Lesson 43A

God wants us to succeed in the marketplace (Lesson 41-43).
He wants us to be His witnesses in the marketplace.
He has also ordained us to be the channels for the transfer of the wealth of the world into the Church.

In order for us to prosper in the marketplace, God has given gifts and talents, each according to our ability, to trade in the marketplace.
In the Parable of the Talents, God established the Principle of Gaining by Trading for all His children (Matthew 24:14-30; Luke 19:11-26).
After giving money to his servants, the master in the Parable told his servants:

"Put this money to work until I come back" (Luke 19:13 NIV), or
"Buy and sell with these while I go and return (Luke 19:13 AMP).

It is therefore our duty to work six days a week with our talents to gain the wealth of the world in order that we may provide for our family and for God's work.
We do this in the marketplace of the world, outside the church.
Conversely, God has ordained that we do not use the house of God (the community of God's people) as a marketplace to buy and sell.

Seldom has our Lord shown anger in public.
But He was so furious at the desecration of the Temple in Jerusalem by the trading conducted in it that he drove out the animals, scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.
He had to do this twice, at the beginning and at the end of his earthly ministry.
This is because some people are so gripped by money that they just do not fear God anymore (John 2:12-16; Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-17; Luke 19:45-46).

Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. "It is written," he said to them, "'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it a 'den of robbers.'"                                                                                      (Matthew 21:12-13)

Do not be greedy and incur the wrath of God FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE by buying and selling in His house.
Fear God, and honor His purpose for His house, His people.
The church is to be a house of prayer (Luke 19:46).
The church is a people set aside for the worship of God and service to Him and His people.

The gathering of God's people is not to be seen as a profit-making opportunity.
We should not attempt to see any brother as a potential source of income.
We should therefore not solicit for business in the gathering of God's people.
Otherwise you will destroy yourself and others along with you.
Your "prosperity-dream" will vanish quickly because you have made God your enemy.

Therefore, in order to honor God in the church, let us adopt the following attitude:

In church gatherings, and in church relationships:

If you do, you will incur the wrath of God.
You have desecrated the purpose of God's house, the people of God.
God's people are a chosen people, a holy nation, set aside for GOD's PURPOSES, but for your PERSONAL PROFIT.

If you solicit business from another in the church, and everyone follows your example, what will the visitors (believers and unbelievers) think?
What will the young believers think?

"What kind of an organization is this?
I have hardly had fellowship for 10 minutes in this new church ......
I have hardly been baptized one week ......
and I have church people asking me to buy insurance from them, buy underwear from their direct sales, be their network partners, etc."

Even a young believer knows that God's house is not a place for business.
It is for the worship of God and service to Him.
But if visitors and new believers are approached with business proposals as soon as they join the fellowship, they will be turned off.
They will be disgusted.
The weak new believers will definitely be stumbled, and many may never ever go to church meetings again.

As an older believer, we are to build others up, spiritually and materially, even at our own financial expense.
We should never use our membership and gifting for profit.
We are not to use our position, as more mature members or as leaders, to impose sales request on anyone, must less visitors, new members and young believers.
Do not do it at all.

B like Paul, who boldly declared:

"Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit." 
                                                                                                        (2 Corinthians 2:17)

How would you like it if the pastor counseled you or visited you and then asked you to be his down line, or to buy products/insurance/etc., from him?
(After all, he needs money to send his children to overseas).
How would you like it if the Ladies' Care Group leader enticed your wife to come into her profit-sharing network?
(Praise the Lord, your wife will have more money for better dresses to please you and provide financial security for the family too!).

How would you like it if you brought a visitor to the church and the pastor and leaders offer him profit-sharing opportunities instead of spiritual food?
Or should the pastor and leaders agree to wait till his third visit before they make their individual propositions?
Or should the pastors and leaders agree to invite all new visitors and new members to a special dinner every month before they are invited to participate in these new once-in-a-lifetime profit-sharing opportunities?

