I’ve written before about how we can learn by spotting connections others might miss, and how almost everything around us can provide insight—if only we view it from the right angle. This time, I’m taking it one step further, inspired by Easter and today’s date: Maundy Thursday. A day when Jesus showed that a true leader serves others—symbolized by the moment he washed his disciples’ feet.
The best leaders put their people first. They build teams, give credit to others, and aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty. And then it hit me—without being religious at all—that I could continue illustrating my point by tying the Bible and business together. So I decided to take a closer look at what it actually says.
Introduction
You’ve probably never thought of the Bible as a business handbook. Neither had I—until I sat down and wondered what to write about in today’s blog post. Most people think of it as a religious text, full of moral do’s and don’ts, long genealogies, and stories we might have heard as children. But what if I told you the Bible actually has a lot to teach us about business, leadership, and strategy—without you needing to become religious?
It’s all about perspective. Just like we can learn business strategy from chess, psychology from marketing, and problem-solving from nature’s adaptability, we can also draw valuable insights from biblical stories. And what better time to reflect on this than Easter?
Easter doesn’t have to be just about time off, chocolate, and mountain cabins. It can also be a powerful story about transformation, leadership, trust, betrayal, adversity—and one of the most remarkable comebacks in history. If you run a business, work with strategy, or want to grow personally, there’s more to learn from Easter than you might think.
Planning and Strategy – Without a Plan, You Risk Failing
“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?” (Luke 14:28)
A successful project—whether in business or life—requires planning. Many dive into ambitious projects without a clear strategy or risk assessment. In business, that means budgeting, risk management, and market insight. If you start building without a plan, you might end up with ruins instead of a solid structure.
This is the core of PRINCE2 methodology—a structured approach to project management ensuring that every project has a clear purpose, realistic goals, and an understanding of risks and resources. A PRINCE2 project always begins with a business case to determine whether it’s even worth doing. Many companies and entrepreneurs could avoid costly mistakes by asking the simple but crucial question: Do we actually have what it takes to succeed?
We see the same in the Easter story: Jesus knew what was coming. He had a strategy—one that seemed hopeless to those around him, but that eventually changed the world. The business lesson? Plan carefully. Don’t start something unless you understand the scope—and make sure your strategy is solid.
Trust and Betrayal – Not Everyone Around You Has Good Intentions
We all know the story of Judas, who betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Someone he trusted turned on him for short-term gain.
In business, this happens all the time: Partners who make grand promises and disappear when it gets tough. Employees who act in their own interest at the expense of the company. Clients or competitors who exploit your trust.
But sometimes, it’s not about the obvious betrayals—the knives in the back. It’s the absence of support. When you’ve spent years backing others, lifting them up, helping them succeed—only to stand alone when you need someone to return the favor.
One of the harshest lessons in both life and business: A large network doesn’t mean people will be there when you truly need them. Maybe you’ll get your thanks in heaven—but down here, you often have to get back up on your own.
Build relationships based on real trust, but be realistic: Not everyone has good intentions, and not everyone will stand by you when you fall.
Leadership Means Serving Others – Not Just Yourself
“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.” (Matthew 20:26)
Modern leadership is built on this principle. The best leaders aren’t the ones barking orders from the top, but those who help their team succeed. You see this in companies like Google and Amazon, where leaders invest in their employees and create cultures of growth and innovation.
Jesus washed his disciples’ feet—a symbol of humility and servant leadership. Imagine a CEO stepping onto the warehouse floor during peak season to help out. That builds respect and loyalty. Leadership isn’t about power—it’s about lifting others up.
Long-Term Strategy – Enduring Hardship to Achieve Something Greater
The Easter story is brutal. Jesus is praised as a king on Palm Sunday, then days later the crowd demands his death. He could’ve chosen a different path—but he stuck to his long-term plan.
We see this in business too: Many entrepreneurs face massive obstacles before they succeed. Steve Jobs was fired from his own company. Elon Musk nearly went bankrupt several times. Netflix almost collapsed before finding its model. So don’t let short-term setbacks distract you from a bigger goal.
Crisis Creates Innovation – Easter as a Historical “Reset”
One of the strongest principles in business is that crisis often drives innovation. When everything looks lost, there’s often an opening for change.
Easter can be seen as a strategic “reset.” The disciples thought it was over, but a movement arose that still exists over 2,000 years later. The same goes for business: Apple was near bankruptcy but pivoted with the iPod and iPhone. Netflix began with DVD rentals and pivoted to streaming.
Resurrection – Rebuilding After Setbacks
The most well-known part of Easter is the resurrection. A story of bouncing back after complete defeat.
In business, we see this time and again. Companies go bankrupt and come back. People lose everything and rebuild. Innovation often comes when you’re forced to start over.
Marvel went bankrupt in the ’90s and is now a global entertainment giant. Nokia disappeared from the phone market but made a comeback in tech. Or to keep it Norwegian: Vidar Vollebekk—a man who’s risen more times than Jesus and refuses to give up no matter how hard he gets knocked down. Even after major losses, you can rebuild—if you’ve got grit, creativity, and the ability to learn from past mistakes.
Conclusion: The Bible as a Hidden Business Handbook?
The Bible might not be your go-to for business advice, but look closer and you’ll find plenty of parallels to strategy, leadership, trust, adversity, and innovation. Easter is the perfect time to reflect—and maybe gain some unexpected insights into how we lead and do business.
Here are a few more biblical principles that apply to the business world:
- Planning and strategy – “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower…” (Luke 14:28)
- Customer service and relationships – “Do to others what you would have them do to you.” (Matthew 7:12)
- Leadership and servant leadership – “Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant.” (Matthew 20:26)
- Innovation and investment – “The man who had received five talents went at once and put his money to work.” (Matthew 25:16)
- Patience and long-term thinking – “All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head.” (Mark 4:28)
- Overcoming adversity – “Though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again.” (Proverbs 24:16)
- Networking and collaboration – “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17)
- Avoiding greed – “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” (1 Timothy 6:10)
- The value of hard work – “The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.” (Proverbs 13:4)
Next time you come across an old text or familiar principle, ask yourself: Can this teach me something new? The answer might surprise you.
My Takeaway from Easter’s Business Lessons
One verse, in particular, sums up a core business principle. In Leviticus 19:36, it says:
“You shall have honest scales and honest measures, an honest ephah and an honest hin.”
In biblical times, goods were weighed and measured to determine price and value. Some merchants cheated by using dishonest weights to charge more than the goods were worth. An ephah was used to measure grain (about 22 liters), and a hin was a unit for liquids (about 3.7 liters).
Put simply: This verse emphasizes honesty, fairness, and integrity in trade—principles just as relevant in today’s business world. A reminder that buyers and sellers alike should act in good faith and not deceive one another.
- Be transparent in pricing and contracts.
- Deliver what you promise—don’t oversell.
- Build trust through honest transactions.
Nope, writing this didn’t make me more religious. But the principles are timeless and relevant for sound business ethics—and it’s worth mentioning that this article was created in dialogue with the AI ChatGPT, based on content from the Norwegian Bible Society’s online Bible: https://bibel.no/nettbibelen/
