Called to Business

“When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities.” (Acts 16:19)

Whether we like to admit it or not we often find ourselves serving God for what we can get rather than who He is. This is reflected in our prayers that are often “help me I want something.”

There are consequences for following Jesus that none of us would choose. We will get ridiculed and sometimes persecuted. We can take some comfort in the fact that Jesus was continually being taken to task and ultimately killed.

When we receive opposition take it as a compliment. Our enemy only has limited resources and when he allocates some to your life you must be having an impact.

Quick Prayer. “I know I will pay a price for standing with you. Help me be strong and protect my heart at that time.” Amen

“The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time.” (Luke 12:42)

Wisdom is not some high ideal that is gained by sitting in a cave in a desolate place. It is not a state, that only a few, who study forever will ultimately gain. Wisdom is a practical application of knowledge, understanding and revelation, to enable God’s Kingdom to be advanced.

The Word says if you lack wisdom, ask and you will receive all that you need. That is not a bad promise. There is no problem that God does not have an answer for. Seek Him and you will know what to do.

Quick Prayer. “More wisdom please.” Amen

“For whoever has will be given more, and they will have abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.” (Matthew 25:29)

Ouch, this is quite a warning. We all have been given a set of gifts, talents, personality, an allocation of time and resources. The question is how have we taken what we have been given and applied it to being effective in the Kingdom of God? Have we reaped a return from what we have been given?

These are big questions. Do we have adequate answers? It is worth taking some time to take what we have been given before God, and to ask Him for His wisdom in applying what we have, to seeing His Kingdom established.

Quick Prayer. “Help me to be faithful with what you have entrusted to me Lord.” Amen

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25:21)

Would you like to share in the happiness of God? He is the creator of all happiness, pleasure and joy. Shared happiness is sign of intimacy, and of a close relationship. What a beautiful picture of our Fathers love for us.

It is out of an understanding of that love and the overwhelming gift of His sacrifice, that our faith and works are grounded. Not out of appeasing an angry capricious being, but in serving faithfully a loving and giving God.

Plus, when we have been proven faithful with a little, we will be given much more. It is spiritual principal that is outworked so clearly in our work in the marketplace.

Quick Prayer. “I want to share in your happiness Holy Spirit.” Amen

“It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.” (Matthew 24:46)

Faith is one thing but it is actions that really count. Works are evidence of faith. Faith without works is dead. Some could do well to stop talking about it, and get on a do it. We have so much teaching and input, how about a little output? How about a lot of output? Of those who have been given much, much will be required.

Work is intrinsically good; a business does not need to justify its existence through support of non-business outcomes. However, all that we called to be, and to do, needs to be done well and in keeping with God’s principals.

Our lives should be evidence of an encounter with the living God, transformed and unrecognizable from what they were.

Quick Prayer. “Please remind me of the need to work for your Kingdom Lord.” Amen

“Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” (1 Corinthians 4:2)

We have been entrusted with a lot. We have the words of eternal life; an experience of a loving heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit indwells us. We have been given talents, gifts and abilities to serve, worship and lead at work.

We have been blessed with resources, wealth, time, family, fellowship, and friends and so much else. What will we do with all that we have been entrusted with? Let’s be found faithful and proven to be so.

This means an application of purpose thought and prayer as well as the practical actions that have to be taken in order to be faithful It is not an intent it is a series of actions that demonstrate an internal condition.

Quick Prayer. “Keep me faithful Jesus.” Amen

“Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.” (Mark 1:20)

Will we be ready for a word from God? Do we spend any time with Him to allow us to hear? An instruction from God can come suddenly, swiftly and without warning. We would do well to spend time with Him, and to become familiar with hearing His voice.

Often we will need to act in the confidence that we have heard from Him. Our hearts should be tuned and our lives surrendered, so that when we hear we will be obedient to His word, and act swiftly. What could we accomplish if we were truly surrendered to God?

Quick Prayer. “Here I am Lord ready to obey.” Amen

“In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.” (Luke 14:33)

What does it mean to give up everything? To me it is an attitude of the heart; a position of yielding and surrender, of obedience, and willingness to lay everything down. We are to commit to God all we have, all we do, and all we are.

Commit it all into his hands and it becomes anointed, powerful in His Kingdom, sanctified for a greater purpose. Moses only had a staff yet God used it to lead a nation through miracle after miracle. The question He was asked was, “what do you have in your hand?” What do we have in our hands? Let’s give it all to God and see what He can do?

Quick Prayer. “I yield all I have to your Lordship.” Amen

“If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me.” (1 Corinthians 9:17)

As we go about our daily business, we are often so intent on the task we don’t take the time to consider the circumstances of those around us. We are surrounded by people who may be struggling, and dealing with all sorts of family, health or financial issues.

Going beyond the physical; what about spiritual wellbeing. There is an eternity to live, and only one way in. We literally hold the keys to eternal life. Do we believe that? Then what stops us from sharing the good news with others? Pride? What will people think? Will we really let that stand between someone and eternity.

Ask God to open your eyes to those around you. Somewhere in your world today is someone, who needs to hear some truth. And the Truth shall set them free.

Quick Prayer. “Lead me to someone who needs to hear about you today.” Amen

“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them.” (Matthew 25:14)

The resources that we have as individuals, and in companies that we own, or work for, are merely entrusted to us. We don’t really own them; they are on loan to us. A return is required, both in physical and spiritual terms. Are we good stewards, do we exercise wisdom and reject the sense of entitlement that so often pervades our thinking?

It is an honor to serve the King and do deal well and wisely with all He has entrusted into our care.

Quick Prayer. “Thank you for entrusting me with so much.” Amen