IF YOU DO NOT LIKE THE PASTOR OR LEADERS TO DO SUCH UNETHICAL THINGS, THEN DO NOT DO IT YOURSELF!!!

If he does not buy insurance from you, but from another brother, will you still be friendly towards him?
(He will think: "Will the pastor/leader/member still visit me if I do not buy my soap powder from him?").

How will you feel if he does not buy from you although you asked him first before the other brother?
(Or should the church practice "first come - first served" business ethics and allow everybody to rush at a new visitor or believer?
And let the fastest runner win?).

Or have you considered the fact that a brother may want to continue buying insurance from his regular agent or his next-door neighbor because he wants to befriend him and bring him to the Lord?
How will the church reach out to the unbeliever if we are encouraged to trade only with believers?

You will spend time only with those who buy from you - those who can give you monetary gain.
Your friendship with others will be determined by their potential to generate income for you.
You will therefore not be able to use your spiritual gifting to bless those who need you more [the oppressed, poor and needy, etc].

You will invite people to your home for a meal - not because you genuinely care - but because you have a business proposition.
And if the other party does not accept your business deal, will you invite him again to your house?
Will you invite needy brothers to your house, spending time with them for fellowship and mutual encouragement, if sales and money are not your bottom line?
Soon your policy will be : "No money, no talk."

As we meet as a church, whether as a large gathering or a small fellowship, we can share about our business, our work and our products.
We can ask others to rejoice with us in our financial success.
We can also ask for prayer requests when we face problems and needs in business.

However, never solicit for business or promote your business in the church.
Let God move upon others in the church to use your business services.
Let others ask you for your help, if they want to.
In face, because he is your brother-in-Christ, you should bless him with a special discount, or not charge him at all, if he asks you.

Do not be profit-minded within the community of God's people.
We are ordained by God to be a blessing to others, to help one another, and not to make money from others within the church.
God will bless you in return.

E.g. Use your track to help in a brother's house-moving.
E.g. Give free samples of your company's products to a needy sister in church.

Every believer must work, using the talents that God has given to him, in order to receive an income to provide for himself, his family and for God's work.
As we honor God with our tithes and offerings, God will prosper us in our work.

He will promote us and grant us favor with our superiors if we work for others.
He will open doors of business opportunity for us if we are self-employ, provided we remain faithful.
And it is expected that everyone who works will work during the day, and rest at night (John 9:4).

As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Might is coming, when no one can work.                                                          (John 9:4)

We are to be satisfied with the job that God has given us and not work at two jobs at one time, working day and night.
If God has given you a job, work at it diligently, seek His wisdom, and God will prosper you.
God will prosper you with one job, if you honor Him.

Unless you are in great financial need, do not even consider a second job.
Anyhow, a second job is not a long-term answer to your financial needs; but God is.
Find out the cause of your financial problems.
Is it living beyond your means? Poor budgeting? Low-paying job?
Are you faithfully honoring God by seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness?
Is there any sin in your life that has opened a door for the devil to enter in to kill, steal and destroy? (John 10:10).
Seek the pastor or other leaders for counsel; a second job is usually not the answer.

Of course, if your present job is low-paying job, you can always seek God' wisdom and favor for another better-paying job.
If you are led to change your job, seek God's will and follow after the Holy Spirit's leading.
He will give you the desire of your heart as you faithfully seek Him first.

Otherwise, be contented and do not attempt to hold down two jobs.
Live simply, live within your means and live to serve God, today.

"Godliness with contentment is great gain" (1 Timothy 6:6).
If you have two jobs, your second job will force you to do work or make sales or attend sales talk and motivational seminars in the night or weekends.

When that happens, you will wear your body and mind out.
You will neglect your family if you are married.
You will neglect fellowship with other believers.
You will not fulfill God's calling on your life, and would have wasted the spiritual gifting God placed in your life.
And your spiritual life will definitely go downhill.

