A Heartfelt Letter to Believers in the Marketplace
Balancing Work and Faith
Dear Believer in the Marketplace,
I hope this letter finds you well. I write to you today with three purposes in mind: to remind you of the bigger purpose of your business or position in the corporate sector, to encourage you in your faith, and to share some heartfelt insights.
It’s no secret that, as believers, who we are and what we do directly or indirectly represent Jesus. Our choices, actions, and the places we frequent reflect Him on a larger scale. This is why people often judge us quickly; they have certain expectations of followers of Jesus Christ. We are the lens through which the world sees Christ.
Sadly, or perhaps not, we cannot live our lives as we wish. Every action must be weighed on the scale of sin and righteousness. Our purpose and lifestyle must meet the standard of heaven. We are His workmanship, and our works must resemble His — they must be good works.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them — Eph 2:10
Speaking of ‘works’, I hope you understand that your task at your 9–5 job, or your business, isn’t just about making money. God intends to use your work as an instrument of service. This is why even mundane tasks must be done with spiritual consciousness, knowing that you are not only accountable to your employer or customers but to God first.
Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”- John 6:27
This is a perfect time to emphasize that the money, authority, power, or fame from your work are only means to an end. Fulfilling your assignment, showing excellence so God gets the glory, being faithful in your job, and serving customers honestly — these are the fruits of service. This is how we serve God in the marketplace.
In doing our work as unto the Lord, we show the world the modus operandi of heaven. We bring heaven down to earth. We create a standard of service and excellence for the world — heaven’s standard. We lead people to Jesus through our actions and integrity.
It pains me to share this, but it’s a reality we must face. As believers in the marketplace, we will be mocked, ridiculed, ignored, and chastised by colleagues, customers, and business partners. Our service, infused with Christian values, will often be misunderstood and judged. Harshly, we may also lose materially and relationally because of these values.
But do not be dismayed — God rewards those who endure mockery for His sake. He is aware and watches diligently all you go through, preparing your reward for service. It often doesn’t feel like it, but be assured because the Bible says so.
Blessed [comforted by inner peace and God’s love] are those who are persecuted for doing that which is morally right, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven [both now and forever].
“Blessed [morally courageous and spiritually alive with life-joy in God’s goodness] are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil things against you because of [your association with] Me. —
Matt 5:10-11 [AMP]
I, too, am tasked with the duty of working as unto the Lord. I do not take for granted this assignment — to live in a way that shows others “THE WAY.” I hope that one day, we will both hear a well-done from our Father at the end of this race. Keep up the good work, faithful servant.
Your fellow believer in service,
Praise.
If this letter resounded to you, likewise will this
Servants, in everything, obey those who are your masters on earth, not only with external service, as those who merely please people, but with sincerity of heart because of your fear of the Lord.
Whatever you do [whatever your task may be], work from the soul [that is, put in your very best effort], as [something done] for the Lord and not for men” —
Col 3:22–23 [AMP]
Q & A
Q: Hello. Please, how can I overcome sin in my Christian life?
A: Based on scripture, there are 3 ways to battle against sin. However, we cannot completely overcome sin. Sin will always exist as long as we live in our bodies and on this earth. However, we must consistently wage war against sin to truly live as Christians.
Here are the biblical ways to achieve this:
[i] Rely on the Holy Spirit: After you give your life to Christ, you must ask for the help of the Holy Spirit. For the devil will want to use sin to contend with your new life in Christ.
With the help of the Holy Spirit, you are empowered to resist sin. He is the nudge in your conscience that prompts you when you’re about to sin. However, the work of the Holy Spirit in overcoming sin is restricted unless you ask. The Holy Spirit cannot help you fight sin unless you ask him to.
[ii] Prayer: This is what prayer does—it strengthens your spirit and kills your flesh. Flesh is a tool the devil uses to make you sin. If the flesh is weak, the devil cannot use it.
Also, consistently praying helps you to become more like Jesus. The more time you spend praying [fellowshiping, communioning, and talking] to God, the more like Him you become. Because in fellowship, we are [instructed, taught, and revealed] how to be like God. And the more like God you become, the less the devil can use you to sin.
[iii] The Bible: The Bible is the manual of the Christian life. It shows you how to live like Jesus. You cannot live the Christian life, especially overcome sin, without studying and meditating on the word of God.
It’s important to note that these are not exhaustive solutions. Attending church, fasting, and other spiritual exercises are also valuable in our pursuit of holiness. I like to refer to them collectively as ‘Spiritual Exercise,’ as they keep us spiritually fit and resilient against the attacks of the enemy.
Remember, overcoming sin is a continuous process, but with faith, perseverance, and the grace of God, victory is attainable. Keep pressing on in your journey of faith!”
At the end of every month, I randomly answer questions on Christian living, career, business, mental health, personal growth, and relationships. Have a question in any of these areas? Please fill out the form.
If you found this post valuable, show your support by:
- Clap as much as you can to boost my visibility globally (50x)
- Leave a comment and share it with friends on social media.
- Connect with me on my social platforms.
- Subscribe (to get my stories first) and leave a generous tip here.
