Stop Preaching to the Crows

But those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint. — Isaiah 40:31 

Isaiah 40:31 took on a new meaning for me when one of my friends shared a humorous story from his days in theological school. During one of his classes, a professor asked a student to define evangelism. Confidently, the student replied, "Preaching to the crow." Of course, he meant to say, “preaching to the crowd,” but accidentally left off the letter D. The professor jokingly responded, “No wonder you don’t win souls for Christ—you are preaching to the birds!” While the class laughed, the story carries an important lesson for Christian business owners (CBOs).  

As entrepreneurs and leaders, we all encounter “crows” in our lives. Crows circle above us with noise and distractions, not substance. They may be critics, competitors, unhappy customers, skeptical colleagues, or even people within our own circles who question our motives, leadership, or faith. Occasionally, it feels as though they are waiting for an opportunity to criticize, discourage, or undermine us. 

The eagle offers a powerful example. Despite its strength, the eagle does not waste time fighting every crow that attacks it. Instead, it rises higher. As it soars to greater heights, the crow can no longer keep up. 

This story should challenge every Christian business owner. How much time do you spend responding to criticism, defending yourself, or trying to win arguments? How often do distractions pull your attention away from the work God has called you to do? 

Isaiah reminded God's people that those who wait on the Lord will find renewed strength. The promise was not that difficulties would disappear, but that God would enable them to rise above their circumstances. 

In business, "flying higher" means remaining committed to God's purpose, serving clients with excellence, leading with integrity, and maintaining a Christ-centered perspective when facing opposition. It means letting your character, decisions, and service speak louder than your critics. 

As a Christian business owner, you cannot control every crow. You cannot silence every rumor, answer every accusation, or please every person. But you can choose where you focus your energy.  

“Preaching to the crow” can look like scrolling through negative reviews at midnight, replaying a colleague’s harsh comment in your mind, or writing a long email to defend yourself instead of taking the matter to the Lord 

You don’t have to answer every crow that caws.  

Let your life and business preach a better message through faithful service, honesty, excellence, and trust in God. Stop chasing every criticism and start building what God has entrusted to you. Your calling deserves more attention than your critics do.  

When you stay focused on your calling, God gives you the strength to rise above the noise. The next time a crow lands on your back, don’t waste your energy fighting it. Spread your wings, trust God, and fly higher.