Work and Business is the third book I’ve read in the Moneylife Basics Series of books from Crown Financial. It covers careers and business from a biblical perspective and gives great insight into our work and finances. The first half of the short book is about careers while the second half is about starting a business.

Work is good, and it was given to us by God. When we view our jobs as a means to a financial end we miss out on how God wants to use us. There is much more to our work and our careers than earning a paycheck.

The author gives some great mistakes to avoid when choosing a career. When you are faced with a need for money it’s easy to take the first thing that comes along, or to choose a job based on what it pays. When you make those mistakes you will eventually find yourself in a job you don’t want or a job that God doesn’t want you to have. To find the right job for you, you need to know what you are good at and decide how you want to spend your time.

Taking a personality test is a good place to start. The Career Direct complete guidance system will help you discover your pattern and “bent” as it’s described in the book. Once you understand your strengths you can explore the different opportunities that align with your abilities. Work and Business goes on to give some great advice on developing your career and making solid career decisions.

The most insightful part of the book is the section on future trends in business. Crown talks about how we are becoming a “global village” with future downsizing and more work for less workers. They also discuss how technology is rapidly advancing and job security lies with those who have the talent. In the past, job security lied with the success of the company. Home based business and telecommuting are on the rise.

I also found the starting a business section of the book very interesting. Crown goes through many of the basic concepts in starting a business like start up capital, loans, financial records and a business plan. They also provide a entrepreneur appraisal test to help you decide if you have what it takes to start a business. Starting a business is an exciting idea, but it’s not a good idea for everyone. I found it to be a nice foundational explanation of what it takes to start a business.

Anyone interested in going out on their own should consider reading Work and Business to get a biblical perspective on launching out on their own. If you are not starting a business, there is good information about how to view your job and see your work as God’s work, not a means to a financial end. You can get a copy of Work and Business here: Work and Business