Please realize that direct sales, multi-level marketing, networking with profit, etc, is identical to a regular company job, except that the profit is shared at every level in lieu of wages, with you being self-employed as your own boss.
It is not wrong to be involved in direct sales, multi-level marketing, networking with profit, home-based subcontract work, etc., provided it is your full-time job.
However, if you take on such jobs in addition to your full-time job, you will be having more than one job.
And be warned that the spiritual consequences on your life will be devastating.

We must begin to serve God TODAY.
We must faithfully use the talents God has given us to serve Him TODAY.
You must also spend time to build up your family when the children are young and your wife needs you around to help.

However, if you try to hold down two jobs, you will not find the time to serve God or to look after your family when they need you most.
TODAY is the day to be with your children as they grow up.
They need you more than the extra money you will get from your second job.

TODAY is the day to serve God with your gifting.
God wants you more than the tithes you bring in from your second-job income.
He wants you (your obedience); He does not want your money (your sacrifice).
He wants you to put Him first (Matthew 6:33 NKJ; Proverbs 21:3).

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.                                                 (Matthew 6:33 NKJ)

To do what is right and just
     is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.                  (Proverbs 21:3)

It is not good for you to hold down two jobs and neglect your family and ministry.
It is even worse when you tempt a brother with financial gain by enticing him to take up a second job.
E.g. Direct sales downline, networking down line, home-base subcontracts, etc.

He will definitely neglect his family.
He will definitely sacrifice his spiritual priorities.
His spiritual life and growth will be stunted and he will backslide.
If he is a young believer, then you have started him down a path of worldliness instead of teaching him to seek after the things of the Spirit.

You are teaching him to worship the god of money instead of trusting in Jehovah Jireh to provide for him through his main job.

God will hold your responsible for destroying the spiritual life of such a brother.
His blood will be on your hand.
Because of your greed, you not only destroy yourself but another brother whose life belongs to our Lord Jesus.
In other words, you are profiting at the expense of his spiritual life when you enticed him with money as his reward and goal in life.

Many at this stage many will protest their good intentions and say:
"But pastor, I only want to ensure his financial security for the future," or 
"I only want him to earn more so that he can give more tithes and offerings to the church."
These are both very bad excuse, although they may seem to be godly.

Our financial security comes from God.
It comes from obedience to His word.
It comes from our faithfulness in seeking God and His righteousness first in our life.
It comes from faithfully obeying Him and serving Him with our talents.
It comes from trusting him with our tithes and offerings.

Our financial security does not come from the money derived from a second job.
Money does not provide our financial security; it is God who does.
Do not be deceived, no amount of money will ever be enough to give you security.
Do not trust in money.
If you do, you are worshipping Mammon, the god of money.
It will enslave you and destroy you.

Cursed is the man who TRUSTS IN MAN,
     who depends on flesh for his strength
     and whose heart turns away from the LORD.                    (Jeremiah 17:5)

Blessed is the man who FEARS the LORD
     who finds great delight in His commands.
Wealth and riches are in his house,
     and his righteousness endures forever.                              (Psalm 112:1,3)

For those who talk about helping a brother ensure his future financial security, why not set up a fund for him is he is poor and needs help to support his family?
Why not contribute regularly to this fund, so that this brother will not have to work day and night with two jobs, but be able to join in the fellowship and prayer meeting and so grow spiritually and thereby prosper?

Also, if you did not have a profit motive behind you, would you have taken the time and effort to introduce him to this extra job?
If profit is not your motive, why not set up a job-search-cum-counseling ministry in the church to help brothers in need of a better paying job?

Moreover, just think logically and sensibly?
If every church member is out doing a second job ensuring his future financial security, who will gather to encourage the weak; who will gather to pray for the oppressed, the church and the nation; who will visit the sick and the needy; who will run the children's ministry and youth fellowship, etc?

