Called to Business

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Luke12:34)

Here is a sobering thought. Imagine if God has kept a record of all our cheques, automatic payments, bank statements and credit card transactions. Could He tell just from those, where our priorities are?

If we take an eternal perspective, looking down in a couple of hundred years or so, what would be important? Is it the temporal instant satisfaction of the latest toy or gadget; or perhaps the eternal souls affected by an investment in a mission, a gift, a ministry supported, a church planted, a soul won?

We own nothing, all is His, we are merely stewards of what He owns. That is quite a responsibility!

Quick Prayer. “Lord show me how to invest in the Kingdom.” Amen

“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” (1 Timothy 6:17)

If the Global Financial Crisis taught us anything, it was that wealth is indeed fleeting, and uncertain, and not to be relied on for security. We need to put our hope and trust in God. It is He that is our security, He that is our salvation, He that is our protector and provider. to put our trust in anything else is not only foolish it is idolatrous. We have a loving heavenly Father who has covenented with us to provide all our needs and give us the desires of our hearts.

Quick Prayer. “I put my hope and trust in you Jesus.” Amen

“It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” (Ephesians 4:11-16)

The church as an institution, populated with the five fold ministries, is to “prepare you for works of service.” The role is to prepare, the work to be done, is outside the church, in the marketplace.

The full expression of our work with God is to be manifested in our daily work, not within the four walls of the church.

However, it is vital to be well connected to a  place of worship, where you can be refreshed and prepared as you go out again to minster in the world.

We are called to be “fishers of men” not keepers of the aquarium.

Quick Prayer. “I commit to supporting my local church, show me how I can help.” Amen

“But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.” (Deuteronomy 8:18)

God doesn’t give us wealth, He gives us the ability to produce wealth. This speaks to a responsibility of fruitfulness. We have to take the ability and use it wisely in accordance with Biblical principles. The ability is a gift, the wealth the fruit, and the responsibility comes with not only a command to multiply, but in how we use it.

The parable of the “talents” is often used and an analogy for gifts. The Talent was a unit of currency, this parable is about money, and the command to be fruitful with the resources we are given.

Quick Prayer. “Thank you for the ability to produce wealth, help me to do it your way, for your glory.” Amen

“For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.” (Romans 11:36)

All that we have, all that we are, all opportunity, relationships and resources, have come from Him. In reality, when we take an eternal perspective, all we have is on loan from our beautiful Creator.

Let’s hold only what we have lightly, as stewards and faithful servants. Imagine a world where we caught the reality of this truth. Were we truly used what we have for the Kingdom.

Quick Prayer. “Lord, I acknowledge that all I have, and all I am, is from you. Use me for your glory.” Amen

Just His word on work today, what is He saying you?

“Servants, respectfully obey your earthly masters but always with an eye to obeying the real master, Christ. Don’t just do what you have to do to get by, but work heartily, as Christ’s servants doing what God wants you to do. And work with a smile on your face, always keeping in mind that no matter who happens to be giving the orders, you’re really serving God. Good work will get you good pay from the Master, regardless of whether you are slave or free. Masters, it’s the same with you. No abuse, please, and no threats. You and your servants are both under the same Master in heaven. He makes no distinction between you and them. And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and He wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.” (Eph 6:5–12 MSG)

Quick Prayer: I commit myself and my work into Your hands, Lord. Bless me and guide me according to Your Word. Amen.

“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.” (Isa 55:1)

What a wonderful picture of a God who will provide for all our needs and satisfy the desires of our hearts. Freely given in abundance are water for the thirsty and sustenance without us giving anything.

This unilateral giving from a loving God is a demonstration of the heart of God, Who is not looking for anything in return. He wants to provide not only water that will ensure we live and milk to help us grow but also wine for us to enjoy.

It is an invitation to the thirsty—to those of us who recognize our need and that it is only in God that we can find true rest for our souls and satisfaction that knows no bounds or ends.

Quick Prayer: How You freely give is truly staggering to me. Amen.

“And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Cor 3:18)

If work is from God, why is it so hard sometimes? When God begins to transform us, He doesn’t sprinkle dust from heaven; He applies pressure and heat. Like a diamond needs pressure to be created and just as gold is refined in fire, so too do we need adversity to grow godly character.

We have two options when the heat gets turned up: resist and achieve nothing or surrender to God, press into Him, and choose to react in His ways. The dross rises quickly to the surface, and we need to let Jesus heal us and transform us into His own image.

This is not a pleasant process, yet it will transform us to be available for His purposes and plan. We need to cooperate with His plan and not resist the change process. Who are we as clay to tell the Potter He is not making us correctly?

Quick Prayer: Transform me into Your image. Amen.

“It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads.” (Rev 13:16)

The idea of a mark without which no man can buy or sell is one we are asked to look out for as a sign of the coming end and the rise of the antichrist. The Word says we are to have wisdom to understand the significance and the season when this occurs.

While there is nothing wrong with this kind of technology, its application in this case will be a test for all believers. We are told clearly not to take the mark, and that will divide those who are obedient and those who are not.

It will be a time of trouble, difficulty, and persecution but one we can rejoice in and endure because we will then know that the end is near and our Lord and Savior will soon return. Meanwhile, embrace the technology, but when the time comes, reject the mark.

Quick Prayer: You said this requires wisdom. Give me what I need to understand. Amen.

“Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours.” (Isa 61:7)

I love this word; it is such an encouragement to me. Here is a wonderful and endearing picture of the heart of God to restore. He will take our shame and replace it with a blessing double the size of what was lost.

He will take the disgrace we may have experienced, and it will be replaced with rejoicing in the abundance of His blessing and provision. If you have experienced failure at work, there is hope in these words.

Not only will we receive twice as much as we would have originally had things gone well, but the joy will be everlasting. It will be a blessing not only for this world but for the one beyond out into eternity for ever and ever—blessing, abundance, and joy.

Quick Prayer: Thank You that failure does not preclude a great blessing. Amen.