Are you called to business?
Then you’ve been given an exciting mission by the creator himself. God has a divine purpose for Christians in business.
A kingdom business starts with the right mindset. If you are called to business then I believe God wants you to succeed, and by succeed I am talking about much more than simply profit. He has a purpose for your business, one that will help build his kingdom.
For a long time, and still today, many Christians in business really feel that their role in the body of Christ was to fund their local Church and to reflect Christian values as business people. Whilst both those are true, being a Kingdom businessperson is far greater than such a small vision.
A kingdom mindset requires you to see Business as your Ministry. As a business owner you have opportunities to build countless relationships, act with integrity, help communities, create employment, and be a light to the world. Consider Matthew 28 where Jesus says:
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age”
Matthew 28:19-20
Is this not the mission of business people as well? Of course it is. Especially when you consider this passage:
23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.
Colossians 3:23
We are missionaries wherever God has us, be it the classroom, the showroom, the factory floor or in the office.
A kingdom businessperson puts God first. They realize that their business belongs to God, and that they have the privilege of being stewards of the operation. God is the CEO.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:33
When we put God first in our business he takes over and moves the business in the right direction.
In 1946, S. Truett Cathy opened his first postwar diner in an Atlanta suburb. Over the decades, Cathy’s business grew through his carefully set priorities, his commitment to being courteous and his willingness to be cautious while avoiding debt. Known for his chain’s boneless chicken sandwiches, Chick-fil-a has grown tremendously over the decades.
Through the years, S. Truett Cathy has built a business that has also served as a mission field. He laid Biblical principles of honesty, integrity, courteousness and stewardship into the foundation of Chick-fil-a. His sense of obligation to the community and the youth of today fueled his passion in helping the younger generations through various scholarships and youth programs. In addition, through honoring Sunday as a day of rest, he has shown the world that God blesses and honors those who honor Him.
If you feel that God is calling you to business then this is as important a calling as someone in vocational ministry.
With God’s help, you are working on the front lines, helping to shape culture. Think of the profound impact that Hollywood has had on culture, and usually not in a positive way. Your business can be a light in our culture. You can witness to people in day-to-day situations through how you run your business, how you treat your customers and in the character you exhibit in its operation.
Reflection
Do you think of your business as a kingdom business? A business that can make a genuine difference in the world. When you go to work do you think of yourself as working for God himself? Does your business glorify God?
Call to Action
Pray – hand your business over to God.
Seek – to put his kingdom first in all that you do.
Develop – a Vision and a Mission for your business that goes beyond merely profit.