Jesus said, “No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket” (Matt. 5:15, NLT).
My perspective changed the day I really embraced this and decided that God was the lamp-lighter. All my talent and ability were placed in me by God to illuminate dark places.
I lived in a country where missionaries couldn’t do traditional missionary things, such as church planting. Many lived in the tension of doing fake businesses to cover up their “real” activity. This led to so much burnout and frustration. People felt they were lying all the time to those around them, and their lives didn’t really add up. They could never really flourish in any area.
What if God, the divine lamp-lighter, decided to light a passion for all kinds of businesses and creative endeavors because He saw those skills and talents as divinely inspired for transformation? I believe it.
Our work as job creators, consultants or artists isn’t second-class to preaching. We need an integrated vision of disciple-making done by all kinds of people doing all kinds of things to reach everyone.
It’s “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27, NKJV). If God placed in your heart and hands the ability to do business, please see this as the way God is bringing light and life into this broken world.
