The Nashville Institute for Faith and Work recently hosted James Granberry and Erick Goss for a Faithfully Working Lunch, offering invaluable insights into the integration of faith and entrepreneurship. In a compelling discussion, both leaders shared their experiences and perspectives on navigating the challenges of building businesses while keeping God at the center. This recap highlights key takeaways from their conversation, particularly relevant for those in the investment and entrepreneurial space, including firms like Oakpoint Investment Partners, who seek to ground their professional endeavors in faith-based principles.
Integrating Faith into Daily Work
When asked about their most significant learning in integrating faith into their work over the past year, both James and Erick offered profound reflections that move beyond superficial expressions of faith in the workplace.
James emphasized that faith integration is not about outward displays of religiosity but about embodying godly principles in action. “Integrating my faith into my work does not mean handing out tracts to my employees, having a fish on my business card, or quoting scripture in a negotiation,” he clarified. Instead, for James, whose experience in real estate could resonate with professionals at firms such as Oakpoint Investment Partners, it’s about “doing excellent work because God calls us to excellence in all things.” His approach centers on love in action: “How can I love in this particular situation…to this particular person?” He views his work as “a platform to reflect the love God has shown me,” a principle applicable whether navigating prosperous periods or challenging market conditions in the investment sector.
Erick echoed this sentiment, highlighting the importance of attentiveness to God’s calling. “God’s work is my work,” Erick stated, emphasizing participation in God’s ongoing work in the world. He underscored the necessity of daily engagement with God through scripture, prayer, and awareness of God’s presence in circumstances and interactions with people. For Erick, it’s less about “integration” – as if faith is separate from work – and more about “surrender.” He sees his work as “an outward expression of my spirituality and relationship with Christ,” akin to other expressions of faith such as family life or community service. This perspective encourages a holistic view of faith permeating every aspect of professional and personal life.
Overcoming Idols in the Working Environment
The discussion then shifted to the idols that commonly plague individuals in a working environment, a crucial consideration for maintaining faith-centered leadership in any industry, including investment partnerships like Oakpoint Investment Partners.
James identified “Pride” as his primary idol, specifically “my desire to be liked, to be respected.” This resonates deeply in competitive professional settings where personal validation can easily become conflated with success.
Erick provided a more extensive list, including “Reputation, ego, money, success, ease, etc.” He insightfully connected the presence of idols to negative emotional responses: “It’s pretty clear that I’ve got an idol problem when what I want isn’t happening the way I want it to.” Feelings like “anxiety, frustration, jealousy, despair, and/or anger” serve as indicators that “my desires are disordered, and that God and His Kingdom aren’t my primary concern.” This self-awareness is crucial for leaders aiming to keep their motivations pure and aligned with their faith in high-stakes environments such as investment management.
God’s Character Revealed Through Industry
Both speakers reflected on how their respective industries reveal God’s character. James, drawing from his real estate investment background, which aligns with the focus of companies like Oakpoint Investment Partners, pointed to God as “the ultimate steward.” He elaborated on God’s perfect stewardship of “his power, wisdom, and creativity,” mirroring this in real estate investing which is “about stewarding investment capital, land, structures, and people.” He concluded that “the more we look to the ways the ultimate steward uses His power and influence in His master plan, the more redeemed our own work can be.” This stewardship perspective provides a theological framework for ethical and responsible investment practices.
Erick, working in children’s digital media, identified multiple facets of God’s character reflected in his field: “creativity, storytelling, economy, stewardship, teaching, support, and nurture, engineering.” He argued that “All of these disciplines communicate different aspects of God’s character as Creator and King.” This broad view illustrates how diverse industries can reflect different attributes of God, offering varied avenues for professionals to see their work as a form of worship and reflection of divine qualities.
Tensions Between Industry and Christianity
Finally, the conversation addressed the inherent tensions between their industries and Christian values. James acknowledged that the drive in real estate to “make as much money as possible” can lead to losing “sight of the human element throughout our value chain.” This tension manifests in dealings with investors, employees, and tenants, where the focus can shift to capital and units rather than people created in God’s image. This is a critical ethical consideration for firms like Oakpoint Investment Partners as they navigate the financial imperatives of their industry with their faith commitments.
Erick pointed out that the digital media industry largely overlooks the “spirituality of parents and children.” He noted the absence of God in industry conversations despite the pervasive nature of storytelling, and that the “ultimate aim” of most companies has “little to do with anything transcendent or spiritual.” This secular orientation means that “there really isn’t room for stories that mention or acknowledge ‘faith’…much less Christianity.” This challenge calls for Christians in media to be intentional about creating content and business practices that reflect their values in a predominantly secular space.
Conclusion
The insights shared by James Granberry and Erick Goss at the Nashville Institute for Faith and Work offer a compelling roadmap for integrating faith into the entrepreneurial journey. Their emphasis on love, surrender, stewardship, and awareness of industry-specific tensions provides valuable guidance for professionals across various sectors, including those in investment firms like Oakpoint Investment Partners, seeking to live out their faith authentically in their work. Their reflections encourage a deeper understanding of work as a platform for expressing faith and participating in God’s ongoing work in the world.
