business |ˈbiznəs| noun 1 a person’s regular occupation, profession, or trade: She was a strong businesswoman.
“Work becomes worship when you dedicate it to God and perform it with an awareness of his presence.” – Rick Warren
I used to feel guilty because I had a “regular job” and could not give as much of my heart and devotion to serving and volunteering at my church as I would have liked to. It wasn’t until I married Field and began working with MINT Dentistry that I began to realize how God could use my life as a businesswoman and entrepreneur as a ministry of its own.
Field and I were spending most of our time at work, so we decided MINT would become our “church” and mission field. We began to look for ways to honor God through our business and began doing whatever we could to serve our customers and employees. I began remodeling our offices to provide a beautiful, comfortable atmosphere and feel—and we started playing Christian music in the waiting room areas to set an atmosphere of peace. God became the focus and foundation of every choice we made moving forward, and I see and feel His blessing all over our business every day!
Now, when Field or I speak at business events and leadership conferences, the main thing we want to convey is that our work is our mission field. We have a desire to bridge the gap between the church and the corporate world—and that is a calling we pursue each and every day.
“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do for work, God wants you to see that your work is His gift to you, and a labor of love and worship to Jesus. I believe work and worship are one in the same to Him, and that we are called to glorify God in our daily lives and to experience Him in the marketplace. He wants to be invited into our work, as the Lord of all we do.
God’s “call” to a pastoral occupation is not of greater importance than a “call” to any other occupation. In the Kingdom of God, ALL of life is ministry. Our work is God’s work, therefore, we are called to go out and make disciples, of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, as we live out our passions and purpose each day. When you view work as just work, you limit the activity of God in your life.
Business is God’s idea. He created you and me to reflect Him in the earth. I believe He wants to give us access to more and more territory. God will bless you so that you can be a blessing to others! He wants to bless others through you!
“God… calls those things which do not exist as though they did.” Romans 4:17
I believe in the power of God’s purpose and plan for our lives, but I also know it takes a lot of prayer, obedience, dedication and hard work to get there. Field and I have not gotten to where we are without walking through daily valleys and trials. But the best part is—God has never left our side. He gives us the Word of God as a guide and a promise of His never-ending faithfulness to us.
Pray, speak and believe truth over your life and your place of work today. If you own a business, ask God how you can use it to bless others and bring them into the Kingdom of God. If you are an employee, ask God how you can serve your leadership and coworkers better. If you are looking for a job, start by thanking God for giving you the abilities you have to work and then ask Him to open up the doors for the right opportunities for you to walk into.
I believe God wants to use every part of your life to bless others and honor His Kingdom. Open your heart to Him today, and just wait to see how He blesses your life!
XO-
Sabrina