they feel they have to in order to be successful,” said Dr Lim, who is also the Managing Chair for C12 Group, a Christian CEO organisation, in Malaysia and Singapore.

“My response is to ask, ‘What if the person asking for the bribe is from your company?'”

His question is often met with silence and the realisation that while many are willing to pay a bribe, not many want their employees asking for kickbacks.

“It’s a double standard we operate in when we engage in corrupt practices. And that brings us back to the real question. Who are we serving: God or man? God has only one standard,” Dr Lim explained.

He often shares the story of his good friend and The Encubator co-founder, Ir Dr Nehemiah Lee. Dr Lee owns Nehemiah Group, the patent holder for a soil retaining wall system, the Nehemiah Wall.

Dr Lim (left) with his good friend and The Encubator co-founder, Ir Dr Nehemiah Lee, founder of Nehemiah Group, a market leader in soil retaining wall systems.

When he began his business in 1993, Dr Lee was determined to never engage in corruption.

“His company’s anti-bribery and corruption policies resulted in only two years of business losses in 31 years. Today, he is the market leader in his field with 60-70% of the market share,” Dr Lim shared enthusiastically.

Of course, Dr Lim clarified, conducting business with integrity does not mean that you will rise to the top by default.

“You may have to work harder, be more innovative and (in some situations), continue to stay resilient amid unfair challenges,” he said. “You may not end up being the richest person, but God will bless you.”

Conducting business honestly and honourably, he maintains, is the key to sustainability.

“When people work with a business known for integrity, they know that what they see is what they get. It makes business sense,” he added.

Doing business God’s way will also help you sleep well at night, he noted.

Cutting dishonest deals to accelerate “success” are not sustainable as these methods often cut corners and endanger people’s lives, which can come back to haunt you one day, he explained.

All work is sacred 

The Encubator hopes to raise up 500 business owners and leaders to join the clarion call for a corruption-free business landscape.

To date, they have graduated 70 young business owners trained in biblical entrepreneurship and are providing on-going mentorship to 61 business leaders under their C12 programmes in Malaysia and Singapore.

“We see business leaders taking up the mantle. For example, an established printing company, Thumbprints Utd, led by Tam Wah Fiong (a strong supporter of The Encubator) has emblazoned ‘Zero Corruption’ across its 20-footer lorry,” Dr Lim said with a chuckle.

At present, 61 business leaders gather once a month in small groups across Malaysia and Singapore under C12 programmes run by The Encubator.

They meet monthly for a full day in peer advisory groups, with personalised coaching for one to two hours per month, facilitated by an experienced business coach.

The Encubator also offers a subsidised track, the Emmaus Entrepreneurship Programme, which has taught hundreds of business owners in eight developing nations, with more than 50 trained facilitators delivering this program in their local languages.

Business owners and leaders, united by a desire to conduct business based on Kingdom principles, gathered for The Encubator’s Annual Dinner in January 2024.

One of their core messages is that all work and businesses, when done to the glory of God, is sacred.

“There is a common belief that if you’re not a missionary, pastor or full-time worker, you’re second class in God’s kingdom. That’s a very faulty understanding,” Dr Lim explained.

When business leaders understand that their work can also be God’s calling for their lives, the choice to honour Him at work becomes easier, he added.

The Bible is a treasure trove of wisdom for businesses

A Kingdom-based business is often marked by how it treats others, shared Dr Lim. He encourages business owners to:

• Treat employees well.It’s more than paying their salaries. It is an opportunity to speak into their lives and bless them as well as their family members. If you treat them well, they will listen when you speak about your faith.
• Pay suppliers and partners on time. Don’t delay payment or find any excuse to withhold payment that is due.
• Respect competitors. Pray for them, learn from them, collaborate with them and, at times, even help them. Together, you can advance your industry and benefit everyone. 
• Seek out good Christian business mentors. Having an unpopular view and standing one’s ground in business can be extremely lonely for those at the top. It is therefore important to plug yourself into a robust community of like-minded believers.

“Don’t forget God’s agenda. When growth becomes the end in itself, you may have lost sight of its purpose,” advised Dr Lim.

With 2,350 verses on business and finance in the Bible, Dr Lim believes that Scripture holds the key to conducting good and sustainable businesses.

He pointed to Psalm 73 as a reflection of the Christian business owner’s struggle.

At times, we will see the evil prosper and be deeply troubled (Psalm 73:16). Only when we enter the presence of God will we understand ‘their final destiny’, he said. (Psalm 73:17)

The key to standing firm in our faith at work is the understanding of the sacredness of work and the command to honour God by conducting our affairs in ways that please Him, he added.

“When we live righteously, we have the assurance that God is always with us, that He is our strength and portion, and will supply all our needs,” he explained.

He also added a word of caution against pride. Most Christian business leaders start with good intentions but are blinded by success, he noted.

“It’s important to stay aware that your ability to create wealth comes from God. (Deuteronomy 8:18) As your business grows, you will also set bigger growth targets. Don’t forget God’s agenda. When growth becomes the end in itself, you may have lost sight of its purpose,” he said.

Biblical business, however, does not mean becoming a doormat.

“God has given you this business to steward, so you must make difficult decisions to protect your organisation. For example, you can fire people biblically,” Dr Lim said firmly, adding that God ‘fired’ Adam from the Garden of Eden.

Wrapping up his thoughts, Dr Lim mused that though he is well into his golden years, retirement is not a biblical concept.

“Retirement pushes this idea of not working any more, but in heaven, there is a continuation of work,” he said.

“So, I believe while we do ‘retire’ from our regular career, we should remain active in some form of work. When we finish our ‘good works’ here on earth (Ephesians 2:10), God will take us home.

“Until then, we keep working to the glory of God.”

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