Business & Faith

Business Is Ministry

Dr. Mike Business & Faith
“There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.” 1 Corinthians 12:5 NIV.

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Sometimes we cause problems for others without realizing the impact of our words or actions. Those who have a platform to impact others will give an account for their work. This includes Church pastors, Bible teachers, and ignorant believers.

I include ignorant believers with pastors and teachers under the assumption that they are believers but at times may be ignorant of the subject matter. This is so true when it comes to the Body of Christ outside of the four walls of an organized faith community.

Somewhere, someone once taught that Pastors and missionaries are the most important roles in the world today. That CEO’s, government leaders, and moms are secondary in God’s eyes. Yet when one truly understands the Bible and the work of the Holy Spirit, one may want to step back and evaluate the importance of each.

Jesus himself stated that man shall not live by bread alone but with every word that comes from the mouth of God. He didn’t elevate one over the other but considered both important for the human experience.

The church mission is important. So is the mission of business, education, government, etc. If people didn’t focus on building houses, hospitals, schools, roads, clothes, and farms, would we even consider God’s word?

Business is a ministry because business serves the needs of people. The word ministry simply means service. God instructed us to serve one another. We serve one another by providing material and spiritual food for each other. We serve one another by sharing and adding value to God’s creation.

All the gifts of the Holy Spirit also operate outside of the four walls of a church community. The gift of leadership is exercised as a witness within the public forum. Like any gift, it may be used to glorify God or for selfish pursuit. Whether behind a pulpit or a corporate boardroom, the gifts of the Holy Spirit are shared for the means of serving others and glorifying God, or solely for personal gain.

Church is in session outside of the four walls of a faith community for more hours than one hour Sunday morning. The only difference may be sermons are being preached through the attitudes and actions of Christ-following CEO’s, CFO’s, COO’s, senior managers, supervisors, and technicians throughout the day. Instead of praising God through music, these people are praising God through their God-given gifts of service creating new start-ups, jobs, and products for the masses.

Contrary to many pastors who have gone through their denominational, institutional training, there are many different ways to conduct a church service. What they may be comfortable with is simply one way. Could it be possible that a business model led by Spirit-filled believers could also be a church service? A place to worship our great God? A place to learn how faith, love, and hope play out in the real world? A place where the offering is self-sacrificing service to others?

Sometimes we need to take a step back and look at how BIG our God is and realize that the world is our pastoral home. That business is only another way for believers to serve their King, His subjects, and His domain. God’s world, His church, and His people can change the culture around them; but only when the Body of Christ removes the self-imposed limits and allow God’s Kingdom to expand outside the four walls of a faith community.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Executive Director & Founder
Marketplace Bible Institute
& Resource Center, Inc
Author of e-Books:
*  Great Business Emulates a Good God
*  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
*  Simply The Messenger
*  Unequally Married

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Values, Beliefs, Relationships

Dr. Mike Business & Faith
“If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.” I Corinthians 3:14 ESV.

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What is the foundation of your life? And how do you focus your energy toward building upon it?

After a 30+ year career in corporate America (and still going), plus 40+ years following Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, I’ve learn many lessons the hard way. One of those lessons include how to determine what is more important for the long term.

I’ve seen short-term solutions that caused severe long-term problems. I’ve also seen solutions that blessed everyone involved in the matter. Not winners-losers, but winners everywhere.

The core of those favorable long-term solutions were built on Biblical values. They were deliberate decisions based on Biblical beliefs. In addition, those decisions that placed the importance on relationships proved invaluable over and over again.

Yes there were temporary setbacks. However, in most cases, they were just timing situations that had to be worked through.

If a young person entering the business profession today asked me, “What areas should I invest most of my personal development toward”?  I would simply reply: seek out Eternal values, base your beliefs on reality as revealed by the Triune God through the pages of the Bible, and learned everything you can about how to be a blessing for others.

These three friends when chosen and acted upon will open the doors for you to see opportunities, improve your relationships with others, and give you a mental perspective attuned to the living God. In other words, which values, beliefs, and relationships will lead you toward a life worth living?

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Executive Director & Founder
Marketplace Bible Institute
& Resource Center, Inc
Author of e-Books:
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Does a Friend Need Encouragement…Share Today’s Message!

Who Do You Trust?

Dr. Mike Business & Faith, Kingdom Paradigms , ,
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.” Psalms 28:7 NIV.

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The best marketing tool any person or organization has at their disposal is available to all. It doesn’t require a college degree, large capital investments, nor a unique sales strategy. It is as old as the universe, but as young as a new born baby. When employed it saves time, paperwork, and builds strong relationships for a life time. It is a five letter word that needs to be exercised in every conversation and repeated out loud when negotiations seem to be falling apart.

That word is TRUST.

Trust is becoming a rare commodity in today’s world. We have witnessed the disintegration of the marriage relationship; the hostility between races; and the ineffectiveness of governments around the world. Whenever trust is broken, lives are shaken. Dreams are dismantled. Both parties become losers – some in the short term, others in the long term.

Former president Ronald Reagan is given credit for resurrecting the phrase “Trust but verify.” Maybe we all need to practice this concept more often with the people in our world.  In fact, maybe we need to first begin the process with the Creator of the universe. Do we truly Trust Him?

His #1 seller the Bible provides multiple scriptures of the relationship between Him and His people and the importance of Trust. There are a multiple of scriptures where God wants us to trust him. And how do we learn to trust Him? One way is simply to put Him to the test. For starters, don’t ask him for something to spend it on yourself (James 4:3). Instead ask for the sake of others. Learn to lean on Him. Take baby steps. Ask, Seek, Knock (Luke 11:9-10).

Trust is built over time. It is two people coming together and first agreeing on the primary principle of the matter. From there, the talk is verified with action. The action leads to more talk. More talk leads to more action steps. Trust is slowly built after both sides verify each other’s action and witness the true character of the other person. When the real character appears, only then can we know how far we can truly rely on the other person’s words and actions.

So no matter if it’s a business matter, a family matter, or a governmental matter,  trust is the glue that strengthens, magnifies, and unleashes the potential in all relationships. Let trust be your friend today.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Executive Director & Founder
Marketplace Bible Institute
& Resource Center, Inc
Author of e-Books:
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Does a Friend Need Encouragement…Share Today’s Message!