35 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. 38 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. 39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

41 Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?”

42 The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? 43 It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. 44 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45 But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. 46 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

47 “The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. (Luke 12:35-48)

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Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Thanks for tuning in to GLOBAL REACHOUT. I am Sister Angelie, and starting from November, we have launched the program called the "Kingdom Business Culture". This program is based on the workplace training course by GLOBAL JIREH entitled, "Christ-centred Entrepreneurship". This course was compiled by Pastor Tony TAY Meng Hiang to help brothers and sisters live out Christ in the workplace.

We encourage brothers and sisters to sign up for this course, so that they will not only have the opportunity to communicate directly with the instructors, but also establish long-term and close contacts with the kingdom business operators in the group, learn from each other and encourage one another, and put the theory into practice. Living out Christ in the workplace. For those who are interested, you can refer to the end of the manuscript and register by email.

In today's program, what we are going to talk about is that only by aligning with God can we grasp the business opportunities that come from God.

First, how can we align ourselves with God? Luke 12:35-48 records the parable of the servant who waits for the night to return to his master. At the beginning of this passage, Jesus said to his disciples, "Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning." During Jesus' time, the Orientals wore long coats and had to fasten their belts when they walked. Therefore, tightening the belt means be dressed ready to go, standing at your post in a ready state, ready to be called at any time. On the other hand, the servant should keep the lamps burning. The original text of "burning" indicates that the lamp has been lit, and will continue to be lit. This means that the servant should have everything that needs to be done before the master returns.

We know that when the Lord Jesus was with his disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane, He used to pray alone. At that time, the Lord Jesus commanded his disciples to wait and watch with him (Matthew 26:38). However, when he returned to his disciples, he found them all asleep, and he said to them, "Watch and pray, lest you fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak (Matt. 26:41).” These words of the Lord Jesus tell us that to be vigilant and to do what we should do, and not be deceived; but we cannot do this without prayer, and we must pray in order to overcome the flesh, do what the heart wills.

From the above teachings of the Lord Jesus, we can draw the following conclusion: We should get ready and waiting with vigilance, so that we can align with God and then grasp the business opportunities that come from God.

Let's take a look at what elements companies should focus on in order to avoid missing out on business opportunities.

In terms of prophetic stance, companies must stay true to their product positioning (Place). We must let customers know what benefits they can get from our products as soon as they see our brand. If the customer believes that our brand can bring him benefits, our business has goodwill. At this point, our business is ready to go. In the aspect of priestly vigilance and waiting, companies must be good at product promotion (Promotion), actively connect with customers and potential customers, and make customers think of our company as soon as they have related needs, which in turn proves the people in the company. Then, the heart is ready. In terms of grasping kingdom business opportunities, companies must price carefully. Reasonable prices should be set according to market supply and demand.

Of course, the ability to seize business opportunities depends on many factors, some of which are beyond human capabilities. It also reminds us that the reason why we can seize business opportunities is because we have been blessed by God; all we have to do is to align with God, and God will take care of the rest. This is like the master who returns at night in the parable, seeing his servants awake, so he calls his servants to sit down at the table, and puts on his sash himself to serve them—our God will serve his servants who please him. 2 Chronicles 20:17 is what Jahaziel said to all the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat, it says, "You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem." God wants them to go down to meet the enemy, but he doesn't want them to fight, because the Lord fights for them. As long as we are aligned with God, God Himself will work to help us seize business opportunities. We should imitate the priestly vigilance and kingly patience of the servant in the parable, and keep vigilant no matter when the master comes back in the middle of the night or before dawn. In addition, we must imitate the servant in the parable, and at the same time remain vigilant, also be a faithful and discerning man - he is vigilant and patient, and he also distributes food in time and rations. When we align with God according to such standards, we can seize business opportunities; and God's reward is to give us management of larger and more estates, showing His living justice. Of course, when we are entrusted by the Lord to manage more estates, we must remember: to whom much is given, we shall take more; and to whom much is entrusted, we shall demand more.

In short, God is generous to give us business opportunities; but if we want to seize business opportunities, we must focus on building up our own lives, knowing who we are in Christ, and knowing that we are created in the image of God, and everyone must reflect the glory of God. How does God want you to reflect His glory today? Do you know your calling clearly? After clearing the calling, have you built the relevant abilities according to your calling?

Paul says in Philippians 4:8, " Brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” The truth is the inner quality of the truth, and the external attitude of valuing the truth is admirable, and paying attention to the truth makes people's life have altitude. Righteousness is the inner quality of holiness, and keeping the outer life of holiness is pure, and paying attention to holiness gives depth to one's life. Loveliness is the inner quality of righteousness. The outward expression of righteousness can make people noble. Paying attention to righteousness makes people's life have breadth. Furthermore, virtuous people have holy characters whose imitation makes our lives reflect Christ's priesthood; there are praiseworthy acts of righteousness, whose imitation makes our lives reflect Christ's kingship.

        To summarize the above: We are aligned with God by getting ready and waiting with vigilance. Getting ready means being ready for action at your post, and being vigilant means making sure everything that needs to be done is done early and to keep it up in this way. Business operators should be vigilant, faithful and knowledgeable servants, and God will entrust us to manage more properties or estates. May we pay attention to the things that make us more Christ-like, align our lives further with God, and take advantage of greater business opportunities.

Dear friends, this is where we end today's episode. I hope to see you again on the next episode of Kingdom Business Culture!

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Discussion 

1. Do you know exactly how God wants you to reflect His glory?

2. After hearing God's call, have you established the relevant abilities according to the call?

3. In contrast to a watchful, faithful and discerning servant, what should we further strengthen?