Doing Business with God

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.