The Merits of Mercy, A New Philosophy of Business
Half a dozen years ago we were doing some construction work for a property owner and one of the sub-contractors was experiencing trouble getting the job done because there had been a 40% increase in the one of the construction disciplines he had been hired to complete. This provided a problem for him and us, so I talked to the owner who understood the situation who showed us mercy and gave us a pathway forward. The owner was well within his rights of the contract to hold us to it. This would have been hard for us to overcome.
About a month later we experienced a similar issue, although we were now in the position of ownership. One of our contractors, was struggling to complete a job for us due to rising costs. I was reminded of the previous job, where the owner had worked with us to find a solution and was determined to do the same. The contractor was able to finish the job, and we have continued to work together to this day.
In each of these situations the choice to show mercy not only preserved the deal but also the relationship. These were situations where the battle could have been won but the war would have been lost. It has occurred to me that anywhere you find long and successful relationships, mercy has been a valuable ingredient. In this case mercy developed trust and loyalty with the people we were working with.
The Benefits of Mercy
In Matthew chapter 5, Jesus shows how people that show mercy, themselves will receive mercy.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” – Matthew 5:7
It appears that there is some kind of reciprocal nature to extending margins and grace to another person. Allowing some room for mistakes and giving people a way back is a life-giving trait.
In business, I consider mercy to be an important philosophy not a strategy. It is not prudent to always show mercy. There are times when we are accountable to other aspects of the business, and showing mercy could just as equally compromise another relationship. However, if you can plant a seed of mercy, so often you can see the reward of it somewhere else in life. This countercultural idea has challenged us to see how we can conduct business in God’s way. Trusting God like this has been a part of what I call supernatural business. We are all going to need mercy at some point, showing it to others is a great seed, an investment and a great representation of being a Christian.
- Mercy Invites Favor
“Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.” – Proverbs 19:17
Operating with mercy aligns your business practices with the heart of God. When you reflect His nature in your leadership, you invite His blessing on your work. Mercy shown to customers, employees, or even competitors becomes a spiritual investment that God honors.
- Mercy enables Stronger Conflict Resolution
In business, disagreements are inevitable. A merciful approach de-escalates tension and opens the door to understanding, reconciliation, and collaboration.
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” – Proverbs 15:1 “Bear with each other and forgive one another... Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” – Colossians 3:13
Merciful leaders focus on solutions, not blame.
- Mercy Builds a Redemptive Culture
Mistakes, failures, and growth are part of every business. A merciful leader creates space for redemption—where people can learn, grow, and contribute again.
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning.” – Lamentations 3:22–23
When this truth shapes your company culture, people feel safe to take creative risks and admit faults—which ultimately drives innovation and resilience.
A business philosophy rooted in mercy is not weakness—it is wisdom. It mirrors the character of Christ and allows your leadership to reflect the gospel in action. Mercy is not only morally right—it is commercially wise. When companies treat people with dignity and grace, even in crisis, they sow seeds of loyalty, innovation, and resilience that can lead to greater success than fear-based decisions ever could.
Mercy isn’t just a spiritual virtue. In business, it can be a competitive advantage. When mercy guides your decisions, you don't just build a business—you build a legacy.
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” – James 2:12–13