Yesterday, I had the privilege of helping my friends Steve and Sue dedicate their newly launched business to the Lord. I am really proud of Steve and Sue for their courage and hard work in launching their business. This is no small feat!
But what does it mean to dedicate one’s business to the Lord?
In Colossians 3:23, Paul urges us, “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.”
In work and in all of life, we all have the choice to either live for God’s glory or to live for ourselves. When we live to glorify God, that motivation impacts everything we do, including our work.
Work Is God’s Idea and a Gift from Him
Genesis 1:1 tells us, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” And when He had completed His work it says, “God saw all that He had made, and it was very good.” God took delight and satisfaction in what He had created.
God invented work and the innumerable ways in which it brings joy to both the one doing the work and to those who benefit by it.
I love Psalm 104 in this regard. Here are some of the verses from this Psalm:
- “How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.” (24)
- “All creatures look to you to give them their food at the proper time… when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things.” (27-28)
- “He waters the mountains from his upper chambers; the land is satisfied by the fruit of his work. He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate—bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens human hearts, oil to make their faces shine, and bread that sustains their hearts.” (13-15)
Notice from those verses, that all God’s works exist to serve others. And Jesus told us that He came not be served but to serve (Mark 10:45). God delights in blessing His creation. In bringing glory to God, we seek to mimic Him and His character by serving others.
We glorify God in our work when we:
- Take pleasure in the act of doing work and running a business
- Experience joy in creating, repairing, and setting things right
- Provide valuable products and services to others
- Enable people to do the things they want to do by taking on the things that burden them
- Treat people fairly, with integrity and honesty
- Accept payment from others as a token of their appreciation for services rendered
- Provide employees and contractors with meaningful work, payment and benefits
- Demonstrate the love of God through our interaction with clients, employees and the public
In all those ways, we bring glory to God and joy to others.
My friends Steve and Sue have chosen to run their business as an act of worship. They want to bring glory to God in all aspects of their business. So, yesterday, with friends and family present they dedicated their business to the Lord.
You don’t need a special ceremony to dedicate your work to the Lord, but it definitely helps to tell someone else about your resolve to do so.
Let me leave you with this blessing: “May the Lord give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. May the Lord grant all your requests.” (Psalm 20:4-5)
©2019 Rob Fischer