By our profit-motivated actions, are we building up the church or destroying it?
Indeed, why bother to join the church in the first place?
What is so special about the church?
After all, the country clubs have better business opportunities and offer better facilities too?

It is true that God uses the tithes and offerings of His people to extend the borders of His kingdom.
However, do not use this truth to justify your second job.
Do not use God's truth to justify your wrong motives.

God does not need your tithes and offerings from your extra job to do is work.
He does not need that kind of money.
He wants your time and your ministry to build up your family and others.
He does not want you to destroy others by enticing them to seek after money through second and third jobs.

In fellowship, there may be brothers who are jobless.
There may also be brothers who desire to change their jobs because of a genuine need (better job environment, better job prospects, desire to serve God more effectively, desire to be nearer the family, etc).

In such cases, it is perfectly in line with compassion to help such a brother by helping him find a full-time job or another job.

If he is jobless, it will be even more fruitful if you can spend time to counsel him concerning his situation.
Find out why he is jobless, and deal with his weaknesses.
Find him a new job.
Take time to build him up and encourage him in his new job.
If you offer him a job, do not take advantage of him, but offer him a full-time job, with reasonable income.

If you are successful in your business, and you desire to raise fund to expand your business, it is not wrong to declare publicly that you are seeking others to invest their money in your business.
This is not buying and selling in the church, but investing in a business outside.

However, do not promote your business in the church.
Let it be a prayer item.
Let God send the right person to back you up if it is His will.
You can then discuss it further with those who approach you.

However, it will be obvious that you would only make such an offer if you have a proven, successful business and you are a person of integrity.
Do not ask others to invest in any new business that is going to be a second job for yourself or for others.
It will be a disaster.
You cannot manage two jobs at one go.

And a warning is in order for all believers:
Do not invest your money with any brother in any venture without a proven successful business record.
Make sure he is a brother of integrity.
Do not listen to his sweet talk.
(Remember that a fool and his money are easily parted).

Seek the advice of the pastor if you have doubts.
It is not wrong to have joint-ventures with other believers or to invest your funds in another brother's business.
It is wrong only when the joint-ventures is a second job besides his regular job.

We must not be greedy and worship the god of money. Mammon.
Jesus has said that we cannot serve both God and Mammon (Matthew 6:25 KJV).
Be content with your present job and earnings always seek God first. (1 Timothy 6:6-10; Matthew 6:33).
Live simply , live within your means, and live to serve God, today.
He will then open the doors of opportunity for you to prosper in the marketplace.

But godliness with CONTENTMENT is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, an we can take nothing out of it. But if we have good and clothing, we will be CONTENT with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into RUIN AND DESTRUCTION. For the LOVE OF MONEY is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have WANDERED FROM THE FAITH and pierced themselves with MANY GRIEVES.                                           (1 Timothy 6:6-10)

However, if you love money and take on a second job, spending your time for that few dollars more, you will come to ruin and destruction.
You will backslide from the faith.
You will come to many grieves.

Esau, the first son of Isaac, lost his INHERITANCE to his younger brother, because he sold his birthright to Jacob for A BOWL OF PORRIDGE (Genesis 25:29-34; Hebrews 12:16-17).
For A FEW DOLLARS MORE, would you be willing to sell your INHERITANCE in Christ?

Are you prepared to forsake your calling and ministry to build up the church?
Are you prepared to face rebellious and disaffected children in the days ahead?
Are you prepared for a breakdown in your family?
Are you prepared to lose the zeal of your spiritual life?
Are you prepared to lose the peace and joy in the Holy Spirit?
All for so little?

See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a SINGLE MEAL sold his INHERITANCE rights as oldest son. Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears.                                                                    (Hebrews 12:16-17)

Your thought

1. What is the purpose of the church?
   

2. What is the harm done to the body of Christ when believers buy and sell in the church for personal profit or when believers take up a second or third job?
   

3. What will the love of money do to us?
   Will the changes happen overnight?
   

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