When we align our actions with God’s thoughts, we get it right. Ultimately, God is in our employer. And we all are his full-time employees in the marketplace.

His words changed my path.

“Dave Green was the business founder of Hobby Lobby, but God was the business owner.” That's what the speaker said on that Sunday in June and it changed my life trajectory. 

His breakthrough comment was the culmination of other moments that were impacting who I was to be and what I should do with my life.

“Good luck with your ministry!”

The speaker told us how we are to view business in the context of the church. I shared with him my business cards and showed him the two books I had written.

Later, as I was packing up, he called out to me as he was leaving, “Good luck with your ministry.”

Hmmm.

My ministry?

Didn’t he just tell us that God was Dave Green’s business owner, even though he was the founder of a startup business?

A few weeks earlier a speaker for “Business As Mission” asked our group at the beginning of his talk, “How many are in full-time ministry?” Out of about 40 people there, only two hands went up. One was mine. At the end of his talk, he again asked the question and nearly everyone hands went up. What changed?

It's our perspective.

Your talents are your ministry

My friend Tom lost his job and was looking for more work.  He told me about an interview where he was asked about what he did outside of his work that was important to him. Tom used the men’s group at church as an example of something that was a big help with his life. The interviewer gave his own story, about his desire to start a ministry with his wife. Tom was pleased he was in good company.

I turned to Tom and said, “I think Christians and the church misunderstand how our talents play a role in God’s will.  Our talents are our ministry!”

Tom looked straight at me as if the light bulb went on and said, “You’re right.”

God has a plan

Everyone is in full-time Christian ministry. Everyone is in God’s business in the marketplace. If you have started a business, God is your business owner. If you work in the market place, you’re the steward of His resources. You. God planned it long ago. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Eph 2:10

God designed it right with our individual talents, skills, and experiences. It is up to us to line up with his business plan, his will for our lives, in order to perform his wishes. When we align our actions with God’s thoughts, we get it right.

Ultimately, God is in our employer. And we all serve in full-time ministry in the marketplace.

                                                                        **********

 Kevin Cullis is a former USAF officer, currently a business geek and an entrepreneur. "How to Start a Business: Mac Version" is his first book. His second book, "HWJDB How Would Jesus Do Business?: Bible Secrets for Startups and Entrepreneurs" covers the Biblical basics for doing business how God intended. Find him on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and at KevinSCullis.com