Take Two

My friend, Gene, is just starting his own real estate business.  He is pastoring a growing church (most of the readers of this blog also read his) and growing churches require lots of cash to grow.  I think this is admirable and I think he’s going to be wildly successful.  In fact, I’m going to pray for it.  That may seem kind of curious but let me explain.

When I was in New York, the pastor I preached for prayed at the end of service that God would bless me and my ministry and my business dealings in his city.  I was meeting (serendipitously)  with another pastor from Texas who happened to be in New York who I’m now looking at doing some business with myself.  He prayed for God to bless his business dealings in the city also.  I’ll be honest, I had never heard of that before.  Does God really care about non-spiritual pursuits like business dealings?  I’ve come to believe he does.  My pastor friend was adamant that God cared deeply about the business dealings of His people to the point that they should be a regular part of our prayer life.

Here was his point- God’s body on earth requires resources to do what it needs to do.  Maybe your pastor doesn’t take up an offering but mine does every week; three times a week.  And when I was pastoring, I ALWAYS received an offering (even if I was the only one giving) because the work of God requires money.  Moses took up an offering.  Joseph took 20% of what the Egyptians harvested.  Abraham was blessed in his business dealings as were James and John the disciples of Christ.

Now, lest you think I’m heading to prosperity doctrine land please be aware that I think that type of preaching is completely contrary to the Word of God.  I don’t give to God in because I’m looking for a higher rate of return.  I give to God because He has been extraordinarily good to me and blessed me.  But I have started to ask him to bless the business ventures that I’m in and that my friends are in because as they prosper, the work of God prospers.  1 Peter 5:7 tells us to cast all of our cares on Him for He cares for us.  There is no qualifier in that verse such as cast all of your spiritual issues but it says ALL of my cares.  I care about the lost, my church, my family, and my business.  But I may have been cheapening God to think that He isn’t interested in my life outside of church.   As a father, I’m interested in every facet of my kids’ lives whether it’s school, sports, church or whatever they are doing.  Is my heavenly father disinterested compared to me?  I really doubt it.

What do you think?