MAIN POINT:
Business leaders can play a vital role in God’s plan for the world. Commerce is a part of every community and nation. God’s people in the business arena have a tremendous opportunity to build His Kingdom and influence every aspect of society in every nation.
As business leaders in God’s Kingdom, we must understand:
God Gave Us An Assignment
In Matthew 28:18-19 Jesus gave The Great Commission. He commands each believer to go into all the world and make disciples. Marketplace leaders can be on mission for God through business.
In Genesis 1 God gave the “Dominion Mandate,” commanding us to steward the earth and bring it under God’s rulership. This relates to how we manage people and resources to His glory.
Jesus is looking for “Business Partners” who will work with Him and participate in what He is doing in the earth. In Matthew 9:38-39. He says the harvest is ripe, but the workers are few. God is enlisting “workers” in the harvest fields of the business arena.
Business Is A High Calling
We should view our business as a ministry. As we allow God to work through us in the context of business, our work becomes sacred and holy just like a pastor’s in the pulpit. As Kingdom business leaders, we seek God’s help to establish His ways in the business world. God wants us to be His agents for bringing prosperity, justice, righteousness, integrity, healing, and hope to the world.
Additionally, businesspersons are in a position to create new jobs and new capital. This can bless communities, people, churches, and nations.
God Works Through World Events
The world we live in is always changing. Kingdom business leaders must be sensitive to the times and seasons. God is using globalization to get His message to people through commerce. Today people from all around the world are more connected than ever before. Technology has enabled increased interaction, commerce, and communication across the globe.
Business people have been strategically placed in each nation and region for this time in history. Acts 17:26 says that God determines the times and places men live. We must be aware of what God is doing and how He can use us.
The Marketplace Is A Ripe Mission field
The marketplace is the center of business, education, and government. People from every background and nation interact through business transactions on a daily basis. The optimal place to reach out to lost people is in the marketplace. Most miracles in the Bible occurred not in a church, but in the marketplace. Early Christians viewed the Marketplace as their mission field and their business as a platform to preach the Gospel. Christians in business are to be full-time ministers of the Gospel to other people through business.
Commerce Fuels All Major Spheres Of Society
Commerce is the driving factors behind all cultures. It supports education, government, media, entertainment and the arts. God wants His people actively influencing society through leadership in each sector of culture and by actively taking territory for the Kingdom.
Business Leaders Are Positioned To Bring Blessings
In Genesis 12 God made a promise to a businessman named Abraham. He promised to bless Abraham so that he could be a blessing to all the families of the earth. As children of God, He extends this covenant to us as we represent Him on the earth. God wants to use business people to bring blessing to families, the local church, communities, and nations. As Kingdom business leaders we are to impact culture in a positive way, displaying the glory of God.
We are to contribute to the overall good of people around us. Marketplace leaders can bring both spiritual and tangible blessings to nations. God wants to use a multitude of Kingdom-minded business leaders and companies that have a Great Commission focus.
Godly business people will be used to transform society by:
- Acting justly
- Doing business in a righteous way
- Helping to alleviate poverty
- Generating capital for righteous causes
- Solving problems with creative solutions
- Bringing those who are lost into God’s Kingdom of light
When we understand all of these things, we are well positioned to be used strategically by God for His purposes in the earth.
Work Is Worship
As followers of Jesus Christ in the marketplace, we should see our work as an act of worship to God. Scripture tells us that God Himself is a continual worker. Work is one of the core ways we worship and honour God. To work is to exert energy for God’s purposes. The way we work reveals much about our attitudes, our belief systems, and our motivations. God is looking for workers to partner with Him in building His Kingdom on the earth and stewarding resources for His glory.
Knowing Our Purpose Makes Us Productive
A.W. Tozer, a prominent American teacher and pastor, once said: “It’s not WHAT a man does, but WHY he does it, that makes his work secular or sacred.” When we know our purpose and calling in life, we have new perspective, passion, and energy to be fruitful and
productive.
Purpose gives Vision
Vision produces Passion
Passion produces Energy
As we connect to God’s larger plan, our perspective will change. We are no longer just “in business” to survive, but are engaged and serving as God’s representatives in business to bring His Kingdom into present day reality.
Excellence Earns Respect
Excellence is part of God’s character! He does all things with excellence. Unfortunately, some Christians in the United States put a Christian logo on their business cards and advertise as a “Christian business,” yet produce low-quality work and do not deliver on their promises. This dishonours God and is a bad witness.
