Called to Business

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” (Mat 13:44)

What would you give everything you own for? What value would you prescribe to an object that you would sell absolutely everything you own just to get a hold of?

Jesus talked about the treasure hidden in the field as being like the kingdom of God. It was an analogy described to encourage us to see the real importance associated with the gospel.

Jesus and the message He gave us of salvation and the coming of the kingdom of God are to be valued beyond all we own. Everything we have and all that we are is to be committed to the cause of Christ. The value we prescribe to Him can never be enough; He is beyond the value of creation itself.

Quick Prayer: You are beyond all value. Amen.

“One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.” (Pro 13:7)

People are not necessarily who they seem to be. We assume so much by what people are wearing or what they are driving. Those at work who seem to have everything may be on the verge of bankruptcy. Some who look like they have nothing at all my be wealthy beyond all measure.

We need to look to the heart and disregard the outward appearance. We should judge people by their fruit, not their appearance. Someone my need to create a persona to be comfortable and keep his or her true self inside, deeply locked away.

When we know Jesus, we have to put away the entire pretense and be who we really are. It is okay to be vulnerable and be who God has made us to be. As we drop all pretense, we truly become all God has designed us to be.

Quick Prayer: Keep me from pretense. Amen.

“Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird in the sky may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say.” (Ecc 10:20)

I don’t think the birds are really listening to what we are saying, but the impetus of this word is that we should act as though they were.

We are all placed at work with someone in authority over us. Our leaders are not always as we may want them to be; in fact, some may be downright awful. While we do not condone any unreasonable behavior, we are called to respect those God places in authority over us.

Part of that responsibility is not to revile or curse them. If we do talk to others unkindly or unreasonably behind the backs of our superiors, this Scripture suggests they may find out.

Even if they don’t, the words we speak denigrate our own relationships with others as they see how we treat other people behind their backs. We also poison our own hearts and reinforce our character judgments, which may or may not be correct.

Quick Prayer: Thank You for this warning. Amen.

“Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” (Mat 19:24)

This is a somewhat distressing concept and shows just how blinding wealth and riches can be. People who have all they need are less likely to acknowledge the call of their hearts to the Savior. They are also able to be busy in a thousand distractions and find pleasure in many other pastimes.

But we can rest assured that nothing is impossible for God, and He is completely able and willing to touch the heart of the wealthy just as He can touch the heart of the poor and needy. Both are equally lost, and both are equally in need of a Savior.

When we think of evangelism, we must not discount the powerful, rich, and wealthy. They need Jesus, and He loves them just as much as anyone else. Nobody is beyond His reach.

Quick Prayer: Thank You that nothing is impossible for You. Amen.

“The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.” (Mat 13:22)

Our enemy uses many ways to distract us from the word of truth planted in us by the Holy Spirit. This example is one Jesus used when talking about the sower and how the Word of God is received in many hearts.

Thorns and weeds of worldliness can grow up and choke the Word of God and the beginnings of what He is doing in our lives. Wealth unfettered with the constraints of a generous heart and application of the Word of God can be a dangerous deception.

Materialism and the pursuit of wealth and advancement can literally choke the life out of God’s plan and out of your spiritual life. Possessions and wealth are not wrong in themselves, but when not tempered in surrender to God, they work against you.

Quick Prayer: Please protect me from worldliness. Amen.

“In a loud voice they were saying: ‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!’” (Rev 5:12)

When they worship Jesus in heaven, they attribute many things to Him. Praise, glory, and honor are due to Him, and He is worthy to receive this adoration. They also praise Him, saying He should receive strength and wisdom, which all come from Him.

They start with saying that Jesus is worthy to receive power and wealth. God has all wealth and all power, all honor, all strength, and all wisdom. If we are subject to the kingdom of God, we worship by acknowledging these are all His and that He is worthy.

Laying down our wealth, authority, and power to Him is part of our worship and acknowledging that He is worthy.

Quick Prayer: All wealth and honor are Yours, Lord. Amen.

“May those who delight in my vindication shout for joy and gladness; may they always say, ‘The Lord be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant.’” (Psa 35:27)

We have all come from different backgrounds and experiences of what a father is like. Some fathers were loving and kind, others brutal or even absent, but all were fallible and human. What about our concept of our heavenly Father? It has to be impacted by the example of our earthly father.

Our concept of God is also molded by tradition or maybe by religion or myth. Most of us underestimate the love God has for us. Many see Him as a capricious deity Who is ready to punish.

God delights in me and you. Delight is such an all-encompassing and emotive word that we cannot mistake it for just a passing interest. He delights in our wellbeing. He wants and loves to see us doing very well indeed.

Quick Prayer: Thank You that You delight in me and in my wellbeing. Amen.

 

“He died at a good old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth and honor. His son Solomon succeeded him as king.” (1 Chr 29:28)

Here is a great example of what it means to be blessed. We don’t have to be super-spiritual about this. God understands we live in a physical world and have desires that have physical manifestations that are required to fulfill them.

Would long life, wealth, and honor be a reasonable definition of a successful life and the blessing of God? Perhaps we could add fulfilling relationships and good health to the list.

Whatever we would consider a blessing that would be a desire of our heart and honoring to the God we serve is a request we can lay before the throne. Ask for a blessing today, not out of a sense that you are worthy, because none of us are, but out of a relationship with a heavenly Father Who would like to bless us.

Quick Prayer: Bless me, Lord. Amen.

“Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck.” (Gen 41:42)

Who was it that put Joseph in charge of Egypt? Could a prisoner in jail really orchestrate his release, let alone his promotion to prime minister of all Egypt? Of course not; we all know it is only God who can move this way and promote a man to this kind of position and influence.

Just as God gave honor to Joseph, He can and will give honor to us as we serve Him in the marketplace. When we choose to go God’s way and be obedient and faithful to Him, we may pay a price.

Ultimately, though, God’s true purpose will show through because He honors His servants and those who are obedient to His calling. I am sure Joseph would have preferred to miss out on the jail experience, but it all worked together for good.

Quick Prayer: Thank You for the level of honor and influence You have already placed on me. Amen.

“Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the Lord blessed him.” (Gen 26:12)

How do you know that the Lord has blessed you? How about receiving a hundredfold return on your capital or labor? I think that would be a good sign that God’s hand is on us at work. That is a one million–dollar return on a ten thousand–dollar investment.

If God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, He is more than able to bless you in this way. Is it presumptuous to ask Him to bless us in this way? Do we believe He is willing and able to bless us?

God wants to bless us as we move in faith and expectation to receive what He has planned for us. When we do this, our lives will bear the mark of God’s blessing.

Quick Prayer: Can I dare to ask for a hundredfold blessing? Is this Your will for me? Amen.