Sometimes My Fruit Gets Rotten, Does Yours?
Over the last several years, I have had numerous conversations with businessmen about sharing our faith in the marketplace. The central topic seems to center around how difficult it is to share our faith while conducting business. Men want to know how they should approach other business people in the office or those outside the office. Someone years ago told me that our conduct and attitude should be one that causes a person to walk into our office one day with the following question; "There is something different about you, what is it?" Bingo! Our conduct in how we do business and the attitude of how we approach and respond to situations has made a difference.
"Apart from me you can do nothing ------- This is my Fathers glory, that you bear much fruit." John 15: 5,8. This is what Jesus meant when He told us to be salt and light in the world. Our culture can treat that however it wants, but the fact remains that we are to bear fruit in every area of our lives. Salvation is more than forgiveness of sins and receiving our eternal spot in heaven. Jesus has saved us so we can think like him, believe like him, act like him, and carry out his plan for mankind. Remember, in the beginning his plan was to have a loving relationship with us as He walked in the Garden(market place) with us. When we became separated from Him, His new plan was to give us a ministry of reconciling the world back to Him(2 Corinthians 5: 18).
Why is it though that we are so hesitant or afraid to bring Christ into our business? Is it that we are ashamed of Him? Or ,is it that we are ashamed of ourselves? We don't hesitate to tell folks about our favorite winning football team, or this great new vacation spot we found. Jesus has done more to offer us the greatest, most wonderful thing that has ever existed or ever will. And He paid more for it than the price of a Super Bowl ticket or a month's vacation in the most luxurious spot in the world. Again, maybe it is because we are ashamed of ourselves. Maybe we don't feel like we really know Him as we should, or maybe it is because we don't love Him more than this world, or seek Him first before all else (Matthew 6,7). We are ashamed, not of Him, but of ourselves.
We put to much emphasis on ourselves and not enough on God. We tend to think that God cannot use us - we are to inadequate or unworthy. 2 Corinthians tells us ," My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Guys, no matter who we are or what position we hold, God can use us if we are willing to be used. The marketplace is begging for someone to show them the way. It is not an option, God expects it, in fact, He requires it.
I have had the privilege over the past several years to sit with men every week as we seek to find God's purpose for our lives and our business. I have seen some good Christian businessmen take a 180 degree turn in the purpose of their business. I have heard their stories, their struggles, and their victories. We have all experienced a new revelation in how we treat our business. I have seen men no longer refer to their company or their job as their business, but now refer to it as their ministry. They realize that their business is not better than, but different, it has a different purpose. They understand that the priesthood of the believer is not just for sunday school class and Tuesday night visitation, but it is a life style. When Christ bought them, He bought their whole life including the business part. They are using their position in business as a platform for ministry. They are not ashamed.(2 Timothy 1: 12).