Others will judge us based on the way we live and how we do our business. If we produce excellence, live honestly, and treat people with dignity, then we will gain the respect of peers and those in our sphere of influence. Our influence will grow as our reputation for excellence grows. Ultimately, people will want to hear what we say and do what we do. This affords us the opportunity to point people to Jesus Christ as they see His life portrayed through our lives.
Demonstrations Of Excellence:
Going over and above expectations, even if no one else will know about it. Giving the very best effort in every job and task. Following through on commitments. Staying current and continually learning.
Problem Solvers Will Lead
In the United States, there is a popular saying: “Find a need and fill it.” All business products and services are about bringing a solution to someone or something’s needs. Indian economist Joseph Prahala in his book The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid makes a case for huge business opportunities among the poorest, most underserved markets in developing nations. Out of 6 billion people in the world, 4 billion earn less than $2 US (200 KShillings) per day. These 4 billion people make up a largely underserved, overlooked market that is willing to pay for goods and services if delivered at low cost and quantity. Entrepreneurs are opportunists, seeing problems as opportunity niches for business. If we are willing and able to meet and anticipate needs, prosperity will find us. Solving problems that benefit people and society honours God and increases our credibility.
God’s Presence Is Our Competitive Advantage
We must understand that Jesus is the Vine of Life. When we draw near to Him through prayer and relationship, He produces His life and energy within us which affects the way we live. His qualities and anointing set us apart from the rest of people, giving us a distinct difference.
When we pursue God, we have access to His presence in our lives.
God’s presence brings Divine Favour – (2 Chronicles 16:9)
His favour can open doors that no person can open.
God’s presence brings Divine Creativity – (Colossians 1:16)
Business demands creative solutions to solve problems.
God’s presence brings Divine Discernment – (Psalm 25:14)
We must have discernment to know who to work with and what to do.
God’s presence brings Divine Wisdom – (Proverbs 1:7)
Wisdom found in Scripture, and Godly relationships are crucial to success.
God’s presence allows the Fruit of the Spirit to Flourish – (Galatians 5:22-23)
These qualities will work in every situation.
Stewardship Precedes Promotion
God has called us to steward His creation and our lives. We are to be faithful with what God has given us now so that we can later be entrusted with more. What is in your hands right now?
Good stewards are faithful.
Good stewards are productive.
Promotion comes after we have faithfully stewarded and produced fruit in our present situations.
Integrity & Character Win In The End
Christians in business around the world face enormous challenges when surrounded by corruption and dishonest practices. Many times it seems like the unrighteous always seem to flourish and prosper. Practicing integrity means being whole and consistent both in public
and private. The Bible says that everything done in secret will be revealed.
The inheritance of the unrighteous is destruction. Read Psalm 92:6- 7.
The inheritance of the righteous is eternal life and reward. Read Matthew 19:29.
An Active Prayer Life Is Crucial To Business Success
God is sovereign, yet He is moved by our prayers. There are instances in the Bible where the prayers of people changed the mind of God. The fervent prayers of the righteous produce much.
When we pray, we should:
- Pray Specific Prayers
Pray over people by name, pray over specific contracts, situations, specific relationships, processes, etc.
- Cover the Borders of Our Businesses and Ministries with Prayer
Pray over every aspect of business including jobs, resources, employees, customers, integrity, systems, etc.
- Pray for a Renewed Mind to See Things the Way God Sees Them.
Claim the mind of Christ to handle life and business His way.
- Enlist and Cultivate Intercession for Our Businesses.
Inform intercessors about specific situations to pray for. - Pray Prayers of Agreement with Others
Co-Workers
Spouse
Family
Partners
Key Scriptures on Diligence & Work:
Diligence
Proverbs 12:24: Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labor.
Proverbs 10:4: Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.
Proverbs 13:4: The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.
Proverbs 21:5: The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.
Work
1 Corinthians 10:31: So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
Ecclesiastes 9:10: Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.
John 5:17: Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.”
Genesis 2:15: The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
Proverbs 22:29: Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men.
REFLECTION:
- Do you view your work as worship to God?
- What is your calling as it relates to the marketplace and building God’s Kingdom?
- How can you apply these principles to your situation?
- Do you see your business as a ministry unto the Lord or only a way to provide income?