Many Christian business owners struggle with wondering if God really has a purpose for their business or is their business just a worldly endeavor that He allows them to be involved in.  Then sadly, there are those Christian business owners that don’t wonder at all.  In fact, there are many owners  who willingly choose to keep God out of their business.  They have compartmentalized their life to the degree that their business life and their spiritual life never converge.

Lets start by answering a simple question, is there any biblical proof that God is concerned with business or business people?  Lets start by looking at Genesis 1:28

“And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”

According to Genesis chapter 1, Adam was created as the first businessman.  God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and then explained they were now required to replenish and multiply as well as have dominion over the Garden.  Sounds a lot like a business.  

Consider the word “household” that is seen throughout the Bible.  Most have come to be believe that the word, household, means those family members within your home or a slightly broader meaning includes your entire family.  You need only to read a few of the 70 scriptural references where  the word household is used to get a more accurate understanding of its meaning.   

In both the New and Old Testament, the household included staff, slaves, workers, attendants and of course family members.  In today’s society, we would consider them to be employees.  Let me call your attention to Genesis 14.  This is the story of how Lot, his family and possessions were taken captive and Abram pursues and delivers them from the kidnappers.  Notice what it says in verse 14, 

“And when Abram heard his brother had been taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.”  

Notice that Abram had 318 men that were trained warriors.  These men were the equivalent of a modern day security team at a large corporation.  As you read about the life of Abram and others in the Old Testament, you will notice they were herdsman of cattle, sheep, camels, or a combination of all three.  

In those days, most people were some sort of business owner, but the relationship they had with their employees were much different that what we see today.  They had much influence over the lives of the people who worked for them.

As we look in the New Testament, we see this concept of influence in several instances.  In Acts, chapters 16 and 18 you will see where whole households were saved.  That means the servants, slaves, attendants were all born again.  The owners had that kind of influence.  

Lastly, of the almost 40 or so parables of Jesus,  the majority deal with business in some form or another.  Just to name a few, there was the parable of the shrewd business manager in Luke 16, the parable of the lost sheep in Luke 15, the parable of master and the servant in Luke 17, and the list goes on and on.  I am sure Jesus found using business in His parables was something most people would understand as there were so many business people during those times.  He also knew that the center of influence in society at that time was business.

I believe God still believes business is an important part of evangelism and the making of disciples.  Never think for a minute that God is disinterested in business or business owners.  I whole heartily believe business will be the most powerful tool God will use to begin the next great awakening and revival.  What ways can you use your business to begin making disciples? 

Its time to be about the Father’s business!