NECF 40-Day Fast & Prayer - Part 5: Marketplace

August 27 - September 2

Christian business owners or professional workforce can be the most powerful vehicle for building the Kingdom of God as well as our nation. It is no secret that a depressed economy is a bed for evil. Therefore, we invite every praying Christian to cover and pray for this vital domain being developed in our nation at this time.

For as many years as I can remember, the Church was taught the doctrine of separating the world by the secular and the spiritual. The business world falls under the secular and therefore, isn’t as important to God as the spiritual. Thank God for paradigm shifts that has taken place in the global church since the renewed call for the WHOLE CHURCH bringing the WHOLE Gospel to the WHOLE world at the Lausanne Forum 2004. We can no longer just be satisfied with spiritual salvation while other needs are ignored.

The Bible is filled with admonitions for God’s children engaging in business for just profit and to play a role in providing various supports in all community. God’s promises include giving us the ability and strength to gain wealth and success. God also promised that He can be counted upon in the day of need as well. He is the true source of Provision in our world. Unfortunately, many have put their trust into the channels rather the Source.

Business for the Christian can be a mission for God. Business as mission means a calling to do business to advance the kingdom of God and to provide for the needs of ourselves and others. The Bible commands, “Work so that you will not be in need and you will have something to share with others,” (Eph 4.28), and “If any man is unwilling to work, then neither shall he eat,” (2 Th. 3.10).

Business as “mission” means to use business skills, resources and structures to seek the Kingdom of God and to “do good to all people, especially those of the household of faith” (Gal 6.10) The mission to do business for the Kingdom of God is not merely doing business for purposes of creating opportunities for evangelism. Work and business are needed in-and-of themselves for the Kingdom of God and the welfare of people.

“What the poor want is not aid, but jobs – real jobs, not subsidized ones. This is the dignity and self-reliance they deserve.”

Rev Daron Tan

Pastor & Businessman