What does it mean to do
business with God?
Next week I’ll be at a
conference where some (hopefully a lot) of church business will be done. During this biennial (every two years) conference
we’ll elect a new denominational president and vote on some challenging
issues. I know that most people never
attend such a conference. Let me assure you it’s really just a lot like any
church’s annual meeting. Let me also assure
you that while ‘church business’ is God’s business, it is dramatically
different than doing business with God!
For one thing, church
business involves a lot of other people.
While each of those people have a common statement of faith (set of
beliefs) and largely common theology, they have unique frames of reference on
the application of said beliefs. After
all, they are individuals, not the Borg!
So the debates regarding church issues can be quite animated as people
seek to sway the opinions of those around them.
Doing business with God is
almost never like that. It is a private
meeting and a private transaction. Sure,
you might say a little or a lot, and you might raise your voice or even be
argumentative. He won’t be. He never
raises His voice. He never makes long
speeches and tries to sway your opinion.
He speaks quietly, often just a few words. Those words are always deeply profound – you
remember them for the rest of your life.
Some people think that
doing business with God means automatically loosing. After all, doesn’t He hold all the cards (so
to speak)? Of course He does, but you
never ‘loose’ when you do business with God.
People do business to get ahead in material matters – things that have
value to them in this world. Do you
really think that doing business with God will result in less value than that? No.
Doing business with God means having a meeting with Him and making a
trade with Him during that meeting – a trade that will add a tremendous amount
of value to you. But not usually
material value – God is not so concerned with temporary things. You are designed and created for eternal things
(for you bear His image). So God will
add eternal value to you when you do business with Him.
Do not think you have
nothing to trade with Him. You have much
to trade. “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “ Though your sins are as scarlet, They
will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like
wool.” Isaiah 1:18
Trade your sins for His
forgiveness. He is always ready to nail
your sins to His cross, and wipe them away forever by the blood He shed for you
so long ago. You hand over your sin –
even your besetting sin (sins that you keep falling into) – and He gives you
His forgiveness, even eternal life! So
great a value you could never buy, find or earn. A free gift, if you first give Him your sin.
Trade your guilt for His mercy. Your despair for His joy. Your frustration for His peace. Your sickness for His health. Your foolish thoughts for His wisdom. Your anger for His kindness. Your hatred for His love. Give all those things up and receive from His
hand His goodness and His grace and His Spirit.
But, I must warn you; Do not think you can do all your business
with Him in one meeting. Each time you
give some of yourself up – some unclean part of you – He will take it from
you. That is a difficult process my
friend. There are many tears and much
wrenching of the heart if you are serious about really giving that up! It is like divine surgery of sorts for Him to
take it from you, and you dare not ask for too many surgeries at once, for each
one needs a recovery time.
You can tell when you are
recovered and ready for more. When you realize that it’s been a while since
you heard His voice and life seems drier, it’s time to go back to your prayer
closet and do some more business with God.
Praise God, He never puts out a ‘closed for business’ sign, and He works
on Sundays too.
