Businesses in the Kingdom - Purpose driven

Whether you are leading an existing business to continuity or starting a business, God has given you the idea(s) for your business for a purpose – to build a business that blesses not only you, but your community and beyond. With the realization of your idea(s) you will support the advancement of His kingdom on earth.

• Your products and/or services will benefit people and God’s creation,

• the workplace will provide dignity for your employees,

• you will trade fairly,

• show kindness and mercy to your stakeholders,

• you will not oppress the vulnerable and poor

• and you will contribute to the flourishing of the community around you.

When you build a business, opposition, distraction, setbacks, temptations, and the likes are part of the path that you are walking, all aimed to dislocate you from your purpose. In such moments, where things seem like they are not going anywhere near they should or are stalled, with conflicts potentially arising, it easy for us to fall into panic or paralysis.

In such moment we are highly prone of being tempted to retreat to a more comfortable place or lower expectations to ‘escape’ or ‘mitigate’ the situation. We must be aware in such moments to not give in to temptation, being lured away from our path and losing sight of what we have set out to do.

Nehemiah, in the Old Testament, is a great example to follow when it comes to realizing your goals despite opposition, ridicule, threats, and corruption.

Ever since Nehemiah had returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the city walls, he was constantly exposed to external opposition and internal challenges. His clarity of vision, his relentless commitment to the task and his leadership based on prayer and God-given wisdom enabled him and the Israelite community to rebuild the city walls within 52 days. Previous attempts to rebuild the wall by the first and second wave of returnees from the Babylonian exile had given in to opposition and apathy, leaving the city, its inhabitants and the rebuild temple without walls for good 70 years.

When tempted, Nehemiah prayed to the Lord to strengthen him, and through wisdom he was able to navigate the potential pitfalls along his way. The following verse shows Nehemiah’s response, after he had been invited to a meeting with his adversaries in a valley of Ono, approx. 30 km away from Jerusalem. The name of the place “O No”, its location (going down) and the distance provide a clear indication that this is a distraction.

Nehemiah 6:3 (ESV) “And I sent a messenger to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?”

When we keep our eyes on wisdom, our path is made straight and we can accomplish what we have been called to do. When we do this, we are choosing faith over fear. When we turn our eyes away from the path of wisdom, focusing on things left and right from the path (external circumstances), doubt, fear, anxiety, and conflict start to creep in, causing us most likely to stumble.

Proverbs 4:25 (ESV) “Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.”

Another great example of choosing faith over fear and the consequences of distractions is in the New Testament, where Peter shows great faith in following Jesus’ call to walk to him over water during heavy weather with wind and waves. When he kept his eyes on Jesus all was well. But as soon as he started to notice the waves and the wind he started to sink.

Matthew 14:28-31 (ESV) “(28) And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” (29) He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. (30) But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” (31) Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?””