That’s a bit much, isn’t it? Isn’t He just about ‘love your neighbour as yourself’ and all that kind of ‘churchy’ stuff?
Jesus’ key message was that He is the King in a Kingdom that’s already started. See how He’s asked a question about the future, yet answers in the present also making it clear that we’re integrally bound up with it:-
Now when the Pharisees asked Him when the Kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The Kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the Kingdom of God is within you. (Luke 17:20-22).
Approx. 60% of Jesus’ parables are based on business. He talks about farming, work contracts, building projects, profit, debt collecting, vineyard tenancies, employee treatment, financial investing, the fishing industry, tax collection and payment, and relationships between us and civil authorities. He helped out a wedding planner who’d miscalculated supplies; told fishermen where to find the largest catches of their lives (twice); sourced money for tax payments; and raised a young, working man from the dead, so he could carry on providing for his widowed mother.
He was a carpenter Himself after all (see Mark 6:3).
Why do we want to trap Jesus inside church buildings? Is it so we can ‘tame’ Him, manipulate Him, or keep Him out of our way when it comes to our business dealings? Or perhaps we’ve simply never thought about it in depth before? The experience of many Christians is that, when we let Him in, things change exponentially.
Yes, many Christian business owners tell me that God wants to be involved in our businesses: actively, practically, strategically, operationally – and that we experience incredible rewards when we invite Him to be our CEO. Leading others to do this is my specialisation: we can learn together what’s at stake and what He requires from us to make it happen. Businesses that do so become distinct, unique, impacting. We become much more focused, allowing us to see – and be seen – above the ‘white noise’ of the market place: there’s nothing better than letting God take over, then watching what happens!