"You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." I Corinthians 6:19b, 20
I recently visited a fellow Biblical Entrepreneur in North Carolina through whom I had the privilege to address a group of Christian entrepreneurs. These entrepreneurs come together monthly to grow in their relationship with the Lord and their fellowship with each other as they seek to glorify Christ in the marketplace. I spoke on the 12 Principles of God's Economy, based on the story of the talents in Matthew 25. I talked about the 3 servants who where entrusted with the talents and how the master of those servants expected them to use the talents. After complimenting me on my presentation, my friend Tommy Smith began to elaborate on the idea of being a slave for Jesus in the market place. Through my discussions with Tommy, I discovered that there is a deeper meaning to being a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. He shared that the proper translation of the term "servant" many times in the New Testament is slave. With this new understanding, I recognize that the servants in Matthew 25 are not hired servants or bondservants but slaves. They were slaves, purchased by a master and under legal obligation to serve and obey him. Hired servants can quit their jobs, bondservants can purchase their freedom, but slaves are the property of their masters and have lost all their rights.
The last thing an entrepreneur wants to be is a slave to anyone. After all, most of us get into business so we can be free from corporate bosses who treat us like slaves. I have news for you, you are not free. You were bought with a price, you are not your own and will never be free. You are under moral and legal obligation to serve the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ. You just went from one master to another.
What does this really mean? There are two possible worldviews that we can adopt when it comes to our motivation for being in business. One worldview is the idea that through our businesses we can gain freedom and prosperity, which will enable us to live our lives as we choose and enjoy the best things of life. This view is influenced by the Greek/Roman philosophy and culture which, according to John MacArthur, states that the pinnacle of life is to be free from all restrictions of life and to be able to enjoy life to the fullest. This viewpoint has shaped today's secular and humanist culture. The other worldview is the idea that through business we can realize the will of our master, Jesus Christ, by serving others and being a witness for Him. This view is based on the biblical teaching that we are not our own and were bought with a price, therefore we no longer live for the pleasures of sin, rather; we are slaves to righteousness - the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Here is a statement from John MacArthur titled Slaves for Christ:
"Now remember, for Greeks, elevated people, the citizenry, freedom was the pinnacle of life. Personal dignity was attached to freedom, being a doulos(slave) was the worst, it was the opposite. Let me tell you about slaves in the Greek/Roman world. They had no freedom. They had no rights. They had no ownership of anything. They had no legal recourse in the courts. They could not give testimony as a witness in a law case. They had no citizenship. They had no possibility of doing what they wanted to do. They weren't asked, "Say there, Mr. Slave, what would you like to do to be fulfilled?" They weren't asked, "What do you think your purpose is? Can you dream your dream so I, your master, can fulfill it?" Bizarre. They had no choice about anything. They owned nothing. They couldn't be citizens and they couldn't be a part of the army, the military. They were totally dependent on whoever owned them. It doesn't mean that it didn't have some benefits. They were provided for, cared for, protected. In many cases, treated kindly, compassionately, loved within families. But to the Greek and the Roman philosophically and socially, freedom was the pinnacle of life. So free men had only scorn for slaves and slaves longed to be free."
What is your attitude towards the idea of being a slave for Christ?
I recently visited a fellow Biblical Entrepreneur in North Carolina through whom I had the privilege to address a group of Christian entrepreneurs. These entrepreneurs come together monthly to grow in their relationship with the Lord and their fellowship with each other as they seek to glorify Christ in the marketplace. I spoke on the 12 Principles of God's Economy, based on the story of the talents in Matthew 25. I talked about the 3 servants who where entrusted with the talents and how the master of those servants expected them to use the talents. After complimenting me on my presentation, my friend Tommy Smith began to elaborate on the idea of being a slave for Jesus in the market place. Through my discussions with Tommy, I discovered that there is a deeper meaning to being a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. He shared that the proper translation of the term "servant" many times in the New Testament is slave. With this new understanding, I recognize that the servants in Matthew 25 are not hired servants or bondservants but slaves. They were slaves, purchased by a master and under legal obligation to serve and obey him. Hired servants can quit their jobs, bondservants can purchase their freedom, but slaves are the property of their masters and have lost all their rights.
The last thing an entrepreneur wants to be is a slave to anyone. After all, most of us get into business so we can be free from corporate bosses who treat us like slaves. I have news for you, you are not free. You were bought with a price, you are not your own and will never be free. You are under moral and legal obligation to serve the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ. You just went from one master to another.
What does this really mean? There are two possible worldviews that we can adopt when it comes to our motivation for being in business. One worldview is the idea that through our businesses we can gain freedom and prosperity, which will enable us to live our lives as we choose and enjoy the best things of life. This view is influenced by the Greek/Roman philosophy and culture which, according to John MacArthur, states that the pinnacle of life is to be free from all restrictions of life and to be able to enjoy life to the fullest. This viewpoint has shaped today's secular and humanist culture. The other worldview is the idea that through business we can realize the will of our master, Jesus Christ, by serving others and being a witness for Him. This view is based on the biblical teaching that we are not our own and were bought with a price, therefore we no longer live for the pleasures of sin, rather; we are slaves to righteousness - the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Here is a statement from John MacArthur titled Slaves for Christ:
"Now remember, for Greeks, elevated people, the citizenry, freedom was the pinnacle of life. Personal dignity was attached to freedom, being a doulos(slave) was the worst, it was the opposite. Let me tell you about slaves in the Greek/Roman world. They had no freedom. They had no rights. They had no ownership of anything. They had no legal recourse in the courts. They could not give testimony as a witness in a law case. They had no citizenship. They had no possibility of doing what they wanted to do. They weren't asked, "Say there, Mr. Slave, what would you like to do to be fulfilled?" They weren't asked, "What do you think your purpose is? Can you dream your dream so I, your master, can fulfill it?" Bizarre. They had no choice about anything. They owned nothing. They couldn't be citizens and they couldn't be a part of the army, the military. They were totally dependent on whoever owned them. It doesn't mean that it didn't have some benefits. They were provided for, cared for, protected. In many cases, treated kindly, compassionately, loved within families. But to the Greek and the Roman philosophically and socially, freedom was the pinnacle of life. So free men had only scorn for slaves and slaves longed to be free."
What is your attitude towards the idea of being a slave for Christ?
Did you start a business so you could achieve freedom and prosperity, or did you start your business at the request of your master so you may realize His will?
Remember our Biblical Entrepreneurship role model Joseph. Joseph was bought by the Midianites, sold to an Egyptian named Potiphar and through his service and faithfulness was not released from slavery but rather promoted to greater service and later became Prime Minister of Egypt. You were bought with a price; therefore, cease from serving two masters and devote your heart to serving your true owner, Jesus Christ.
Remember our Biblical Entrepreneurship role model Joseph. Joseph was bought by the Midianites, sold to an Egyptian named Potiphar and through his service and faithfulness was not released from slavery but rather promoted to greater service and later became Prime Minister of Egypt. You were bought with a price; therefore, cease from serving two masters and devote your heart to serving your true owner, Jesus Christ.
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